Sin

Pause IV Day 8 Self Or Savior

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Pause IV, Day 8

God didn’t really say that.
The Bible’s message is outdated.
That wasn’t gossip, I was just sharing facts.
Sin is a pretty intense word; it’s just a mistake.
God doesn’t really care about my mistakes; He forgives everybody anyway.

Look, his ego is inflated;
he is without integrity.
Habakkuk 2:4

The Lord had taken great care to ensure His message was clear, easily understood and accessible to everyone, but there were many who scoffed. Even though God said His message was not a lie, many people decided they would somehow escape His judgement.

They felt justified to trust themselves, their interpretation, and their feelings, over God.

In today’s reading, the Lord lays out 2 paths, either trust self or the Savior.
We are given the same choice.

Whether it’s about eternal salvation, trusting God’s view of our value, or listening to God’s wisdom for living over our own, we are given the choice to trust Self or the Savior.

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 Habakkuk 2:4-5. 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). If you find today’s passage a little confusing, jump into a commentary and read what other students of the Bible have discovered. (Try Studylight.org)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! 

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Connect with our community on Facebook!

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Habakkuk 2:4-5

Look, his ego is inflated;
he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.
5 Moreover, wine betrays;
an arrogant man is never at rest.
He enlarges his appetite like Sheol,
and like Death he is never satisfied.
He gathers all the nations to himself;
he collects all the peoples for himself.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 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 IV 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 IV!

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.

Questions Day 1 In The Presence Of Sin

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 43:14-15
I John 1:5-10
Romans 3:9-18
I Corinthians 15:1-4
Hebrews 4:14-16

Questions, Day 1

The more we learn about God and walk with Him,
the more questions seem to enter our minds.
Questions are a good thing.  

Questions and tension in the Christian walk mean we’re engaging and processing,
instead of glibly taking in information. One tension manifests as we wonder:
if God cannot be in the presence of sin, how can He live in our hearts?

In evaluating this query, we can make two assumptions about the heart with which it’s asked. The first is a recognition of God’s character, His unmatched holiness, perfection, beauty, truth, justice, and might (Isaiah 43:14-15, Exodus 15:11, I Samuel 2:2).  The second, implied by the question itself, is the reality of our indwelling sin nature, even as redeemed saints (Romans 7:14-25). We wrestle with, “how can these two realities coexist?”

As we address this question, I also want to address the statement, “God cannot be in the presence of sin.” Scripture shows us repeatedly God can, has, and does manifest His presence among sin, namely, mankind. When we are faced with the holiness of who God is, it’s good to be also struck with the deeper realities of our sin and unworthiness.

Yet, Scripture clearly states the believer’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God dwells in us!

Let’s allow Scripture to guide our thinking about who God is, and how a holy, sinless God is able to draw near to sinful man.

The Holiness of God
In Isaiah 43:15 we read,
“I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” 

Exodus 15:11 proclaims,
“Who is like You among the gods, O Lord?
Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?”   

God is holy, which means He is completely separate from sin. He cannot tolerate it, nor is any darkness found within Him. (1 John 1:5)

The Wickedness of Man
From the moment Adam and Eve chose to trust themselves instead of their gracious, holy God, sin has infiltrated every human heart, landscape and system on this earth (Genesis 3).

Our sin is not passive.
We are, by nature, enemies of God,
hostile toward all He is,
and alienated from His presence. (Colossians 1:21, Romans 3:10-18)

Because of the reality of our sin, we are separated from Him. We have nothing to offer God to induce Him to pardon our sin.

God Draws Near
Ashamed at the reality of their sin, the first couple tried to hide. (Genesis 3:8-10)
But God?
He pursued and drew near.
He sought them and found them.

At the same time, He did not overlook their sin.
His standard of holiness remained unchanged, and a flood of consequences ensued. (Genesis 3:16-24)

From this moment of first sin, the Biblical narrative is one of God continuing to wrestle with mankind, longing to re-establishing His presence with them. The Old Testament shows us how God made a way to dwell among His people through the Tabernacle and requirements of the Law.

Though it was only a shadow of things to come (Hebrews 10:1-4),
the Law held men to His holiness
while He held Himself out
to be in relationship with them.

God ultimately drew near by sending Himself to earth. Immanuel, which was the special name given to Jesus (Matthew 1:23), literally means God with us. He remained fully God, became fully man, and humbly came to serve. (Philippians 2:5-8)

But for what ultimate purpose?

God Overcomes Sin
When God draws near, He is not passive. He’s always in control, and always stands in authority, even over the presence of sin.

John 1:3-4 tells us Jesus is the “light of men,”
and “that light shines in the darkness,
and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”  

In fact, God overcame the darkness of sin and death when He laid upon Jesus the wickedness of man.  God poured out His wrath onto His own Son, instead of humanity. Then, in His power, God raised Christ back to life. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

God’s act of victory was the final word on sin, death, and Satan’s power in this world.

If we have placed our trust in the atoning work of Jesus Christ as the payment for our sin, then we’ve been justified, declared righteous before God!

However, this is an already-but-not-yet reality.

The question we’re grappling with reveals our keen awareness of the war waging within us between our sinful, natural desires and our redeemed spirits.  And yet, this tension is why Jesus sent His Spirit in the first place: to be a helper! (John 14:15-17)
The Holy Spirit dwelling within us empowers us to say no to sin! (Titus 2:11-13)

Our holy God doesn’t shrink back from sinful man in a castle made of clouds, refusing to stoop into the muck of our neediness and unworthiness. Instead, He became one of us, overcoming sin, so His deepest desire, to dwell within His people once again, might be fulfilled.

Because He first drew near,
and overcame the darkness,
we can boldly draw near to Him! (Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 4:19)

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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 Questions Week One! 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 Questions!

Open Day 9 Casting Out Fear: 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 Casting Out Fear!

The Questions

1) Who is the speaker and audience in this passage of Scripture?

2) What is the context of this one verse within the chapter?

3) What kind of freedom is being described in this verse and how is it obtained?

John 8:36

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Original Intent

1) Who is the speaker and audience in this passage of Scripture?
In reading the previous verses, we know the disciple John is the author of the book and he is recounting a conversation between Jesus and “Jews who believed Him.” (verse 31) Although Jesus’ audience, made up largely of Jews, were listening and believing, they were still questioning Him. They did not fully understand who He was as the long-awaited Messiah, nor did they grasp His purposes beyond being a knowledgeable Jewish teacher.

2) What is the context of this one verse within the chapter?
Jesus is teaching in the temple and many are putting their full trust in Him by believing Him at His word that He is indeed exactly Who He claims to be, God Almighty in the flesh. (verse 30) Jesus is explaining who He is and what authority He has to teach, while, at the same time, He is teaching the truth of freedom as well as the truth of sin. Every time Jesus speaks, it is with truth and grace. He boldly preached on the reality of sin, which separates every person from the righteousness of God. Because of our sin, we are utterly and eternally incapable of being made whole in the presence of God. However, just as true is the reality of freedom found in placing our full belief and trust in Jesus Christ as the Only One who took the punishment we rightly deserved because of our sin, and magnificently, gave us righteousness in place of our sin. That is freedom!

3) What kind of freedom is being described in this verse and how is it obtained?
Jesus is specifically talking about freedom from sin. He clearly states that everyone who “practices sin is a slave to sin” (verse 34). Meaning that whoever continues in their state of sinfulness, relying only on themselves to somehow “become good” will always and forever be a slave to sin. There is no escape from the deadly grip of sin simply by trying to “become good” on our own will power. But, through the Son, there is freedom from that slavery! Jesus’ listeners would have understood His terminology, and followed His logic, but they did not see Him as God’s Son sent to take away the sins of the world and provide that freedom. Jesus was claiming to actually be God, for only God could possibly take away sin and its punishment of death. They did not understand the true freedom Jesus was offering because they could not fathom a God who became flesh, rather it was far more comfortable to keep God in a box they could manage. A box where they could be secure in their standing with a righteous God because of their Jewish lineage as Abraham’s descendants.

Everyday Application

1) Who is the speaker and audience in this passage of Scripture?
Scripture is the inspired word of God and although there is a specific context within which it was written, the message of the Bible is still active and living for us today (Hebrews 4:12). We are the audience just as much as the Jewish audience John was writing to over 2000 years ago. Jesus speaks to us today through His Word. How do you view Scripture? Is it strange and archaic to you? Do you find it boring or is it precious? Do your daily actions genuinely reflect your belief? Which claims of Christ do you struggle to fully embrace? Is He just a good teacher or is He the Lord of all? We must all wrestle with these questions, just as Jesus’ listeners did in the first century. Our answers reveal much about our hearts!

2) What is the context of this one verse within the chapter?
Freedom in Christ comes through knowing Him intimately, trusting Him as Lord of your life, and recognizing His authority. In other words, doing exactly what those in verse 30 were doing, “believing Him” and fully taking Him at His word. Jesus is exactly Who He says He is! Jesus is speaking powerful truth to His audience and there is a moment farther in the passage where His audience simply can no longer handle the truth. Angry, because Jesus’ truth makes them extremely uncomfortable as they come face to face with their own sin, His hearers actually pick up stones to throw at Him. (verse 59) What He was saying was so foreign to them, so outrageously unthinkable, it was considered blasphemous. How could Jesus possibly be the Almighty God, having authority to both call out sin and claim to offer freedom from it through Himself?!
Freedom isn’t free; it cost Jesus His life, but our freedom comes through submission, total surrender, to Him. We can’t earn this freedom and neither do we deserve freedom from our sin, but God, being rich in His mercy, provided it to us at the cost of His Son’s life. That is love!

3) What kind of freedom is being described in this verse and how is it obtained?
Throughout history, there have been wars in the name of freedom. A desire to break free from the tyranny of a government or a break from an ideology has caused uprising for the sake of freedom. The freedom Jesus speaks of is infinitely more than an ideal or moralistic teaching because this freedom is eternal, not earthly. My favorite passage in all of Scripture is Romans 8. It starts with the verse, “there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ…” (Romans 8:1). Freedom from sin is freedom from the wrath of God that we rightly deserve because of our sinfulness before Him. All it takes is one small sin to render us separated and fallen below the standard of flawless, perfect righteousness that He as God exists eternally as. The freedom Jesus offers results in a breaking of all bondage from Sin and Death; no longer are we under that slavery, we are not bound to obey Sin. Rather, we are free to live in the light of Him who created us, free to dance in the love Christ lavishes upon us. That freedom is only accessed in Him through knowing, believing, trusting, submitting, and surrendering to who Jesus is as fully divine and fully human, able to take our punishment in our place. “My chains are gone I’ve been set free.”

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Casting Out Fear!

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 Open 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.

Kaleidoscope Day 7 Strength of Humility: 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 Strength of Humility!

The Questions

1) Why is this recalling of the Israelite’s desert wanderings being spoken of here in Nehemiah?

2) What character of the Lord is highlighted in this passage?

3) Why would the Lord be so extravagantly benevolent and generous (verses 19-21) in the face of Israel’s blasphemies and abandonment (verses 17-18)?

Nehemiah 9:16-21

But our ancestors acted arrogantly;
they became stiff-necked and did not listen to your commands.
17 They refused to listen
and did not remember your wonders
you performed among them.
They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader
to return to their slavery in Egypt.
But you are a forgiving God,
gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love,
and you did not abandon them.
18 Even after they had cast an image of a calf
for themselves and said,
“This is your god who brought you out of Egypt,”
and they had committed terrible blasphemies,
19 you did not abandon them in the wilderness
because of your great compassion.
During the day the pillar of cloud
never turned away from them,
guiding them on their journey.
And during the night the pillar of fire
illuminated the way they should go.
20 You sent your good Spirit to instruct them.
You did not withhold your manna from their mouths,
and you gave them water for their thirst.
21 You provided for them in the wilderness forty years,
and they lacked nothing.
Their clothes did not wear out,
and their feet did not swell.

Original Intent

1) Why is this recalling of the Israelite’s desert wanderings being spoken of here in Nehemiah?
It had been hundreds of years since Israel’s initial freedom from slavery in Egypt at the time of this writing. Hundreds of years earlier, the Lord God had led Israel straight through the desert to the Promised Land in only a few days’ time, telling them to go up into the land and take possession of it for He was with them and would go before them. But in fear, holding tight to their doubts and their inabilities, they refused. So, the Lord God turned His people around, marching them into the desert for the next 40 years until all but two men from the generation who doubted His goodness had died. Then, true to His faithful character, He triumphantly brought His people into Canaan, the Promised Land. Was the new generation flawless and somehow deserving God’s faithful love more than their fathers? Not in the slightest! They bowed down to other gods, they disobeyed, they complained and ignored the Lord at every turn. Still the Almighty faithfully loved them. Now in the time of Nehemiah, Israel is on the heals of her exile. Again, being punished because she repeatedly forsook the Lord who loved her and rescued her and saved her for Himself. Because scrolls were cumbersome and there weren’t many libraries at this point in history, oral tradition was the means for the masses to know, remember, and pass on her history. The story of Israel’s wandering, the Lord’s faithful love, mercy, and undeserved grace were pivotal components of Israel’s historical narrative and were often repeated aloud corporately and privately. In these verses, Israel is repeating her history, confessing her sin, and re-committing herself to worship the Lord God and Him alone.

2) What character of the Lord is highlighted in this passage?
“You are a forgiving God”. (verse 17) The Lord alone has the right to hold all offenses against us, for He is blameless and holy while we are sinful and wretched. Yet, precisely because love is the very essence of who He is, He is a “forgiving God”.
“Gracious”. Extending love despite how there is absolutely nothing we can do or have done to deserve it. While our sin enshrouds us like filthy menstrual rags, God’s grace gave Jesus as a sacrifice for our sin on our behalf that we might have a right relationship with Him. Grace that shows up not just once when we surrender to Jesus, but daily, moment by moment because Christ Jesus is indeed the everyday Savior.
“Compassionate.” His grace and forgiveness and tender love are not merely handouts. The Lord God does not set His love upon us because it is required of Him. No, His heart loves to love. His heart is moved with deep compassion, emotional feeling, and rock-solid commitment.
“Slow to anger.” His love does not react angrily at our foolish sin and self-focused actions leading us away from His heart and towards our own death. He would have every right to be the “fire breathing god” in the sky, ready to smite people for plunder when they disobeyed Him. But the God of the Bible is nothing like that description. He is slow to anger, giving us time and opportunity to repent and come to Him because He loves.
“You did not abandon.” Not leaving us as He finds us, too wretched to even consider saving, let alone loving. Not beginning a work in us and transforming us partially, but then deciding we are too difficult. He is the God who absolutely will never abandon His beloveds.
Finally, in “abounding in faithful love”, we find the root of every other character trait, all stemming from this one vastly variegated descriptor, love. God is love. There is no deeper, hidden quality you will ever uncover, yet the depths of this one definition are beyond our ability to comprehend. God is love!

3) Why would the Lord be so extravagantly benevolent and generous (verses 19-21) in the face of Israel’s blasphemies and abandonment (verses 17-18)?
Israel had spurned the God who loved her and set her free from slavery. They had crafted an idol made of lifeless gold and worshipped it instead of the living God. Such a horrendous trade! Still He Loved. They had exchanged the lavish love of God for empty lies and vain conceits and words that meant nothing. Still He Loved. They stepped out of their birthright, sidestepping God’s very best for them, as they chose their fear and pride and arrogance instead. Still He Loved. His love showed up with deep emotional, relational, and spiritual ways through compassion, grace, and forgiveness. But He also cared deeply for their physical needs, even in their punishment of being in the desert for 40 years! Even here, as He lovingly disciplined, He did not abandon! He loved them by healing their diseases (Exodus 23:25). He loved them by guiding them and giving them clear direction they could see with their eyes through a cloud by day and fire by night (Nehemiah 9:19). He gave the Holy Spirit to bring truth to specific prophets so they would clearly hear the Word of the Lord with their ears. (Nehemiah 9:30) He gave them food for their bellies, meat for their pallet, and water to quench their thirst (Nehemiah 9:20, Exodus 16:13). Neither their clothes nor their sandals wore out in their 40-year pilgrimage (Deuteronomy 29:5). They literally lacked for nothing (Nehemiah 9:21). Only one answer can be given as to why the Lord would act so extravagantly in the face of such idolatry: unconditional love.

Everyday Application

1) Why is this recalling of the Israelite’s desert wanderings being spoken of here in Nehemiah?
Oral tradition isn’t something our western culture hinges on, but we do record our history both corporately as a people as well as individuals. Maybe for you this comes in the form of journaling where you can look back and see how you’ve grown and changed. Or maybe it’s the process of sitting down and sharing those pivotal moments out loud to someone else. Or maybe you’ve never thought about how those big, forming moments have shaped your life. Make some space this week and take the challenge to begin writing your own history. What were the low points, the big, game-changing moments, the highlights of euphoria, and all the in-between that shaped you into who you are today. Looking back, where did you find yourself lost and wandering in sin, where did you experience the love of God through other people or circumstances? What happened when you asked Jesus to be your Rescuer from sin? Often, as we look back, we find the fingerprints of God etched all throughout our story. And just maybe, after you’ve written your story down, you’ll feel led to share it with other women to encourage them. If so, we’d love to give you that opportunity! Send us an email at facesofgrace@gracefullytruthful.com to get started!

2) What character of the Lord is highlighted in this passage?
Whenever you read passages that highlight character traits of the Lord, take the opportunity to slow down, read them on repeat, consider other passages in Scripture where you see these traits of the Lord, and look for how He has shown them to you in your own life! The very end of verse 17 here is so lush with depth and beauty as it describes God! These descriptors alone can shift our perspective at any given moment of the day, raising our chin, reminding us we are lavishly loved by a God who is forgiving, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, never abandoning, and faithfully loving. This is a love beyond compare! As you pause and think on these lovely gifts, write out precisely how the Lord is each of these to you, even if you don’t feel it or see it, He is always this kind of love towards every believer who has trusted Him for eternal life and rescuing from eternal damnation apart from Him!

3) Why would the Lord be so extravagantly benevolent and generous (verses 19-21) in the face of Israel’s blasphemies and abandonment (verses 17-18)?
Israel was recounting her history as a wonderful, glorious reminder of truth about the God who loved her. Israel had turned away again, forgetting this loving, gracious God, and had found themselves in a literally broken place. The walls of Jerusalem were broken and Israel was utterly defenseless. Their crops were failing. Their families weren’t safe. People were dying. But God drew them back to Himself and they responded. They re-committed themselves to Him, to worship Him, to choose Him, to honor Him, to love Him and Him alone. The same is true for us! Though we run away, He still waits for our return. When we fall, He is our rescuer. When darkness seems to surround us, He is our light. As God provided visibly, emotionally, relationally, and tangibly for the Israelites in the desert, so He still provides for us in our everyday living. The apostle John writes of this full experience in his letter, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it!” What life was John describing? Jesus Christ! All the fullness of God is experienced in Jesus Christ and He is available for each of us, at every moment, every single day! Such unconditional love!

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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

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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 :-))

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Cross Day 11 Trinity

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 27
John 1:1-18
John 14:7-21

Cross, Day 11

Prayers so intense, sweat became drops of blood.

Whip strikes, ripping the flesh from His back.

Thorns slipping beneath skin from the crown of thorns mockingly placed upon His head.

Nails piercing His hands and feet in order to hold Him to the tree.

His raw back pressed into the wood of the cross, imbedding slivers into shredded skin.

The inability to draw in breath as the agony of His angle slowly strangled the air from His lungs.

But the deepest pain of the crucifixion?
The weight of my sin, your sin, the world’s sin rested upon Christ’s shoulders
and God the Father turned His face away.

I’ve seen the Passion of the Christ and other depictions of the crucifixion, closing my eyes at the gruesome fate Jesus endured for my sake. The crucifixion process screams of brutality and a slow, painful death. The sacrificial lambs mentioned throughout the Word had far more compassionate endings than the one Jesus lived and died through as the sacrifice, once and for all, for my sin.
He willingly went to the cross for me.
He willingly experienced torture for me to pay for my sins.
Even now I am dumbfounded at His willingness to experience all of that for my sake, for your sake.

As I sit and process the cross today, sitting comfortably in a local coffee shop, fingers clicking away on my laptop, I sense the Holy Spirit stirring within me. My assignment is to look at the cross from the perspective of the Trinity, the Godhead three in one. Now, I readily admit I can wrap my mind around the reality of the physical aspects of Christ’s sacrifice; however, I can only begin to comprehend the agony that took place beyond the physical.

Jesus came to earth fully God and fully man.
As a member of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ death on the cross was both facilitated and experienced by more than Jesus alone. The entirety of the fullness of God in His three persons of Father, Son, and Spirit were perfectly unified in the plan to redeem us as sons and daughters.
Here was the reality:

  1. Sin had entered the perfect world originally created in the Garden of Eden.
  2. Because of the sin, a blood sacrifice must be made in order to cleanse all record of the sin and restore the relationship between God and man.
  3. The three persons of the whole oneness of God so loved handcrafted humanity, the sacrifice was worth the cost.

The cost of removing the sin barrier for eternity and thereby making way for restored relationship motivated the godhead to make the ultimate sacrifice. God the Son would become the perfect sacrifice, once and for all making atonement for mankind.

As I pondered the role of each person in the Trinity, quite possibly for the first time in my life from an emotionally engaged perspective, the cross and its impact on the godhead came to life.

I became a Christian when I was young and the horror of the physical pain Jesus went through stuck in my mind as the most difficult reality of the crucifixion story. However, as I reflect on the crucifixion from a more mature perspective, and with prayer to the Holy Spirit for His help in giving me understanding, the depth of sacrifice and the height of love involved in the plan of the cross began to overwhelm me.

Jesus left heaven to dwell among us and eventually die for us. He became the pure, spotless Lamb who died for our sins. He bore the agony of a brutal, physical death, but He also walked through the pain of rejection and separation from God the Father. As He became our sin, the separation sin causes required God the Father to sever the relationship until the sacrificial price had been paid.

Jesus paid that price and defeated the grave, death, and hell at the cost of breaking His relationship that had existed eternally with God the Father.
Jesus lived one side of the separation, but what of that for God the Father and the God the Holy Spirit?

I have seen my friends and siblings become parents.
I have watched them experience pain when their children are in pain.
I’ve heard them express how they would take their place if that were possible.
How much pain must God the Father have felt knowing He could have taken Christ’s place, but His love for us kept Him from destroying the only plan for our salvation?

The Father watched Jesus the Son be brutally murdered, then take on the world’s sin. His very nature requires holiness and sin cannot abide in His presence, hence the need for sacrifices to remove sin from the equation. As Jesus took on our sin, the other two persons of the Trinity were forced to turn away, forsaking the Son.
Sin must be rejected.

Christ’s love kept Him on the cross.
God the Father’s love demonstrated itself in the self-control required to follow through on the very rejection that restores our relationship with Him.
The Trinity followed through on the grand plan of redemption because of the joy set before them of restoration between humanity and God!
As I continue to envision the crucifixion’s impact on the Trinity, the role of the Holy Spirit keeps coming to mind as that of a midwife. Jesus promised the disciples that a helper is coming to them. Maybe that description came from experiencing that very help Himself? A midwife coaches a mother through the throes of birth. With each labor pain, the midwife encourages the soon-to-be-mom of the joy that is coming and cheers her on through the contractions. Might the Holy Spirit have been doing a similar work throughout the pain of the crucifixion?

“We have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“Today they will be with us in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

In Galatians, the fruit of the Spirit is listed with love at beginning and self-control at the end. The entire process of redemption enacted by the Trinity through the cross demonstrated immense love and self-control.

As Christ bore the pain of the cross, the entire Trinity carried the burden.
For the joy to be gained by our own redemption, and for that, I am eternally grateful!

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A Note About Cross
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters in Scripture and looked through their eyes as they saw the cross. We do our best to research the culture and times and all biblical support surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives as they watched the crucifixion, but we can’t be 100% accurate. These first-person stories are our best interpretation of how these characters viewed Jesus as He gave Himself up for us. Our hope is that by looking through their eyes, we will see the Cross differently as well, and be dramatically changed as we encounter the Savior!
Enjoy!

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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 Cross Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Cross!

Gospel Day 13 Will Not Perish

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 3:16-21
1 Peter 2:21-25
Romans 3:23-26

Gospel, Day 13

While in community with other believers,
the question was posed,
“Why Did Jesus Die?”.

The simple answer is He died because He loves us.
He loved us so much He chose death on a cross (Romans 5:8) that we would not be eternally separated from Him.
The crazy part?
We are entirely, altogether, 100% undeserving.

Because we all have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
The penalty for falling short of perfect holiness (sin) is death. Not earthly death, as we all will die at one time or another, but more significantly eternal separation from the Father.

“For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

As we discussed this, someone told a story about a man by the name of Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest in Auschwitz, Germany, where a complex of concentration and extermination camps were built and operated by Nazis. Maximilian saved a man’s life by choosing to take his place. You see, the officers in the concentration camps needed to take ten men to a starvation chamber, because the prisoners were to be slowly and systematically starved to death. Franciszek Gajowniczek was one they had chosen, and he cried out saying his wife and children would never see him again.

When Kolbe heard him, he volunteered to take his place so Gajowniczek would live to see his family again. The officers agreed and took Maximilian to the starvation chamber instead of Franciszek. After fourteen days, Kolbe, one of four men still alive, was given a lethal injection.

This story took place in 1941, and to this day, Maximilian Kolbe’s name has been an example of ultimate sacrifice for another person.

After hearing this gut-wrenching story of Maximilian’s loving heart who would lay down his life for another, someone in our study challenged us by asking, “Why is it that the death of Maximilian causes a bigger emotional response for us than Jesus’ death on the cross?”

Honestly, I am not really sure why I minimize what Jesus did on the cross.
Maybe it’s because I can’t fully comprehend it.
Maybe it’s because I doubt it really includes me.
What about you?

Whatever it is, I believe anyone who claims the name of Christ can agree that:
We should be go directly to Hell for our sin.
Yet we won’t because of Jesus.
“Will not perish” is for us.

We should be forever separated from the gracious, good kindness of a loving Father.
Yet we aren’t because of Jesus.
“Will not perish” is for us.

We should never know the joy of belonging to the Body of Christ.
Yet we do because of Jesus.
“Will not perish” is for us.

We should never feel free to dance in boundless love.
Yet we can because of Jesus.
“Will not perish” is for us.

We should never feel accepted and free from condemnation and guilt.
Yet we are because of Jesus.
“Will not perish” is for us.

As believers in Christ, “will not perish” breaks every chain and washes us with a love we’ve never experienced because our Death has DIED.

What Jesus did on the cross was a manifestation of victory.
A victory He gave to us.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.”
(1 Peter 2:24)

By His wounds we are healed!
Furthermore, we are new creations!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is ja new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
 1 Corinthians 5:17

The old has been wiped away and we are now declared righteous before Him.
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21

The sinless lamb of God took on our sin.
He took our place.
Owned our punishment.
Jesus is our “Maximilian”, but infinitely greater as He declares us spotless where Sin once stained and where we were once orphans, He calls us His sons and daughters.
“and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:18

All because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross.
We “will not perish” is available to all!

Sisters, in full transparency,
I struggle daily with embracing the truth that I am part of God’s family.
I struggle with accepting He loves me enough to die for me.
I struggle to fully accept the reality that I have been made new because of His sacrifice for me.
But my struggle to hold onto truth, doesn’t change the truth.

As I’ve written this Journey and explored the question of “Why Jesus Died” has grown my belief to trust what God says. I pray His truth anchors you deeply as He is teaching me!

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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 Gospel Week Three! 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 Gospel!

The GT Weekend! Glimmers Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) When you think of Jesus coming as a baby, consider what aspects of his birth and growing up do you perhaps glorify or add a “glossy touch” to? Jesus being fully human and fully God means that nothing about our human experience was different for Him than it is for us, with the exception that He never chose sin. His birth was messy, His growing up was poor, He went through puberty and struggled with acceptance amongst His peers just like every other human being. It’s one thing to know this, but another to remember and apply it when we struggle in our humanity. All of the everyday frustrations from small to big, the Savior came to be with us in the midst of them. What things are you tempted not to talk with God about because they are “too insignificant”?

2) Have you ever struggled with feeling incapable of sharing the gospel or telling others about what Jesus has done in your life? What are some of the fears that prevent you from sharing? The shepherds were the first to hear of Jesus’ arrival; they were the lowest in societal rankings, yet they were also the first missionaries declaring His arrival! The least likely to tell about Jesus were the very ones God entrusted to do exactly what they never expected to do. Who would possibly listen to and believe a smelly old shepherd? It didn’t matter, they were compelled to share. Who might it impact for eternity if we were as bold as those shepherds?

3) Describe in your own words how Christ’s birth was an act of love. Go slow and really consider what it was about His birth that was so loving. If it was an act of immeasurable love, how does it affect your everyday? How might that love transform your waking, your eating, or the way you see yourself and others? Keep in mind Christ’s entire purpose in coming. Have questions or find some parts that don’t make sense? We’d love to walk with you as you think through them! Send us an email or message us on Facebook!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Luke 6:35-36 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Prayer Journal
It’s so easy to take Your love for granted, Lord. You sustain us, holding all of creation together by Your hand, and yet I go about life and my focus shifts so quickly to my agenda, my plans, and me needs or wants that I forget how You uphold my existence with Your breath. Recapture my attention, Lord. Bring me, once again, to a place where I stand in awe and wonder of Your unfathomable love.

Then teach me to love others as You have loved me. You are “gracious to the ungrateful and evil”, which is me, Lord. That’s me: ungrateful and evil all on my own seeking my own good and my own way. Father, Your Love Is Magnificent! And keep my heart humbly seeing how undeserving each of us are of Your love. None of us has more merit than another. Teach me to love as You have loved me.

Worship Through Community

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Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Glimmers Day 6 Hope In The Should Have

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 107:1-22
Psalm 108
Judges 2:11-23

Glimmers, Day 6

“There’s that ‘should’ word again.”
This phrase is forever drenched in the loving sound of my husband’s voice as he makes a move towards me. To which, I insistently pull away.
He dramatically shakes his head and moves forward again, a smile teasing his lips.

“Oh my goodness”, he soothes. “Will you just….relax?!”
Tears threaten on my side, my body tightly unyielding as he works to draw me near.
He doesn’t understand.
He doesn’t know how much I’ve got to finish, how behind I am, and I continue babbling on.

I’m pretty hard on myself; it comes naturally to me.
Always better, always more, I use “should” more often than I…should. Oh wait…
Should have done this.
Should have been better.
Should have made that choice.

“You’re so frustrating sometimes, you know?”
But his voice holds nothing but winsome endearment as he resolutely folds me tight against him with no escape.

I wrap myself up so securely with my ‘shoulds’, it becomes nearly impossible to see clearly. I often can’t even recognize the Love standing right in front of me, beckoning me to stand down and rest.

My husband is a constant reminder of the Lord’s love for me and His relentless pursuit.
Even when, or especially when, I “should” be performing better.

The period of the Judges was a crazy, wacky time for the nation of Israel.
If anyone really should have had a laundry list of should haves and must dos, it was these people!

If you’ve never cracked open your Bible to the Old Testament book of Judges, you should try it! It’s more intriguing than you might imagine. Chock full of strange stories, Judges will make you scratch your head in curiosity, leave your mouth hanging open at the wild true stories, and make you wonder what else might be hidden in the pages of the Bible.
An incredibly obese king who dies when a dagger is plunged into his belly and the whole blade is swallowed up by his fat.
A brave housewife who kills the commander of the enemy army by driving a tent stake through his head after she gave him food and drink.
A woman who rose head and shoulders above male leadership in a male dominant society to guide God’s people with her humble faith.
An ordinary man with no societal favor, leads the entire nation to victory with only 300 men by smashing empty jars, yelling, and using torches.
A rash man’s vow that cost his daughter’s life.
Samson’s incredible strength.
And of course, everyone’s favorite, the talking donkey who saw an angel.

Judges reminds me how God pursues His people by any means necessary.
Regardless of how far we run or how hard we push against Him.
Israel was known for being stuck in a cycle (can I get an Amen? I know cycles!)
Theirs went like this…
1) They abandoned the Lord, did their own thing, and ran furiously away from God.
2) God justly punished them by bringing a foreign power to oppress them.
3) Israel begged God for deliverance from oppression, promising to live for Him
4) God answered by raising up a Judge to deliver them and lead them back to Him.
……and then they did it all again!!

For nearly 400 years this cycle of running away, being punished, returning, and drawn back continued on. Generations died in this cycle.
Yet God kept on pursuing.
He loved Israel again and again. Even though He knew they would again break His heart and turn away, blinded by their own selfish ways.

Sisters, I am exactly the same.
Sure, it’s easy for me to sit here with my hot drink, my journal, and my Bible open to Judges to not only gape at their incredible stories, but also judge their inexcusable, repetitive behavior.
How could they?
What were they thinking?
Were they thinking??
Yet there was the Lord, loving them again. Pursing them again.
Despite every ‘should have’ they never followed through on.

And here our stories cross.
My should haves, my repetitive sin cycles, my insistence to trust myself and my way look just as absurd as Israel’s.
Yet, just like my husband’s insistent arms, the Lord draws me back again and again and again.

The poet of Psalm 107 had this cycle thing figured out. Maybe he had cycle issues too.
The whole psalm is built around 4 repetitive occurrences: people suffering, people cry out, God rescues, their grateful response.  I would quote it here for you, and break it all down, but that kind of steals the fun of discovery from you. So, go read it right now for yourself.

Where do you relate?
Do you see the Rescuer?!
Sit with the people’s heart response.
And when it happens again, think of the deeply loving pursuit of arms that refuse to let you go.
No matter all the should haves you pile up, the sins you hide, or the shame you carry.

Maybe one of these times, you’ll decide to fall into the embrace that keeps on waiting.
Maybe you’ll see the God of Freedom for exactly who He is and finally,
you’ll love Him back because you will have discovered that all this time,
He has loved you in the should have.

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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 Glimmers 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 Glimmers!