You Will Fill Me with Joy

Read Psalm 16:7-11

As we look at today's reading, it is interesting to note that during his first recorded sermon found in Acts 2:25-28 (Pentecost), the Apostle Peter drew upon verses from one of David's psalms. As Peter addressed the mostly Jewish crowd on this important day he viewed these verses as the foretelling of Christ's death and resurrection and the joy that is secured for all believers.

David and Peter both emphasize the importance of knowing God and the resulting joy as illustrated in Psalm 16:7-9 "I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices."

Christ offers Himself in our daily lives and in the reality of His resurrection and the promise of eternal life for all believers. We can experience the joy he promises in knowing Him through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, prayer, His Word, the Sacraments, etc. Ultimately, we have the promise of eternal life where we will see Jesus face to face and experience joy unending!

QUESTIONS:

1. How do you grow closer to God on a daily basis? What elements of the faith do you practice to grow in this relationship?

2. How often do you think about the reality of the resurrection? Are there times when you consider what this promise truly means?

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for the ability to know You and the reality of the resurrection. Thank You for the joy resulting from these gifts. Amen

Tom Richards

1 John 2:3-14

We know God by Obeying His Commands

  

Stay out of the road!   Say please and thank you.    Use your manners!     Sit up straight.                                    Use your napkin.   Don’t hit!   Stay in bed.   Don’t play with your food!    Stop fighting!

Adults spew these and many other commands to kids constantly. Not only do they speak the words, but generally use direct and sometimes fierce intonation to get the child’s attention, to no avail. Over and over the reminders are communicated, and the results are the same. The kids continue doing exactly what they were told not to, or don’t do what they were asked to do.

Do all young people have bad memories? Are all kids testing? Are they so focused on themselves that they disregard the wishes of the adults in their lives? What is it?

In today’s passage John wrote to encourage believers, and remind them of God’s commands;

1 John2:7  “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.”

What is John referring to? He notes a few examples, but it is all about following God’s word and knowing God by living as He calls us to. He doesn’t change his message. He never has.

Verse 4 The man who says “I know him” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Verse 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.

Verse 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in darkness.

Colossians 2:12-14 Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Last Sunday the message was about what God has given us-New Life.

Today let’s examine our own hearts and honestly look at the pages of our daily lives. Not the life of anyone else, just our own. Are we giving God what he has asked of us in return or are we still in need of constant reminders? If so, that's alright, we are all in various places in our faith walk.

  

1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Developing your faith is a lifelong process. What is your next step? Is God calling you to cross the threshold of faith and enter into His family? Is God calling you to grow in your understanding of who He is, or change the way you live your life? Is God calling you to step up and be a model for others?

      Read/listen to 1 John 2:3-14

Know God

John 17:1-5

Someone drops a name and you say, “Oh sure, I know him.” I’ve done that many times, but what I really mean is “I know of him,” or “I know who he is.”

The Encarta Dictionary has a multitude of definitions for the word know, including words and phrases like; acquainted, become aware of, familiar with, recognize and have information in the mind. The one closest to what knowing God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit means is: to have a thorough understanding of something through experience or study

Though we cannot experience our Lord in the flesh, we can absorb His spirit and become what he wants us to be through consistently striving to grow in Him.

We have been offered the framework for doing just that, through His Word;

 “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” Proverbs 8:17

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep an my sheep know me." John 10:14

Getting to truly know and understand someone can be life changing. For example, if you

keep your distance from your superior in the workplace, speculate about his character, 

and talk with others who do the same it leads to distance and mistrust. On the contrary, if 

you pursue a relationship with him, take time to talk with him and try to understand who he 

really is and why he does what he does, you may become a key employee, instrumental in 

carrying out the company’s mission.

With God as well, the key is understanding. It’s all GRACE, yet we cannot understand Him 

unless we consistently attempt to understand just what Grace is and learn God’s nature and 

character as revealed in His works and word.

When we make time to listen to what the Bible has to tell us and humbly open our hearts to 

receive it, the Holy Spirit will assist us with applying it to our lives, offering us peace and 

wisdom to carry on. And one day be glorified in His presence.

Read/Listen to John 17:1-5

You Gotta Have Faith- Matthew 17:14-27

Faith is an intriguing concept. Our passage today shows Jesus explaining that we need only have faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains. But what exactly is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I don’t know about you, but it is hard for me to be sure of what I do not see, so let’s look at that idea a bit more.

Let’s say I called a new friend and invited her out for coffee, wanting to get to know her better. After hanging up the phone I would hope she will show up, but I wouldn’t necessarily have faith that she will meet me because I wouldn’t have anything to base her reliability on.

Now let’s say I invited my husband to have coffee, knowing he is reliable I could have faith that he’d show up. I could go to our coffee date with confidence because he has proven himself to me. If you struggle with faith the remedy is intimacy with God.

Share your thoughts;

When has knowing God’s character helped you have faith?

If you struggle with faith, share with us what that struggle looks like.

James chapter 1 says, “The testing of your faith

produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so

 that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Read today’s passage at Biblegateway.com Matthew17:14-27

Click on the comments button below and share with us your thoughts on faith.