1 Samuel 15 - 12.13.24
Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:17-23
“Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.””
Observation:
Samuel gave Saul instructions from the Lord, but he did not follow them completely. When confronted by Samuel his excuse was he kept the best to sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel pointed out that to obey is better than sacrifice. Saul said he was swayed by the men.
Application:
It is easy to get sidetracked with what we think is honoring to God and others opinions. God wants us to obey Him, not do things we think will honor Him. This causes me to stop and think. God’s hand was mightily upon Saul. He had chosen him. He still had free will and got side tracked. I can easily get off course too.
I need to do whatever it takes to follow what God speaks to me:
First seek His will.
Write it down so I don’t forget.
Listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting throughout my day.
Stop and think before I act on my own intuition.
Share with others and be accountable.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you that you have a plan and a purpose for me. Please reveal to me what you have for me today. Reveal to me where I have gotten off course and how to correct it. Please show me who to interact with today and the words you would like me to share with them. As I seek you, please give me the bigger picture and a goal to help me stay on course. If there is a time when I need to walk by faith and not by sight, please give me the strength to do so.
When a Samuel comes into my life to speak, may I listen intently without pride. May I connect with those who will hold me accountable, but not listen to those who could lead me astray as Saul did. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit as my guide and your Word to light my path. May I fulfill all you have in store for me. Amen
- Cindy Howard
Mark 1 - 12.11.24
SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:15 NIV
“The Time has COME,” Jesus said.
“The kingdom of God-- has COME-- near.
Repent and Believe the Good News!”
OBSERVATION:
Mark begins with the Promise of The Messiah as Isaiah prophesied:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for HIM.’ ”
John the Baptist arrived and was that one whose voice cried out in the wilderness for people to Repent from their sins-Turn to God—and be Baptized. This Baptism did not wash away their sins BUT was a Public declaration that they had made a decision to choose a new way of life.
Jesus ARRIVAL marks a CHANGE.
The TIME has COME.
REPENT and BELIEVE.
The KINGDOM of GOD has COME NEAR.
APPLICATION
Jesus Changed EVERYTHING. Jesus is Our Hope and Assurance.
The Good News for us and for our families and friends.
Jesus is the SON of GOD, The WORD made Flesh, Jesus IS God, Jesus, alone, has the Authority to Forgive sins.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Jesus has the Power to Heal, Release Prisoners from Bondage, Break every Chain, Raise the Dead, Cast out demons, Redeem, Restore, Provide, AND--Make a straight Pathway in the midst of the wilderness.
Jesus Began His Ministry with the Same Important Words The Lost and Hurting Need to hear--Today.
The Time Has COME…Repent and Believe The Good News
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for who You are. Our Salvation. Thank You for The Good News that sets us Free from the debt of our sins and assures us of eternal Life in Heaven with You. Thank You for Your WORD that is Life and Thank You for Filling us with Your Holy Spirit to guide us and equip us for all that YOU call us to.
Thank You for people who are on mission sharing The Gospel-- even when others reject them. I was once the one doing the rejecting-but still YOU used those words to draw me in.
Thank You for The Power of The Gospel. Give me greater courage and desire to share wherever I go and May I desire MORE of YOU. I want everything You have for me. Keep me At Your feet listening and fanning the flames. Nothing else matters. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Tina L Kudelka
Colossians 4 - 12.11.24
Scripture
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2, NKJV)
Observation
Keep praying earnestly. Don’t just pray. Pray vigilantly. Pray with purpose. Pray intentionally. Pray as if your life depends on it, because your life does depend on it! Prayer is not our last resort, prayer is our first resort. Let us pray about everything. Let prayer be our second nature. Let prayer be as natural to us as breathing. Let us pray without ceasing (Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus taught us to watch and pray so that we do not fall into temptation (Matthew 26:41; Mark 14:38). We pray so that we can wear our spiritual armour, and stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:18, Ephesians 6:11).
The second part of the verse reminds us to be vigilant in prayer along with thanksgiving. The Bible instructs us to give thanks in everything, since this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Not being thankful is a sin (Romans 1:21). "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise" (Psalms 100:4). This verse tells us that thanksgiving is the key that opens the gates into God’s presence, and praise is the key that opens the access to his courts. Let us pray with thanksgiving and praise which adds additional power to our prayers. Thanksgiving is giving thanks to God for all his blessings to us individually and collectively. Praise is adoring God for his character, and for who he is. Praise and Thanksgiving go together, and take us through His gates and into His courts.
Application
Let us be people who pray vigilantly and intentionally. Jude says that we are building ourselves up on our most holy faith, when we pray according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:21). The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much (James 5:16). Let us have a thankful heart and lift our prayers to God with thanksgiving and praise, always.
Prayer
Father, I thank you for loving me and choosing me. Thank you for making me your child. Thank you for your presence which is always with me. Thank you for leading me with your eye. Thank you for your plans for me. Thank you for your hand on my life. I praise you, for you are faithful. I praise you, because there is none like you. You deserve all the praise, honor and glory. Help me to pray always. Help me to pray about everything. Help me to have a thankful heart, and to pray with thanksgiving and praise, as you have taught us. Help me Lord, because I can do nothing without you. (John 15:5). May your will be done in my life as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Be glorified in everything I do and everything I am. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George