Digging Deeper~20th week after Pentecost

Ex. 33: 12-23: Moses talks God into showing mercy to the Israelites when God wanted to destroy them because of their lack of faith in Him. 

Ps.99: A song of praise for God leading and reigning over his people.

1 Thess. 1:1-10:Paul praises the Thessalonians for their great faith & in living that faith out as they told other about Jesus.

Mat.22:15-22: The Pharisees try to trick Jesus by asking him if it is lawful to pay taxes. Jesus tells them to pay the taxes & God what we owe.

The theme is faith. Faith that shows itself in how we live. In Exodus 33 we see what lack of faith looks like & how God feels about that. In Ps. 99, we see the song that those who have faith in God should be singing to Him. In Mathew 22 we hear Jesus words that tell us to honor those who have rule over us with taxes  to government & tithes  to God.  Lastly, In Thessalonians we listen as Paul praise the people of that church for living their faith out in word and deeds. 

Challenge of the week:

Do you show your faith in word and deed? How about how you handle your money? If you do not, hoe can you change that this week?

Accomplishment of the week:

What did God and you do this week?

Digging Deeper~19th week after Pentecost

Ex.32:1-14: While Moses was up on the mountain getting the ten commandments, the people were worshiping a false god.God wanted to kill them for doing so. Moses talked God out of it.

Ps.106:1-6,19-23:Speaks of praising God for his mercies, then tells of the mercy God showed them when they sinned in the wilderness by worshiping the golden calf.

Phil.4:1-9:Paul says to rejoice in the Lord, pray about everything, and think on the good things of God. 

Mat.22:1-14:Jesus tells the parable that tells how the kingdom of God is like a wedding feast for God's son. When those he invites does not come to it, he sends his workers out to invite the unwanted to come to the feast.

The theme is God's mercy. 

The verses speaks of the many times that God has been merciful towards those who were not worshiping him. They also tell us that we should sing praises to him for saving us when we did not deserve it. Jesus speaks of how those who were not suppose to go to the feast was invited to come after the chosen guests refused to go. We too are invited to the feast in heaven one day even though we may not be Jewish (God's chosen people). We should rejoice and sing praises to him for his mercy towards us.

Challenge of the week:

This week take the time to check to see if you have wondered from God's path like the Israelites did. If you have repent and make it right. No matter what rejoice and sing praises to God and think on all the good things of God.

Accomplishment of the week:

What did you and God accomplish this week together?

Digging Deeper~ 18th Week after Pentecost

Ex.20:1-4, 7-9,12-20: Some of the 10 commandments, which comes down to worshiping God only, & be loving towards others. Ps. 19: Speaks of the heavens declaring God's glory; The role of God Word; a prayer for forgiveness. Phil. 3:4b-14: Paul's testimony. Mat.21:33-46 : Parable of the vineyard & it's caretakers who beat the owners servants & killed his son.  The theme is What God views as sin, forgiveness, &  being faithful to obey God's Word.  God gave his people the ten commandants so that they would understand what God viewed as sin (Ex.20:1-20). Why because sin separated us from God & he wanted a relationship with people. The Psalms that the people sang spoke of God love for them & his forgiveness (Ps. 19). But just having the ten commandments did not save the people. Paul shows that when he gave his testimony. I  it, he tells of how he followed the law of God but found it did not save him. Knowing Jesus is what saved him from his sins (Phil. 3:4b-14). Jesus speaks of how God's people treated God, his prophets, and would treat himself by killing him. Also showing how important it is to do what God asks of people in the parable his tells of the vineyard keepers (Mat.21:33-46). We should work hard to make sure that we are staying close to God. We do this by reading, & obeying God Word. Challenge of the week: This week, check yourself to see where you do not obey God's Word~ The Bible. Then ask God to forgive you, and show you in His Word what it is that He want you to do instead.  Accomplishment of the week:  What did sin did God show you? How did you change it? What verses helped you to do so?

Digging Deeper~ 17th Week after Pentecost

Ex.17:1-7:The Israelites were thirsty in the wilderness & they complained against Moses. Moses talked to God about it & God told him to take his rod with him in front of the elders & God himself would stand before him in the form of a stone. Moses was to strike the stone & water would come out of it. 

Ps. 78:1-4,12-16:This Psalms reminds the people of God of the needs God did to lead the Israelites safely out of Egypt, including giving them water from a rock.

Phil.2:1-13: Live in love, just as Jesus did who loved us so much that he died on the cross for our sins. Even being willing to died the lowest of deaths for us. Work to be like him knowing that God will help you to do so.

Mat.21:23-32: The Chief Priest & elders asks Jesus as to whose power he is doing miracles. Jesus asked them, By whose power did John the Baptist baptized people".  He told them that he would only answer him if they answered him.They answered him that they did not know for fear of looking bad in front of the people. Jesus then told them that he would not answer them. Then Jesus told the parable of two brothers who were asked by their Father to go out in the field and work. One said that he would go , but did not do so. they other one said, NO". But did later. Then Jesus told them that Harlots would go to heaven before they did.

The theme is love. God lead his people out of slavery out of love. He also provides all they needs while they wondered in the wilderness. Even being willing to be struck by Moses to provide water for them.Jesus was the rock that stood in front of Moses (1 Cor.10:4; John 4:10 ). 

Jesus became a human to show us how to live & then died for our sins. He did all this by the power of God the Father (Mat. 21:23-32). Why did he do that? Because of love (John 3:13&14: Phil. 2:1-13). Paul tells Jesus followers to show others the love Jesus showed by acting loving towards each other. Paul went on to tell us that we can do this when we love other using God's love. We do not have to do this alone. 

Challenge of the week:

This week, seek to "work out your salvation by showing love to others, even when they are hard to love. 

Accomplishment of the week:

Who did you show love to this week? How did you do that?

Digging Deeper~ 16th week after Pentecost

Ex. 16:2-15: God provided manna to the Israelites in the wilderness.

Ps. 105:1-6,37-45: Israelites told to trust in the Lord for he had proven that he would care for them in the wilderness. 

Phil.1:21-30 : Paul's pull between wanting to be with Christ & staying on earth to share Christ with them. 

Mat.20:1-16: Parable about the landowner who hired people to work for him at different times during the day, but paid them all the same at the end of the day. 

The theme is God's faithfulness.

In Exodus 16:2-15, we read how God took care of the Israelites in the wilderness by providing manna for them each day, so that they would not starve. In Psalms 105:1-6,37-45, we read a song that speaks of trusting in God for he had taken proven his faithfulness in taking care of them in the wilderness. In Matthew 20:1-16, we are told of the landowner who pays each person who he had hired what he had promised at the end of the day. God is like that landowner, he promises that if we follow him & work for him, he will give us eternal life at the end of our lives. Lastly, we read of how Paul a bond servant of God shares how he is torn between serving the Lord and being with the Lord (Phil.1:21-30). We too may find ourselves pulled between these desires. Let us be as faithful to God as he is to us.

Challenge of the week:

This week, take time to thank God for his Faithfulness to you. Also strive to be faithful in your walk with God. 

Accomplishment of the week:

So how did you do this week? 

Digging Deeper~Week 15 after Pentecost

Ex. 14:19-31:God parted the waters to let the Israelites cross over and be saved. God also put the waters back & drowned the Egyptians.

Ps. 114: Speaks of when the waters were parted & when water came out of a rock for Israelites to drink.

Or Ex. 15:1b-11,20-21:A song of how God saved the Israelites from Egypt. 

Rom. 14:1-12:Do not judge your brother, & do not make him stumble in his faith. 

Mat. 18:21-35:Jesus speaks of forgiving others, because God has forgiven us.

Egyptians ruler was keeping the Israelites from worshiping God as God wanted them to, so, God freed them & kept them safe by parting the waters to let them walk on dry land where the sea was, but drown the Egyptians. After that Moses and the people sang a song of praise to God for saving them (Ex. 14:19-31;15:1b-11, 20-21). Later a song was written for the Israelites to sing over the years(Ps. 114). 

We are warned to not cause others to stumble in their faith. We can do this by openly judging them for how they worship and serve God, also by not forgiving them (Rom. 14:1-12: Mat. 18:21-35).  

Challenge of the week:

This week seek to be more loving towards our younger brothers and sisters in the Lord. We can do that by not judging them, and forgiving them when they stumble in their walk while getting use to being a Christian. 

Accomplishment of the week:

How did you fulfill the challenge of the week?

Digging Deeper~Week 14 after Pentecost

Ex. 12:1-14: The first Passover when God told his people how to kill an unblemished lamb & put the blood on the door posts so that God would not kill the first born of man or beast in that household. 

Ps. 149:Let God's people praise the Lord.

Rom. 13:8-14: Instructions to love your neighbor. Take off the garments of darkness & put on the armour of light and Christ Jesus. 

Mat. 18:15-20 :Instructions on how to treat someone who has sinned against you. Then the promise of where two Christians are God is also.

God was giving plagues to the Egyptians, so that the Pharaoh would let them go. One of these plagues was to kill the first born son & beast in the land. But God wanted to protect his people from this plague, so he instructed them to kill an unblemished lamb & put the blood of the lamb on the door post so that the angel of death would passover that house without killing the first born in it.(Ex. 12:1-14). This did two things. First, it saved the valuable first born of God's people. Second, it was a picture of what Jesus would do for us. You see, Jesus is that unblemished lamb. He was God's first born. He was sacrificed for our sins when he hung on that cross. Now his blood covers our sins & when our lives are over. Our souls can go live with God in heaven because we are protected by the blood of Jesus. That is why we should take off the garments of darkness & put on the garment of light & Christ (Rom. 13:8-14). Because of God's salvation, we should praise him (Ps. 149).

But it does not end there. As God's people we are to act differently towards our neighbors & those who have sinned against us. We should deal with them in love and understanding. We are also encouraged that where two or more of God's people are, Jesus is with them (Mat. 18:15-20). 

Challenge of the week: 

This week check yourself. What spiritual garments are you wearing? Do you look and act like the world around you or do you look and act like Jesus Christ? Are you wearing the garment of darkness or light?  Or has someone sinned against you? Choose to deal with it as Christ Jesus has instructed us to do. Lastly, are you in an area where there is very few Christians. Take heart, my friend .If you can find just one other Christian to fellowship with. God is with you. If you are alone. Pray that God will give you the boldness to tell others of Jesus' love, so that others can become Christians also. 

Accomplishment of the week:

So when you checked yourself, what did you find that needed done? What did you do to fix it?