Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 132:11-12 The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.”
Read the entire Psalm
God Keeps His Promise. David’s sons did not keep God’s covenant and the kingdom of Israel was divided and eventually both kingdoms fell. God kept His promise. Jesus came from the line of David. He is reigning on an eternal throne one day He will return to Judge. Praise the God who keeps promises, even if we are not faithful.
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 3:8-22 – New International Version
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Austin and Jenni and their family as they spend time in the states. Ask God to encourage them and guide them during their time at home.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
“The devil is in the details” is an idiom that means the details of a matter are the most problematic aspect of it. We can think too “big picture.” A corresponding idiom is “Don’t miss the forest for the trees.” This refers to the potential of paying too much attention to details and missing the bigger picture. As we study and seek to apply the Bible, we need to pay close attention to the details, the “trees,” because they are important. At the same time, we must not stand focused on a single tree and became lost in the larger forest. This means that as we study the important single “tree” issues like men’s and women’s roles in marriage and church, or what the Bible says about servants and masters, or how to deal with ungodly civil authorities, we must remember the main point…be a faithful witness in all the circumstances of your life. Again, it matters what God thinks about these things and we want to align our thoughts as best we can, with his. But we simply must not lose our highest calling to be a faithful witness. If our attention to the “trees” causes us to fail to be a faithful witness to the gospel, then we have lost our way.