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Worship XIII, Day 3 I Will Hide In You

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Worship XIII, Day 3 I Will Hide In You

Rebecca Adams

March 26, 2025

Accepted,Adoring,Safe,Suffering,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 55 
1 Peter 5:6-11 
Psalm 18  

Psalm 55
“God, listen to my prayer
and do not hide from my plea for help. 

Pay attention to me and answer me. 
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, 
because of the enemy’s words, 
because of the pressure of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me
and harass me in anger. 

My heart shudders within me; 
terrors of death sweep over me.

Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me. 
I said, ‘If only I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest. 
How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness. 

Selah

I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm.’ [. . .]

But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me. 
I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, 
and He hears my voice. 

Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed. 
God, the one enthroned from long ago, 
will hear and will humiliate them
because they do not change
and do not fear God.

Cast your burden on the Lord,
and He will sustain you; 
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

My Words Back To Him
Lord, these dark corridors feel like terror closing in. (Psalm 55:5) My relationships are plagued with sin, its brokenness showing up with fangs which steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10)
Do You see the suffering of the oppressed because of sin’s deadly chains? Do You see how the handiwork of the enemy is destroying the ones I love? Do You see how it’s destroying me?

Hear my plea, Lord!
Pay attention to my groanings! (Psalm 55:1-2)
This grip of pain, the darkness of wrong choices, the loss… Lord, see how the enemy of my soul is using these to create a cacophony of harassment and oppression (Psalm 55:3) against me and those I love.

 Lord, hear and see!
 Lord, come and rescue!

 Selah.

How blessedly You call me to hush, to be still, to stand and see the goodness of the Lord pass before me in stunning beauty. My circumstances are the same as they were 5 minutes ago, but now, here with You, I am calmed and quieted as a little child. (Psalm 131)

You embrace me with peace.

Selah, an invitation for peace to enter, blessed peace which passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) When all I can do in this whirlwind is come to You with desperation and tears from a ravaged soul, You graciously see shards of faith in my decision to come.

Your response is sure and swift as You hold me secure. (Psalm 63:8)
You part the maddening clouds of my torrential storms, (Psalm 18:9) descending quickly with Your strong right arm to save and hold me close. (Psalm 18:16-19)
You nestle me under Your wings, blanketing me with the security of Your warm feathers. (Psalm 91:4)

My breathing slows, my sobs lessen, my fists relax against Your embrace.

When I call, You save me. (Psalm 55:16)
Not always from the raging storm outside, but from the one roaring within.
Loud are the voices against me, including the terrorizing fear the enemy wields as a weapon against my heart. But selah. You tuck me into Yourself; You redeem me from the battle unharmed. (Psalm 55:18)

Lord, Endless King, Ruler of All, I am choosing to lay down these pains, loosening my grip on terror, allowing You, the Prince of Peace, to apply Your healing to my heart.
You will humiliate the Oppressor. (Psalm 55:19) You will destroy the works of the Enemy with a breath. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

I praise You for the call to Selah, to rest, for You are my Unchanging One.
You are good; You DO good. (Psalm 119:68)
You are my good. (Psalm 16:2, 5)

Confess, Lament, and Praise
Forgive my disbelief in Your everlasting goodness.
Forgive my disbelief in Your righteous justice.
Forgive my disbelief that You hold all things, you see all things, and will never let me be shaken away from You. (Psalm 55:22)

How I praise You! How I will praise You all my days!
You continually invite me to cast my burdens upon You (Psalm 55:22), for You are the burden-bearing God. (Psalm 68:19)

You are, You have been, You always will be, my Steadfast Rescue.

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless Your Holy Name! (Psalm 103:1)
I will rest here, quieting myself, for I have learned, and am still learning, to nestle in the gift of Selah. 

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Worship XIII, Day 4
Digging Deeper

Laments unabashedly express an array of strong emotions, and although lament is the antithesis of worship, Psalms of Lament usually end with resolved thinking and praise.

So, more than a mere vehicle to vent, Psalms of Lament is a model of how to manage human emotions constructively.
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Come Day 8 Come To Relate

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Come Day 8 Come To Relate

Rebekah Hargraves

February 19, 2025

Accepted,Affectionate,bride,Broken,Called,Captivating,Family,gentle,Groom,Heaven,Hope,Jealous,Journey,Love,Mercy,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 116:5-9
Song of Solomon 2:10-13
Matthew 11:28-30

When I discovered the topic of our next study here at Gracefully Truthful, I immediately saw the hand of God all over it. You see, the Lord has had me on a journey since the Advent season of 2023, a journey of becoming aware of the tender invitations He extends to me. I read a handful of Advent books at the end of last year, and in every one, the word “invitation” kept popping up. That, my friends, is no coincidence. 

Though I have walked with the Lord for the vast majority of my life, only in recent months have I considered my relationship with Him as a series of gracious invitations. In light of the specific invitation we are discussing today, this realization is both a gift and a balm to my soul. 

I tend to be hyper-focused on my to-do list, always hurrying from one thing to the next, and subconsciously taking on the burdensome belief that everything depends upon me. So when I read these words of invitation from Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, I am instantly stopped in my tracks:

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Though I had read those words many times, I learned something striking about this passage in the following excerpt from John Mark Comer’s excellent book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry:

“Jesus was a rabbi (Hebrew, meaning ‘teacher’). Yes, He was more – the Messiah and the embodiment of God Himself. I deeply believe that. But if you had been a first-century Jew and Jesus showed up in your synagogue one Sabbath morning, the odds are, the category you would have put him in was that of a rabbi or a traveling sage. 

“And like every rabbi in his day, Jesus had a yoke. Not a literal yoke; He was a teacher not a farmer. A yoke was a common idiom in the first century for a rabbi’s way of reading the Torah. But it was also more: it was the rabbi’s set of teachings on how to be human. His way to shoulder the (at times crippling) weight of life- marriage, divorce, prayer, money, conflict resolution, government- all of it. It’s an odd image for those of us who don’t live in an agrarian society. But imagine two oxen yoked together to pull a cart or plow a field. A yoke is how you shoulder a load. What made Jesus unique wasn’t that He had a yoke; all rabbis had a yoke. It was that He had an *easy* yoke.”

These words stopped me in my tracks as I was reading. Jesus desires for us to live, as one Bible translation puts it, “freely and lightly.” Yes, we will face hardship in this life, but He wants us to live with an inner peace and lightness from Him, even in the midst of hardship. This means, then, there is no place for the heavy bondage of legalism, the soul-crushing pace of hustle and hurry, the life-draining idol of comparison, or the guilt and shame-inducing fearful lies of the enemy.

Imagine if we all lived with THAT kind of freedom. The amazing grace and beauty of the gospel is that we can, if we follow the way of Jesus! 

This brings me to the beautiful words of Song of Solomon 2:10-13, a passage which begins with the same invitation as Matthew 11,  the invitation to “come”.

“My love calls to me:
Arise, my darling.
Come away, my beautiful one.
For now the winter is past;
the rain has ended and gone away.
The blossoms appear in the countryside.
The time of singing has come,
and the turtledove’s cooing is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs;
the blossoming vines give off their fragrance.
Arise, my darling.
Come away, my beautiful one.”

When placed alongside Jesus’ words in Matthew 11, this passage teaches us, with deep beauty and impact, about the nature of God’s invitation; it is all about relationship. We are invited and called to walk in step with Him, delighting in His presence, and feeling calmed and comforted by His love. 

Instead of striving, we now trust. 
Instead of rushing, we now slow down. 
Instead of thinking everything is on our shoulders, we realize, actually, He carries everything for us. 

What a beautiful relief!

Now, as I ponder my daily to-dos and encounter the events of each day, I am able to feel a soul-deep peace, for my Savior’s yoke is easy, and His burden truly is light.

“Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.”
(Psalm 116:7)

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Come, Day 9
Digging Deeper

David Mathis declares, “True humility is not the denigrating of humanity, but God’s image shining in its fullness . . . To humble ourselves is to come ever closer, step by step, to the bliss and full flourishing for which we were made.”

When we are humble, the light of God shines through us. What a blessing that God walks with us on each step of our journey to Christ-like humility! (Proverbs 3:34)
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Therefore Day 5 New Mind; New Everything: Digging Deeper

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Therefore Day 5 New Mind; New Everything: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

May 31, 2024

Accepted,Gospel,Grace,Ordinary,Perfect,Redemption,Rescue,Restored

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "New Mind; New Everything"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 12:16-21

16 Then He told them a parable: "A rich man's land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, 'What should I do, since I don't have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,' he said. 'I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I'll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”

20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared-whose will they be?'

21 That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How does ignorance and hardness of heart exclude us from the life of God? (verse 18)

In Ephesians 4:18, Paul warns we can be “excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in [us] and because of the hardness of [our] hearts.“ In our ignorance, our natural, sin-nature shuts God out. We easily default to thinking that our selfish, worldly pursuits will fill our emptiness (Ecclesiastes 1:14), when in reality, only God can truly satisfies our deepest longings (John 6:35).

Curtis Vaughan explains it “is not that unregenerate minds are empty. It is that they are filled with things that lead to nothing.” Apart from Christ, we chase after futility and perpetuate our ignorance. We unknowingly, or stubbornly, run away from the only thing we really need, which is life with God.

David Guzik suggests, “Ignorance and lack of understanding of man is a heart problem. It is shown not only in a foolish denial of God, but also in his moral failures.” When we harden our hearts, we can’t hear God or acknowledge God’s power or His Truth. (Matthew 13:15)

Leon Wood explains that the ancient Greek word employed in this passage for hardness, porosis, “is used medically to denote the callus formed when a bone has been fractured and reset. Such a callus is even harder than the bone itself.” A hardened heart will embrace sin’s deceptions (Hebrews 3:12-13) and will refuse God’ offered gift of complete forgiveness of sins. (Romans 6:23)

A humble, willing, receptive heart is required to accept the Gospel message that leads us into right relationship with the Lord. God can turn our hearts toward His precepts (Psalm 119:36) and enlighten the eyes of our hearts (Ephesians 1:18) so we recognize His sovereignty and are freed to enjoy a life lived with Him. Let’s plead this for ourselves and our lost friends and relatives!

The Everyday Application

1) How does ignorance and hardness of heart exclude us from the life of God? (verse 18)

A passage in Jane Eyre reminds me of Paul’s description of the unrighteous who “are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts” (verse 18)

This moment occurs when Jane returns home to visit the deathbed of her Aunt Reed, who had treated Jane cruelly in childhood. Aunt Reed confessed something to ease her conscience before she died. Though upset by the disclosure, Jane forgave her aunt, offering to make peace with her. Even as she lay dying, Aunt Reed could not relinquish her long held dislike of and prejudice against Jane, though Jane offered her love and more kindness than her own beloved children displayed as she slipped away.

Jane’s goodness was evident in the tender care she provided, even after years of abuse, but Aunt Reed stubbornly clung to her ingrained opinions of Jane’s unworthiness, refusing to let Jane’s love soften her heart. Considering this scene in the light of hardening my own heart towards God is uncomfortable because I see more resemblance to Aunt Reed than to Jane.

I see the times I have ignorantly clung to dark, or even harmless, things that kept me from God, all the while hardening my heart to His invitation to release them and follow Him. (Romans 6:12-14) As Liz Curtis Higgs explains, “My inclination is to tuck such [sins] into the deep recesses of a drawer. Just in case I need them later. Just in case I miss them.” God graciously offers to take those sinful hindrances from us and replace them with His loving care. (1 Peter 5:7)

It is an amazing offer, to give up what can never fulfill us (Ecclesiastes 1:8), instead, taking hold of the One who can satisfy all our longings! (Psalm 145:16)

The Original Intent

2) How do we take off the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires? (verse 22)

Paul urges his readers “to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires.” (verse 22) David Guzik suggests, “This has the same idea of putting off or putting on a set of clothes. The idea is to change into a different kind of conduct.”

Paul wants us to change out of our old ways of thinking, acting and believing. One way to change out of the old self is by neglecting it, allowing it to shrivel up and die for lack of attention by no longer feeding its cravings or fulfilling its desires. (Romans 13:14) This may mean no longer frequenting places or hanging out with people who pull you toward sinful thoughts, actions, or attitudes. To abandon our former godless way of life requires us to dismantle and destroy those things which are unhealthy and don’t honor God. (Galatians 5:24)

Paul does not suggest we do this in our own strength, but with the help of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:2) Andrew Murray asserts, “If you are willing to come entirely away out of self, and to allow Jesus Christ to become your life within you, inspiring all your thinking, feeling, acting, in things temporal and spiritual, He is ready to undertake the charge . . . He asks but one thing: Come away out of self and its life, abide in Christ and the Christ life, and Christ will be your life. The power of His holy presence will cast out the old life.”

God instructs us to be done with the former, lesser things that have kept us from Him, and then He graciously offers His Holy Spirit to empower the choices He asks us to make as He leads us by His Spirit into a life that sets us free to dance in love and righteous living!

The Everyday Application

2) How do we take off the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires? (verse 22)

My Dad has a radical salvation story similar to the apostle Paul’s. (Acts 9:1-9) One minute he wanted nothing to do with Jesus, and the next minute, he was on his knees, repenting and accepting Jesus as His Savior!

While his conversion was dramatic, he still needed to learn to “take off [his] former way of life, the old self […] corrupted by deceitful desires.” (verse 22) He recounts how his first prayer after his salvation contained curse words, and how one of his first visits to adult Sunday School class raised quite a few eyebrows as he shared some decidedly un-Biblical opinions about marriage and relationships.

Each time his old way of thinking and behaving clashed with what he was learning in the Bible, he had to make a choice: keep doing things the old way or leave the old way behind. Eventually, his vocabulary changed from prolific cussing to never cursing. He sought out mentors who helped him change his outlook on marriage and the role of a husband. And because most of his spiritual input had been from secular music lyrics, he got rid of his record collection (even the Beatles albums!) and did not listen to anything but Christian music for a decade as he let go of his unrighteous practices and made way for God to renew his mind. (Titus 3:5)

This challenging practice is vital for new Christians, but it is not limited to those who recently professed faith. All Christians experience times of reverting back to old habits or unrighteous practices. (Galatians 5:1) In those times of temptation from past desires and habit, this verse can remind us to slough off those corrupted ways and striving forward toward a life like Christ’s. (1 Peter 1:14-15)

The Original Intent

3) How do we put on the new self that is created according to God’s likeness? (verse 24)

The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to “put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (verse 24) Paul isn’t just suggesting we only follow the example of Jesus on occasion, but that we take on His character and His image, actually becoming like Christ in everyday life and all our relationships.

David Guzik explains, “Jesus isn’t merely added to our old life; the old life dies and He becomes our new life.” When we put on the new self, we start to look and act like Jesus. Our speech becomes like His, full of love and kindness. (Isaiah 50:4) Our faith becomes like His, strong and unwavering. (Mark 11:22-24)

We should try to be like Jesus in every way, but we also must allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, conforming us to His image; this is His job! (Colossians 3:10) Liz Curtis Higgs notes, “When we are in Christ, and He is in us, we are transformed. God doesn’t just clean us up, fix us up, straighten us up. He recreates us in the image of His Son. He starts from scratch. He makes us new.”

We can take steps to become more like Jesus every day by living like Jesus lived, but we don’t need to try on our own strength alone. God not only shows us how to live rightly by pointing us to the life of His Son (Philippians 2:5), but He also empowers us to live that life through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). His abundant grace supplies all our needs!

The Everyday Application

3) How do we put on the new self that is created according to God’s likeness? (verse 24)

It amazed me that when the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2022, players and coaches had already donned championship gear for the post-game interview immediately following the football game.

Their victory was minutes old, but they already had hats and shirts declaring their new status as Super Bowl victors. Loyal fans immediately formed lines out the door at sporting goods’ stores, impatient to obtain new garb declaring their team as the best of the best. They had a new, elite title, and they wanted everyone to know.

Paul urges Christians to do something similar when they come to faith in Christ, telling them to “put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth”. (verse 24) Paul wanted Christians to put on the new self to exemplify a victorious life in Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Now that they were Christians, Paul wanted the church to put on the life of Christ (Romans 13:14) so they would authentically represent Jesus to everyone they met. Becoming a Christian represents a radical change in the believer, who God calls a “new creation”. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

John Piper suggests, “In the school of grace, God creates the new person—and that includes all the new attitudes and emotions and practices that we are supposed to put on.” Christians can be just as excited and enthusiastic as a Super Bowl team in their championship gear when we put on the new self, because it represents the new, purifying work Jesus is faithful to complete in each believer who has surrendered their sinful selves in exchange for freedom that comes from complete forgiveness from God! (Philippians 1:6)

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Therefore, Day 5
Journey Study

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.

They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.

They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.
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May 27 - June 14, 2024 - Journey Theme #133

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Sketched XII, Day 11 Foreigner To Native

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Sketched XII, Day 11 Foreigner To Native

Rebekah Hargraves

April 29, 2024

Accepted,Daughter,Gospel,Grace,Loss,Love,Salvation

Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 8:26-39
1 Peter 1:1-4
Philippians 3:18-21
Isaiah 53

I know what it feels like to not belong. 
I know what it feels like to be an exile away from home. 
I know what it is to be used. 
I know what it is to have nobody even know my name.

You see, I had always been known by my ethnicity, my condition, and my work description. 
I was never known by my own name, by my own identity, individually, apart from the crowd. No one knew that – not even me, it seemed. 

I was merely known as the Ethiopian eunuch, a court official for Queen Candace of Ethiopia. She had a name. But I sure didn’t. 

And yet, that is not my story any longer. I do have a name now: “Beloved Child of the Most High God.” For, you see, He sought me and found me.

I’ll never forget the day when everything changed. I had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to my place in Candace’s court. Taking a brief break from my travels, I was sitting in my chariot reading from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. Suddenly, I heard a voice say, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” (Acts 8:30)

I was so startled, wondering if I was hearing the voice of God Himself, for I had just been praying for help in understanding. I was reading these words from Isaiah but not understanding a single one; after all, I had no one to guide me.

You can imagine my surprise, then, when this unknown man suddenly appeared and seemed to read my mind! He was a messenger from heaven, I was sure of it.

I invited this heaven-sent man to come and sit with me. As I explained to him what I had been reading in Isaiah, I asked this man, who told me his name was Philip, about the suffering servant of whom I’d read. (Isaiah 53)

Instantly, my life changed forever, for Philip began telling me the good news of the God-Man named Jesus, our Savior. (John 3:16-17) I placed my faith and trust in this Messiah then and there. 

During our conversation, we had been journeying down the road a bit. Suddenly, we came upon some water and I asked Philip if anything would prevent me from now being baptized. He instantly commanded the chariot to stop. Next thing I knew, we were going down into the water and Philip was baptizing me. 

As if the day’s events weren’t astounding enough, suddenly Philip disappeared from sight! I wish I could have thanked him before he was transported away, but you can bet I praised the One Who ultimately met with me. I am still rejoicing over the best day of my life.

Since then, I have read the words of Peter, a follower and missionary of Jesus, who wrote of “chosen exiles” to whom the Lord has “[given] new birth into a living hope.” (1 Peter 1:1-4) How Peter’s words resonate with me! I was an exile, and I was certainly pursued and elected for salvation by my Lord and God. 

I was once a largely unknown eunuch serving a queen. 
Now I am a personally-known and loved child of God. 

I am still an exile today, for my true home is secured for me in Heaven, but I no longer ache with despair or loneliness over my exile. Nothing surpasses my new identity of being born again to a living hope, with my citizenship transferred to heaven. (Philippians 3:20) 

I will forever be grateful to my Savior for rescuing me, and to a man named Philip for showing me the way to Him.

Foreigner to Native
A cardboard testimony from the author…

I loved entering into the mind and heart of the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8:26-39. His story takes up but a portion of only one chapter of the whole Bible and we are never given his name, but his story resonated with me. 

I, too, know the painful feeling of not belonging. 

From the time I was 12 until I was 19, I experienced one cross-country move and countless church changes. For a roots person such as myself, and someone who hates to be the unknown “new girl,” this period was torture. I’ve been the unknown girl more times than I care to count, but as I have grown in my walk with the Lord, I have come to understand something: no matter how known or unknown I am on this earth, the God of the universe deeply and intimately knows me and loves me still! 

I have sat at the table of Hope and been forever changed. I have felt what it is like to sit with the Savior and bask in His love and care, personalized just for me.

If I were to hold up a cardboard testimony of the first decades of my life, it would say: “From unknown to seen and deeply cared for.”

The same can be true for you if you turn to the One Who made, knows, and loves you deeply.

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Sketched XII Day 12
Digging Deeper

My righteous servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities.

Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive
the mighty as spoil,
because He willingly submitted to death,
and was counted among the rebels.

Yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
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Sketched XII, Day 5 Pompous To Passionate: Digging Deeper

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Sketched XII, Day 5 Pompous To Passionate: Digging Deeper

Lois Robbins

April 19, 2024

Accepted,Adoption,Broken,Confession,Faith,Grace,Hope,Lord

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Pompous To Passionate"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man.

4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”

9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What can we learn about the gospel’s reach from Zacchaeus’ story? (verses 2-4 and 10)

Jericho was an important site for collecting taxes in ancient Palestine and Zacchaeus was a Chief Tax Collector, holding a high office in the Roman tax system. Under this unjust system, tax officers gained income by extorting more money from taxpayers than what the law required.

This worked very well for Zacchaeus; apparently, considering the text mentions his wealth, he was quite skilled in exercising unjust extortion. He was a member of a despised group (Tax Collectors) and had grown wealthy through his thievery. Money was his god and love of Self ruled the kingdom of his heart.

If you read the chapter before the story of Zacchaeus, you’ll find more unlikely recipients of grace. A widow, representing the lowest of the low, was given an audience with the Just when society said she shouldn’t have a voice with anyone. (Luke 18:1-8)

Another tax collector was heard and seen by God while the outwardly “righteous” Pharisee was rejected. (Luke 18:9-14)

Children, considered meaningless in ancient society, were elevated to sit with the esteemed Rabbi and be physically touched by Jesus in radical, fatherly love. (Luke 18:15-17)

Then, a twist appears in the narrative, as the wealthy and esteemed young ruler approaches Jesus and inquires about gaining access to God. He is rejected by Christ for he refused to tear down his idol of possessions. Jesus goes on to say how difficult, seemingly impossible, it is for the wealthy to gain access to eternal life. (Luke 18:18-25)

With these stories lined up, Luke then invites us to watch the movements of one short, highly despised and incredibly wealthy man who did gain access to God! Zacchaeus’ humble, repentant heart demonstrates that all can come to Jesus if we come with humility and a desire to love God first above all else.

The Everyday Application

1) What can we learn about the gospel’s reach from Zacchaeus’ story? (verses 2-4 and 10)

Luke, the one recording this scene in his gospel, writes with a strong thematic interest in the universal scope of the gospel. Luke chose his encounters of Jesus to tell plainly that the gospel message of salvation is for all people, Jew and Gentile alike. Throughout his gospel, Luke emphasizes the fact that Jesus was a friend not only to Jews, but to Samaritans and other social outcasts including women. (Luke 10:25-42)

In reaching out to Zacchaeus, calling him by name instead of by his occupation, Jesus extends personal rescue from sin and an invitation to be welcomed as a child of God through faith in Jesus. In recording Zacchaeus’ story, Luke emphasizes again the all-encompassing reach of Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

While Zacchaeus’ wealth may have given the appearance of satisfaction, Zacchaeus was just as hungry for wholeness as the children Jesus blessed and the woman who had no advocate in Luke 18. Just as Jesus wasn’t fooled by facades, neither should we, His ambassadors, buy the lie that others don’t need, or deserve to hear, the hope and forgiveness of Christ.

Hurting people are everywhere around us, in our families, neighborhoods, churches, and businesses. Masks hide the brokenness and pain as we work to appear normal, satisfied, and self-sufficient.

To share the hope of Jesus, we must drop the facade of pretending, choose authentic humility and generous service to others, then walk in transparency as we point to Jesus. When we remember we are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s glory and need His rescue and forgiveness, it becomes easier to extend His kindness. (Romans 3:23)

Our gentle words and acts of kindness are a beacon of hope as we point all types of people to the God who offers forgiveness in whole to all!

The Original Intent

2) Why was Zacchaeus considered “sinful”? (verse 7)

Zacchaeus was a Jewish name and Jesus calls him a “son of Abraham” (verse 9), signaling his Jewish descent. This is significant as it shows his own people despised him, discounting him as redeemable. Not only was he a thief, breaking the eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15), he also collaborated with the Romans who oppressed the Jews at every turn. No doubt, Zacchaeus was a sinner through and through.

Zacchaeus was incredibly unlikely to garnish the favorable attention of Jesus. He was spurned by the Romans because he was Jewish. He was rejected by the Jews for his dishonesty and partnership with the Romans. Jesus’ onlookers, including His disciples, scoffed and pulled back in disgust as Jesus approached this “sinner”. (verse 7)

Jesus, however, saw the sinner and called him by name. No Jew would have befriended Zacchaeus. No one, that is, except Jesus, the friend of sinners. (Matthew 11:19) The God who chose to give His life as a ransom for many, to buy back the sinners from the deadly grip of their sin and its consequence, took the payment for our sin in His own body as He died in our place. (Matthew 20:28, Matthew 26:28) Even as sinful humanity rebelled against Him, Jesus chose death for them, for us, for you and me. (Romans 5:8)

His invitation of kindness in the midst of our sinful state reminds me of the Old Testament prophet, Zephaniah, who sang of the kind character of the Lord, even in the midst of Israel’s suffering for their sin, “The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in His love. He will delight in you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

The Everyday Application

2) Why was Zacchaeus considered “sinful”? (verse 7)

The story of Zacchaeus overflows with proof of Jesus’ love for the unlovely. Brandon Lake sings of this radical love in “Greater Still”:
“How deep, how wide;
How far, how high;
The love of my Savior, the love of Christ.”
(See more in Romans 8:38-39)

Jesus didn’t stand at the Sycamore and preach a sermon, He invited Zacchaeus to share a meal and experience God’s love for himself. Jesus would confront sin in Zacchaeus while holding wide the door to freedom from that sin through humble faith. Zacchaeus would walk away from the table a new man and Jesus would leave the table having adopted a newly birthed child of God!

As we attempt to reach people with the gospel, we can miss opportunities to share Jesus’ love because we are too fearful of offending or anxious about what to say. Where does that fear and doubt come from? Surely not the Christ who called aloud to Zacchaeus and invited Himself to dinner! These fears come from the father of fear and lies, Satan. (John 8:44, 1 John 4:18)

We have been given victory over fear through PRAYER and PRAISE! (Philippians 4:6-7) As we focus on Jesus, He gives us peace and confidence to keep following Him, letting His light shine. When we love with hospitality, speak kind words, respond in gentleness, and even invite others to our dinner table, Jesus’ love will be evidenced.

We won’t need to worry about what to say if we are saturating ourselves in His Word, for His love will naturally flow from us.

Put on the full armor of God in your everyday life, choose prayer and praise over fear and shaming lies. Others may scoff, but trust the One who invited us, a sinner, to feast with Him and determine to make Christ known!

The Original Intent

3) Why did Zacchaeus have a change of heart and how was that shift evidenced? (verses 8-9) 

Zacchaeus was wealthy, but he wasn’t happy. He was despised and hated by people because of his “legalized” stealing. Zacchaeus didn’t care about people, much less love them; neither did they care about him. Being despised and hated was a horrible, isolating, way to live. Zacchaeus was desperate even for a single friend; his desperation drew him to Jesus.

When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus, a friend of sinners and tax collectors (Matthew 11:19), was passing by, he was determined to see Jesus. Despised and hated by men, Zacchaeus was reaching for the love of God. Jesus was also on a mission to “seek and save the lost”, which described Zacchaeus perfectly. (verse 10)

Jesus purposely called Zacchaeus down from the tree, winsomely inviting Himself to his home. When Zacchaeus came face to face with Jesus, the very presence of God, his heart softened. Possessions had never satisfied and people had never loved him well, but Jesus offered something no one else could: forgiveness.

Zacchaeus knew he was wrong, and he chose humble confession of his sin. He came in faith, dropped his sin, and was welcomed as a son while sitting at his own dinner table and caught in his messed-up broken life.

Jesus died to make a way for every sinner to come and eat with Him. We can’t gain access to God with large bank accounts or mountains of good deeds, only by humbly realizing we are spiritually bankrupt apart from Him. When we come in humility and repentance, like Zacchaeus, Jesus brings us home by His grace.

Zacchaeus proved his genuine faith by generously loving the people who despised him, the ones he had mistreated. So are we called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to generously serve those God has placed in our lives.

The Everyday Application

3) Why did Zacchaeus have a change of heart and how was that shift evidenced? (verses 8-9) 

Zacchaeus was indeed a sinner, but so were Jesus’ disciples, everyone in the crowds who followed Him, you reading these words, and me as I write them. All of us rightly deserve the label, “Sinner Far From God”.

But Christ came near to Zacchaeus even in his sin. Zacchaeus didn’t clean up his life before Jesus came to dinner; his change came after his encounter with the living God!

Zacchaeus brought sin. Jesus brought forgiveness, new life, and an invitation to something rich and deep, fellowship with God. These gifts can’t be bought or earned, only enjoyed when given and received.

When Zacchaeus received Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and friendship, it so filled him up that he was free to give himself and his wealth away to the ones he had sinned against.

Zacchaeus responded in truth and honesty to Jesus’ offer of wholeness by admitting his sin and turning away from it. His outward actions of humble generosity proved an inward change. (Galatians 5:22-26)

As followers of Christ, our outward lives will prove the authenticity of genuine faith. If we reject living like Jesus on the outside, it may be that our insides were never truly changed by Jesus. Choose today to respond to Jesus’ invitation by confessing your sin and accepting His forgiveness to make you whole!

Christ can’t be fooled by lip service. Words of confession that don’t stem from changed hearts are utterly worthless unless they are backed by actions that prove sincerity. It’s not a mere change of words that Jesus brings, but a changed life!

Jesus’ loving kindness forever changed Zacchaeus. We don’t know who the Lord will bring across our path, but we do know we are called to love them like Jesus. Our simple acts of kindness may be what God uses to bring them salvation!

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Sketched XII, Day 5
Journey Study

Me: “Hello, um, good morning.”
Resident: “Good morning.”
(Disgusted look upon his face)
Me: “Roman tax records list your contribution as, uh . . . ” (an incredible sum of money is discussed between us)
“Um, anyway, I am here to impose this amount and collect accordingly. Please. Thank you.” (I hear, “It’s him again, the traitor?” in the background and the door slams loudly)

Doors have a way of being slammed in my face. However, I continue to the next residence. (You know, salesmen would fare much better than I!)

My own people loathe me, even detest me! They stay away, walking on the other side of the road. It would be nice to belong, even better to have friends!
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Pause VII Day 12 Peace-Making God

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Pause VII Day 12 Peace-Making God

Rebecca Adams

February 6, 2024

Accepted,Faith,Faithfulness,Love,Mercy,Peace

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46:9

He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
Read More Of His Words

One of my favorite questions to ask when reading any passage of Scripture is, “What does this teach me about God?”. Sometimes, I need to dig a little deeper or read the surrounding verses in order to accurately answer that question, but I never walk away disappointed by what I’ve discovered.

The sweet thing is, I get to know the Almighty God better than I did just a few minutes before my exploration!

Consider our focus verse today:
“He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
He sets wagons ablaze.”
(Psalm 46:9)

If you’re a skeptic like me, you might read that and immediately think, “I can think of countless wars that are waging in the earth. God certainly hasn’t made all those cease!”
Then maybe, if you’re feeling a bit sarcastic and harsh, which, we all do, probably more than we’d like to admit, we can allow our sarcasm to color our Scripture reading.

If we aren’t careful with how we approach God’s Word, to do it with weighty prayers asking the Spirit to convict us as we read, we can let Satan himself put his glasses on our eyes while we read God’s Own Words. And miss the point entirely!

Let’s slow down long enough to remember Whose words we are reading.
These words, when brought to the life by the very Breath of God,
can cut our hearts to the quick,
bring us to our knees,
or fuel us to do incredible things for Him!

Let’s not miss this!
Father God, we come to Your throne in this moment.
We want to know You, to really know You.
Help us drop our pretenses, help us recognize and discard the distorted lenses we are wearing, and empower us to understand more about You in the next few minutes than we do right now.

We believe you want this for us and we know You will show us Yourself so, here we are, asking You to do what should be impossible, for human beings to know the Almighty God.
Because of Jesus, we ask these things.
Blow us away, Lord God, with Your abundance!
Amen!

Armed with the Spirit of God, Sisters, let’s study His Word!
“He makes wars cease throughout the earth.”
Note it doesn’t say He makes every war cease, but a quick reading in nearly any book in the Old Testament and we quickly see how capable and authoritative the Lord God is to “make wars cease.” In fact, there are no constraints on Him! No part of the world is off-limits to His peace-making abilities. No power is beyond His authority.
He is a Peace-making God.

“He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces”
We don’t generally think of weaponry as bows and spears, but to the first audience, these were top notch tools of war. In the right, well-trained hands, defeat was nearly impossible for the one who skillfully worked both the bow and the spear. Also consider the type of weaponry described. Bow and arrows were for long-distance precision while spears were used for face-to-face combat on the battleground.

Feel like you’ve been shot at from out of nowhere recently? Like an enemy took aim and has taken you out? Or maybe each day holds a struggle you can’t seem to shake, and with every sunrise, you know you will go toe to toe again.

You have a Victor, sis. It’s the Almighty.
No weapon formed against you will prosper when the Lord is on your side.
He gets the final say. Though it may appear the enemy is winning, if you are Christ’s,
you have already won! (Isaiah 54:17, Romans 8:36-39)
He is a peace-Making God.

“He sets wagons ablaze.”
Before you scratch your head and dismiss this line, think of the original audience. Warfare was radically different than today, but regardless of the century, having quick access to your necessary supplies is crucial to winning the war. Wagons were this access point for ancient military troupes. Without wagons, soldiers had no way to refuel on ammunition, fresh weaponry, food, water, or medical supplies. Without wagons, they were dead in the water.

What can we learn about the Lord here?
While He is a mighty Defender, He’s also a valiant Offender. He courageously takes the offensive position and burns enemy supply sources, effectively cutting off their ability to reach His people whom He will protect, for they have chosen Him as their Stronghold.
He is a peace-making GOD!

Enemies don’t stand a chance against the God of the Universe.
He is a God of peace and constant care, and He will stop at nothing to ensure His people dwell forever in the City of God with Him.

This is exactly why the Father sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, to take away the sin of the world so that anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord, the Mighty Victor, will be saved. (Romans 10:13)

One thing is absolutely certain as you read Scripture, the Lord’s enemy is Sin and He will win over it. In fact, He already proved He holds the final victory because even though He took on every single one of your sins and mine and that of the world (!!!!), He STILL defeat death and the grave, never to die again.

“But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away
have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 
For He is our peace…”
(Ephesians 2:13-14)

Jesus IS The Peace-Making God!
And He’s strong enough to give you peace with Him

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Pull out your Bible and read Psalm 46 fully through 2 times. Go slow. Emphasize different words each time you read it. Savor the message and pray as you read. Write out the verses in your journal.

2) If you’ve studied with us for the last two weeks, use this slowing down time to reflect on what the Lord has taught you about Himself, about you, and about your anchoring places in life. Prayerfully ask the Lord to reveal to you the places you are trusting that are not worthy of your trust. Where do your anxieties tighten up? What is the Lord calling you to surrender to Him as you gaze at His mighty works?

3) Pause over verses 8-9 and allow the Spirit to bring to mind the “mighty works” He has put on display around you recently. Make a list on your phone or with pen and paper (not just in your head where it gets lost or forgotten!). Praise Him for these mighty acts and take courage to trust the God who faithfully leads you!

4) Keep working on memorizing Psalm 46:8-11 as you review Psalm 46:1-7!

Close by reading Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
Selah

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

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Pause VII, Day 11

There’s something thrilling about a personal invitation. A calling aside, an inclusion, a sense of being wanted.

Later this year, Gracefully Truthful will release a Journey Theme titled “Come” where we will explore 9 unique invitations from the Lord, and we hope you will join us!

For today, we are blessed with the rich jewel of one lovely invitation in verse 8 of Psalm 46.

“Come, see the works of the Lord[…]”
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Jan22 - Feb 9, 2023 - Journey Theme #128

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She Day 2 Called To Friendship: Digging Deeper

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She Day 2 Called To Friendship: Digging Deeper

Debbie Collin

October 31, 2023

Accepted,Called,church,Community,Friend

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Called To Friendship"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:39-45, 56

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What motivated Mary to visit her friend and relative, Elizabeth? (verses 39-40)

The first priority in answering any question in Scripture is to read the surrounding verses, sometimes even chapters, to gain a base understanding for the context of the passage. If we miss the context and its intended meaning, we will most likely miss proper application, which skews God’s Word for us!

The gospel author, Luke, provides the context for Mary’s visit earlier in chapter 1 verses 5-25. In this passage, we are told Elizabeth has experienced a miraculous pregnancy as well! We can imagine that one of the reasons Mary sought out Elizabeth was for support in pregnancy; what a special season for friends to walk through together! They could empathize with each other about all the weird looks and whispers of disbelief as well as encourage each other through all the ups and downs. 

Another possible motivation for her visit was to rejoice together. The two of them had a unique perspective on God’s faithfulness and how He was fulfilling His promises. What a privilege for these friends to share this experience together.

The Everyday Application

1) What motivated Mary to visit her friend and relative, Elizabeth? (verses 39-40)

According to a global survey by statistia.com, 33% of adults experience feelings of loneliness. Feeling lonely is complicated, isn’t it? We might feel isolated or disconnected. From my personal experience, it feels lousy. 

We were designed to have a relationship with our Creator. “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

You have a standing invitation from the Lord to visit with Him, feast with Him, and enjoy His company. What might your motivation be for meeting with Him and building a deeper relationship? 

  • Would you praise and thank Him for what He is doing in and around your life?
  • Are you, or those around you, in need of encouragement or healing that you would bring those needs to Him?
  • Do you need to confess sin and receive forgiveness?

Consider God’s great love for you and His promise of salvation if we trust in Him. Each of us are destitute without the friendship of God for we are forever separated from Him by the vast chasm created by the death we have earned from even one, solitary sin. (Romans 6:23)

Yet, while we rebelled against the Lord, God sacrificed His son in our place. (Romans 5:8) He poured out on His Son the wrath that was rightly deserved on us. (Romans 3:25-26) Christ swallowed the whole of our sin, and because He was wholly without sin, God raised Him from the dead forever conquering the consequence of sin: Death and Separation from the God who desires friendship with us. (Romans 8:11)  

To come near and accept this gift of grace and love requires our recognition that we are indeed sinners and the desire to place our faith entirely on Christ to pay for our sin. Turn to the Lord, repent of your sin, be wrapped in the freedom of forgiveness, and let Him teach you the rhythms of His friendship! (Acts 16:31)

The Original Intent

2) What is the significance of Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s arrival? (verses 41-45)

As we read the narrative in Luke 1, the first sign of something uniquely special is happening is that the baby leapt in Elizabeth’s womb when she heard Mary’s voice. (verse 41) The Messiah’s presence was already being felt and made known by those around Him, and the response was JOY!

I hope you read #HisWordsBeforeMine from Luke 1, then you would know straight from the Lord that Someone Else was present when Mary (and unborn Jesus) arrived to see Elizabeth (and unborn John the Baptist): The Holy Spirit. “…Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit…” (verse 41) The Holy Spirit enabled her to speak the welcoming blessing of encouragement to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (verse 42)

How encouraging it must have been for Elizabeth and Mary to share these moments together. While they shared very unique pregnancies, they were knit together by the friendship of the Holy Spirit! He gave joyful evidence of the miracles involved in both of their pregnancies.

The Everyday Application

2) What is the significance of Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s arrival? (verses 41-45)

How do we respond to the work the Lord is doing in other peoples’ lives? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our words in responding to others? Are we quick to celebrate with them, allowing the friendship of the Spirit to bind us together? “Rejoice with those who rejoice.” (Romans 12:15) Or, do we follow temptation’s pull and lean toward comparison and discontent, leading us eventually into bitterness and disunity? (James 4:1-2)

Being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-19) enables us to practice “one-anothers” like these:
“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Let’s welcome one another in the joy of the Lord as we have opportunities! What a privilege it is to be connected as friends and sisters in the body of Christ through the binding friendship of the Holy Spirit! Ask Him right now to lead you into deeper friendship and extend it well to others!

The Original Intent

3) Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. What might have been some of the reasons for the extended stay? (verse 56)

Our meticulous physician, Luke, recorded that Mary remained with Elizabeth for three months. Does that detail even matter? Why include something so minor? When we are tempted to gloss over something we see as insignificant or unimportant in Scripture, let’s remember that all of Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching our hearts to better know the Lord and be shaped into the image of His Son. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 8:29)

One possibility is given to us in the beginning of Luke’s account, “So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable, Theophilus,  so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.” (Luke 1:3-4)

In his gospel, Luke usually gives us a detailed accounting. In this case, it seems he included that Mary stayed long enough to see Elizabeth give birth to John the Baptist, which was a fulfillment of God’s promise.

Practically speaking, it would have also been a time for Mary to care for Elizabeth during the last months of her pregnancy. Mary would have also gained spiritual insight and both practical and spiritual wisdom from Elizabeth about faith, obedience, and trust in the face of unexpected circumstances.

The Everyday Application

3) Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. What might have been some of the reasons for the extended stay? (verse 56)

This verse highlights the importance of mutual Christian community and support during different seasons of life. Can you think of some benefits of having someone to walk alongside you during significant life transitions? What a comfort and encouragement the friendship of these women surely was to each of them!

Friendships are strengthened during those times when we provide emotional and practical support to one another, especially when our need is deep. We can send messages, deliver meals, or spend time together on a regular basis. The key is to be present in a meaningful, genuine way for each other. This is the heartbeat of God’s friendship with us as He sends His Spirit to comfort and guide His children at all times; never once does His Spirit leave a true believer! (John 14:26)

Another important aspect in a believer’s life is discipleship, which means teaching other believers to “grow up in maturity” in Christ. (Colossians 1:28-29) We need to be intentional in having relationships with other believers where spiritual growth and learning takes place. Who is mentoring you? Who are you mentoring? We can always be deepening and strengthening our faith through these connections!

Friendships bound together by the Spirit of God are special indeed! We are never alone!

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She Day 1
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Friendship is a high calling.

When the Lord calls us friends, it is an invitation and challenge, one highly worth accepting.

Friendships take time, energy, and intentionality, but the return on our authentic investment will be deeply worth it.
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Oct 30 - Nov 17, 2023 - Journey Theme #124

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She Day 1 Called To Friendship

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She Day 1 Called To Friendship

Sara Cissell

October 30, 2023

Accepted,Community,Discipleship,Family,Friend

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:39-45, 56
Ruth 1-4
John 15:1-17

I met Kelley more than a decade ago. Little did I know our first greeting would lead to a deep, lasting friendship, one crafted by the Lord and for the Lord. 

The Lord, in all His goodness, created friendship, both for us to experience with each other and, even more importantly, with Him. 

Friendship is a high calling. 

When the Lord calls us friends, it is an invitation and challenge, one highly worth accepting. Friendships take time, energy, and intentionality, but the return on our authentic investment will be deeply worth it. 

In any relationship, the health of those in the relationship determines the overall health of the relationship itself: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. If two unhealthy people are in a relationship, the relationship struggles. Two individuals striving to be healthier themselves will result in a relationship showing greater signs of health. 

Thankfully, when we are friends with the Lord, we are in a relationship with the perfectly healthy friend! The Lord always does things flawlessly. The more we interact with the Lord and seek to be like Him, the healthier our relationship with Him becomes and the more we flourish in His ways.

Graciously, the Lord brings people into our lives for seasons and purposes. Our role is to obey His leading and aim to reflect His character of kind, generous friendship in our relationships.

The Lord has preserved beautiful examples of friendship in His Word as practical examples for us! Within the Old Testament, we find a moving story of friendship against all odds: Ruth and Naomi.

These were women from different nations and cultures, serving different gods, bound only through the marriage of Ruth to Naomi’s son. When Ruth’s husband died, anyone would expect the relationship to meet a swift end in grief, each a painful reminder to the other of all they had lost. 

Yet Ruth clung to Naomi, pledging devotion, lovingkindness, and companionship down the fraught road of widowhood stretching out before both women. As their story progresses and the Lord brings redemption and restoration to their lives, we see their lives and hearts intricately, intentionally, and irrevocably intertwined. Their friendship is sweet and strong as each woman reflects different aspects of God’s friendship to one another.

Read their story for yourself and explore the friendship of God these women lived out!
(Ruth 1-4)

Turning to the New Testament, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Elizabeth’s (the mother of John the Baptist) relationship offers another glimpse into the friendship the Lord offers us. (Luke 1:39-45, 56) Across the decades likely separating their ages, these cousins were united by the touch of the miraculous in their lives. (Luke 1:5-25; Luke 1:26-38) They demonstrated generosity, selfless love, and humble service like the God they worshiped!

In one another, these women found respite from the stares and whispers of those around them, the empathy of another trusting beyond her understanding, and a fellow reveler in the glory of the Lord’s plan as it unfolded in their lives.What can we learn from these women? 

1. Know the Lord through His Word and prayer.
When we know the Lord’s heart and grow in friendship with Him, we learn the rhythms of His design for friendship. Prayer and Scripture are the hallmark entry points for an ever-deepening intimacy with God. Though we fail in our relationships, we can point to Christ, the perfect friend, again and again through His Word, who remains kind and gracious, forgiving, and loving. (Psalm 103:8-10)

2. Know ourselves.
A woman who builds her identity in the Lord will set wise boundaries in friendship as she keeps her eyes focused on her Lord and her relationship with Him. Worship for the Savior, and grace for others will be her fragrance. She won’t be tossed around by the temptation to compare, gossip, or slander for she remembers Christ holds the first place in friendship for her. (Titus 3:1-5)

3. Know how to be a friend.
The woman who practices cultivating a friendship with the Perfect Friend will naturally reflect God’s kind heart of mercy and love to all her friends. She will listen to others as the Lord listens to her. She will walk wisely in conflict for her feet have learned to trust the Lord’s ways over her own. She will selflessly treat others with respect and grudgeless forgiveness for she understands that, despite her own rebellious sin, the Lord still pursues her. “Mean girl” doesn’t mark her character for she has learned to put off the old pattern of life and has dressed herself daily in the clothing of Christ. (Colossians 3:5-17) 

Kelley and I met when we both lived on a college campus as resident directors in on-campus housing.  We lived and worked in the same place. We saw each other at meetings, on the quad, and in the cafeteria. We shared life in a unique way. 

Over the years, we have seen each other at our best and at our worst. As we have each grown in our walk with the Lord, we’ve found ourselves being a better friend to one another.  

May we each draw closer to Jesus, the best friend any of us could ever find, and may we find our friendships flourishing as we reflect Him! 

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Elizabeth,friend,Holy Spirit,Mary,One Another,she
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Friendships are strengthened during those times when we provide emotional and practical support to one another, especially when our need is deep.

We can send messages, deliver meals, or spend time together on a regular basis. The key is to be present in a meaningful, genuine way for each other.

This is the heartbeat of God’s friendship with us as He sends His Spirit to comfort and guide His children at all times; never once does His Spirit leave a true believer! (John 14:26)
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Mission Day 4 Heart Of Mission: Digging Deeper

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Mission Day 4 Heart Of Mission: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

May 11, 2023

Accepted,Adoption,Called,Fruitfulness,Glory,Healing,Heart

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Heart Of Mission"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What does it look like to love without hypocrisy? (verse 9)

When Paul tells Christians to “Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good” (verse 9), he is exhorting them to let their love be true and genuine. According to Preceptaustin.org, “in classical Greek drama, the “hypokrites” was the play actor who projected an image but hid his true identity behind a mask.”

To love without hypocrisy is to love in truth with authenticity, with no pretense or artifice. Ann Voskamp suggests, “Those in the church often wear masks like we have it all together, and in wearing masks what really gets masked is Christ. When Christ gets masked, there is no communion and we experience life of starvation, emaciation. We look like hypocrites because we are.”

Genuine love does not pretend to be something it is not to look better or be impressive. This inauthentic, selfish love leads to hurt and disappointment. Hypocrisy creates a false security and an expectation in the recipient only ends in sorrow. John Piper asserts, “The command to love without hypocrisy is really a command to know Christ and love Christ and find your satisfaction in Christ so that you do not crave the praise of men anymore.”

Authentic love mirrors God back to those we love. More than just words, authentic love, follows through on commitments and takes action. (1 John 3:18) Paul teaches us to pour out this genuine love, which is unselfish and puts others first. (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Christians can love one another without hypocrisy by keeping their word and honoring their promises. (1 John 2:5) When Christians demonstrate love in this way, they build trust (1 Corinthians 13:6) and lead others to follow the One who is love. (1 John 4:16)

The Everyday Application

1) What does it look like to love without hypocrisy? (verse 9)

One of the joys of working with young children is witnessing their unfiltered and startlingly forthright emotional expressions. They don’t try to hide their excitement like older kids. They squeal with delight when a soap bubble lands on their finger, or they shriek in despair when their balloon floats out of reach.

They also don’t sugar coat the truth like adults. Little kids call it like they see it. Their frankness can be brash, “Why did you cut your hair to look like that, Miss Rachel?!?”. But when they show you love, you know it’s genuine. They love without hypocrisy as Christ urges His Bride, the Church, to live out because this is how He loves us.

Christ-followers cannot make disciples unless they follow Christ in how He loves. (John 13:34) This means they can’t be fake or misleading, even when the truth is difficult. Like Christ, His followers are to embrace genuine love and reflect the Truth of God. (2 Corinthians 3:18) John Piper notes, “Hypocrisy is all about falsehood, concealment, deceit, cloaking, misleading, hiding. Hypocrisy is the opposite of loving the truth. So it is the opposite of love.”

To love without hypocrisy, we must hate lies and deception. (2 Thessalonians 2:10) We may need to confront uncomfortable issues we would rather gloss over or ignore. We might want to pretend like we don’t have any problems, but loving others in truth requires transparency about the heart-changing work Jesus is doing in our own lives. (Philippians 1:6)

When we love without pretense, choosing to love without hypocrisy, we are imitating Christ’s love for us!

The Original Intent

2) How can Christians take the lead in honoring one another? (verse 10)

Romans 12:10 admonishes Christians to “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.” This particular Greek word for honor only appears this single time in the Scriptures and means “to go before as a guide. Honor is the honor due from each to all . . . leading the way in showing the honor that is due.” (Precept Austin)

Not only are we to love deeply, but we are to go beyond this by taking the initiative to outdo each other in showing love and honor due to all who are adopted children of God. We accomplish this when we seek out good deeds to perform for others. (Galatians 6:10) We honor our brothers and sisters in Christ when we celebrate their victories, support their endeavors, and acknowledge their attributes and contributions. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

This humble honoring of one another is the opposite of the culture’s mindset, which seeks accolades for ourselves. Paul encourages us to prioritize the needs of others above our own because it does not come naturally. (Philippians 2:3-4) In a “me-first” world, having an “others-first” attitude stands out. In fact, it’s this love for one another that tells the world we are Christ-followers. (John 13:35)

It requires practice in leaning into the Spirit’s work in us, but we can aim to outdo one another in showing honor to our brothers and sisters in Christ through our kind words and selfless deeds through the power of the Holy Spirit as we submit to His rule and reign!

The Everyday Application

2) How can Christians take the lead in honoring one another? (verse 10)

There are heartwarming stories circulating the internet about special students joining school sports teams as the team manager so they can experience team camaraderie even though they may not have the athletic skills needed to play. The whole team works together on one special night of the year, maybe homecoming or senior night or the last game of the season, to help that special student take part in a portion of the game. They coordinate events so the student can make a basket, score a goal, or run the ball. They go to great lengths, even coordinating with the opponent, so the special student gets to experience glory on the playing field at least once in the season.

These players and coaches go above and beyond to honor kids who contribute support and encouragement to the team off the field. I think of these stirring anecdotes of purposeful kindness when I hear Paul’s admonition to the church to “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.” (Romans 12:10)

Paul wants Christians to set each other up for success in much the same way these teams seek out opportunities to give victory to their team members living with special needs. They go out of their way to demonstrate care, value, and celebration. (Hebrews 10:24) This may involve giving up the limelight ourselves to shine the focus on our brothers and sisters. It will likely include putting the needs and concerns of others ahead of our own. (1 Peter 4:8-10)

It means being intentional, planning ahead, and sacrificing as needed to assure that others feel honored and loved, even at our own expense. Lord, show us what steps we can take today to honor our brothers and sisters in the faith so we can build team unity!

The Original Intent

3) How can we be patient in affliction? (verse 12)

The Apostle Paul instructs his readers to “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) Paul wants the Church to realize they will need hope, patience, and prayer to live as Christ-followers. Being patient can be difficult enough in good circumstances, but Paul wants Christians to be patient even when times are hard.

How can we remain patient when everything around us is going wrong? Rob Morgan asserts, “Rejoicing in hope enables us to be patient in affliction. Patience is hope in different clothing. It’s the ability to wait calmly as the Lord works everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” We can be patient because we confidently know God is in control of all things (Deuteronomy 31:8) and He is working everything out for our ultimate good and His glory. (Romans 8:28-29)

We can be patient no matter what is going on around us because we know God is always good (Psalm 34:8) and we can trust His Word and His Ways (Psalm 33:4).

Instead of panicking and letting our worry turn into ranting and wailing, we can recall God’s love and faithfulness and wait patiently for the Lord to perform His will in our lives. Liz Curtis Hjggs suggests, “We can be patient in affliction by not complaining and by giving thanks for the good things we do have. We don’t grumble or murmur but look for ways to honor God in our circumstances.”

When we focus on God’s ability to provide the strength we need, we recognize the grace He gives to help us patiently endure and overcome the afflictions that arise in this world. (John 16:33)

The Everyday Application

3) How can we be patient in affliction? (verse 12)

When my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, I spent the entire 9 months that I would have been pregnant to grieve my loss, learn more about pregnancy, and get physically healthier. During that time God healed my heart (Psalm 147:3) through dreams, journaling, worship, His Word, and the hugs and wisdom of other miscarriage sufferers.

It was an uncomfortable process, but it was one I needed to journey through patiently as the Lord healed my heart and prepared me to experience a new pregnancy. While everyone’s healing journey looks different, for me, this time of waiting was an example of what Paul exhorted his readers to do in Romans 12:12; be “patient in affliction.” Instead of rushing through the process, choosing patience allowed me to discover impactful lessons God had for me in that difficult time.

My biggest take away was that God was present with me in the pain, holding me and sustaining me. (Isaiah 40:11) Ann Voskamp notes, “We may not understand the purpose or the point in our suffering, but whatever it is, it must be so important, and so profound, that Jesus Himself is willing to go through that suffering with us.”

Being patient in the turmoil helped me learn that even if I never understood the “why” of my painful circumstances, I understood that God was always with me and that I could always depend on Him. (Philippians 4:19)

Hurrying through the pain to get to the promise would have caused me to miss His revelation, and it is this deeper knowing of Him that demonstrated that nothing can separate me from God’s love and care. (Romans 8:35-39) He has faithfully sustained me in every crisis large and small since then.

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care,family,honor,love,others,selfless
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The Lord is faithful and sovereign. (2 Thessalonians 3:3, Jeremiah 32:17) He loves people and His plans will come to pass.

I truly believe if I miss the prompts of the Lord and/or refuse to participate in His mission field, the Lord is big enough to bring about His purposes another way. The timing and method may be different, but it will come to pass.

However, I will miss out on being a part of it.
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