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?