July 26, Reading 1 – Ruth 1

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This is the story of God’s grace. Someone of Moabite descent was not given citizenship even after 10 generations. Deuteronomy 23:3 David is the fourth generation descendant of a Moabite! What is impossible for man, is possible for God! There are many lessons you can learn from this narrative.

SJA Notes

Our religion is empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is HE who saves, HE who works in some salvation and rejects others.

Here we have a mixed family. Israelite parents and sons, married to Moabite women.

Marrying outside of Israel! How many issues have cropped up so far because people made broken decisions (right in their own eyes) about inter-marriage.

And yet.

We can glean that the house of Elimelech served the Lord (think Joshua’s words, “As for me and my house…”). The Moabite gods did not have a place in their household (Naomi tells us as much in v15).

And we see that God has chosen one and not the other.

Orpah chose to return to Moab, and I’d say her heart was never broken before the Lord (she chose false religion, Moabite gods).

But Ruth! Ruth has a strong clear faith in the Lord. We have these wonderful words, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

It’s wonderful to see God’s promises fulfilled here, blessing to many nations (same as with Rahab earlier).

Praise God for His choosing! For Ruth is a part of the line of David, all the way through to Jesus. A Moabite woman, a gentile, grafted into the vine!

Hallelujah!

July 26, Reading 2 – Isaiah 42:18-43:10

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Songs have been made about chapter 43. The great cry is “Fear not” is repeated three times with three different reasons why. It is good to ponder on them.

SJA Notes

* Father God, thank You for Your word. Please fix our eyes on Jesus today.

“Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold;”

God rescued Israel from exile, from far-off places, and brought them home.

“… Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,”

God calls to His people from across the face of the earth.

“… Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

This is a solid and deep truth – God’s people being called as His sons and daughters from all across the span of the world.

So we see that,

1. God made us.

2. God made us for His glory.

3. God calls us by His Name!

Let us be strong and courageous in spreading this word.

That the Creator God has made us, for His glory (and not our own).

And that He calls us by His Name. That Name which is above all other names, that Name we are to keep holy, to bear well throughout our lives.

Hallelujah, what a God we have!

* Great Father In Heaven,

Yahweh, Jehovah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Sovereign God.

Omnipotent, omniscient, omni-present. All-powerful, all-seeing, all-everywhere.

Please continue to call us Your people from the ends of the earth.

Please call our loved ones Lord God, our friends and family who do not know You.

May we all see Jesus!

Amen.

July 26, Reading 3 – 2 Corinthians 1

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Achaia is Greece. Verses 3-5 call us out of ourselves and remind us of that higher purpose in our lives. God grant us to be useful in His kingdom today.

SJA Notes

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.”

Jesus is the crux, the pivot, the capstone and cornerstone. He is the life-giving spirit and through Him creation was made and continues to be sustained.

Our King is the focal point of all of history, from the first day of creation and even before the foundations of the world – It is all about Jesus.

He is the promised Messiah, the King of glory, great David’s greater son.

He is the lamb slain from before the foundation of the world, the death-crusher and life-giver and the one through whom dead hearts come alive.

This is why we can wholeheartedly and unreservedly point always and often to Jesus. He is God’s rescue plan, there is no other! He is our pattern, there is no other! He is our King, Lord and Saviour – There is no other!

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Gracious God,

Thank You for Jesus, in whom all Your promises find their Yes.

Please grow our understanding of You, our obedience to You, and our love for You.

Help us to be more like Jesus each day.

Amen.