...

while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a
people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
—Titus 2:13-14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Some of the most basic and elevated statements about Jesus are made in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus.
These letters are devoted to help ministers mature churches in difficult places. They are incredibly
practical, but also are rooted in the work of Jesus, his divinity, and his faithfulness. We are waiting
for the Faithful One! We trust that he will come for us because of what he sacrificed to redeem us.
While we wait, we honor his mission by being a people eager to do what is good, showing in our
lives that he is our Lord.

My Prayer...
O God, I find myself waiting for Jesus. Because he is coming for me, I know my life has direction
and meaning even on those days that are long, hard, and seemingly fruitless. Fire my heart to wait
longingly for Jesus' glorious appearing and stir my desires to want what is only good and holy. I
want to see you! But, dear Lord, I also long to be like you! In the glorious name of Jesus I pray.
Amen.

���

He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,
without blemish and free from accusation.
—Colossians 1:22

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Christians aren't perfect; they're just forgiven." We know we are not perfect. We know our
weaknesses, inadequacies, sinfulness, pettiness, immaturity, cowardice... But Jesus demonstrated
his love for us on the Cross as he offered his body and shed his blood. His sacrifice means that
God looks at us as "perfect." Jesus' sacrifice means we are holy, without blemish, and without
chargeable offense in God's presence! Jesus' perfect sacrifice has brought us perfect reconciliation
with God!

My Prayer...
Forgive me, Almighty God, for my sins. I get sick of them and frustrated with my own inability to
completely overcome them. Strengthen me, dear Father, so that I will have more fortitude and
courage to face temptation victoriously. Thank you, God of glory, for sharing your perfection and
glory with me by sending Jesus. I praise you O God, my Rock and my Redeemer, for you have
made me your child! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

���

PEOPLE PLEASING IS DANGEROUS!

2 Samuel 15:1-20:26

Scriptures Focus

2 Samuel 15:1-6 NIV

[1] In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses
and with fifty men to run ahead of him.
[2] He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city
gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a
decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would
answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”
[3] Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper,
but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”
[4] And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then
everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that
they receive justice.”
[5] Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom
would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him.
[6] Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king
asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

Insights

- This reading is so appropriate for today! It is campaign period here in the

Philippines. We hear and see all sorts of gimmicks done by politicians just to
entice the voters to cast their vote for them. Promises are given, hugging the
children, shaking hands with common people, stage acting are all part of trying
to get the favor of the people.

- Absalom was so crafty in his scheming that he eventually won the hearts of the
Israelites to himself!

- Obviously, Absalom usurped the rule of David his father. What sad betrayal of
a son this is!

- Alam ni Absalom kung pano makuha ang mga puso ng tao. In this story of
national rebellion against David, Absalom is the chief perpetrator, appealing
directly to the crowds. His rebellion is popular, showing that the crowd will
follow just about anybody. Let’s learn here that people can be fickle minded or
madali magpalit ng isip.

- Other lessons in this passage include evaluating leaders (making sure they’re
not schemers); ignoring unjustified criticism; avoiding flattery; thinking before
acting; and using diplomacy and tact.
- Crowds can change their minds with the wind.

- That’s just one of the reasons we need to live by a higher moral code than the
pleasure of the majority or simply going with the flow. One day the people will
want this, the next day they will want that.

- What the crowd wants, and what people pressure us to do, will rarely conform
to what God wants. As disciples, we are blessed that we have the Bible as the
standard of our lives. Let us not give in to feelings but let us be Bereans by
checking first on God’s words.

- Although there is much pressure to conform to the world, rather than trying to
be popular and acceptable to the crowd, guide your life by the moral principles
given in God’s Word. God never changes, and he knows and wants what is best
for us.

Prayer
Lord, help me to please you alone. It is so easy to fall into the desires o the
majority and also conform to the world. But you Lord should be my standard
alone. Help me to stay strong even if the decisions I make are not popular. Keep
me Lord from people pleasing and instead only please you. Give me Lord a
heart of discernment that I might know what to do in any given time. Amen.

Good morning everyone �

Have a blessed day �
Do Good Deeds �
Trust God❤

���

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors
locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they
saw the Lord.
—John 20:19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Overjoyed would be an understatement! After having every dream shattered, now they share the
unspeakable joy of seeing what was not possible and experiencing what was unthinkable. The
power available to them is now unlimited and their future is without boundary. Jesus, their
Teacher, is Lord of all and their future is in his hands.

My Prayer...
I praise you, O mighty God, for raising Jesus from the dead and for the assurance that I will one
day be with you and with all those who love you. Thank you for doing what is not possible and
giving me faith in what is unimaginable. Please use this power to conform my character to your
will and to the example of Christ. In Christ Jesus' name I pray. Amen.