Events in July 2025
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June 30, 2025(1 event) June 30, 2025 
John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit because apart from me, you can do nothing. John 15:7-8 If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you will receive it. This is how My Father is glorified when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be My disciples. To abide means to: remain, stay, await, continue, endure to exist permanently in a relationship, inseparably united. How do we prove we are followers of Jesus Christ, and what is the fruit that glorifies Him? Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. When you are living in fellowship with the Lord Jesus, the fruit of His Spirit will be evident in your life. There should be love instead of bitterness, malice, and unkindness. Joy should replace gloom; peace should replace unrest; patience should outweigh impatience. There must be gentleness instead of harshness, goodness instead of moral evil, meekness instead of pride and arrogance, and self-control instead of yielding to the lusts of the flesh. Regardless of what you profess, if these qualities are not present, you are not living in fellowship with God. As we abide with God and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will manifest these fruits in our lives. So, I now have two new questions to explore: How do we live in fellowship with God? |
July 1, 2025(1 event) July 1, 2025 
How do we live in fellowship with God? It is established that we can have fellowship with God. 1 John 1:3 What we have seen and heard, we declare to you so that you too can have fellowship with us. Now this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son Jesus the Messiah. Sin keeps us in darkness and out of fellowship with Him 1 John 1:6-7 Live in His Light by confessing sin Walk in His Steps 1 John 2:6 The one who says that he abides in Him must live the same way He Himself lived. Love instead of hate Hate = darkness Stop loving the world and the things of the world 1 John 2:15-17 Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father's love is not in him. For everything that is in the world - the desire for fleshly gratification, the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world and its desires are fading away, but the person who does God's will remains forever. No one who denies the Son has the Father 1 John 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. The person who acknowledges the Son has the Father. Stay Pure 1 John 3:3 Everyone who has this hope based on Him keeps himself pure, just as the Messiah is pure. Everyone who continues to live in sin also practices disobedience. In fact, sin is disobedience. You know that the Messiah was revealed to take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. No one who remains in union with Him keeps on sinning. The one who keeps on sinning hasn't seen Him or known Him. Love in Action and Truth 1 John 3:18-19 We must stop expressing love merely by our words and manner of speech; we must love also in action and truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and how we will be able to keep ourselves strong in His presence. Exhortations 1 John 2:28 Abide in Him. Then, when He appears, we will have confidence and will not turn away from Him in shame when He comes. 1 John 3:22-24 Whatever we request, we receive from him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him. And this is His commandment: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus the Messiah, and to love one another as He commanded us. The person who keeps His commandments abides in God, and God abides in him. This is how we can be sure that He remains in us: He has given us His Spirit. Benefits 1 John 5:18-20 We know that the person who has been born from God does not go on sinning. Rather, the Son of God protects them, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are from God and that the whole world lies under the control of the evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true God. We are in union with the one who is true, His Son Jesus the Messiah, who is the true God and eternal life. Let us embrace this privilege, for by doing so, we will be safeguarded from all idols and misleading doctrines. We will steer clear of idolatrous love for worldly possessions and instead be upheld by the power of God through our faith, leading us to eternal salvation. |
July 2, 2025
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July 3, 2025(1 event) July 3, 2025 
Galatians 5:16 Live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. To walk in the power of the Holy Spirit is to desire after holiness and hate sin. If you need a list of sins that may shut you out of heaven, continue reading in Galatians 5. We are told what to avoid and oppose, as well as what to cherish and cultivate. But! Vs 22-24 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Strive to produce more abundantly the good fruits that, through Jesus Christ, bring praise and glory to God. To walk in the Spirit is to yield to His control, follow His lead, and allow Him to exert His influence over us. To walk in the Spirit is the opposite of resisting Him or grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30) To walk in: Love is to live in love for God and others. In joy is to exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do. Peace is to live lives that are not defined by worry or anxiety (Philippians 4:6) Patience is the ability to forbear and maintain a good temper. Kindness is to show tender concern for the needs of others. Goodness is to act in a way that reflects virtue and holiness. Faithfulness is to be steadfast in trust of God and His Word. Gentleness is to live a life characterized by humility, grace, and thankfulness to God. Self-control is to display moderation, constraint, and the ability to say "no" to the flesh. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of the Messiah inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. |
July 4, 2025(1 event) July 4, 2025 
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action. This testimony was given by the great theologian, philosopher, and brilliant intellectual, the apostle Paul, near the end of his life. He referred to the Old Testament, holding the conviction that literally, "all Scripture is God-breathed." This was also the sure teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself. Matthew 5:18 "because I tell all of you with certainty that until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter or one stroke of a letter will disappear from the law until everything has been accomplished. There is no doubt that Jesus and the apostles believed the Old Testament Scriptures to be the divinely inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. They frequently quoted and referred to these scriptures, always demonstrating absolute confidence in their accuracy and integrity. The Old Testament comprises 39 books accepted as divinely inspired and thus considered part of the canon of Scripture. There is every indication internally that each of these books was accepted as infallibly authoritative right from the time each was written. They were accepted as such not only by Jesus and His apostles but also by the Pharisee sect and most of the rank and file of His day (the Sadducees accepted only the Pentateuch) The testimonies of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and others affirm that the Old Testament is truly "God-breathed" and should be fully accepted as the Word of God. The written Word of God, conveying its powerful message of creation, redemption, and the promise of eternal life with God, has always faced challenges from the secular world and the unseen forces of darkness that influence it. However, God has laid out a wonderful plan of salvation and everlasting joy for all who respond to His call, trust in His Word, and accept His incarnate Son as their Savior and Lord. |
July 5, 2025
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July 6, 2025(1 event) July 6, 2025 
The written Word of God, conveying its powerful message of creation, redemption, and the promise of eternal life with God, has always faced challenges from the secular world and the unseen forces of darkness that influence it. However, God has laid out an excellent plan of salvation and everlasting joy for all who respond to His call, trust in His Word, and accept His incarnate Son as their Savior and Lord. Genesis - The Book of Beginnings The Book of Genesis is the most important book in the world, as it serves as the foundation for all other 65 books of God's written Word. Genesis emphasizes the unmerited grace of God. In the creation of the world, grace displays itself in the excellent provision that God makes for His creatures. In the creation of man, the grace of God is represented as bestowing even God-likeness upon him. God's grace is in evidence even in the flood. Abraham is chosen not because he is worthy but because God is gracious. In all His dealings with the patriarchs, God displays great mercy; they always receive far more favor than any one of them could deserve. Another essential feature of Genesis should be carefully analyzed - it effectively answers our questions about origins. We will always want to know how the world as a whole came into being. We will also want to understand how humans originated. Furthermore, we feel rather painfully that a major disorder has come upon the world and would like to understand its nature. In short, we are concerned to grasp how sin and all its dire consequences came about. We must understand if a basic and certain hope of redemption exists for this world and its inhabitants, what that hope is, and how it came to humanity. All the great doctrines of Christianity - sin, atonement, grace, redemption, faith, justification, salvation, and many others - are first encountered in Genesis. Since the only alternative to creation is evolution, these attacks are all ultimately based on evolutionism, the assumption that this complex universe can somehow be explained apart from the infinite creative power of God. For Further Study: Read through the book of Genesis. |
July 7, 2025(1 event) July 7, 2025 
As Genesis is the book of beginnings, Exodus is the book of redemption (Exodus 6:6). The deliverance of the oppressed Israelites out of Egypt is the type of all redemption 1 Cor. 10:11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained. The book of Exodus explains what true freedom is, what freedom costs, and how it must be used. It teaches that freedom is not license and discipline is not bondage. The severity of bondage in Egypt (a type of the world) and Pharaoh ( a type of Satan) calls forth the preparation of the deliverer: Moses (2:1-4:31) is a type of Christ. Exodus is the continuation of the story that God began in Genesis. And this continuing story leads us to the coming of Jesus to earth and His death on the cross, and it won't end until God's people go to heaven and see Jesus on the Throne. The theme of exodus is deliverance, and you can't have deliverance without a deliverer. Exodus includes codes that anticipate the climax of the New Testament, and the Holy Spirit orchestrates every detail with significance that extends beyond the event. Keywords - Redemption and Deliverance Exodus 6:6 Therefore, say to the Israelis, 'I am the Lord. I'll bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I'll deliver you from their bondage. I'll redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. Joel 2:32 Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be delivered. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing securely should watch out so he doesn't fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation, He will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it. Life is a continuous test of one’s faith in the Lord. As a child of God, every challenging situation we face is not an accident; it is the Lord’s way of posing a vital question to us. The question is this: “Will you trust Me to deliver you from these difficult circumstances, fears, tragedies, anxieties, and declining health?” 2 Corinthians 12:9 But He has told me, "My grace is all you need because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses so that the Messiah's power may rest on me. Scarlet Thread The name of our Redeemer is mentioned first here in Exodus 15:2: "The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. "This is my God and I'll praise Him, the God of my father, and I'll exalt Him. Psalm 68:4 Sing to God! Sing praise to His name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds. The Lord is His name. Be jubilant in His presence. |
July 8, 2025(1 event) July 8, 2025
The Book of Worship John 1:29 the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The book of Leviticus speaks of the finished work of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, on the cross, which secures our positional and practical holiness. Leviticus anticipates the life and death of Jesus. The sacrifices, festivals, rituals, and laws foreshadow God's redemptive plan. Jesus becomes the way to remove the guilt and penalty for sin through His substitutionary death on the cross. His death provides the final atonement for all sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us so that God's righteousness would be produced in us. The message of Leviticus directs us to the way by which God restores lost men to Himself. Both the redemptive activity of God and the response of appropriation due from man are summed up in the key verse, "Ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people; that you should be mine (20:26) To accomplish salvation and restore humanity to its Maker, a means of access to God must be provided. The first half of Leviticus (chapters 1-16) presents a series of religious actions that picture the way by which God redeems the lost, separating them from their sin and its consequences. The various sacrifices (chs 1-7) were anticipations of the death of Christ on Calvary, where the Sinless One suffered the wrath of God in our place, that we might be ransomed from our guilt. 2 Cor 5:21 god made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us so that God's righteousness would be produced in us. The Levitical priests (chs. 8-10) then foreshadowed Christ's faithful service in making reconciliation for the sins of the people (Heb 2:17). The laws of cleanness (chs 11-15) were perpetual reminders of the repentance and separation from impurity that must characterize the redeemed. Luke 13:5 Repent lest ye likewise perish. While the climactic Day of Atonement service (Lev 16) proclaimed God's forgiveness to those who humbled themselves in faithful commitment to Christ, who would yet provide access to heaven itself. Heb 9:24 For the Messiah did not go into a sanctuary made by human hands that is merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear now in God's presence on our behalf. Salvation is not only a separation from the wrong; it involves a positive union with what is right. So, the second half of Leviticus (chapters 17-27) presents a series of practical standards to which men are to conform in holy living. These include expressions of devotion in matters of ceremony (ch. 17) and worship (233-25), but they center on matters of daily conduct (18-22). Christ himself summed up the divine law (Matt 22:37-40 by speaking of a wholehearted love for God and by quoting from this section of Leviticus, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (19:18) Further Study; Read the book of Leviticus |
July 9, 2025(1 event) July 9, 2025 
The Walk in the Wilderness Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life. The theme of Numbers is the transitions and victories of the people of Israel from the time they left the area of Sinai until they reached the borders of the Promised Land. It is a collection of data, narratives, rituals, and civil law. The people followed the domestic pursuits of nomads, living in tents and pasturing flocks in the semi-arid steppes. These circumstances required special divine provision of food and water. God is presented in Numbers as a sovereign who demands absolute obedience to His holy will, but who also shows mercy to the repentant and believing. Just as a father nurtures and guides his children, God directs His beloved people, Israel. He chooses to interact with humanity through mediators. Among these, Moses stands out as unique, although others, like Balaam, may also possess prophetic gifts, for God is the creator of all spiritual beings. The deliverance from Egypt serves as a model of earthly redemption that foreshadows eternal redemption. The experiences in the wilderness are recorded for our warning. 1 Corinthians 10:11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained. The incident of the brazen serpent illustrated how Jesus Himself was to be lifted up, so that those who believe in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! He has blessed us in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, just as He chose us in the Messiah before the creation of the universe to be holy and blameless in His presence. Scarlet Thread: Bread of life Numbers 11:7-9 = John 6:57-58 Water of life Numbers 20:11 = 1 Corinthians 10:4 Lifted up Numbers 21:9 = John 3:14-15 The coming star out of Jacob Numbers 24:17 = Luke 1:78; 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 2:28; Revelation 22:16 |
July 10, 2025(1 event) July 10, 2025 
Deuteronomy 6:5 You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. The events recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy provide a wealth of historical information, but in nearly every case, Moses relates these events to the spiritual lesson that they underscore. He takes the legislation which the Lord had given to Israel almost forty years before and adapts it to conditions of settled life in the land to which Israel was soon to go. The nation of Israel was, when this book was written, in the land of Moab, to the east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Once before, Israel had failed, through lack of faith, to enter Canaan. Now, thirty-eight years later, Moses gathers the company together and seeks to infuse faith, which will enable the chosen people to move ahead in obedience. Before them lies their inheritance. Dangers, seen and unseen, lie ahead. With them is their God, whom they have come to know better during their experiences in the peninsula of Sinai, with its ruggedness and bleakness. Moses sees, correctly, that their major perils will be in the area of their spiritual life; so the central thrust of his message is spiritual. "The Lord their God is One." It is He who has delivered them from bondage. He has given them the law. He has entered into a covenant relation with them. They are His people. He demands exclusive devotion and worship. His ways are known to them. By long experience, Israel has learned that the Lord honors obedience and punishes transgression. Now, in a new sense, Israel is on her own, under the Lord and in her new home. Moses earnestly urges the people of Israel to trust the Lord wholeheartedly and to let His law guide their lives continually. If they adhere to this law, it will shape their entire existence and set them apart as a unique nation among others. Blessings will follow, and other nations will acknowledge that their God is the Lord. However, if Israel chooses to follow the ways of the surrounding nations and turns away from their God, they will face afflictions and ultimately be scattered among the nations. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on faith combined with obedience. The application to a new life in the land highlights the importance of loving God and obeying Him from the heart. Scarlet Thread: Deuteronomy 6:5 You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Matthew 22:37 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind—this is the greatest and most important commandment. Jesus chose words from Deuteronomy to turn back the three temptations of Satan. 1, Deuteronomy 6:13, Fear the Lord our God, serve Him, and make your oaths in His name. Do not follow other Gods. Luke 4:1-8 When the devil took Jesus to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant, telling Him, "I will give you all this authority, along with their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please. So if you will worship me, all this will be yours. Jesus answered him with a quote from Fear the Lord your God, serve Him, and make your oaths in His name. It is written, 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.' 2. Deuteronomy 6:16 Don't test the Lord your God like you tried to do in Massah. Matthew 4:7, the tempter came. "Since you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." Jesus answered, "It is written, One must not live on bread alone, but on every word coming out of the mouth of God." 3. Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to be hungry, yet He fed you with manna that neither you nor your ancestors had known, in order to teach you that human beings are not to live by food alone - instead they are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Matthew 4:3-4 Then the tempter came. "Since you are the Son of God," he said, "tell these stones to become loaves of bread." But He answered, "It is written, 'One must not live on bread alone, but on every word coming out of the mouth of God." |
July 11, 2025(1 event) July 11, 2025 
Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Don't be fearful or discouraged, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua believed in God's power and willingness to bring His power to bear on behalf of His people. He knew that nothing was too hard for God. If God had chosen him to be the one to succeed Moses and lead His people, then that was what God was going to do. Joshua also believed in God's promises. He knew that God had promised his forefather, Abraham, that he and his descendants would occupy the land. (Genesis 12:1-2 and 13:15) Joshua 1:5 I'll neither fail you nor abandon you. Joshua 1:9 because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua believed that God was all-powerful, kept His promises, and would be with him personally. Jesus promises this to us today: Matthew 28:20 Remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age. The book of Joshua tells us how to be victorious soldiers and how to claim our rich spiritual inheritance in Jesus Christ. It teaches us how to be strong and courageous as we face our enemies and move forward to claim our own inheritance from the Lord. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! He has blessed us in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, just as He chose us in the Messiah before the creation of the universe to be holy and blameless in His presence. Joshua 1:8 This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that's written in it, for then you'll prosper and succeed. Moses died in the land of Moab, within sight of the promised land. To Joshua, his successor, was left the mission of leading Israel across the Jordan into Canaan. The book of Joshua records the history of Israel from Joshua's appointment as Moses' successor to his death at the age of 110. Joshua 1:5 = Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you." The account of Joshua records two of the most remarkable miracles in history, appropriately signaling God's determination to fulfill His ancient promise to Abraham in giving the land of Canaan to his seed. The heavy walls of Jericho at the entrance to this promised land fell flat in response to the trumpets of the priests and the shout of the people (6:15-20). Then the sun itself "stood still in the midst of heaven" (10:13) to enable Joshua's army to rout the confederation of Amorites that otherwise might have turned them back. Scarlet Thread: Hebrews 4:8 Joshua leading the people of God into the promised land, can even be considered as a type of the great "Joshua," the Lord Jesus, leading His people to eternal life in the new Jerusalem. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah! He has blessed us in the Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm, just as He chose us in the Messiah before the creation of the universe to be holy and blameless in His presence. The name "Joshua" is equivalent to "Jesus," both meaning "Jehovah is Savior." Joshua was the successor to Moses, leading the children of Israel across the Jordan to conquer and inhabit the promised land of Canaan. |
July 12, 2025(1 event) July 12, 2025 
Judges 2:16 Then the Lord raised up judges, who delivered Israel from domination by their marauders. But they didn't listen to their leaders, because they were committing spiritual immorality by following other gods and worshiping them. They quickly turned away from the road on which their ancestors had walked in obedience to the commands of the Lord. They didn't follow their example. As a result, whenever the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord remained present with their leader, delivering Israel from the control of their enemies during the lifetime of that leader. The Lord was moved with compassion by their groaning that had been caused by those who were oppressing and persecuting them. However, after the leader had died, they would relapse to a condition more corrupt than their ancestors, following other gods, serving them, and worshiping them. They would not abandon their activities or their obstinate lifestyles. Marching from victory to victory or just here and there? The judges were Spirit-filled leaders who, in times of national emergencies, led the people in war and, having delivered them from the bondage of foreign oppression, continued to lead the people in peace. They functioned both as military and as civil magistrates. The book of Judges contains the account of the thirteen judges who ruled Israel from the death of Joshua until the time of Eli and Samuel. The period covered is approximately four hundred years. Each one had issues, each one had weaknesses, but God used them despite themselves simply because they made themselves available. The primary aspect of this historical period appears to be the cyclic pattern of national devotion to God, followed by apostasy, then captivity, and ultimately, repentance, deliverance, and restored fellowship. One of the most heartbreaking criticisms of the people during these times of apostasy is found in the very last verse of the Book of Judges: "Every one did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25 The later prophets appeal more strongly to people's consciences, but the book of Judges offers a historical perspective that is relevant to modern Christians. It illustrates that neglecting God's commandments and worshiping false idols results in negative consequences and defeat. In contrast, sincere repentance leads to divine favor. This emphasizes that God responds to nations based on their attitudes toward His moral laws, which is something we should consider today. Be open to God’s work and receptive to His calling. Regardless of how difficult the day may seem, God can still work through those who trust in His Word, submit to His Spirit, and follow His guidance. Scarlet Thread: Jesus is our ultimate Prophet, proclaiming God's truth, and our Judge, administering perfect justice. The various leaders in Judges illustrate Jesus' role as the righteous Judge who guides His people with divine wisdom, truth, and justice. Galatians 4:8 In the past, when you did not know God, you were slaves to things that are not gods at all. But now that you know God, or rather have been known by God, how can you turn back again to those powerless and bankrupt basic principles? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? Hebrews 11:32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith, they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies. |
July 13, 2025(1 event) July 13, 2025 
The Romance of Redemption Ephesians 1:7 In union with Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, when He made known to us the secret of His will. This was according to His plan that He set forth in the Messiah to usher in the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiah all things in heaven and on earth. The Book of Ruth is beautiful, elegant, and inspiring, with the Scarlet thread of the gospel threaded throughout the entire story, illustrating God's work of salvation. It is a small interlude between Judges and 1 Samuel that tells the simple story of King David's great-grandmother. The message of salvation is simple enough for the youngest minds, yet scholars can spend decades studying its pages and still find new hidden treasures in each passage. There are multiple levels of understanding available in the book of Ruth. Even in the turbulent time of the judges, God was providentially looking after His people, and yet was also still concerned about those individuals in other nations (even Moab) whose hearts were open to Him. It also provides a striking type of Christ in the person of Boaz, who became the "kinsman redeemer" for Ruth (4:1-12). He brought her into the family of God's people by paying the price for her redemption, just as the Lord Jesus purchased us with the cost of His shed blood (Eph 1:7) so that we might become part of the eternal family of God. The death of a father and his two sons in a foreign country puts the family's name and inheritance at risk. However, in times of crisis, there is an opportunity for divine intervention. Thanks to the actions of a noble kinsman who understands his obligations, the family's lineage remains intact. The union of Boaz, a Hebrew, and Ruth, a Moabitess, becomes the means through which God fulfills His gracious purpose. This story provides a perspective on the history of Christmas and the event of Pentecost within the broader message of the Scriptures. The genealogy ultimately leads to the theocratic king David, to whom the promise of the Messiah's arrival is given. Notably, this lineage includes a Moabite ancestor, highlighting the universal significance of the Messiah: He is not only the Savior of Israel but of all humanity. Scarlet Thread: Two books with names of women: Ruth, a Gentile, marries a Hebrew husband; Esther, a Jewess marries a Gentile husband. Two tokens that Gentiles as such were to be blessed only through Abraham's seed, according to Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; Psalm 72:17, and Acts 3:24 Ephesians 1:7 In union with Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us, along with all wisdom and understanding, when He made known to us the secret of His will. This was according to His plan that He set forth in the Messiah to usher in the fullness of the times and to bring together in the Messiah all things in heaven and on earth. |
July 14, 2025(1 event) July 14, 2025 
A book about success and failure - Character Counts 2 Samuel 22:2-3 Lord, You are my stone stronghold and my fortified place; You are continually delivering me. He is my God, my strong stone - in Him I will find my refuge - my shield, the strength of my salvation, my high tower, my way of escape, and the one who is saving me. You will save me from violence. "Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." Albert Einstein The book of Samuel unfolds during the final days of the judges and concludes with the elderly David firmly established as king over Israel and Judah. Samuel, the last of the judges and the first of the prophets, was a man of exceptional purity and spiritual insight. He was wholly committed to fulfilling God's purpose for Israel. Saul, the king, is a complex and enigmatic figure. Although he possessed great physical courage, he lacked the steadfast determination necessary for true greatness. His inconsistent temperament strained all his relationships, and an overwhelming fear of potential rivals clouded his judgment, affecting his ability to reason. David, a man after God's own heart (1 Sam 13:14), is one of the significant figures in biblical history. Like Saul, he came from a humble background, but his gifts were of the highest order. He was a born leader of men, able to win and retain their allegiance. Some of his most faithful servants came from outside Judah and Israel. David was a wise administrator and an astute judge of human nature. He was a highly gifted poet, and his songs of praise enriched the worship of both the temple and, later, the Christian Church. One might think that achieving such greatness at such a high cost would have made him strong enough to resist temptation. Unfortunately, his ability to resist was no greater than that of other men. Even considering the era in which he lived, he was not particularly steadfast when confronted with temptation. Despite his weaknesses, however, he clearly understood God's purposes for His people and foresaw the coming of the messianic king, whom he imperfectly reflected in his life. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success (2 Chronicles 26:5) |
July 15, 2025(1 event) July 15, 2025 
The Effects of Pride James 1:22 Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nations whose God is the Lord. The worth of a king is determined by comparison with two kings of former years, King David, who held closely to the covenant, and King Jeroboam of Israel, who forsook the covenant. David realized the ideal more closely than anyone. His parting advice to his son Solomon was that he should keep God's commandments (1 Kings 2:3). In that course lay the only hope of prosperity and peace. To depart from that way was to risk divine judgment. The books of Kings trace the story of Israel's kings from Solomon to the last king of Judah. In an honest fashion, he records the sad story of the rejection of the covenant by most of the rulers. The final collapse of Israel before Assyria (2 Kings 17) and of Judah before Babylon (2 Kings 25) served as a demonstration of the truth underlying the principle presented in the book. It came as no surprise to men of spiritual discernment. Kings give a practical lesson in the truth that rejection of God's covenant, being a sinful and rebellious act, can only result in divine judgment. Take responsibility for your character flaws by submitting yourself to the Word of God. |
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