Friday Reflection
October 16, 2020
Be assured of God’s Protection

Good morning Friends, happyyyyyyy Friday to you all. I trust you are keeping well and if you are not,I hope after listening/ reading today’s reflection, you will be well both in body and spirit. Let the word of the Lord, be your “comfort food” for today and onwards.

Today we reflect on psalm 121. I found it very interesting that on Tuesday while we were having devotion at my place of employment, I asked the question “how are we assured of God’s protection? For ourselves and our loved ones!”

This question came to mind as I thought about the death of one on my most promising young sisters. She died 12 days ago, and I cannot seem to get why this most beautiful and blossoming young woman, just 22 years of age would just die like that? Of course I tired to find comfort in others, but also in God… But I still had the question ‘if we are assured this so called protection from God, then why?”

I think this passage of scripture puts it beautifully.

Some said that David wrote this psalm while he traveled, other said that he did it during a battle.. but either way serveral commentators agreed that it was written because Davdi at some point, experienced God’s protection and was very much assured.
Hear the words of the psalmist:
I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
Psalms 121:1‭-‬8 NRSV
https://bible.com/bible/2016/psa.121.1-8.NRSV

Now you might say how does this answer my question. In the last and closing verse the psalmist exclaimed , the Lord will keep you from evil, he will keep your life! Keeping you from evil and keeping your “life” does not mean keeping you alive in this present world…

Even though we are guaranteed protection on earth from evil , we do not choose how we are protected. What am I saying? Our protection from evil and the preservation of our lives ( eternal) may very well be God taking us out of this evil world. I had to let that thought sink. Now it’s your turn to let it SINK!

I would close right there, but I also want us to remember that while we are still living here on earth, God is still keeping us , providing for us and protecting us. No matter what state you are in!

God Bless you.

Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Thursday Reflection

October 15, 2020

Faithful prayer produces fruit

Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Mark 11:22

Today we will be reflecting on the lesson from the withered fig tree.

Jesus became hungry on his way from Bethany and he noticed a fig tree full of leaves so he thought he would be able to get some of it’s fruit. Fig trees normally have leaves only when it is in season. When Jesus got to the tree and searched the leaves he realized there was no fruit. Feeling deceived , he cursed the fig tree and it died the very next day. The disciples were shocked that the tree had withered and they surprisingly said “Rabbi the tree you cursed has withered” and he answered and said “have faith in God.”

According to Matthew Henry, God didn’t curse this tree to make an example for the other fig trees but for the Jewish church, to which he came seeking fruit but found none. It also goes to show that everyone who rejects Christ will also wither. A lot of us can be compared to the fig tree, full of leaves but we produce no fruit. We pretend to be righteous, to be pure but beneath all that is pure deception. So we all need to ask ourselves, do we act as if our trees have fruit but have none to show ? If God should inspect our trees would he find fruit?

He urged his disciples to have faith in God because the withering of the tree was not of his own will but because he prayed, trusted and had faith in God. He made it known that once you pray and believe that God can do it it will be done .

Similarly, it is through prayer and having faith in God that we produce the fruit that is required in season and out of season. So no matter which season God comes He’ll find us bearing fruit.

So I implore you all to not be fruitless trees but to strive to produce fruits for Christ through prayer and faith in the Lord.

Shalom

Toni-Ann Poyser