Sin

He Day 8 Yahweh M’Kaddesh

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Malachi 2:17-3:5
Romans 14:10-12
Ezekiel 37:23-28

He, Day 8

Yahweh, the Lord God, to Adam & Eve
Because of your sinful rebellion, pain will be yours. You will hunger for power and control, but those desires will leave you empty.

Your work will be cursed, as will the whole earth. Hardship, difficulty, loss, brokenness; these will be your consequences. You have chosen prideful arrogance over sweet friendship with Me. You are receiving what you lusted after, and it condemns you. (Genesis 3:16-19) 

Yahweh M’Kaddesh to Adam & Eve
I will be the first to slay one of My beautiful creatures because I love you. I will cover your nakedness with its skins as I will one day cover your sin with My own blood.

We can only have fellowship together if you are holy, as I am holy. You cannot be holy on your own, so I Am Yahweh M’Kaddesh, the God who makes you holy. (Genesis 3:20-23)

Yahweh, the Lord God, to Noah
I designed all of creation, from the millipede to the jewel of My work, human beings, to live in sweetest harmony together. Additionally, My Spirit was intended to hover over creation, singing My song, and calling hearts to be bound together in a majestically beautiful oneness.

But, Noah, My heart grieves over these people I so lovingly created. They rejected Me. 

They have mutilated My gift of sex to take advantage of one another.
They have abused My gift of food and become gluttons;
they have abused My gift of wine and become drunkards.
They have despised the gift of My presence, and worshipped themselves instead.

I will destroy all people because of their sin, for I am a just God. (Genesis 6:1-7:1)

Yahweh M’Kaddesh to Noah
All but you and your family will be wiped out because of their sin. But you, Noah, have walked with righteousness before Me, honoring Me in your heart and with your life. You will be rescued by a boat, which I have designed to perfectly save you, along with a remnant of creation, so all will be made new.

One day, Noah, a perfect Savior will come as God wrapped in flesh to offer rescue for all. He will be the new “boat” to save humanity.

My heart is love; my heart is to save.

Even though My creation has sinned against Me, mocking My standard of holiness, I will make a way for all to return to Me and be made holy, so we can fellowship together as I designed from the beginning. I Am Yahweh M’Kaddesh, the God who makes you holy. (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Yahweh, the Lord God, speaking to Israel
I have called you, Israel, to reflect My glory to the world. You are to love Me first and foremost. You are to be holy as I am holy, representing Me to all peoples.

But, oh Israel, you are not holy! Your sin is constantly before Me. You have profaned My sanctuary. You have been faithless. You have called “evil” good, and called “good” evil. You defy Me. (Leviticus 19:2, Malachi 2:10-17)

Yahweh M’Kaddesh to Israel
Because you are not holy, I will lovingly provide for you. I will be your blood sacrifice to cover your multitude of sin. I will make you holy through My holiness.

One day I, Myself, will come to you. I will be your Shepherd, I will give you a new heart to love Me, I will put My Spirit within you, and I will make an eternal covenant of peace with you. I will dwell with you.

I will, because I Am Yahweh M’Kaddesh, the God who makes you holy! (Leviticus 20:8, Ezekiel 37:24-28, Ezekiel 36:23-29)

Yahweh, the Lord God, is the very same God as Yahweh M’Kaddesh.
He is just and righteous, demanding payment for sin, unwilling to simply look the other way and pretend sin doesn’t exist.

Because who would want a God who simply excused
the murderer,
the rapist,
the suicide bomber,
the man who left his wife,
or the woman who destroyed friendships with her gossip and betrayal?

We wouldn’t.
We want justice.

And God is just. 

Because He is perfectly just, He cannot excuse some sin while demanding punishment for other sin. All sin is putrid in His eyes.
All. Sin.
There are no “mistakes” against God’s holiness; all offenses are sinful.

A snooty attitude.
Sharp words.
Cold shoulder of rejection.
Quiet whispers behind another’s back.
Rudeness.
All are just as sinful against God as murder, rape, and adultery. 

But Yahweh, is also, graciously, mercifully,
Yahweh M’Kaddesh,
the God who makes us holy. 

While we were still in our sin, still pursuing ourselves, still lusting after our own ways,
Christ died for us. (Romans 5:10)
He Himself became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

An unfathomable exchange took place at the cross where Christ’s blood was spilled for us.
He held out His righteous holiness to us with the same hand that willingly opened to Roman nails.

Where our sin demanded our death,
Christ died instead, defeating all death and offering righteousness and life to us.

This is Yahweh M’Kaddesh,
the God who makes us holy. 

Is His righteousness yours?

Have you surrendered all of yourself, allowing Him to make you holy?
Or are you still holding on to your sin, stuck in separation from Him?

One day, my friend, one day all will confess Jesus Christ is Lord. (Romans 14:11-12)
No choice will remain, for every tongue will declare His Lordship.
On that day, it will be too late to willingly accept the offer of Yahweh M’Kaddesh to remove your sin-soaked rags and clothe you in robes of righteousness.

Today is the day to be made holy!

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Sketched VII Day 9 Born Again: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Born Again!

The Questions

1) In this passage of Scripture, Jesus referenced Moses when he lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Why did he reference Moses to Nicodemus, rather than use a parable?

2) What does the phrase “born of water and of the Spirit” mean?

3) Why did Jesus say that “unless someone is born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God”?

John 3:1-21

1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2  This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him. 3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 ”How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit,  he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8  The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9  “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10  “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 22 But anyone who lives byJ the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Original Intent

1) In this passage of Scripture, Jesus referenced Moses when he lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Why did he reference Moses when he was speaking to Nicodemus, rather than use a parable?
Jesus is Emmanuel, God With Us. He is and always has been the God Who meets us where we are, and in his interaction with Nicodemus, we see this illustrated clearly. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the highest Jewish council in the first century. The Sanhedrin was comprised of 71 individuals, which included 69 common members and was presided over by the high priest. The 69 common members were divided into three courts of 23 members, and Moses was actually considered the 70th common member. The Sanhedrin served as the highest court of the Jews, and they even appointed members to lower courts throughout the land. Their decisions were honored by Jews regardless of where they resided. If a lower court decision were to be appealed, it would be sent before the Sanhedrin for review…not unlike a first century Supreme Court. Every member of the Sanhedrin was well versed in the Law, as well as the history of Moses. They would have been well versed in all 613 laws, as well as any religious customs their culture had adopted as rules. Nicodemus undoubtedly knew the Law backwards and forwards, as was required of his position and title. The story of Moses lifting the snake in the wilderness would have been as familiar to Nicodemus as the back of his hand. Because he was after Nicodemus’s heart, as he always is, Jesus spoke to him in the language he would immediately recognize and understand.

2) What does the phrase “born of water and of the Spirit” mean?
Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus about the new life God extends to every believer when they submit their life to Him and accept the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus and salvation through Him alone. While conversing with Nicodemus, Jesus mentioned being born of water and the spirit. The phrase “born of water” likely refers to what Nicodemus would have recognized as familiar: spiritual cleansing by water. This is clearly referenced numerous times throughout the Old Testament. (Numbers 19:17-19; Psalm 51:2, 7; Ezekiel 36:25) The phrase “born of the Spirit” refers to the spiritual birth each person receives when they experience salvation and their sin nature is crucified with Christ. When we accept the gift of salvation, we are transferred into the kingdom of God and begin to be transformed into the likeness of Christ! As we allow Him to do the work necessary in our spirit, our soul and flesh fall into alignment and we begin to become more and more like Jesus. Praise God!

3) Why did Jesus say that “unless someone is born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God”?
Jesus was fully God and fully man. He knew His verbal exchange with Nicodemus that night would echo throughout the Jewish man’s mind, heart and life, as well as through the pages of Scripture for all time. This conversation was anything but casual. Jesus took this important moment to explain the miraculous spiritual transformation every believer can experience in their life. He had not yet been crucified, but being God, He knew the end of the story. Jesus wanted Nicodemus, and everyone who would read this passage of Scripture, to know what God had been telling the Jews since the first Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden: no one is able to become righteous in their own strength. Instead, spiritual salvation and transformation are required. In this passage, Jesus is explaining what it takes to enter the kingdom of God: the spiritual transformation which would be made possible only by His own death and resurrection.

Everyday Application

1) In this passage of Scripture, Jesus referenced Moses when he lifted up the snake in the wilderness. Why did he reference Moses when he was speaking to Nicodemus, rather than use a parable?
In the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus that night, we see the nature of God illustrated clearly, and we are encouraged to follow suit. Jesus could have spoken to Nicodemus in a parable, or through an angel, or through any supernatural or natural way he desired. However, he knew Nicodemus intimately. He chose to meet Nicodemus where he was and speak to him using the language and medium He knew Nicodemus would understand. As born again Christians, we are charged to fulfill the great commission, and in this interaction Jesus shows us the best way: by meeting people where they are and speaking truth to them in the way Holy Spirit leads. Doesn’t it make sense that He would encourage us to come alongside others as we share the good news of the gospel? Grab hold of the freedom we see Jesus extend to us here!

2) What does the phrase “born of water and of the Spirit” mean?
God never changes, and He has been telling us the same truth since the beginning: we are incapable of saving ourselves. No human could ever fulfill the law or become righteous on their own; we all need someone sinless to stand in the gap for us because all have sinned. God is holy, and He can not contradict Himself. As much as He loved His creation, He could not remain in intimate relationship with them once sin had entered the picture because sin deserves punishment and God is just. But, God also knew His creation would foul things up and sin (over and over), and He had already designed a different outcome. Enter Jesus. God sent His only begotten son to atone for our sins, so we could enter into a right relationship with Him. When we accept this gift of salvation, we are also recipients of spiritual birth! Our sin debt was paid for once and for all by the precious blood of Jesus Christ when He defeated death and hell, and rose from the grave three days later. This ultimate sacrifice made it possible for us to be born of water and the Spirit!

3) Why did Jesus say that “unless someone is born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God”?
From the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and accept the salvation and new life He alone can give us, we become part of God’s family through the spirit of adoption. But that’s not all. We experience an immediate transfer into the kingdom of God, but this is only the beginning! As we grow in our faith and spiritual maturity, God is gracious to transform us from the inside out, renewing our mind to become like Jesus. Freedom is truly ours as we find there is absolutely nothing we can do to manufacture this incredible spiritual transformation on our own; instead, we are tasked to let Him do his work in us. We can fight it, sure. We can struggle, and resist. And the Lord will honor our desires. He will never force us to change, but if we will submit every area of our lives to him, He will go about the holy work of redeeming us and using us for His glory!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Born Again!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched VII Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Questions Day 2 In The Presence Of Sin: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out In The Presence Of Sin!

The Questions

1) The author includes four “there is no one” phrases in this passage. Why does the author draw attention to humanity’s shared sinful state?

2) Why does the author include a list of body parts in verses 13-18?

3) How can we better understand what it means to have a “fear of God” (verse 18) from this passage of Scripture?

Romans 3:10-18

As it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Original Intent

1) The author includes four “there is no one” phrases in this passage. Why does the author draw attention to humanity’s shared sinful state?
Before we dive into this passage, we need to set the stage. Paul is the author of Romans, and he addresses this letter to believers in Rome, the economic, political, social, religious, and cultural center of the most powerful empire in the Western world. Like many new Christian churches, the Roman church included both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). Due to the religious, cultural, and political divides between these two groups, Paul recognized there was growing tension between Jews who rigorously upheld Old Testament teachings (i.e., the law) and Gentiles who thought the Jewish law was obsolete. Paul then sought to bridge the gap between these theological positions by articulating this truth: the law establishes all of humanity’s natural sinful state and points us to our need for a Savior, who is Jesus Christ. In this passage from Romans, Paul seeks to unite Jew to Gentiles by alluding to readings from the wisdom literature, which include Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. For example, the expression “there is no one” is used in Psalm 14:3, “All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.” The writer of Ecclesiastes 7:20 also uses this phrase, “There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.” Yet, the verses from the Old Testament do not provide a permanent source of redemption for our depravity. Paul’s letter in Romans reminds his original audience that good behavior and the law cannot save us, but our perfect, righteous savior Jesus Christ can.

2) Why does the author include a list of body parts in verses 13-18?
Paul does not mince his words here. If you are familiar with the Old Testament, you might find some verses oddly familiar. Like verse 13, the writer of Psalm 5:9 observes, “For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.” Paul also draws on the same imagery of Psalm 140:3, “They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s bite; viper’s venom is under their lips.” Do you see a trend here? Once again, he pulls from passages in the Old Testament to point Gentile believers to the whole story of Scripture and to demonstrate the corrupting nature of sin. He also references Psalm 10:7 in verse 14, Isaiah 59:7-8 in verse 17, and Psalm 36:1 in verse 18. Additionally, Paul ties this list of body parts to negative words and images; “open grave,” “deceive,” “venom,” “shed blood,” and “ruin and wretchedness” paint a terrifying portrait of humanity. In other words, sin leads to death, and apart from Jesus Christ, there is no escape.

3) How can we better understand what it means to have a “fear of God” (verse 18) from this passage of Scripture?
The “fear of God” would have been a familiar phrase for much of Paul’s audience. For example, the Old Testament writers described the most faithful and wise as having a fear of God (Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9). These writers do not define fear as a type of dread or phobia but as, “more the feeling of reverent regard for…God, tempered with awe and fear of the punishment of disobedience.” As the Psalmist writes, “For the LORD is great and is highly praised; he is feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:4). After all, He is a “great and awesome God” (Deuteronomy 7:21), “A great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2), and none are like Him (Jeremiah 10:7). In the broader context of Scripture, to not fear God is foolish and impious. Paul’s statement, “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (verse 18) means we are prone to forget our primary purpose is to worship our indescribable God. In our natural, sinful state, we go down a path of ruin rather than a “path of peace”. (verse 17) The only right way to peace is through the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), who restores peace between wayward humanity and God.

Everyday Application

1) The author includes four “there is no one” phrases in this passage. Why does the author draw attention to humanity’s shared sinful state?
Our church today is not very different from the first-century Roman church. We often applaud external behavior modification over considering the posture of an individual’s heart. Have we not seen many a social media influencer praising their self-righteousness one minute only to find themselves caught in an ethical scandal the next? However, we were never supposed to put our salvation hope in a Christian leader. Instead, Paul points his readers to the extravagant grace found in the Gospel for “all who believe”, “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-24) As Paul makes clear, every person, whether rich or poor, black or white, man or woman, are united in their need for a Savior. Unlike the celebrity in your Instagram feed, Jesus Christ died a death he did not deserve so you might live and have eternal life. (John 3:16) Paul’s letter then speaks very much to our moment as it did to those early believers two thousand years ago.

2) Why does the author include a list of body parts in verses 13-18?
Death is not something we like to dwell on. In today’s culture, self-lauded experts encourage us to eat right, exercise, and, if needed, visit the plastic surgeon for a little “nip-tuck” to look our best well into old age. But here is the universal truth, despite how well you eat, how much you exercise, and how wrinkle-free your skin is, you will die. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us of this fact, “No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death…”. (Ecclesiastes 8:8) From the moment in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve committed the first sin, death entered the world. Not only does sin alter our physical bodies, but it also leads to spiritual death because we now cannot enjoy eternal life with God. The writers of Scripture also make clear that we cannot resolve the death problem on our own (Isaiah 24:1-6; Matthew 19:16-22; Romans 8:5-11, Romans 8:18-25; Hebrews 9:22). Even Paul admits this situation seems hopeless when he writes, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”. (Romans 7:24) But in the very next verse, Paul rejoices, because our hope is in our perfect savior, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:25). The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever”. (Hebrews 7:26-28) This high priest whom this writer speaks of so highly? He is none other than Jesus Christ.

3) How can we better understand what it means to have a “fear of God” (verse 18) from this passage of Scripture?
Fear can be a good thing. When teaching my three-year-old son the ways of the world, I have taught him the stovetop is hot, to look both ways before crossing the street, and not to talk to strangers. I am trying to ingrain in his little mind that a healthy dose of fear can prevent unnecessary pain, suffering, and, in some cases, death. While Christians should not live in a constant state of fear, the Old Testament writers, and Paul, demonstrate how the fear of God is a gift. Paul writes that we should not only “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), but also that we should “cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God”. (2 Corinthians 7:11) When we rightly respect and worship God, we are more likely to live a lifestyle of confession and repentance. Ultimately, Jesus modeled how to we are to fear God. He demonstrated genuine love and reverence by laying down His life for humanity’s sin so we might enjoy eternal life, not death.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with In The Presence Of Sin!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Questions Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Worship VI Day 6 Isn’t He?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 4:19-26
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 103:6-14
2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Worship VI, Day 6

On Sundays, we read Scripture, sing of grace, and quietly pray.
Some simply observe, while others experience something powerful.
Why the disparity between worshipper’s experience?

Is “worship” the songs preceding the sermon?
Is it a reverent attitude with which we approach God?
Could it be both, and more?

In His encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus outlines the sort of worshipers He seeks. “. . . true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth…. God is spirit and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Genuine worship engages both the truth of Scripture and our spirit.  
Our being connects with the Spirit of God as we study and adore Him.
Worship can happen in a church service, in our car, in a pristine wilderness, or over a sink of dirty dishes. The melodic lyrics are intended to remind us of our great salvation and Scriptural truths, prompting us to worship.

Truth fuels our worship.
As wood is to fire, so truth is to our worship.
As we encounter the truth of Scripture, the Holy Spirit rushes in, providing oxygen.
As oxygen is to fire, so is the Holy Spirit to our worship.

So, again, “Why the disparity between worshippers and their experience?”
Deep worship happens when we interact with truth on an experiential level.
This isn’t about knowing more, it’s about experiencing the reality of God and His character in our lives and through His Word.

When we sing, we find the threads of our stories in the lyrics.
His “Amazing grace. . . saved a wretch like me. . .”
Me. My sin. My hopelessness apart from Christ. My brokenness.

When we belt out “. . . my chains are gone. . .”,
we name our former chains while rejoicing over our release.

As we soulfully cry out to Him in our present “deep water” circumstance, pressing tear-stained faces into His chest, we clutch this Scripture truth,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

Genuine worship sings truth, reads truth, and speaks truth.
In so-doing, we verbalize it for our own and others’ edification. The Spirit rises within us to confirm the truths our lips declare, igniting our hearts to draw close to His presence;
we are ablaze with worship.

In Natalie Grant’s song, “Isn’t He”, we celebrate two key truths leading us to ponder an earthshaking question.
“Captivator of the searching heart. . .” explores this first truth:
Jesus searches us out when we are not searching for Him.

In fact, He pursues us as we run in the opposite direction. When He catches us, to our amazement, there is no condemnation. Expecting shameful judgement, we find stunning kindness and lavish grace.

If such grace was not enough, this Captivator becomes our Healer, the second incredible truth of the song.
Christ finds us, slumped in the wreckage of failure, languishing in painful losses or enslaved in strongholds of our own making. This Jesus picks up our shattered pieces, frees us from our stonewalled strongholds, and bathes our gaping wounds with the healing balm of kindness.

Graciously giving more, He proclaims blessings over us, giving us hope and a future. He pieces together our shattered fragments, fashioning them into a magnificent masterpiece of grace.

Deeper still, this Healer takes the punishment our wrong-doing demands.
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“. . . He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10)

Our most shameful thoughts are no longer held against us once we lay down our hearts in surrender to Christ. The vile things we’ve seen, dark deeds we’ve committed, or those done against us, no longer define us.

The wrestling question begs an answer,
“Who would lavish such grace upon me?
Who is this Captivator?

Once again, Scripture reveals truth…
He is the same Whose Spirit hovered over the waters before creation (Genesis 1:1-2)

He is I AM Who revealed Himself to Moses on Sinai, and spoke through fire and cloud. (Exodus 33:7-23)

He is the One “. . . who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. . .” (Psalm 103:1-5)

He is the Suffering Servant Who “. . .  was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“He is the image of the invisible God; He is the firstborn over all Creation. . . He is before all things and in Him all things hold together…” (Colossian 1:15-23)

He is the Lamb receiving worship from saints and angels and the rider on the white horse returning as King of King and Lord of Lords! (Revelation 5 & Revelation 19:11-16)

Let these truths soak into your soul and shape you.
Dare to believe this magnificent grace, this lavish kindness is truly for you, and sink into wonder. “This Jesus” has drawn you to Himself with the cords of lovingkindness and you are loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Linger in this holy moment.
Worship.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Worship VI Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Worship VI!

Pause 3 Day 8 One Sacrifice

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Pause 3, Day 8

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your own screw-ups?
Raising both of my hands over here!

Words that just keep coming out like swords that cut, no matter how much you wish they didn’t.
Anger that boils over when you get in those specific scenarios, despite how much you decide you won’t get mad this time.
Or even overspending or overeating or over-parenting, even though you know it’s a weakness of yours.

Jesus comes to bring complete forgiveness of sin once and for all.

Shame has no place.
The times we fail to live the life of love we want to are opportunities to return closer to the Father, and learn from Him again, not be ashamed of lifting our face to His.

Slow down today and sink into the fullness of this sweet, freeing truth:
One sacrifice, all sin forgiven, eternal Hope offered!

Today's Invitation

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down Hebrews 10:4-10 after you read the full passage of today’s reading in Hebrews 10:1-18. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going deeper into biblical community! 
a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
c) Leave a comment here about it.
d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 
e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

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Hebrews 10:1-18

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:
You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
6 You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “See—
it is written about me
in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.”

8 After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), 9 he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:
16 This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days,
the Lord says,
I will put my laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,
17 and I will never again remember
their sins and their lawless acts.
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause 3 Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause 3!

Pause 3 Day 7 The Best Places

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Pause 3, Day 7

The high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year,
and never without blood,
which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed…

Only the high priest.
Only alone.
Never without blood.

God’s presence is too holy of a place to enter recklessly, carelessly, or without fearful awe.

The care that had gone into every single, ornately beautiful detail in handcrafting the Tabernacle of the Old Testament was immeasurable. The finest craftsmanship, the most intricate details, and the most precise tools available were prevailed upon to build the Tabernacle. The place where God’s presence dwelled and the place of shared community between God and His people was the very best place available to all of Israel.

No other place was as sacred, as ornate, or as fearfully held in awe as the tabernacle.

The author of Hebrews 9 uses the extremely familiar setting of the tabernacle and its specially designed articles to set the stage for the gospel.

From His heavenly throne, to the ancient tabernacle, to our very hearts,
He only dwells in the best places.

Jesus, the perfect High Priest,
the only perfect One,
interceded on our behalf in the presence of God,
as He offered up His own blood
in place of ours,
for complete forgiveness of our sin!

If you have surrendered yourself fully to Jesus, then the same God who met with the long-ago Israelites in a tent, the same One whose throne room is surrounded by angelic beings, is the very same One dwelling inside you through His Holy Spirit.

He only dwells in the best places, Sister!

Today's Invitation

1) Pull out your Bible and read Hebrews 9 fully through 3 times.

2) Each time, write down everything that pops out at you, makes you curious, or wonder “why?”. When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Want to learn more about those intricate details and the heavy meanings God intended as He pointed ancient Israel towards the coming hope of the gospel?! Check out our Journey Theme, Tabernacle!

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Hebrews 9

Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. 3 Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place. 4 It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.

6 With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. 7 But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience. 10 They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.

11 But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), 12 he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?

15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. 18 That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. 19 For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, 20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you. 21 In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. 25 He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. 26 Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— 28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause 3 Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause 3!

Pause 3 Day 6 Most Excellent Way

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Pause 3, Day 6

All the rules. Over 600 of them.
All the punishment that must be enacted because of infractions on those rules.
All the bloodshed required for forgiveness of sin.

But all pointed forward.

In the Old Testament, God set up a covenant with Israel to clearly mark out what holiness looked like, and what failing that holiness also looked like.
Spoiler alert: everyone failed.

So, sacrifices were required and bloodshed was required in order to pay for the crime against a holy God.
Sin had a price, that price was death.

In order to spare Israel so they all didn’t end up dying for their sin within days, God allowed animals to be sacrificed in place of people. For hundreds of years, the system continued.
Sin, and sacrifice for that sin, was the rhythm for all Jewish people.

The fact that they were indeed sinners in need of a blood sacrifice to atone for their sin was a blatantly known fact.
Every Jew was keenly aware of three things:
1) they were in a covenant relationship with God
2) they constantly failed to keep their end of the covenant
3) God was rich in mercy to allow another’s blood to cover their own payment

And this is where we often misstep in our culture today.
We like to forget we are sinners.

It’s just a white lie.
She will never know I was talking about her behind her back.
Who doesn’t think he’s hot, so what if I think about him when I’m with my husband?
Girl, I had every right to be rude!
Sisters, we are experts at justifying our sin.

No matter how long we’ve walked with Jesus or if we’ve never actually crossed the line of faith, we are still experts at covering up our sin, categorizing it as anything else but sin.

So, here we are stuck in sin, just like ancient Israel.

The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant.

A new covenant, where one sacrifice would atone for all sin, across all time.
Sin still has a price, and it’s still death.

But Christ Jesus, God the Son, took that punishment Himself.
No more animal sacrifice were needed because He, being fully God and fully man, which meant He lived our life for us in all the righteousness of God, took our rightly deserved punishment as He poured out His innocent blood.

This is the blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sin.

The old way of forgiveness swallowed up by the most excellent covenant where sin is atoned for by perfect righteousness.

Sisters, this covenant is for our everyday living!
When we surrender to Jesus, we enter into this covenant, paid for by Christ!
Walk forward in forgiveness!

Today's Invitation

1) Read Hebrews 7:26-8:13 and answer these 3 questions in your journal:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today.

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Hebrews 7:26-8:13

For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.

8:1 Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. 6 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8 But finding fault with his people, he says:
See, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
9 not like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in my covenant.
10 For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,
and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least to the greatest of them.
12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins.

13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause 3 Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme? Here’s a link to all past studies
in Pause 3!

Sketched VI Day 10 Denise

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 John 1:5-10
Luke 7:41-50
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Jeremiah 33:1-3

Sketched VI, Day 10

I sat there, on the seat while the pastor and my sister sat next to me and prayed over me. She was speaking in tongues, but what I heard from her were all my sins…one by one being laid at the cross to be cleansed and my soul renewed!! 

I was raised believing in God but not really practicing any faith. I had the opportunity to attend church as a child but lost the will to attend or even know God in my teen years. I was distracted in a world of sin and bad choices. I barely graduated high school, dabbled in drugs and alcohol, and had friends that, looking back now, I shouldn’t have called friends. I always knew God was there, but I didn’t seek Him out. Instead, I chased friends, parties, and selfishness.

When I was 20, I found myself pregnant out of wedlock and living far away from family. I was in a relationship with the father, but I was bound and determined not to get married just because I was pregnant. It was a hard season.

I worked in fast food, he worked in clothing. We lived in a TINY 1 bedroom apartment that was roach-infested and I witnessed child abuse across the courtyard. When my daughter was 3 weeks old my mother sent me the money for the marriage license and we wed. I thought it was the right thing to do for my daughter and for us. When she was 8 weeks old, I wasn’t working and he quit his job, which sent us home to my folks in Kansas City. He found a job and we moved into a 2-bedroom apartment. I soon found a job as well, and we attempted to do life.

Having my daughter, that sweet innocent gift, is what changed my mindset.
I knew I couldn’t do this on my own anymore. My husband was immature and we fought constantly. I was almost ready to leave when I found out I was pregnant with our second child. A Son. I tried to stick it out, surviving until our son was 18 months, before I moved out and embarked on the journey of being a single mom with two very tiny children.

Somewhere in the middle of all the chaos right before I left, was that morning I went to church with my sister and she prayed over me.

I am NOT a morning person…but I woke up early that day and phoned her.
“What time is church?”

She gave me the time, but said I could go to a later service if I wanted.
“No, I will be there.”

I hustled, got the kids ready, and ran out the door to church. I put the kids in the nursery classes and sat through that sermon. I cannot tell you what he taught on. The message itself didn’t pierce my heart…but God did.

I struggled to hold back tears through the entire service.
I was a mess!
I knew my marriage was ending and I knew I needed God!
At the end of the service when they invited anyone who needed prayer to come forward, I grabbed my sister’s hand and walked to the front. I couldn’t speak, but I wept.

My sister said, “I think she wants to accept Christ.” I could only nod.
The pastor began praying over and for me and my sister was speaking in tongues by my side. But, I heard and understood the words – it was not an inaudible language.
It was the Spirit speaking, and I heard every sin I’d ever committed spoken before God.
My sister didn’t hear that, the pastor didn’t hear it, but I did.

And with each sin spoken at His feet, my heart and soul became clean,
and the burden I had been carrying started to lift.

I would love to say, “I never struggled again and I was perfect from that day on!”
Yeah, that would be a lie.

But, I did have Christ within me, helping me, slowly and gently leading me.
He loved me even when I messed up.
He loved me even when church was not on my radar.
He loved me when I was unlovable. 

Since that day of finding Jesus, so many years ago, I got remarried and had another son and now, I even have three precious grandchildren.

I could tell so many stories from that day to now, but the bottom line is that God alone
is my strength, my Redeemer, my solid ground, and my safe place.
He is there when we ask.

He will show up if you ask Him to show you He is real.
He will!

Simply call, and then watch; He will answer!
I pray you feel His presence today through my story.
I pray He touches you in a new way and that you too are changed by His relentless love!

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched VI Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched VI

Relentless Day 9 Relentless Love: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Relentless Love!

The Questions

1) What caused Jonah to become “furious” (4:1)? Why is it so significant to the story?

2) What caused Jonah to be “pleased” (4:6)? Why is it so significant to the story?

3) What does God’s response reveal about His heart of compassion toward rebellious people (4:11)?

Jonah 3:10-4:11

10 God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it

1 Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. 2 He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I thought while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. 3 And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”4 The Lord asked, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5 Jonah left the city and found a place east of it. He made himself a shelter there and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city. 6 Then the Lord God appointed a plant, and it grew over Jonah to provide shade for his head to rescue him from his trouble. Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant. 7 When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, and it withered. 8 As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so much that he almost fainted, and he wanted to die. He said, “It’s better for me to die than to live.”
9 Then God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “Yes, it’s right!” he replied. “I’m angry enough to die!”
10 So the Lord said, “You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night. 11 But may I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?”

Original Intent

1) What caused Jonah to become “furious” (4:1)? Why is it so significant to the story?
In 2 Kings 14:25 we find evidence that Jonah was a historical prophet (not a parable character) called by God. He was a real man whose story was equally real. Jesus also referred to Jonah and Nineveh, giving us some idea what the city was like and what made Jonah furious. “This generation is an evil generation. It demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.” (Luke 11:29-30) In Jonah 4:2 Jonah tells God: “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.”
Old Testament professor Dr. Douglas Stuart says Jonah “was a prophet who has this kind of special situation.” Unlike his contemporaries Amos and Hosea, the attitude of Jonah is revealed more than his message. Dr Stuart gives insight into Jonah’s anger and its significance. The prophet had been preaching “the destruction of Israel’s enemies. [But] the Assyrians were far more threatening than some of those Jonah preached against like the Syrians. He does not want to hear that God is now calling him to go and have a ministry of compassion to people he hates.”

2) What caused Jonah to be “pleased” (4:6)? Why is it so significant to the story?
Bible scholars are not in agreement about the best interpretation of the Hebrew word used to describe what God provided for Jonah’s shade. The word kikayon is only referenced here in the book of Jonah. The CSB says God caused a “plant” to grow over Jonah’s head, where other translations will say tree. Whatever it was, Bible commentator John Calvin said “it must have therefore been something extraordinary. God added this shrub to the shade afforded by the booth: for in those regions, as we know, the sun is very hot; and further, it was, as we shall see, an extraordinary heat. So, it protects him a little bit in the early day when the sun is slanting and late. Then God causes this leafy gourd to grow up very quickly and suddenly he has got a roof. Now that is not bad. Breeze comes through and you have got shade and it is not bad. He kind of likes that gourd; it is a nice gourd.” (Biblehub.com) Simply put, the shade pleased Jonah. The contrast in Jonah’s attitude from anger to pleasure was of great significance, revealing what mattered most to Jonah. Sadly, it was not God’s mercy that comforted the prophet. Neither did he desire for it to be shown to the Ninevites.

3) What does God’s response reveal about His heart of compassion toward rebellious people (4:11)?
When God told Jonah He “cared” about the people of Nineveh (verse 11), He was communicating His mercy. The Hebrew meaning here is “to pity, look upon with compassion.” (biblehub.com) God’s desire was to spare them, despite their wickedness. This tender God would have spared the city of Sodom if only ten righteous men were found. (Genesis 18:20-33) Jonah obviously knew it was this kind of God who called him to Nineveh. “I knew You were a gracious and compassionate God.” (verse 2) Although some interpret the phrase to denote only children, most likely the “people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left” (verse 11) refer to all the Ninevite people in spiritual ignorance. The Hebrew word used here in Jonah is not the Hebrew word for “children,” giving evidence that a broader interpretation which includes all the people in Nineveh is probably the best rendering. (Holman OT Commentary) God is a God who takes pity on those who stumble blindly in the darkness of sin. His heart is merciful toward those far from Him. On the cross, God the Son prayed for His Father to forgive those who were murdering Him, saying “because they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:32-24)

Everyday Application

1) What caused Jonah to become “furious” (4:1)? Why is it so significant to the story?
When we first read about Jonah’s anger toward the people of Nineveh, we might find ourselves judging him and being critical of his merciless attitude. But if we consider the many who had loved ones die on 9-11, we begin to possibly comprehend his hatred toward a group of people.
What would you feel if you had a grandmother who shared her experience of captivity and severe abuse at the hands of Germans during the Holocaust, and then God called you to go as a missionary to Germany? From a distance, we can allow our resentment to subtly take shape within our hearts. We convince ourselves that evil and murderous people don’t deserve God’s love. We even dismiss them from our thoughts, or we pray for their destruction. Thankfully, God is not like us! He calls us to share the good news of the gospel even with our enemies. Though there will ultimately be a day of judgment for those who reject God, until then He calls us to patiently wait on Him as He pursues people and bestows His mercy on those who repent. (2 Peter 3:6)

2) What caused Jonah to be “pleased” (4:6)? Why is it so significant to the story?
Jonah was pleased while things were going his way. Briefly he sat watching Nineveh from his comfortable shelter in hopes that he would witness the destruction of those he hated so much. His pleasure, however, was short-lived when God interrupted it with a worm and a scorching wind. Similarly, the Scriptures tell us of a man named Job (Job 1:1) who was experiencing all the blessings of God. Amid his comfortable life, unknown to Job, Satan approached God and asked for permission to strike his life and fill it with suffering. Like Jonah, Job began to question God about his life, wondering why he was even born. (Job 3:1-3) Unlike Jonah, he did not waver in his understanding that God was in control. He knew He could put his hope in Him no matter what would come. (Job 2:10, Job 13:15) The significant lesson for us is that God is God and we aren’t. When Job asked God to explain, God didn’t really give an answer as much as He simply declared Who He is. (Job 40-41). When Jonah fretted over the loss of his comfort more than people’s lives being destroyed, God reminded him of Who He is and how He loves: “May I not care about the great city of Nineveh?”. (verse 11)

3) What does God’s response reveal about His heart of compassion toward rebellious people (4:11)?
Before we are too hard on old Jonah, we must ask ourselves what our response would have been. WE are Jonah! Thankfully, Jonah wasn’t judging the Ninevites and neither are we the final judge of our enemies. It is the gracious God of the universe who calls them to repentance and offers His forgiveness. Just as we are Jonah, we are also Ninevites – people desperately in need of the mercy. The shepherd/king, David, is a great example of someone who rehearsed the goodness of God (Psalm 23) He was deeply grateful for the forgiveness of God. (Psalm 51) I especially love David’s reflection when he had disobeyed God regarding a census. Of the three consequences presented to David, instead of relying on a human’s mercy, David chose to trust the mercy of God. (2 Samuel 24) And I’m with David! “David answered Gad, ‘I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the Lord’s hands because His mercies are great, but don’t let me fall into human hands.’” (2 Samuel 24:14)
“Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will put my hope in Him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24

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Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

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