Scripture:Psalm 26:8
I love the house where you live, O LORD,
the place where your glory dwells.
Observation: In David's Psalm of praise he references the tabernacle; the place where God made His dwelling among men. His glory was visible there to His people in the form of fire or smoke. How awesome! It's not hard to believe David's words: "I love the house where you live, O LORD." How could he not? God's glory was there dwelling among men.
Application: It's amazing to me how God gives us glimpses of what is to come. Each era has some kind of symbolic picture of what He has in store. The tabernacle of old was built according to a precise plan, given by God to Moses in imitation of a Heavenly place. It foreshadows for us the kingdom of God as it exists in the heavenlies. And now, just as Jesus was the new covenant, we have become God's tabernacle--the temple in which His glory dwells here on earth! That is His design. (And it's still a picture of what is to come: our intimate dwelling with Creator God in His perfect kingdom.)
So do I treat others as though they are the very temple of God? Inhabited by His glory? Can I say like David, "I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells."?
Prayer:
Father, Help me to love your people. Help me to see your glory alive in them. Forgive me for not recognizing You, for seeing without grace, for speaking without understanding, for acting without compassion. Would you increase your presence in me until it fills up everything and overflows through the fruits of your Spirit? I am so grateful to be called your own. I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells. Amen.
February 14, 2008 by Pastor Keith
Title: The Lord is Almighty
Scripture:
Psalm 24:1 states, “the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
Observation:
Is God’s Word contradictory? How can one place say, “eye for an eye,” and yet another “love your enemies.”
I know the church answer: Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. And I would probably be able to defend it with an argument. However, there is something in my own logic that does not understand. I don’t understand the concept of a man being stoned to death because of his words; this seems so cruel.
God’s Word is powerful and they are God’s – not man’s and more importantly not mine. In the same reading today, Psalm 24:1 states, “the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” There’s the answer to all of my questions, there’s the truth about all of my doubts. God is God! The earth and everyone on it are God’s! He makes the rules… and sometimes I don’t understand them. Why?
Psalm 24:10 asks, ”who is he, this King of glory?” The answer, “The Lord Almighty-he is the King of glory.”
Application:
Enough said. I am the Lords. Every person I read about in Scripture was the Lord’s. And all of history, the present, and the future are God’s because he is Lord Almighty.
My challenge is to surrender fully to the Lord and do his will, not my own. How can I see God in the midst of everything I do. Because the “earth is the Lords.” That includes everything I do at church, the people I interact with, the things I use, my family, and so on. Am I using God’s things the way he wants me to? I can’t answer that… but I can spend time with the one that can and hopefully learn from Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being God. I don’t fully grasp what that means, but I surrender to you and I acknowledge you as the Lord Almighty. Help me to understand Your Word and to submit my life to you 100%. Use me to accomplish your will. Amen
Scripture:
Psalm 24:1 states, “the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”
Observation:
Is God’s Word contradictory? How can one place say, “eye for an eye,” and yet another “love your enemies.”
I know the church answer: Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. And I would probably be able to defend it with an argument. However, there is something in my own logic that does not understand. I don’t understand the concept of a man being stoned to death because of his words; this seems so cruel.
God’s Word is powerful and they are God’s – not man’s and more importantly not mine. In the same reading today, Psalm 24:1 states, “the earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” There’s the answer to all of my questions, there’s the truth about all of my doubts. God is God! The earth and everyone on it are God’s! He makes the rules… and sometimes I don’t understand them. Why?
Psalm 24:10 asks, ”who is he, this King of glory?” The answer, “The Lord Almighty-he is the King of glory.”
Application:
Enough said. I am the Lords. Every person I read about in Scripture was the Lord’s. And all of history, the present, and the future are God’s because he is Lord Almighty.
My challenge is to surrender fully to the Lord and do his will, not my own. How can I see God in the midst of everything I do. Because the “earth is the Lords.” That includes everything I do at church, the people I interact with, the things I use, my family, and so on. Am I using God’s things the way he wants me to? I can’t answer that… but I can spend time with the one that can and hopefully learn from Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being God. I don’t fully grasp what that means, but I surrender to you and I acknowledge you as the Lord Almighty. Help me to understand Your Word and to submit my life to you 100%. Use me to accomplish your will. Amen
February 12th, by Bob
Title: The LORD is my Rock!
Scripture: Ps 13:5-6; “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Observation: Even King David, whom the Lord spoke of as a man after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14), struggled with fear and despair in his life from time to time. In this Psalm, in the midst of persecution, David cries out to the Lord in desperation wanting to be rescued from his enemies. God seems nowhere to be found; or at least it seems that way. But through this troublesome trial, David never gave up hope and trust in his Lord as he recalls the goodness the Lord had brought him in the past.
Application: Even during those times in your life when it seems that God is just not listening, you can be assured that He is working behind the scenes, preparing things to occur in his perfect timing. When your life is in complete turmoil and there seems to be no good solution to the situation, you need to rest your hope and trust in our Lord, just like David. But how can you do that when you are in the midst of darkness? Learn from David and praise our Lord for the good he has done in your life in the past. This will help you to realize that the God who has taken care of you in all those past trials will be with you this time as well.
Prayer: O Lord, you are so good to me. Thank you for your faithfulness, love, and grace you overflow in my life. Help me to be strong and to be steadfast in my hope and trust in you. You alone are my Rock and my Fortress.
Scripture: Ps 13:5-6; “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
Observation: Even King David, whom the Lord spoke of as a man after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14), struggled with fear and despair in his life from time to time. In this Psalm, in the midst of persecution, David cries out to the Lord in desperation wanting to be rescued from his enemies. God seems nowhere to be found; or at least it seems that way. But through this troublesome trial, David never gave up hope and trust in his Lord as he recalls the goodness the Lord had brought him in the past.
Application: Even during those times in your life when it seems that God is just not listening, you can be assured that He is working behind the scenes, preparing things to occur in his perfect timing. When your life is in complete turmoil and there seems to be no good solution to the situation, you need to rest your hope and trust in our Lord, just like David. But how can you do that when you are in the midst of darkness? Learn from David and praise our Lord for the good he has done in your life in the past. This will help you to realize that the God who has taken care of you in all those past trials will be with you this time as well.
Prayer: O Lord, you are so good to me. Thank you for your faithfulness, love, and grace you overflow in my life. Help me to be strong and to be steadfast in my hope and trust in you. You alone are my Rock and my Fortress.
February 11th, 2008 by Randy
Title: Atonement!
Scripture: “He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.” Leviticus 16:21 (NIV)
Observation: No doubt, the Day of Atonement was the most significant day for the Israelites. It was the day that all their sins were forgiven. The word atonement simply means “to make amends.” The Hebrew word, according to my notes, means “to cover.” The Day of Atonement “covered” their sin and “made amends” with God.
The ceremony involved two goats, one sacrificed, the other released. The sacrificed goat provided forgiveness. The freed goat removed guilt. The same ritual had to be repeated every year, until...Jesus came.
Jesus Christ's death replaced the Day of Atonement when he gave his life once for all. Hebrews 10:3-4 reminds us of the shortcoming of human ceremony. Animal sacrifices could only “cover” but Christ “made us holy” through his blood. Hebrews 10:10 (NIV) says, “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Jesus and Jesus alone can take away our sins.
Application: This morning I’m so grateful for Jesus Christ. I need a fresh reminder of God’s grace and cost of the cross. Only because of his love, I am forgiven. There is nothing within me, nothing that can do, nothing that I am that warrants this grace. Nehemiah expressed my deepest feelings -- “What a gracious and merciful God you are!” Nehemiah 9:31. I'm so glad that "God doesn’t grade by the curve, he grades by the cross." I like that :-).
Prayer: Thank you Jesus, for great sacrifice for us! I can’t express how grateful I am for your grace. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for giving your life that I might have life. Thank you for your forgivenness!! I love you. I need you! AMEN.
Scripture: “He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat's head. He shall send the goat away into the desert in the care of a man appointed for the task.” Leviticus 16:21 (NIV)
Observation: No doubt, the Day of Atonement was the most significant day for the Israelites. It was the day that all their sins were forgiven. The word atonement simply means “to make amends.” The Hebrew word, according to my notes, means “to cover.” The Day of Atonement “covered” their sin and “made amends” with God.
The ceremony involved two goats, one sacrificed, the other released. The sacrificed goat provided forgiveness. The freed goat removed guilt. The same ritual had to be repeated every year, until...Jesus came.
Jesus Christ's death replaced the Day of Atonement when he gave his life once for all. Hebrews 10:3-4 reminds us of the shortcoming of human ceremony. Animal sacrifices could only “cover” but Christ “made us holy” through his blood. Hebrews 10:10 (NIV) says, “But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Jesus and Jesus alone can take away our sins.
Application: This morning I’m so grateful for Jesus Christ. I need a fresh reminder of God’s grace and cost of the cross. Only because of his love, I am forgiven. There is nothing within me, nothing that can do, nothing that I am that warrants this grace. Nehemiah expressed my deepest feelings -- “What a gracious and merciful God you are!” Nehemiah 9:31. I'm so glad that "God doesn’t grade by the curve, he grades by the cross." I like that :-).
Prayer: Thank you Jesus, for great sacrifice for us! I can’t express how grateful I am for your grace. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for giving your life that I might have life. Thank you for your forgivenness!! I love you. I need you! AMEN.
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