Month: October 2018

October 31, Reading 1 – 1 Chronicles 12

Reading

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SAA Notes

Kinsmen of Saul joined David even while he was at Ziklag serving with Achish King of Gath. National leaders began to flock to David in his exile. Some of those serving with the Philistines returned with David. Look again at the list of Jesus’ 12 disciples. You will find similar men.

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, to You we lift up our eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens!

“… For there was joy in Israel.”

The exiles, a handful of Israelites, had returned to a broken Jerusalem, a temple destroyed and needing to be rebuilt.

What does the Holy Spirit have for them in this passage?

God reminds them of David.

Israelites reading this were no doubt struggling with sorrow, with lamentations. They had spent seventy years weeping by the rivers of Babylon!

Here God points them to joy.

As God raised up David and gave to him a great army, so the foretold Messiah would bring about joy in Israel (see the woman and Jesus in John 4, at the well of Jacob), amongst God’s people – In a deeper and far better way than even David brought.

These passages helped the exiles, and they help us today to look forward!

For us, it is looking forward to that glorious day in the new heavens and new earth – When our God will dwell with us in all fulfilment, we with Him, His people. No more crying, no more weeping and lamentations. The final building of God’s kingdom in truth!

* Father God,

Thank You for pointing us back to David.

You are the one who then and now builds Your kingdom.

Please teach us today, a little more of You.

Amen.

October 31, Reading 2 – Ezekiel 13

Reading

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SAA Notes

Ezekiel’s warning to deceived and deceiving prophets should make every Christian speaker, preacher, leader give pause to reflect on what they say is from the LORD! The Apostle John tells us (in Revelation 19:10) that the spirit of true prophecy is the testimony of Jesus – not the testimony of our future.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please show us Your wisdom today from Your word.

“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations.”

The more we read through God’s word we come to see just how corrupt God’s people can become when they(we) move away from our King.

We see it in Israel’s history.

Church leadership that misleads the people, that says “Peace” when there is no peace. Leadership that builds up false doctrine and covers it with weak moralism and spiritualism.

God is against this behaviour, this leadership.

Without Jesus, we veer off.

As with Israel, so with us.

Today we have church leadership that misleads, saying “Peace” when there is no peace.

Deeper still, we the people, we can become complicit with the leadership (as with Israel) by ignoring God’s call to live holy lives (according to His word), listening to the easy-to-hear honeyed words.

Are we profaning God today with our behaviour, or honoring Him?

* Father God,

You are holy. We are not.

You are God. We are not.

Please help us today Lord, for we cannot help ourselves.

But You do. And have. And will.

More of JESUS, less of us!

Amen.

October 31, Reading 3 – John 4:31-54

Reading

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SAA Notes

Jesus tells us what He is truly about – see verse 34. Can you also aver with the Samaritans this man really is the Saviour of the world? The royal official took Jesus at His word (v.49). Pray for those on our congregation’s periphery that they too might take Jesus at His word!

SJA Notes

* Most Holy God, Your word to us is powerful and effective – Please write it on our hearts today.

“Many Samaritans from the town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.'”

Remember the woman by the well that Jesus met in yesterday’s passage?

The above should be of great encouragement to us, along with exhortation and conviction!

Telling people about Jesus, who HE is, what He does, HIS WORDS TO US – This is a powerful message. One that resonates into people (for we all have eternity set in our hearts), and our King tells us those words of eternal life.

It is true what Jesus says,

“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”

Let us be about the work God has ordered for us, throughout all our days, to promote Him. To do His will, waling obediently underneath it. To point people to Jesus, to tell them that our Saviour lives!

* Dear Heavenly Father,

Please help us to be effective witnesses of Jesus; to His saving grace, His work of salvation.

Thank You for Your love for us.

Amen.