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Author: Bri Bailey

Philemon Day 8 A Sheep Called Useful

February 22, 2023 by Bri Bailey Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 8 A Sheep Called Useful

Bri Bailey

February 22, 2023

Accepted,Affectionate,Beloved,Broken,Called,Identity

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:11-13
Ephesians 2:4-5
Titus 1:15-16
Titus 3:3-8
Psalm 82:3-4

Imagine a flock of sheep grazing on a picturesque hillside under the watchful eye of a shepherd. The sheep are useful to the shepherd; they prevent overgrowth of vegetation, reproduce and grow the herd, and offer milk and wool. Each sheep is known by the shepherd, lovingly named, given its own unique call. (John 10:3-4)

Around the pasture runs a stone wall; in one spot, it has crumbled, leaving a gap. The shepherd, aware of the dangers beyond, had filled the opening with wooden pickets interwoven with fallen twigs and branches, even propped up a placard painted in brightly-colored dyes . . . all to clearly convey: Do. Not. Pass. 

When an ewe approaches the breach, the shepherd cries out, “No! Stay here! Trust me!”

The sheep meets the shepherd’s gaze, quirks an eyebrow. She places a hoof on the barrier. “Don’t do it! You’ll be lost!” the shepherd warns again. She bleats belligerently, and scrambles over. (Isaiah 53:6)

Instantly, she is careening down, dashed over boulders, flung through thistles, choking on grit. The sunshine of the pasture is replaced by utter blackness. When she finally comes to a stop, she can’t distinguish sky from ground. Everything hurts. A terror she has never known settles over her.

She tries to struggle to her feet, but her injuries are far too great. 
She tries to call for help but manages only a wheeze.

Her special, shepherd-given name has been shattered in her fall.
Now, she is Lost, Helpless, and Powerless.

Shame and despair join hands with terror, specters dancing around her.

“You’ve done this to yourself,” they taunt. 
“You knew not to cross the breach, and you did it anyway. 
You certainly can’t get back to the pasture.
You’ll never enjoy its abundance again. 
You’ll never contribute to the growth of the flock, never share your milk or wool. 
You’re Useless; you’re Hopeless.
You’re already dead.”

Her tears soaking into the bracken beneath her, she waits for the death in her spirit to overtake her body.

Time passes.
Suddenly, she hears her name. Not her death-names, but her true name. Her shepherd-name.
She opens her eyes . . . and there he is.
Her shepherd, emanating light into the darkness, crouching before her. (John 8:12)
His body is more broken and bloodied than hers, yet he lives. (Luke 24:1-8)

Gentle as a whisper, he gathers her to his chest.
“Sweet lamb,” he murmurs, “I’ve made a way back. Do you want to come home?”

Too overwhelmed for words, she nods.
The shepherd settles her into the satchel used for carrying newborn lambs (1 Peter 1:3-4), tucking her securely against his side (Psalm 91:1-6).
“Let’s go home.”

Friends, this shepherd is Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” (John 10:11)

And this sheep?

Her name is mine, which means strength.
Her name is yours, which means ____________.
Her name is Philemon, which means loving.
Her name is Paul, which means humble.
Her name is Onesimus, which means useful.

Well-versed in the oratorical practices of his time, in today’s passage, Paul purposefully uses the meaning of Onesimus’ name (Philemon 1:11) to describe the transformation believers in Christ undergo when we are rescued and redeemed by Jesus.

Like the sheep in our story, we have all chosen to abandon our Shepherd and pursue our own way, leading to death.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked[.]” (Ephesians 2:1)

Lost in our sin 
like the sheep in our story, 
like Onesimus before he met Jesus, 
we are Useless. Powerless. Helpless and Hopeless. (Titus 1:15-16)

But not worthless.
For our Good Shepherd’s love is unbroken.
So He pursued us, bore the eternal consequence of our sins, and defeated sin and death, rising back to life. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Now, He invites us into new life with Him. (Galatians 2:20)
Our death-names are gone; He gives us a new identity, a new call as a child of God, a sheep of His flock. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us–not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy–through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit [. . .] I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.” (Titus 3:4-8)

When our identities are renewed and regenerated through God’s loving mercy, we are transformed from useless to useful. God calls us to actively live out our faith through good works, works that bless and grow the body of believers *and* serve as living proclamation of the good news of the Gospel.

Sisters, in closing, I leave us with 2 action steps.

First, pursue God’s understanding of our new identity in Him. 
Ask Him and search His Word.
Here’s a place to start: 
Romans 6:4-11
Ephesians 4:20-24
John 5:24
Ezekiel 36:26
Romans 8:1-2

Second, seek God’s guidance for the good work to which He’s calling us.
Ask Him and search His Word.
Here’s a place to start: 
Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 6:15-23
1 John 3:16-18
Isaiah 1:17

Redeemed and commissioned, we are transformed into useful sheep of His flock!
We will demonstrate our faith through our works . . . our faith is active together with our works, and by works, our faith is made complete. (James 2:18, 22, paraphrased)

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Philemon Day 9
Digging Deeper

When I stop to think about my own usefulness, it can feel as if I myself am pulled in so many directions, I am not really useful to anyone. My messy home with half-accomplished clean-out tasks. My Bible study partly addressed. My children receiving partial attention and my work receiving another piece. Oh, my long list of half-dones and lofty hopes of accomplishment. While I have not run away like Onesimus, I frequently find myself failing someone.

But Christ has a different goal. His goal is for the truth of the Gospel to move forward and build His kingdom. Christ redeems, renews, and rebirths.
Dig Deeper!

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Posted in: Accepted, Affectionate, Beloved, Broken, Called, Identity Tagged: broken, identity, made new, Rescued

Sketched X Day 8 Dreams & Designs

July 20, 2022 by Bri Bailey Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 41:1-32
Psalm 105:20
1 Kings 17:1-16
Daniel 5
Acts 10:1-33

Sketched X, Day 8

Something was amiss.

Our morning rations, never a priority here in the dungeons, arrived even later than usual. With shaking hands, Abasi, a young kitchen servant, fumbled the basket and water jug to the sandy ground.

In my role as overseer of the other prisoners, Abasi and I interacted regularly and had struck up a friendship; his behavior today was decidedly odd.

Meeting my eyes for a brief second, he whispered urgently,
“They’re coming for you.”

The best days in the life of a prisoner are marked by monotonous drudgery, and with this unusual warning, I felt dread settle over me. 

Abasi scurried away, and it wasn’t long before I heard confirmation of his prediction in the rattle of armor and tandem thud of marching feet descending to the dungeons.

“Yahweh,” I flung a quick prayer heavenward, “is this the end?”

A few hours later, I found myself standing before Pharaoh’s great throne. A crowd of courtiers ringed the pavilion, their murmurs dying into silence as Pharaoh raised his hand. Breathless, I waited.

When the guards had escorted me not to my execution, but to a sumptuous bath where I’d been cleansed, shaved, and dressed in fine clothes–luxuries I’d nearly forgotten existed–I’d been able to discover my sudden removal from prison was motivated by a series of disturbing dreams. Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams.

Dreams. Again.

Several years ago, I’d vowed I was finished with dreams. They brought nothing but intense suffering and soul-crushing disappointment. Never again, I’d promised myself, would I speak of dreams or their interpretations.

“I have had a dream,” Pharaoh’s voice rang out. “And no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.” (Genesis 41:15)

My heart plummeted through the smooth obsidian floor on which I stood.
Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard.
“Yahweh,” my mind cried. “What should I do?!”

Suddenly, I was back where it all began, in my father’s tents. I watched myself, decades younger, interrupt the family meal to describe my vivid dreams.

As the scenes I’d re-lived a thousand times played out before my eyes, the familiar narrative replayed. I viewed my brothers as demons, driven by the threat of my dreams to wreak incomprehensible cruelty on my younger, defenseless self. But this time, the narrative began to shift and my eyes were open to new insights from the Lord. 

Suddenly, I saw pride snaking around my heart and spilling from my mouth in impetuous, thoughtless words. 

Suddenly, I realized that, as my father’s favorite son, I’d been given more voice and power than was wise for such an immature, zealous boy. I’d abused these, never once considering what words, context, or timing would be appropriate for sharing  my dreams . . . or even if Yahweh was leading me to share. 

Suddenly, I understood the dreams were not the cause of my suffering.
My brothers’ sin . . . and my own, I saw for the first time . . . had landed me in that cistern.
In the years that followed, my voice and power had been lost. 

Instantly, my mind returned to the dungeon. 

Unjustly imprisoned, I’d grabbed at a chance to free myself by interpreting the dreams of members of Pharaoh’s court. Again, I saw my interactions with sudden clarity.

I’d pinned my hopes for freedom on a fellow prisoner, too caught up in protesting my innocence and decrying my victimhood to seek guidance from Yahweh. I’d planned for my release, and spent days rehearsing the speech I’d give when I was exonerated. 

But days turned into years, and my plans fell apart.
Overcome by hopelessness, I decided I was finished with dreams.
They were nonsense; how could they possibly be part of Yahweh’s plans?

But . . .
What if I’d misunderstood Yahweh’s purpose in His dreams?
What if Yahweh sent them as assurance of His plans, inviting me to trust His faithfulness and power despite my confusion and suffering?

What if dreams were a tool in Yahweh’s hands,
which He used to work His designs for my life and His world?

Suppose, instead of spelling disaster, dreams were a divine kindness,
a call to partner with Yahweh on His mission?
What if Yahweh used dreams and interpretations as part of His plan to bring justice and salvation to the world?

The impatient clang of the Pharaoh’s serpent scepter against the floor brought me back to the present.

Trust Me.
My plans will not fail.
Speak.
His words reverberated through my spirit.

Drawing upon what I’d learned, both in my moment of sudden understanding and throughout my time in Egypt, I spoke.

Through me, Yahweh spoke words of prophecy and forewarning.
He revealed a plan of kindness, provision, and salvation.
Yahweh’s faithfulness to fulfill His plans is unfailing! (Psalm 36:5-9)

Elijah
King Ahab has led the people of Israel into desperate sin, so drought strangles our land. Yet Yahweh’s goodness is unfailing. He has saved me from Ahab’s search parties and satisfied all my needs. I cling to hope, knowing He is working out His plan to pursue and rescue His people. (1 Kings 17:1-16)

Queen of Babylon
Like the Cupbearer who finally remembered Joseph, I recalled a young prophet who could explain the inexplicable. When a message appeared in the air as King Belshazzar desecrated the holy instruments of the Hebrew God during a debauched festival, the prophet revealed it as a warning of the kingdom’s impending collapse. In His kindness, the Hebrew God offered a last chance for repentance, but Belshazzar refused. Within hours, he was slain by a rival. This Hebrew God’s plans are unfailing. (Daniel 5)

Cornelius
In my dream, the Hebrew God instructed me to send for a leader of The Way, named Simon Peter. Within four days, Simon Peter stood before me and taught about the Messiah, inviting me and my household to faith in Him. Though I didn’t understand them at the time, I now know God’s plans are unfailing! (Acts 10:1-33)

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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!

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 Sketched X Week Two! 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 Sketched X!

Posted in: Dream, God, Love, Salvation, Trust, Yahweh Tagged: Dream, God, love, salvation, trust, Yahweh

Advent Day 3 Until

December 8, 2021 by Bri Bailey 1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 12:1-3
Deuteronomy 28:1-26
Deuteronomy 18:15-22
Luke 24:25-27
Hebrews 12:18-24

Advent, Day 3

It seemed straightforward enough.

So He could fulfill the covenant promises He’d made to Abraham, God set up parameters for holy living and gave His people a system of choice and consequence.

Choose righteousness, and be blessed. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
Choose disobedience and sin, and be cursed. (Deuteronomy 28:15-26)

Easy choice, right?
Yet, inevitably, Israel pivoted to sin.

Like any Good Father, God sought to remind His children of the consequences of their choices before they earned total catastrophe.

Enter, prophets. Since the first sin separated humans from God, and since the people of Israel were subsequently overcome by fear in God’s direct presence, He appointed prophets to deliver His Word.

Today, as we continue to look forward to Jesus’ coming, we travel back to the days of the minor (read, shorter-winded) prophets, ordinary men called by God to warn sin-entangled Israel of impending disaster unless the people repented and returned to God.

Ultimately, each prophet foretold the coming Messiah, Who would once and for all time break the power of sin and bring restoration and redemption. (Hebrews 10:11-18)

The prophet Hosea’s steadfast love for his wife despite her habitual betrayal reflected God’s heart toward unfaithful Israel; he revealed Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 3:16-17). Jesus is the Bridegroom Who loves with compassion (Hosea 11:4, 8-9), healing those who return to Him. (Hosea 6:1-2)

Joel watched a swarm of locusts darken the sun, devouring the few leaves not strangled by drought, then leveraged this devastation to mirror Israel’s sin of abandoning God. He foretold the coming Day of Yahweh, when Jesus would judge the nations (Joel 3:2,12), send His Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28, John 16:7-15), and stand as Israel’s refuge. (Joel 3:16)

Amos, a farmer and rancher who delighted in a life spent tending God’s creation, convicted Israel of breaking covenant with God in their pursuit of materialistic prosperity. Though he warned of impending judgement, Amos also spoke great prophecies of restoration, foretelling Jesus as the fulfillment of David’s line, the rebuilder, and the restorer of God’s people. (Amos 9:11-15)

Author of the shortest book in the Bible, Obadiah emphasizes Christ’s “ordinary humanity” as he descended neither from kings nor priests. Obadiah was simply an ordinary man chosen by God to condemn the pride of Israel’s enemies and reveal Christ as the judge of the nations (Obadiah 1:15-16), Israel’s Savior (Obadiah 1:17), and the Possessor of the Kingdom (Obadiah 1:21).

Jonah’s three-day detour in the belly of a big fish foreshadowed Christ’s three days in the grave before His resurrection (Matthew 12:38-42). Once released, Jonah’s call to repentance from the dreaded Assyrians was an early reflection of Christ’s desire for all people to repent and receive salvation. (Jonah 3:4-10, 2 Peter 3:9)

Micah, a prophet residing in a busy trading town, proclaimed God’s displeasure at the empty rituals of worship offered by Israel, even as they abandoned any pretense of righteousness in their daily dealings. (Micah 6:6-8) Micah’s words portray Jesus as the King to be born in Bethlehem and, following Jesus’ birth, were quoted to the current king, Herod. (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6)

In condemning the Assyrians for unabated savagery and wickedness, Nahum comforted God’s people and revealed Christ as the jealous God who avenges adversaries. (Nahum 1:2-3)

As Habakkuk wrestled with the mystery of God’s goodness and power when faced with the reality of evil, he portrayed Jesus as Savior (Matthew 1:21), the Holy One (Habakkuk 1:12, 1 John 1:9), the Justifier through faith (Habakkuk 2:4), and He who will fill the earth with knowledge of God’s glory (Habakkuk 2:14).

Descended from the righteous king Hezekiah, Zephaniah delivered God’s judgement against the people’s sin under the reign of evil kings, called for repentance, and extended the hope of redemption. In Zephaniah’s words, Jesus is foretold as the Righteous One (Zephaniah 3:5) and the people’s true King (Zephaniah 3:15).

Yet the Lord’s words went unheeded. Israel was conquered and exiled by the Babylonians. After 70 years, a remnant was allowed to return; more than a decade after their homecoming, they continued to struggle against enemies and to obtain basic necessities.

Into the disarray stepped Haggai, who encouraged the people to rebuild the temple as a sign of their commitment to God’s centrality in their lives; in doing so, Haggai revealed Christ as the ultimate Restorer of the temple’s glory (Haggai 2:7-9, John 2:17-22) and Overthrower of all worldly kingdoms (Haggai 2:22).

As Zechariah encouraged the people to complete temple reconstruction, he foretold Israel’s restoration through the coming Christ, portraying Jesus as Servant King (Zechariah 9:9), crucified Savior (Zechariah 12:10), smitten Shepherd who would be abandoned (Zechariah 13:7), and coming Judge and righteous King (Zechariah 14).

As the concluding prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi convicted Israel of their sin yet again and delivered the final words of the Lord until John the Baptist would declare the arrival of Jesus (Malachi 3:1, John 1:29).

And then, silence.
For 400 years.

Until a wild-haired, animal skin-clad man waist-deep in the waters of the Jordan River froze, mid-baptism, as he locked eyes with a nondescript Hebrew making His way to the shore.

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

[Did one of these prophets spark your curiosity? Learn more at Bible.org, our main resource for this study!]

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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 Advent 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 Advent

Posted in: Blessed, God, Healing, Hope, Jesus, Love, Redemption Tagged: abraham, Advent, choose, coming, Fulfill, Messiah, righteousness, Until

Sketched IX Day 1 Who Is This?

June 21, 2021 by Bri Bailey Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 53:3-5
Matthew 16:13-20
Luke 4:31-44
John 6:66-69
Acts 9:36-43

Sketched IX, Day 1

“All right, Peter. It’s time. Tell me.”

I looked across the low, rough-hewn table at Simon; despite deepening shadows, I clearly read curiosity and exhausted patience in his eyes. The busyness of the day was past and  our evening meal was finished. When his wife and children left the room, his jocular manner ceased, replaced with quiet intensity.

The flame of the oil lamp between us flickered as I expelled a deep breath, my gaze wandering to the window. The distant lights of Joppa bathed the evening in a golden glow. Simon’s home was situated outside of town, as his work as a leather tanner branded him “unclean” by polite Jewish society. Ten years ago, I would have declined his invitation of hospitality with thinly-veiled condescension. But now . . . everything has shifted.

Where to begin?

“Really,” I mused, as Simon settled comfortably against the cushions, “this story starts years ago, on a Sabbath.”

It had begun like any other Sabbath gathering in the synagogue near my hometown of Capernaum. Various men from the community offered ritual blessings to God, led the recitation of the Shema, and read pre-selected passages from the Torah and prophets. According to tradition, a reader would now give a short teaching, relevant to one of the readings.

Well, “short” was a relative term, as was “relevant.” Commentary on the holy writings contained little original content, with a tendency toward the rote and monotonous. I craned my neck, trying to catch a clear glimpse of the man rising to speak, my thoughts already on the meal my wife was preparing at home. I hoped today’s lesson would be quick.

Then the Teacher began to speak.
And my spirit came to life within me.

His words resonated with humility, clarity, and authority; when He spoke, the fog of confusion, guesswork and empty theories shrouding God’s words parted. For the first time, I experienced a full, deep, assured understanding of their meaning. Surveying the room, I saw my amazement mirrored in the faces and murmurs of the others.

Who was this Teacher? As He spoke, I somehow felt God was in the room with me, speaking to my very soul.

A short time later, I burst through the doorway of my home, excitedly calling to my wife. She will absolutely not believe this, I thought, tearing through the house as the story poured out of me, growing in volume and fervor.

“And then, Love, you can NOT imagine what happened! You know Amichai, he’s been ravaged by demons for as long as I can remember?

“Well, the Teacher is finishing His talk and Amichai comes raging into the synagogue screaming at Him. The Teacher stands there, completely at peace, and all of us are scuttling backwards from Amichai–you remember what he did to the priests the last time they tried to exorcise that demon–and I’m thinking, ‘WHO IS THIS TEACHER?!’ I’m not kidding, Love, it was like Amichai heard me and he shrieks, ‘I know who you are–the Holy One of God!’ I’m reeling from that when the Teacher rebukes him and tells the demon to leave–He spoke it, no charms, spells or anything, just ‘Be silent and come out of him.’ And Love, it DID! Amichai collapsed and it was GONE! What can this mean? And now He’s coming here. . .”

My words trailed off as I skidded to a stop in the kitchen and my wife threw herself into my arms, sobbing. I was flabbergasted by this complete role reversal: shortly into our marriage, she’d affectionately dubbed my zealous nature “fiery,” while she was (usually) happy to be my rock of tranquility.

I was able to piece together that her mother, the matriarch of our home, who’d been fine when I left the house, was now near death with a sudden, high fever. The same fever had stolen members from many families nearby in recent days, and cold fear gripped my heart.

I heard a commotion at the front of the house, signaling the arrival of my brothers with the Teacher. “Come,” I said, taking my wife’s hand and tugging her along, “the Teacher will know what to do.”

“Well?” Simon leaned forward, weariness forgotten in his anticipation. “What happened to your mother-in-law? And how does this explain today, with Tabitha?”

I met Simon’s eyes, pulling myself back to the present. “Today, with Tabitha, it was like I was back in my mother-in-law’s room on that Sabbath, many years ago.

“Both were devoted to ministry, overflowing in kindness and generosity.
When the Teacher stood over my mother-in-law, only a few family members were present.
And today, I felt Him direct me to pray privately over Tabitha’s body.

“You see,” I explained, “When He healed, it wasn’t a performance. He didn’t need an audience to massage His vanity; He was and is in full assurance of His full authority.”

And?? was clearly written over Simon’s head.

“Simon, all those years ago, He spoke and my mother-in-law was healed. Immediately and completely.
Today, when I prayed over Tabitha, He moved and she was alive again.
Immediately and completely.
That Sabbath, I didn’t know who He was.
Now, I do.
Simon, He is everything.
He is power, spoken and enacted. He is humility and authority.
He is Rescuer and Healer. He is Final Sacrifice and Restorer.
He is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

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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!

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 Sketched IX 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 Sketched IX!

Posted in: Blessed, God, Holy Spirit, Love, Power, Rescue, Sacrifice, Sketched Tagged: Authority, come, Everything, Healer, Holy One, humility, Messiah, Peter, sabbath, Speaker, Teacher, Torah, Who?

Enough Day 5 Prophet & Priest

April 2, 2021 by Bri Bailey Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 28:7-8
Jeremiah 5:21-31
Ecclesiastes 7:20
Romans 3:10-12
Ephesians 2:1-3

Enough, Day 5

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)

At the moment of choosing self over God in the Garden of Eden, mankind’s sweet and intimate communion with God was shredded to tatters. Rebellious thought became disobedient action, and instantly, horrifyingly, a gulf of sin yawned eternity-wide between Father and children.

But God.

In His unbroken love and unending mercy, He designed a way to remain in relationship with His children, a system that left His justice undefiled.

The sins of the people required payment, and so He established the priesthood, a lineage set apart to approach a holy God on behalf of a sin-riddled nation.

Descendants of Aaron (Moses’ brother) would dedicate themselves to upholding meticulously stringent rules for offering countless sacrifices to cover countless sins.

Aside from sin offerings, priests would oversee
burnt offerings,
grain offerings,
guilt offerings,
and fellowship offerings, to name a few.
The people of Israel would now relate to their God at a distance, through ritual.

Sin
would separate their spirits.

The tabernacle, maintained by the tribe of Levi, would separate their physical presences. The people would remain outside, while God’s presence resided within the Holy of Holies, the tabernacle’s innermost sanctuary. Only the high priest, after strenuous cleansing rituals and offerings to cover every possible sin, was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies as a shadowed, hollow mediator between God and man.

“You must distinguish between the holy and the common,” God directed the priests, “and the clean and the unclean, and teach the Israelites all the statues that the Lord has given to them through Moses”. (Leviticus 10:10-11)

But the priests were not immune to mankind’s legacy of sin, and almost immediately, they became corrupt, continuing in their sinful nature of grubbing around in darkness rather than living holy before the Lord God.

Leadership roles, including that of high priest, were sold to the highest bidder or, later, appointed at the whim of foreign political leaders. Priests either taught from their own wisdom or put their authority up for sale (Micah 3:11), leading the people astray and violating their covenant work. (Malachi 2:8)

Finally, even before the dust of Egypt could fall from their shoes, Aaron commanded the Israelites to fashion and worship a golden calf as their one, true God. Again and again, priests sanctioned the casting of idols and the worship of false and foreign gods over the One True God. (2 Kings 17:16-17)

The cycle was unbroken, endless, despairing. No sacrifice made by man could provide permanent absolution; no spilled blood of an animal could transform the people’s sinful nature. (Hebrews 10:4)

God’s judgement was unequivocal, His words condemning their sin as a tragic echo of His commission:

“Her priests do violence to my instructions and profane my holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they do not explain the difference between the clean and the unclean. They close their eyes to my Sabbath, and I am profaned among them.” (Ezekiel 22:26)

Moved to action by a generation of priests who stole offerings meant for the Lord, threatened violence against the people they were meant to lead, and sexually abused women who served in the tabernacle (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22), God called a young boy to serve as His voice to Israel.

Thus began the age of prophets in Israel’s history, men and women who were called to approach a sin-riddled nation on behalf of a holy God. Some were people of incredible faithfulness, honor, and endurance, whose own words foreshadowed the Word made flesh.

In fact, much of the Old Testament has been dedicated to prophets’ exhortations.

But even prophets were not immune to the gnarled fingers of sin curling around their spirits.

Like the Israelites all the way back to Adam and Eve,
like the priests before and alongside them,
like every single human after them, some began to choose self over God.

What “prophetic” message would garner the most political favor?
What message would bring financial gain, or community stature?
What message would bring physical satisfaction, pleasure, or ease?
Then surely, that message was intended for God’s children . . . regardless of whether it bore any resemblance to His words.

As with the priests, God spoke out against false prophets:
“Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (when I intended no distress), and because you have supported the wicked person so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life, therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will rescue my people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 13:22-23)

. . . and eventually, the true prophets fell silent. For hundreds of years, Israel heard nothing from God. Never before had He seemed so distant, so separate.

No man, hopelessly bound in the sticky, spidery web of sin and death could free himself, save his people, and stand blameless before God (Ephesians 2:1-3).

Not priests.
Not judges, or kings, or elders.
Not prophets.
Not you, or me.

Where, then, does our hope lie? What sacrifice, what true High Priest, could be enough to break, once and for all, sin’s death-grip on our spirits?

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Posted in: Accepted, Desperate, Enough, Excuses, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Fellowship, God, Help, Journey, Pain, Promises, Redemption Tagged: alone, Christ, Desperate, empty, hope, loss, Sin

Questions 2 Day 15 Does God Need Me?

February 12, 2021 by Bri Bailey 1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 3:13-15
Psalm 50:7-15
John 15:9-17
John 17:9-13
Romans 5:6-11

Questions 2, Day 15

Tap. Tap. Tap-tap-tap.

Drops of blood struck a staccato beat as they fell into an ever-widening pool, saturating the dirt around rough-hewn beams gouged into the earth. Blood’s heavy iron scent settled in a stifling cloud over nearby onlookers.

Soldiers clustered in conversation a little distance away, raising their voices over the heartrending wail of mourners. One soldier threw a puzzled glance to the sky, wondering at the darkness shrouding the sun since midday. He shrugged in the inky darkness and turned back to his fellow servicemen. For those assigned to crucifixion duty, the agony that daily played out around them faded quickly into mundane.

But their talk halted abruptly as a figure on one of the three crosses heaved against the spikes and cried out,

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?(Matthew 27:46)

Centuries later, we wonder what could possibly compel the God-man on that cross to knowingly and willingly submit to such agony?
To a death that left Him unrecognizable as human?To total and utter separation from God the Father and the Spirit?

Surely, it must have been to satisfy a desperate need.
To mend His eternity, torn by the sins of His creations.
To fill the aching loneliness left by their desertion.
To secure for Himself workers in the establishment of His kingdom on earth.

These are logical conclusions, but they’re based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the character and heart of God . . . one I’d never really considered until now. If it’s a new idea for you, too, cool! Let’s learn together in this safe space!

In essence, we ask
Did Jesus die to redeem me because God needs me in order to be happy?
To be joyful?
To be satisfied, or fulfilled, or in community?
To be effective, powerful, or present?
Does God need me . . . at all?

Absolutely not.

Stings, doesn’t it?
But let’s invite our egos to take a seat and talk it through . . .
Because it’s actually THE BEST news.

God needs nothing.

He lacks nothing; the world and everything in it are His.
He does not need our offerings, praise, or provision.(Psalm 50:7-15)

He created all, in heaven and on earth.
He owns all.
He is victorious over all, with no need of aid.
(Genesis 14:17-20, Psalm 24:1-2)

Instead of needing anything, He is the source of everything.
Including us.
He gives us life and breath.
He determines our days and our boundaries.
He, Who made us, cannot be contained by us.
Our service does not fulfill or empower Him.
He is not bound by our understanding or creations or imagination.
(Acts 17:22-29)

He. is. all.
When God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush, He declared, “I AM WHO I AM”. (Exodus 3:14)
No other descriptor is needed, or could be more than, God Himself.

He is fullness of joy.
While He offers to share His joy with us, His joy is NOT dependent upon us.(John 15:11)

He is fullness of community, existing as God the Father, Christ the Son, and Holy Spirit.

In Himself is shared ownership, shared pleasure, and shared knowledge of each other on the most intimate level.

He has no need of us.

But take heart; we’re coming to the best part.

If the God-man on that cross knowingly and willingly submitted to such agony to satisfy a desperate need, His sacrifice would have been one of obligation.

Instead, He embraced His suffering
Unto disfigured death and utter abandonment
to satisfy a desperate love.

Our sin broke our world, broke our eternity, broke our spirits,
But it did NOT break His love.
And so He made a way to overcome our sin.
(Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 2:4-5)

No, He doesn’t need us.
But oh, how He wants us!
How He loves us!

In those moments when….
the enormity and ugliness and shame of our sin
punches us in the gut, stealing our breath and leaving us longing
to peel off our skin, climb out, and be someone else because we can’t stand to be this wretched mess for one more second . . .

Oh, how He wants us!
How He loves us!

For here, in the absence of need, the fullness of God’s want
astounds us with its flourishing passion. 

Beholding the sobbing heap of mistakes and regret before Him,
Against all human logic, with obligation nowhere to be found,
Driven by abiding love,
He wraps us in His scarred arms and whispers,
“Beloved, I chose the cross, because I choose you.
Even here. Even now.”

(Cue the ugly cry. Every time.)

What will we do with this stunning reality?

Perhaps you’re experiencing significant lack, or feeling small and incapable . . .
His truth reminds you of the God Who needs nothing,
Who is the source of all, and is graciously, your Provider.

Perhaps you’re drowning in condemnation and shame, feeling wholly unlovable . . .
His truth resoundingly declares His incomprehensible love for you.

Perhaps He’s asking you to respond to His love by stepping out in forgiveness, obedience, or repentance . . . .
Here, in this unforced space, you are free to proclaim grateful devotion to your Father, Lover, and Helper.

Move into truth and act upon it, knowing full well the One Who loves us best is for us!

As we reflect on these questions, seek His heart, and follow the gentle nudges of His Spirit, we can walk on in partnership with the One Who loves us best.

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Posted in: Creation, Cross, Fullness, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joy, Redeemed, Sacrifice, Truth Tagged: Desperate Love, eternity, He is, I Am, loneliness, Me, My God, need, questions, seek

Gospel Day 5 The World

March 15, 2019 by Bri Bailey 1 Comment

Gospel Day 5 The World

Bri Bailey

March 15, 2019

church,Faithfulness,Fellowship,God,Gospel,Holiness

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 103:1-14
Matthew 5:43-45
Romans 8:37-39
1 John 4:8-10
Revelation 5:6-10

Shocking.
God’s love is shocking.

John 3:16 opens with the earth-shattering phrase, “God so loved the world.”
To those of us who have grown up in the church and can recite this verse by rote memory, the concept may have lost a bit of its punch. In a sermon entitled “God’s Shocking Love,” Pastor Steven Cole helps us reconnect with the power of this passage.

Cole explains that for the original devout Jewish audience, these words turned everything the Jews knew on end. Of course God loved them. After all, they obeyed the Law, made sacrifices to atone for their sins, and were generally as good as good could get.
But God so loved the world??!!

A world that included sinful Jews, those who had slipped in upholding religious minutiae, those who had missed a Sabbath or couldn’t quite afford that sacrifice . . . well, maybe. They were still God’s chosen people, even if they were a bit backslidden.

But a world that included Gentiles?!
Nope.
Absolutely not.

The Jews had spent generations being warned against intermingling with these dogs, failing to listen, and then bearing the punishment of their choices. And now God professed His love for the very people the Jews have been taught to shun?
Madness.

Let’s not forget those who openly opposed Jesus, condemned Him, and even participated in His death. Surely the love of God doesn’t extend quite that far.

And what about us?

Let’s leave our Jewish brethren to scratch their heads for a moment and turn our focus a little closer to home.

Have you ever felt unlovable?

Surveyed the last few months of your life and seen only efforts culminating in repeated failures?

Lost your temper with your kids, or your neighbors, or your co-workers
. . . for the tenth time
. . . since lunch?

Spoken or acted in a way that hurt those for whom you care the most?

At our prickliest, when it seems nothing we do is right or good, when we’re sick to death of being our miserable selves . . .

Does God love us then?

Yes.

Say it out loud with me if you have to.

God. loves. Me.

The truth is that the shocking, incomprehensible love of God has nothing to do with our goodness, and everything to do with who He is: God is love.

And therefore He loves us, even at our ugliest.
Like the father of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32), He sprints to greet us, grinning ear to ear, wrapping His arms around us without giving the slightest thought to the pig poop with which we’re covered, or our past insolence, or the way we’ve done all the bad things.

Devout Jew or Gentile dog, the mostly good, the mostly not good, His sweet mother, the soldier who drove the nails into His flesh . . . He simply loves us.

But the story doesn’t end there.

John 3:16 continues, “that He sent His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

God is love. God is also completely holy and utterly just.

Into that tension slithered our sin.

And in the instant of a single choice,
God’s plan for perfect fellowship with His children was broken.

To uphold His holiness and justice, and to uphold the dignity of human responsibility, God must judge all sin.*

Some of us, as discussed above, are acutely aware of our sin and its resulting judgement.

But what about those who, like the prodigal’s older brother, have done the good things? Perhaps we’ve been in the church, faithfully, for as long as we can remember.

Steered clear of “big” sins.

Maintained a respectful attitude toward God.

Get ready for some serious truth:

the older brother was a BIG OLE HYPOCRITE.

We may have done some of the good things, but no one has done all the good things.

Romans 3:23 drives home that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Furthermore, the wages of sin are death. (Romans 6:23)

Devout Jew or Gentile dog, the mostly good, the mostly not good, His sweet mother, the soldier who drove the nails into His flesh . . . we are all perishing.

But because of His great love, He sent His only Son, who is eternal God in sinless human flesh, to bear the death penalty we all deserve.*

In the face of our sin, His holy justice required separation.
His love moved Him to make a way back.

It’s up to us prodigals to acknowledge our sins and recognize the futility of our own efforts to mitigate their eternal consequences, choosing instead to believe in God and entrust our eternity to the finished work of the cross.

The Father’s love is calling us home.
How will you respond?

*Steven Cole, “Lesson 17: God’s Shocking Love,” www.bible.org.

Tags :
dignity,God IS Love,Holy Justice,John 3:16,prodigal,World
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Posted in: church, Faithfulness, Fellowship, God, Gospel, Holiness Tagged: dignity, God IS Love, Holy Justice, John 3:16, prodigal, World

Anchored Day 13 When The World Is At Stake

March 6, 2019 by Bri Bailey Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 95:2-5
Matthew 28:16-20
Colossians 4:2-6
1 Corinthians 16:9-10

Anchored, Day 13

Our world is dying.
Those of us walking with Jesus know the narrow road to life,
and we are commissioned to invite the perishing around us on the
journey to life everlasting. (Matthew 7:13-14)

The stakes couldn’t be higher.

This urgency drove Paul’s words to the Colossian church in chapter 4.
Having laid a foundation for Godly living in chapter 3, Paul now invites the Colossians to broaden their perspective to the lost world stretching out before them.

“Fellow saints,” he seems to say, “remember your transformation is unto transferral:
the transferral of lost souls from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light.”

Paul extends the hand of ministry partnership to Colossian believers.
He begins by highlighting the power of prayer, fundamentally understanding the success of his local evangelism depends on a suffusion of supernatural power garnered by prayers of distant believers.

So too for us, sisters!
While evangelism may not be our main vocation, we are not sidelined!
Our supportive role is critical to the work of those on the mission field.
When the world is at stake, our prayers matter.

But how should we pray?
Verse 2 of this passage provides three main guidelines for powerful, supportive prayer.

First, we are to be STEADFAST in our prayers for those sharing the Gospel.
Consistency in prayer exponentially strengthens both the pray-er (growing both motivation and intensity within her) and the recipient.

Next, we are to be WATCHFUL in prayer.
When we get busy praying, the enemy gets busy opposing us. We need to be alert to his strategies, which he’s crafty enough to tailor to each of us. Head on a swivel, sisters, let’s fight to protect our prayers.

And finally, we are to be THANKFUL in prayer.
While the view from the trenches may be discouraging at times, it’s important to remember that ultimately, the victory has already been won. As we reflect on our testimonies, we are reminded God has been faithful and will be again.
We find ourselves infused with fresh hope and strength for the fight.

We’re ready to be consistent in our prayers,
alert to the strategies of the enemy to thwart us,
and gratefully confident that in the epic struggle for the world,
our God has already been declared Victor.
We’re ready to pray.

But what should we pray?
Verses 3-4 provide timely guidance.

First, Paul requests prayer “also for us”.
Again, this refers to those whose main vocation is spreading the Gospel, whether local or far distant. Specifically, Paul shares a deep desire to make the most of “open door” moments: those special opportunities to share Jesus in unusually effective ways. These are not day-to-day conversations with a single person, but rather unique openings to minister on a large scale.

In every interaction, Paul longs to declare the mystery of Christ in a way that makes it clear. Some people may have been taught a wrong understanding of the Gospel.
Others may have no frame of reference at all and find it overwhelming.
Paul seeks wisdom to spread the word of God in a way that is relatable to each person he encounters.

So, as we pray for our missionaries, let’s ask God to create open doors for the exponentially effective move of the Gospel.
Let’s ask Him to give those on the front line precisely the right words
to make clear the heart of the Father.

In the last few verses of this passage, Paul moves instructs the Colossians
how they ought to share Jesus.

Because of course, evangelism is not just for missionaries.
Each and every one of us have been commissioned
to engage in everyday, ordinary ways of sharing
the most extraordinary story ever told.

“The time has come,” Paul seems to say, “to put all of your learning, all of your discipline, all of your growth, into action. Being transformed into the Father’s image means your heart also becomes more like His, broken for His lost children. Go now; it’s time to act.”

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders,
making the best use of the time.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
(Colossians 4:5-6)

Right off the bat, Paul encourages us with the simple command to engage those outside the family of believers. Time is short, and every interaction matters.
Therefore, Paul explains, wisdom is paramount.

Where is this person in the process of salvation?
What action on my part would be most beneficial
for this person
in this moment?

Perhaps my role is to sew a seed, leaving the harvest for another worker. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9) Or perhaps this is the moment of decision, and I ought to press on.
God’s timing is perfect, and my desire is to move in step with Him as He leads.

Furthermore, operating in the Father’s wisdom and listening the Spirit’s whisper allows our words to be seasoned in a way that makes the Gospel most powerful in each interaction. Because it isn’t about us, this is God’s Work!

A highly effective approach with one person might prove detrimental with another.
Before we’re overwhelmed by the weightiness of what lies ahead, remember we have God on our side. He created each soul; He is perfectly capable of leading us as His Spirit courts each one for the Kingdom.

When the world is at stake, the power of prayer is critical
along with a willing obedience to go.
Let us meet the Lord on our knees,
hear His whispers in our hearts,
and take Him with us to the streets.

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Posted in: Anchored, Colossians, Creation, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, Kingdom, Power, Prayer, Worship Tagged: go, salvation, steadfast, thankful, Urgency, Watchful, whisper, World

Anchored Day 3 Together

February 20, 2019 by Bri Bailey 4 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:3-14
Genesis 1:1-2
Matthew 28:16-20
2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Ephesians 1:7-10

Anchored, Day 3

“Alllll by myseeeeelllllllff
Don’t wanna be
Allllll by myseeelllff
Anymore”

Celine’s soulful lyrics have become stock in trade for rom com break-up scenes and may leave us rolling our eyes (or reaching for the tissues; no judging here . . .). But perhaps they are so ingrained in our culture because of her plaintive statement of a truth that resonates deeply within us.

Centuries earlier, John Donne penned a similar sentiment:
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man
Is a piece of the continent, a part of the main”.

We were made for together.
At the inception of humankind, our Creator spoke this foundational idea:
“It is not good that man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)

Sisters, we were made in God’s image, and central to His identity is community and fellowship, together.  He is the triune God: God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us before anything else was, God was, eternally existing in fellowship with Himself. Born from this shared love, His creative heart crafted humanity, breathing His own life into us, fashioning our desire for community to mirror His own that we too might experience shared love of fellowship together with Him and others.

Why this emphasis on life together?
In part, He knew how dangerous alone can be.

 When we’re alone (physically or spiritually), our problems become larger than life.
We begin ignoring the provision of God Himself as we elevate our problems above His goodness. As we fixate on our struggles, we can’t begin to conceive of sharing another’s burden. Our gaze turns increasingly inward, into a deepening spiral of self-absorption, hopelessness, and paralysis.

When we’re alone, the whispered lies of the enemy become the loudest sound we hear.
God’s words of truth become faint, fading into the distance of our memories. “Sure, God calls you His beloved,” the enemy sneers, pressing play on our personalized failure reels, “but could He really love someone who does this . . . and this . . . and this?”

Heads hung in shame, we find ourselves agreeing. All too soon, we’re no longer defined by the love of our Father, but by everything ugly within us.

When we’re alone, we abandon our discipline.
We find ourselves exhausted by the weight of carrying on in our feebleness, and after all, who will know if I don’t (insert discipline here) just this once?
Here, our last tenuous tethers to life-giving habits are severed.

His solution: together.

Together, we lean into loving accountability.
Our communities both seek the best for us and deserve the best from us. When we choose discipline, not only are we transformed by consistent change, but we build trust within our tribes.

Together, we can put physical voice to the Word of God, drowning out the enemy’s condemnation as we remind each other of truth. When we risk vulnerability within biblical community, we encounter the awesome power of shared experience. We are reminded how life is a journey for all, and failure doesn’t disqualify us from His plan.

Together, we gain perspective on our problems.
We can draw on one another’s experiences, finding wisdom and guidance as we seek the Lord together. We feel the rebirth of hope, reconnect with empathy, and are energized to act on our faith in the world around us.

The church at Colossae excelled at together.
Paul opens his letter to them with praise for the love they have for one another in the Spirit (Colossians 1:4, 8). He’d heard of their deep understanding of the hope and grace of salvation, and how it’s moved them to join their hearts together on their journey.

However, they stopped short of putting feet to their faith.
This body firmly believes in the hope of life in God;
they see the suffering around and within them, and their hearts swell with empathy . . .
but they don’t seem to be quite sure what to do next.

Contained within Paul’s prayer for the church are two practical ways for these believers to act, together.

First, Paul prays the Colossians would grow in knowledge of God’s will, tempered with wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9). God is know-able; His word stands ready to teach us His heart!

Then, Paul urges the Colossians to let this Word of God dwell with them deeply (Colossians 3:16) as His Spirit guides their actions. Partnership with the Father, because of the Son, through the Holy Spirit, teaches them walk in a manner worthy of their calling, fully pleasing to God, and bearing much fruit. (Colossians 1:10)

Sisters, this is God’s calling for us!
We can follow Paul’s instructions by asking ourselves these questions as we read Scripture:

What is God showing me about Himself?
The Colossians were encouraged to grow rich in knowledge and understanding of the Lord. How does what we read inform our perspective of the Almighty?

What is God showing me about myself and others?
What is God’s heart for my community? What lens should I see myself and others through?

What am I going to do about it?
How do I put feet to my faith? What are tangible, practical ways I can act on the Word and will of God, for me, for the body of Christ, and for the lost?

As we live out the vibrant, active Word of God,
lives are changed,
discipline becomes consistent,
and transformation results.

As we are sanctified, the Bride of Christ more closely resembles her Lover and the world around us begins to touch the true heart of the Father.

Together, we seek Him.
Together, we grow.

Together, we bear fruit.

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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!

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Posted in: Anchored, Colossians, Community, God, Relationship, Scripture, Seeking Tagged: alone, dwell, knowledge, Together, Tribes, trust, Word of God
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