Song of Songs 1-8

Beloved
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth–for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you! Take me away with you–let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers.

As I read this, I was thinking about what Jesus means to me this morning.

You know, as you and I have gotten to know each other better, you have been such a blessing to me that it is easy for me to sincerely say that "your love is more delightful than wine."

But we have discussed that the blessings we experience daily in each other is completely by the grace of God. It is only through him that we are able to learn true humility. It is his grace alone that shows us little by little what the love of Jesus is through our relationship to each other.

Do we love Jesus more than we love each other this morning? More than anything else in the world? Can we, with a sincere heart, sing the above song to Jesus right now and truly mean it?

Let us examine our priorities this day. Every good and perfect gift is from God, and Jesus IS the ultimate gift. We need to make sure that Jesus alone is, and always will be, the utmost desire of our hearts:)

Ecclesiastes 4-6

The I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him–for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Before this passage, the writer of this book talks about the many vanities of life. He refers to them as "grievous evil" and "chasing after the wind".

The examples of vanity is all around us. It's no secret that the world is after wealth and power. We all want this to different degrees. But seeking after wealth and power is vain, because, "Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand." We see examples of misery caused by our desire for wealth and power each day. Yet, so many of us are convinced that if we just had little wealth and little power they will make us happy. So we keep down this road of "chasing after the wind".

True contentment with our life is truly nothing other than a gift from God. It is interesting how the passage says God "enables" us to enjoy what we have in life. Only God can give us the right perspective, meaning, and the direction for our lives. Only through him, can we learn to accept our lot that he has given us. He will give us all that we need. Excess of wealth and power is not a blessing aside from God.

Let us remind ourselves this day that it is God and he only that can give us joy in our lives. Everything is from him. Everything leads back to him. Let our hearts be glad this day in his endless love for us:)

Matthew 19-21

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit."

We know that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. However, I am reminded that we need to continue to repent and believe in God. If we do not have that heart of humility to recognize our sins and God's holiness, we will eventually walk away from God and lose our faith.

During today's bible study, Pastor Tim mentioned how pastors are called to direct people to God and warn them. And I believe God wants us to be alert and be willing to draw close to him.

Let us commit ourselves fully onto God. Let us not be satisfied with where we are in our walk with God. I pray that we will continue to work out our salvation. "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."

Proverbs 28-31

"Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die; Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

The humility of this prayer made me pause. The bible says that this was written by Agur. Not sure who he was, but he definitely understood his sinful nature and the need for God in his life.

How honest of him to ask God only for his daily bread. He knows the temptation of riches may cause him to disown God. Most of us only find ourselves praying to God in times of need. I'm sure to many of us, having money means one less reason to seek God...

Agur also knows that poverty may cause him to steal and dishonor God. So he prayed for God to give him exactly what he needs. Nothing more and nothing less.

Let us trust God to provide our daily bread, and ask him to keep falsehood and lies of the devil far from us. How we truly need God to be our shield. Let us take comfort and refuge in his flawless word:)

Matthew 15-18

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.

As I told you, God kept reminding me of these verses throughout today. And I just realized how great God's forgiveness is. This parable is so simple and relevant to everyone because it's talking about money. When I hear that someone has millions of dollars, I go 'Wow, that's a lot of money.' But do I react the same way when talking about God's forgiveness? It is truly beyond measure.

Like I already shared with you last night, I do need restoration. And God is reminding me once again that he is always willing to forgive me. I am totally accepted and deeply loved.

Let us always give thanks to God for he is a forgiving Father.