Tag: murder

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer, The Importance of Prayer

Reconcile With Others

Posted on by

Inspired by the LGG study, “The Importance of Prayer”, w2d2

Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:17-23; SOAP Matthew 5:23-24

23 (So then), if you bring your gift to the altar and there (you remember that your brother has something against you,) 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

“So then” refers to something that came before, which in this case would be the teaching of Jesus that unity between believers was very important, vs.17-22. Verses 21 and 22 specifically referred to anger, murder, insults, and even careless words and the judgement these things would bring. Bringing your gift to the altar [worshipping] was important business between man and God – but the teaching here indicates, even more, the value God places on a pure heart, which includes right relationships with others*. So great was the priority of your relationship with others that Jesus said it would be better to delay the act of worshipping God to settle the issue. Make note here that the teaching isn’t to forego worship because of anger but to lay ‘it’ aside until there has been reconciliation and then return to worship. Also note that this verse isn’t talking about you being wronged but about someone who believes you have wronged them in some way. Jesus’ teaching is vital to the unity of the body. The bottom line is. We must care so much about others that we seek to not offend them and to quickly make things right if we do.

Jesus replied, the most important commandment is this: Listen O Israel, the Lord our God is the one and only Lord and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and with all your mind. The second is equally important, love your neighbor as your self. No other commandment is greater than these.

Mark 12:29-31

*For more on being pure-in-heart visit https://www.gotquestions.org/pure-in-heart.html

Matthew 5:8

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
Posted on by

A Heart of Repentance

Today’s Reading: Psalm 51 (SOAP: Ps. 51:17)

The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit
O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.

Psalm 51:17
After Bathsheba

Following David’s affair with Bathsheba he was confronted by Nathan, the prophet about his sin. This Psalm is David’s prayer of repentance sometime after the confrontation. David calls on the Lord’s loyal love and compassion. He acknowledges his awareness and sorrow for the sin and pleads for God’s forgiveness and cleansing, and the joy of God’s deliverance. He seeks God’s sustaining power of obedience and rescue from the guilt of murder. David lived in the time of burnt offerings and blood sacrifices but would have been well aware that there were none acceptable for murder or adultery. He was also aware of what we know today this side of the cross and of what Isaiah proclaimed long before the cross. God is not interested in the tangible sacrifices of bulls and goats, or of incense and rituals, but that of the heart, humbled and repentant and yielded to Him and His will.

A great example

This truly is a beautiful prayer, one we would do well to learn from and to use as a model for our own whenever we sin. Note David’s contrition and awe of God. David knows that he is not deserving of the mercy and forgiveness he requests from God but bases the request on God’s loyal love and great compassion. He knows that his actions have been rebellious and sinful and he knows that God is right to confront and condemn him. I love that he demonstrates not just sorrow for the sin but a longing to be right with God, to tell others of God’s mercy, and to lead them to God.

Application
  • No amount of our good works or acts of services like serving in the nursery, singing in the choir, visiting the shut-ins, or attending every church event will ever be able to atone for our sins. What truly matters to God is our love and obedience.
  • We shouldn’t just go through the ‘religious acts ‘ with God but rather seek and invest in a relationship with Him.
  • We must keep in mind that what God desires and will not reject is a heart humbled and repentant (yielded) before Him.
prayer prompt

Father, You are a gracious and merciful God, willing to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May we never forget that Your forgiveness comes at the great cost of Jesus’ blood. In remembering this – may we, as David, humble ourselves before You – offering not sacrifices of human hands but rather of our own repentant hearts – hearts that turn away from sin and toward You. – We ask not because we are worthy but because of Your faithful love and promises. Amen – in Jesus’ name.

Posted in LGG Study

Shame Breaker, Week 3-Monday The Shame of Adultery

Posted on by

Today’s Scripture –2 Samuel 11; Psalm 103:10-11 (S.O.A.P. Psalm 103:10-11)

David and Bathsheba

In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. 5 Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, “I’m pregnant.”

6 Then David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing. 8 Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace. 9 But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance with the king’s palace guard. READ THE REST OF THE STORY …

Psalm 103:10-11

 He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

LGG Blog
LGG DEvotional