Tag: Psalm 14:2-3
Lord, I need love!
Scripture reading for August 17th: 1st Corinthians 13, Psalm 14, Proverbs 9
1st Corinthians 13: 1-8 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
Because of sin and selfishness, mankind is bankrupt when it comes to God’s kind of love. We can have all sorts of talents and gifts, but without agape love, the love that gives to help another, they are meaningless. We often lack patience and kindness with others. Envy and boasting cause division and strife. Resentment and irritation come out of us instead of blessing and rejoicing and long-suffering. Fortunately, God’s love becomes available to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our spiritual growth after new birth by faith is governed by our growth in learning to love like our Lord. Lord help me to love like you!
Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is none that does good, not even one.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the greatest gift, Your amazing agape love! I receive it and embrace my need to grow in my ability to love You and others. Fill me daily with the Holy Spirit. Give me opportunity to share love. Keep me from folly, the loud and seductive voices of this world that try to use me in unloving ways of impatience, irritation, resentment and strife. I am glad Your love never ends!
Proverbs 9:13-16 “The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!””
Pigs food and the ‘Far country’
Scripture reading for March 31st: Joshua 5-8, Psalm 14, Luke 15
Luke 15:11-16 “And He said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey to a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into the field to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.”
Sin is a universal problem. There are none righteous for all have sinned like the prodigal son in Luke’s Gospel and the nation of Israel in Joshua’s day. Sin, although fun for a season, always takes us to the ‘far country’ of famine, lack, want and slavery. The prodigal son was so hungry that he wanted ‘pig food!’ Israel’s sin brought defeat by their enemies. God sees it all and knows what has gone on! Like the father of the prodigal, He is watching and desiring our return to Him. He often allows the famines and pig food to bring His children to repentance and restoration. If you are eating ‘slop’ today, why not return to Father with humility and faith.
Joshua 7:11-12 “Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies.”
Prayer: Father God, I too have gone astray and gone to the far country. There I came to my senses and returned to You and confessed my sin. Your mercy and restoration won my heart! I gave my heart and life to You as an act of worship and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Send me to those in the ‘far country’ who need Good News of a God Who freely gives forgiveness and restoration!
Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
Calling all sinners!
Scripture reading for March 9th: Luke 5
Key Scriptures: Luke 5:27-31 “After this He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed Him. And Levi made Him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””
Jesus prayerfully and carefully selected those He wanted to follow Him as disciples and whom He would appoint as apostles. His selections were not popular with the local religious folks. They particularly held their nose up at the call of Levi, a tax collector and the dinner party Jesus attended at his house afterwards. They asked His disciples why they were eating with the “deplorable” sinners like these tax collectors were judged by them to be. Jesus answered them Himself. He came to call sinners to repentance. Only those who are sick will admit their need of a “Physician”.
Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for healing my sinful heart and inviting me to Your table for fellowship. Give me grace to call others in need of healing from the devastation caused by sin into fellowship with You.
Psalm 51:10, 12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. . . .Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”