Tag: Psalm 72:18-19
“Follow Me”
Scripture reading for April 11th: Matthew 4, Psalm 72, Proverbs 10
Matthew 4: 17-23 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”
Jesus came back in the power of the Holy Spirit from His forty-day encounter with Satan in the wilderness. He immediately began to preach repentance and call people to enter the kingdom of heaven. He began calling disciples from among the fishermen working at the Sea of Galilee. This was the area of Israel where a trade route brought many Gentiles through the area and the area Isaiah had prophesied about a “great light” appearing! Those called to follow Jesus, responded immediately! They were promised by Jesus a new type of ‘fishing’! Jesus then went throughout that area teaching and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of heaven and healing and miracles were being done among the people in need of His kingdom! Praise the Lord! The whole earth was being filled with His glory!
Psalm 72:18-19 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone has done wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious Name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen!”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for Your amazing call to those first fishermen to follow You and become fishers of men. The amazing love of King Jesus was and is being demonstrated by the covering of sins and offenses against You and the healing of hearts, bodies and souls damaged by sickness and sin. Through Jesus, I have found the fountain of Life! Use me to share the Gospel and Your glory to all! Amen!
Proverbs 10:11-12 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
Living as children of Light!
Scripture reading for June 21st: Song of Solomon 1-3, Psalm 72, 1st Thessalonians 5
1st Thessalonians 5: 5-10 “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live for Him.”
Paul loved to use contrasts to encourage believers and instruct them in righteous living and motivate them to persevere in the faith. In this passage, light and darkness, day and night are contrasts of the righteous and how they live as opposed to the wicked and their life-style. Those living in the light and day are awake and sober. They are full of faith and love and have the vision of hope of the return of Jesus Christ and the full salvation He promises. Those living in darkness are asleep spiritually and cover their darkness in drunkenness. They have no hope of salvation or a vision of the light of Christ. Those living in light know that they are not destined for wrath and eternal separation from God so they live for Christ!
Psalm 72:18-19 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious Name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and amen!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Light of Life, Jesus Christ! I am a child of the light and live in anticipation of seeing Jesus Christ on His return to earth for His people. Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who lives in me to empower me to live by faith and to love God and share His love with the nations through preaching the Gospel and giving to missions. Blessed by Your glorious Name forever and ever!
Song of Songs 2:4 “He brought me to his banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”