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If Day 9 Easy Life: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) Even though God had instituted sacrifices and festivals, why was He now tired of them? (verses 11-14)

2) Why does the prophet Isaiah call Israel to pursue justice and look after the vulnerable in society? (verse 17)

3) After all of Israel’s iniquities, why would God still want to settle things with them? (verse 18)

Isaiah 1:11-19

11 “What are all your sacrifices to me?” asks the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who requires this from you— this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies—I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. 14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to me; I am tired of putting up with them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. 17 Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause. 18 “Come, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.

Original Intent

1) Even though God had instituted sacrifices and festivals, why was He now tired of them? (verses 11-14)

In the Old Testament, sacrifices were offered for the atonement of unintended sin; to show devotion to God; recognition for God’s goodness; thanksgiving and fellowship; cleansing from defilement, and to make restitution. There were five sacrifices: the burnt offering, grain offering, fellowship offering, sin offering, and guilt offering. The burnt, grain, and fellowship (sometimes called peace) offerings were voluntary, while the sin and guilt offerings were compulsory. God could not allow sin because of His holiness and therefore sin must be punished. The sacrifices were a means of maintaining worship and fellowship with Him so Israelites could enjoy relationship with Yahweh. On the other hand, there were intentional sins that had no sacrifice available. Intentional sins were pre-meditated sins such as adultery or murder or even lying. Check out Proverbs 6:16-19 for a list of these sins the Lord hates. Sacrifices could not atone for deliberate sins of arrogance that insisted on their way over God’s clear path of righteousness. This highlights the seriousness of sin against God! People who sinned intentionally were at the mercy of God. While there are a few instances in Scripture (Numbers 5:5-10, Leviticus 19:20-22) where a clear intentional sin could be covered by a guilt offering, these were rare exceptions. In general, the Law did not provide for forgiveness for premeditated, intentional sin. The only available option was God’s grace. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, God removed all sins, intentional or otherwise with a sacrifice. Take King David for example. After Nathan confronted David about his sin of adultery and murder, David lamented in Psalm 51:16-17, “You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.” David’s sins were deliberate, and he knew offering a sacrifice would be futile. David knew God wanted a truly repentant heart. Even in all other sacrifices within the system God had set up for Israel, He most wanted their hearts of repentance and worship. He designed the system to provide a visual representation of the high price tag associated with sin, which is always death. (Romans 6:23)

 

2) Why does the prophet Isaiah call Israel to pursue justice and look after the vulnerable in society? (verse 17)

God explicitly commanded His people to treat the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner justly. (Deuteronomy 24:17) God calls Himself “a father to the fatherless, and a defender of widows.” (Psalm 68:5) Widows and orphans were particularly vulnerable in ancient culture. Without the husband or father present, supporting themselves became difficult. Widows and their families became essentially homeless. Sometimes widows were even abused. (NIV Cultural Background Study Bible). Judah’s disobedience to God included neglect of the vulnerable and God, through the prophet Isaiah as His mouthpiece, implored them to once again heed God’s covenant law and do right by these members of society.

 

3) After all of Israel’s iniquities, why would God still want to settle things with them? (verse 18)

From the time God created mankind, He intended to have a relationship with him. When sin came into the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, this separated man from God. However, God immediately began work on restoring that relationship. (see Genesis 3:15)  The Lord set apart Israel to be His people (Leviticus 20:26), to be different. They were to be an example, by not engaging in the horrendous rituals and practices of the nations around them. They were to mirror God’s righteousness and holiness by living as an example of His heart and character in the world. Unfortunately, Israel sinned against the Lord repeatedly; they could not keep themselves righteous. However, God, because he loved Israel so much, sent prophets like Isaiah to speak to them in the hopes they would repent. Once they repented, He would forgive their sins and restore their relationship. Israel’s constant disobedience helps us see that, on our own strength, we absolutely cannot be holy like God. We need God to be holy for us and then offer His righteousness to us in exchange for our sin. This is why Jesus came, to do exactly this!

Everyday Application

1) Even though God had instituted sacrifices and festivals, why was He now tired of them? (verses 11-14)

The sacrifices and festivals in the Old Testament were God’s design for His chosen people, despite their sinful ways, to approach Him in worship and maintain the covenant relationship. However, the people missed the heart of God and His desire for relationship with them, which led them to performing sacrifices as mere ceremonies completed out of duty rather than from a heart broken over sin. This is why God said, “I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. (…) Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me.” (verses 11-13) It is not much different today. Many people attend church out of duty, but few practice true heart surrender to the Holy Spirit in everyday life. God wants our worship to be pure, true, and from our hearts. I remember having a conversation with a close relative who told me their church had a special collection to purchase a television for their pastor. The way my relative spoke about this pastor gave the impression they actually worship him more than God. While there is nothing wrong with parishioners showing appreciation to their pastors, they must be careful not to idolize and worship them. Our loyalty lies with Jesus, not man. Jesus told us we must remain in Him because we cannot do anything without Him. (John 15:4-5) He desires our whole hearts. In similar verbiage to what Isaiah recorded in verses 11-13, Jesus cleared the temple of Jews who appeared to be worshipping God, but their hearts were actually far from God. “He (Jesus) went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling, and He said, “It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!”” (Luke 19:46-47)

 

2) Why does the prophet Isaiah call Israel to pursue justice and look after the vulnerable in society? (verse 17)

True religion is about caring for the poor and helpless and living a godly life. (James 1:27) I am currently caring for my ageing mother who has dementia, as well as an autistic brother. My mother depends on me and trusts me to do what is right for her and my brother. There is no way I can take advantage of their disabilities for my gain. If I do so, I will be sinning against God, who is their Defender. (Psalm 68:5) There are times I must put my life on hold for them, but it is not about me. John 15:13-14 states, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.  You are My friends if you do what I command you”. I am doing what the Lord commanded me to do by showing love to Him, my mother, and my brother, in doing what is necessary for them despite the challenges and inconveniences to me. All who claim to follow Christ have an obligation to pursue justice and care for the vulnerable around us because this is God’s heart.

 

3) After all of Israel’s iniquities, why would God still want to settle things with them? (verse 18)

The Bible tells us, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16) This divine love is why God wants reconciliation between us, who are sinful, and Himself, who is holy. He wants to restore the relationship broken by sin so we can be with Him in eternity and connected to Him through His Spirit in this life. Jesus became sin for us in taking on our punishment (death and separation from God) so that, in Him, we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Let us love Jesus and commit to having a true relationship with Him. It is only through Jesus we can live a purposeful life. It may not always be an easy life, but one well worth it in the end.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Sketched IX Day 15 On This Rock

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Peter 1:12-15
1 Peter 3:14-18
Luke 22:54-62

Sketched IX, Day 15

In the pale half-light of early morning, softly growing light glows in the east. The speckled rooster slumbers still. I know he’ll rise to remind me of my failure. Crowing roosters and early mornings like these could forever taunt me, but they now proclaim His holy calling upon me, a fallen man. Because of His calling, I shepherd His flock of those who believe.

The menacing specter of evil looms, yet we remain His glowing lampstand in this idolatrous place. In recent days, dear brothers have fallen beneath the brutal blade of martyrdom. Our Lord Christ has made plain the path before me; I too will soon lay aside this earthly tent. The brothers can no longer depend upon me for nourishment and guidance. My focus now must be transferring the baton of faith to the brothers, so they will remain steadfast in my absence.

False teachers prowl among the flock, confusing and deceiving the sheep with their insidious half-truths. These babes in faith need the pure milk of truth taught by reliable brothers, so they can grow strong, able to teach and lead others. Remaining in the Scriptures, craving and continuously feeding upon the truth, is the only way to remain steadfast and not be led astray.

My earnest desire is that they will not simply know the truth, but be seized with wonder by this precious faith. We’ve been given the riches of the Law and Prophets, all anticipating and announcing beforehand the coming of our Messiah. I’ve not only seen Him, but I’ve known Him as my Friend and Brother.

However, even while He was among us as Friend and Brother, He was clearly not of us, but from a high and holy place, discharged here on a sacred mission. The same dove-like Spirit present at creation was Him. All the truth of the Law and Prophets came to fruition in Him. I was privileged to see His eternal glory on the sacred mountain. This Friend and Brother among us is Elohim—I AM before creation. My Brother visited Father Abraham in his tent. Our Friend called Moses from the burning bush, decimated Egypt, and delivered our fathers through the Red Sea.

He is the true Lamb to which the Law and Prophets pointed. Our redemption was purchased by His human-yet-holy blood. Direct access was torn open by His blood; now within reach are all the divine resources we will ever need for this life of godliness.

The Holy Spirit is the key to this door of access. The Holy Spirit enables us to live such holy lives among the pagans that they will have no plausible grounds for accusation. Our faith must be expressed through virtuous lives in every facet, from our work to our citizenship, and especially in our relationships.

In these evil days, we can still live with steadfast and stalwart spirits. Trusting His sovereign plan is paramount, I believe. His plan spanned the epochs, has been in motion since before Eden, and plays out even now. His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension were all key points of this sweeping drama of mankind’s redemption. Our Lord and Master—my Friend, is seated in ethereal glory now, as completely in control now as the day the stars spilled from His nail-pierced hands.

Because our Friend is also “I AM,” we have no cause for fear. While this brutal persecution will likely grow increasingly worse, our suffering is not in vain. It purifies and strengthens us, provided we are trained by it; as our dross is burned away, we emerge as pure gold, reflecting the character of our Lord Christ! Even though it is painful now, it is only temporary. Our sufferings here are “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17) compared with the glory to come.

Christ is our model in this. Though He existed in ethereal glory before His incarnation, He stepped into this narrow slice of time and space for a season and endured the brutality of a Roman crucifixion on our behalf.

However, now He’s seated in Heaven at God’s right hand!
Our salvation has been secured and death and hell, forever defeated!

Like Him, we shall endure suffering for a little while and then receive the glories of heaven. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, Death, our final enemy, is now simply a doorway into eternal glory where Jesus awaits just across the threshold! I must soon cross that threshold; the path stretches plainly before me. He has lit the way well by His example. For the joy set before Him, He endured the brutality of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
As He calls me, I shall follow. 

When the brothers come today, I will dictate a letter. Time is short; truth must be imparted.

Ah, the rooster crows now! He mocks me! However, the truth remains that my Lord Christ has redeemed me as His called and chosen child, and placed upon me this mantle of shepherd. Therefore, I shall faithfully discharge my duties until I cross that threshold into eternal glory.

“Mock on, rooster, your crows no longer taunt me, for I am His called and chosen, the shepherd of His flock, and will soon run into His embrace as I cross that blessed threshold!”

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched IX Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Ready Day 15 The Lord Be With You All

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Thessalonians 3
Acts 17:1-15
Psalm 118

Ready, Day 15

It was a bright spring day, full of hope and promise as I sat under a spreading tree waiting for my new husband to finish class. We were both ridiculously young, but here we were, months into marriage, and nearly as many months into pregnancy.

I could barely contain my excitement as I gazed up at the swaying branches above me. For as long as I could remember, I wanted nothing more than to have my own little one to lavish with adoration. I looked forward to baking cookies together, tea parties, mud pies, and learning to pray. My dreams were vivid with brilliant details of the glory of motherhood.

Today, I pulled into a parking spot far enough away from others to eat my lunch and catch up on the un-ending demands of email while also placating the constant stream of requests from my crew of seven kids. Somewhere between a bite of chicken, planning a connection coffee with a new friend, and replying to a child about their soccer cleats (again), I caught a glimpse of something green swaying above my mini-van’s convertible top wannabe.

Budding branches gently dancing in the spring air.

Instantly, my mind flew to that now long-ago day underneath another giant, sprawling tree promising so much hope, and my breath caught in my throat. I forgot about the soccer cleats and the latte meetup; I could only see the face of my firstborn as she would soon grace the stage of her high school graduation. Much too quickly, my baby would fly more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away to university studies.

Had I done enough?
What lessons could I still teach her?
What about the lost time?
How could I possibly make these last short months count?

Thankfully, we love and serve a God who delights in small things, using even the seemingly insignificant for the widest ripples of eternal effect.

Three weeks.

That’s all Paul had in the middle of a city ripe with unrest whose citizens were determined to run him, and any other followers of Jesus, out of town or into their grave.

Though their time was short, Paul, Silas, and Timothy did exactly what God had called them to do, preach Christ. They came into Thessalonica and taught from the Scriptures for three weeks. (Acts 17:2) The opposition was intense, and they were met with violence (Acts 17:5-6), but God did not waste their investment or their obedience. The Spirit stirred Gentile hearts to be convicted of sin, repent, and turn to Jesus for salvation and renewed lives.

“… you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

Their message, and their obedience, was never about them, nor did it hinge on them.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy knew that whatever happened in Thessalonica, whether they stayed for 3 weeks or 30, the lasting work could only be accomplished by the Holy Spirit.

Through the faithfulness of these three Christ-followers, God established new church plants in Thessalonica that flourished despite life-and-death persecution. Their new faith “rang out,” spreading quickly to neighboring cities. (1 Thessalonians 1:8) Set against the backdrop of fellow citizens who would stop at nothing to extinguish their lives, Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to resist the temptation to believe that what they did for Christ didn’t matter. He firmly reminded them God’s mission isn’t about self-acceleration in society, but about pleasing God alone. (1 Thessalonians 2:4-5)

Sharing the gospel and living it out in everyday life was the Lord’s work, for His glory, and it simply wasn’t about their possessions, their physical safety, or their cultural clout.

“…when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The trio of preachers could teach the gospel with confidence because they were convinced this was only about Christ. If Christ would transform, it would be through His Spirit’s work in human hearts, not human work in human hearts, which is why Paul concluded his fervent letter to this precious church with unshakeable confidence.

“…the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”
(2 Thessalonians 3:3-5)

Bound up on all sides with Christ, Paul leaves them with the one thing that was assuredly promised and altogether incorruptible, the presence of Christ. The Lord Himself would gird them up, encourage them for the days ahead, and teach them to be continually ready for His return.

“May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

My time with my Baby Girl is limited, but peace unfurls around the edges of my heart. I don’t need to panic over all the things I should have done, or all the things I should still “squeeze in” to teach her. She needs one thing, Christ.

Like the Thessalonians whose confident faith colored everything they did, and like Paul, who rested securely in the truth that his work hung on Christ alone, I can keep holding out Jesus to my daughter, to the rest of my kids, and even the lady I’m meeting for coffee.

One thing is needed.
Christ.
May the Lord be with you all.


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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Ready Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
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Ready Day 13 Gathered Together

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Thessalonians 2
Psalm 18
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Ready, Day 13

There’s nothing quite like having something taken away to make you realize how much you love that something. The idea of gathering together feels different for all of us around the globe in the wake of Covid-19.

Most churches closed their physical doors for a time. When they did re-open, masks and social distancing made us all acutely aware that gathering together had significantly changed. My dear friend in Scotland cannot even sing aloud with her church when they finally do gather in person.

The early church multiplied quickly, spreading across provinces and countries like wildfire. Jesus had come as God in the flesh to point our sin-wrecked hearts back to Him (Romans 5:6-11), He ascended to rule and reign with Father God at His right hand (Romans 8:34), and now He was building His other-worldly kingdom through His beloved ones, those who called out to Him as Savior. (Acts 2:41-47)

The work was the Lord’s.
The people were His.
The Church was His Beautiful Bride, His very great reward.

As precious as the early church was, they faced struggle, persecution, loss, and distance just like we do today.

Because Christ’s Church spans oceans, deserts, forests, rivers, and plains, it can be hard to remember we are all integrally connected to one another.

The sister in Nigeria who faces a government in disarray and ruled by those bent on destroying Christians is as much a part of me as the skin that covers my bones.

The brother in India who spends his days entering villages closed to the gospel in order to have even one conversation with a person of peace willing to hear about Jesus is as deeply intertwined with me as my lungs that inhale and exhale.

We are the Body of Christ, His Church.

My best friend and her family live as far around the world as possible without beginning to return the other direction. While we grieve our distance, knowing I can’t watch her kids for a date night and she can’t sit on my couch eating late night ice cream, the Spirit of God binds us together in such sweet intimacy, it’s almost like we share the same air.

The Holy Spirit reminds one of us to pray specifically, fervently, for the other, and the Lord brings us together. My heart yearns for her physical arms and for flesh and blood fingers to wipe away tears, but in the Spirit of the God in whom we share, we are gathered together.

It’s with this gut-level yearning Paul draws the members of the Thessalonian church into his embracing words of encouragement. Though aching for their physical closeness, Paul intimately whispers of the richest of all secrets.

Soon, brothers and sisters, soon, we will all be gathered together with Jesus Christ Himself!
Soon, we will stand face to face with one another, every tribe, every nation, every race, and every language gathered together.

We will be one and that gathering will be flooded with the magnificent glory of the Lord Jesus. We will touch hands, hug shoulders, laugh and dance in freedom, and oh, we will worship, how we will worship as One Gloriously Beautiful Bride of Christ!

Soon, but not yet.

It’s not a secret thing, this gathering together with our Lord Jesus; all who draw breath will know, unmistakably, our King has indeed finally come to bring His people home.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the archangel’s voice,
and with the trumpet of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are still alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air,
and so we will always be with the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Satan will be allowed to wreck his havoc in the now, tormenting souls and deceiving them into thinking they have it all, but they have nothing.

“He (Satan) opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God. (…) working every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders to serving the lie (…) with wicked deception among those who are perishing.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4, 9-10)

Those who believe Satan’s lies will perish because “they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10)

In light of our coming reality of gathering in person,
Paul urges us to lean in to God’s Kingdom work.

Who do you know who “refuses to love the truth and so be saved?”
Are you actively praying for them and for an opportunity to share truth with them?

“…from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:14-15)

Would you consider yourself a “lover of truth”
that you might be “gathered together” when Jesus returns in glory?
What are the evidences of your claim?

God has a purposeful call on our lives to trust Him,
to be sanctified (made more like Him by the Holy Spirit) by Him,
to tell others about His Hope,
and to trust that, regardless of struggle and distance now,
one day, He will gather us all HOME!

Let’s be Ready for His Return!

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

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

Ready Day 10 Until The Trumpet Sounds

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Thessalonians 4:14-5:28
Ephesians 5:1-21
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Revelation 7:9-17
Revelation 21:1-7

Ready, Day 10

As a mom of 4 girls, I have jokingly shared with friends that I pray Jesus comes back before my daughters hit the lovely stage of life called adolescence. I don’t want to ride that emotional rollercoaster, not even once, let alone FOUR times in a row.

Yet, here I am.  Deep in the trenches of estrogen and girl drama.

I’m still holding out hope for Jesus to make His appearance before my oldest heads to middle school in August. A mom can dream, right?

In all seriousness, I am not sure if there has ever been a time when I’ve longed more desperately for Jesus to return and take me to Heaven.

Surely, I’m not alone.
The past year has been one for the record books on so many levels.

I feel like we’ve all been ravaged in our bodies, minds, and souls.
When trying to describe how I feel, I find words like:
Weak, weary, wounded.
Isolated, alone, afraid.
Confused, uncertain, anxious.
Frustrated, disappointed, disillusioned.

I’m sure you could add to the list.

Hiding and praying for this all to go away isn’t the answer, though.
I don’t believe God has called us to retreat.
No, we can’t withdraw from the war.

Remember, this is exactly what’s going on: an all-out war between good and evil.
As Paul shares in Ephesians, the struggles we encounter are MORE than they appear.

Covid, racial injustice, power outages due to unprecedented weather, unemployment, social isolation, depression, anxiety, political unrest, financial debt, food insecurity, and so much more bombard us from every angle.
The physical and emotional needs are overwhelming.
We could easily forget that these issues, as real and hard as they are,
are NOT the true battles.

We MUST realize they all point to the reality of SIN.
And thus, to our ULTIMATE need for a SAVIOR!

In his letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul reminds believers we have hope in this fallen and broken world.

And it’s not a vaccine or new president or stimulus check.
It’s not acceptance or affirmation or equity.
It’s not financial stability or food security.
It Is JESUS.

Jesus, who died for our sins and made a way for us to have a relationship with God.
Jesus, who rose again and proved He is victorious over sin and death.
Jesus, who will return to take all who accept His free gift of salvation to eternal glory with Him.

HE is our hope who sustains us, no matter what punches the world throws our way.
HE is the truth ALL people need to hear and believe.
HE is the message we MUST share.

Donating food, water, and blankets is helpful.
Fighting for justice and equality is good, and necessary.
Raising money, offering our skills, or sending an encouraging note can be beneficial.

Followers of Jesus should be the first to do these things.
Our love for God should compel us to love the people in our lives.

But if that is all we do, we have failed our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members. We may have improved their current situation,
but we have ignored their eternal condition.

I get it.
Sharing the gospel can be scary.
I am personally guilty of not telling people about Jesus, for fear of what they’ll think of me.

I should be so concerned with the devastating reality of someone’s eternal separation from God that I MUST share JESUS.

Honestly, I shouldn’t be able to anticipate Jesus’ return with joy, knowing people in my life haven’t yet accepted Jesus as their Savior.

I don’t want to hear the promised trumpet blast and realize my neighbor, co-worker, friend, or family member will not come with me.

I can’t even begin to imagine how glorious standing among people from every tongue, tribe, and nation will be as we all sing together to worship Jesus. I envision such beauty and peace and joy. My heart swells with longing for that amazing day.

Then, I cringe to think of what the alternative eternal experience will be for those who don’t know Jesus as Savior.  My heart breaks, and suddenly things shift into perspective.

Every day I linger, waiting for Jesus is an opportunity to share my hope for the future with those around me who are lost in the here and now. I will gladly endure 4 rounds of puberty if it means more time to tell people about JESUS!!!

As I read in Thessalonians today, I was challenged like never before.
I don’t want to simply watch and wait for Jesus to come back.
I want to remember I am fighting in a raging war.
I may not know how long it will last, but I do know Who will stand victorious in the end.
And I CAN make the most of the time I am given, and fight well every day I am here.

Will you join me, as Paul urges, and put on your armor and engage in battle
for someone’s soul?

Will you live as a child of the day,
shining your light into the darkness?

How much more glorious will it be then, when we DO hear the trumpet blast, and finally see our Savior face-to-face, knowing we gave our all to share the hope of JESUS?!

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Nations Day 13 Created To Participate

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:3-8
1 Corinthians 12:24b-13:7
Acts 2:41-47

Nations, Day 13

The Church is God’s people.
But it’s often misconstrued as an experience.

In truth, the Church cannot be confined to our experience or perspective. It is something larger than ourselves, in which we get to participate. We see this in Scripture, and I have had the blessing of learning it through experience. Therefore, I’d like to encourage us to live with zealous love for God by loving the Church, Christ’s bride.

A little back story, I grew up traveling. Our family lived in a trailer in the United States, going from church to church, doing old-school revivals. My parents helped churches reach the communities around them with the message of God’s love through Jesus. My “normal” was meeting new people every week, adapting to each church’s practices, and participating however I could.

Church wasn’t about me. Church was about sharing with others Who Jesus is.

Additionally, my dad pastored. We settled for a few years in Illinois and then Florida. In both settings, I entered into an environment where people had known each other their whole lives. As an outsider, I integrated into their programs and cultural norms. I went to Sunday school class, children’s church, and a mid-week mission class. For us kids, the main goal was to have fun while learning about the Bible.

Church wasn’t about me, but most of the time I thought it was.

Before I started high school, our family moved to West Africa as missionaries. My experience of church and its culture expanded dramatically. During school years, I attended a church comprised of more than 13 denominations and over 20 nationalities. During breaks, I attended Nigerian churches. I wore a wrapper (skirt) and head tie, sat on hard benches with the other females, listened to sermons in a language I didn’t speak, and hummed along with songs I didn’t understand.

Church wasn’t about me. Church was people relating to God, together.

Since then, I’ve gathered with believers on four continents and have worshipped in more languages than I can recall. I have met with God’s people in stadiums and under the stars. I have danced to the rhythm of homemade drums, stood still in the choral of magnificent pipe organs, and wept silently while listening to a man behind me praise the Lord in brokenness after the death of his son.

My experience of church has been broad.  My experience of God’s people has been beyond description. 

As we move into Scripture, it’s important to have a working definition of the word Church. In Greek, the word for church is ekklēsía, which means “people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church.” Often, in North America, people think of church as a weekly event, which is understandable. When God’s people assemble, the Church is gathered, so we can legitimately say we’re “having church.” God’s people are the Church and the gathering of His people is church. 

Paul talks a lot about being the church in Ephesians.
He wrote, “God’s multifaceted wisdom may now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavens. This is according to His eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10-11)
Extraordinary! God’s age-long plan is to reveal His multifaceted wisdom through the Church.

You see, through His own blood, Christ redeemed us. (Titus 2:14)
He has cleansed our consciences from dead works to serve the living God
(Hebrews 9:11-14)
Now, He has given us His Spirit! (1 John 4:13)

How should we, the Church, respond to our God’s stunning mercy and love?
“Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we must also love one another.” (1 John 4:11)
Simply put, we are to love one another, because He has loved us, because His Spirit is in us, and because when we do, His love is perfected and fulfilled. (1 John 4:7-16)

This is why Paul implores the Church “to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, showing God’s love to one another means we are to be patient and kind. We should abandon arrogance, jealousy, and predetermined agendas. We are to forgive, bear with one another, rejoice with each other in truth, and to hope. Finally, we are to endure.

Notice, NOTHING in all of these verses talks about what we can expect to experience when we assemble together as the Church. Instead, every verse commissions the believer to live and love from the Spirit at work in her. This wildly unnatural, selfless love will be powerful witness to a lost world.

Sisters, do you hear Scripture’s call to both gather at church and BE the Church?
To commit to community with other believers?
To accept the responsibility to love and build up, according to the Spirit of grace at work within us?
The Church exists for a reason, and we get to be a part of it!

Grow well, my sisters.

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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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Nations Day 8 Religious Or Relationship

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 9:9–13
Matthew 5:13–16
1 Peter 3:13–16
1 Corinthians 9:19–23

Nations, Day 8

I grew up a pastor’s kid in a small town in Queensland, Australia. I love being an Aussie. We don’t take anything too seriously, especially ourselves. Our country has beautiful beaches, desserts and rainforests, interesting and deadly animals, and a culture rich in history and diversity. I may be biased, but I believe Australia is the best country in the world.

When I was a little girl the Australian culture resembled a Christian ethic in many respects. Almost all of the shops were closed on Sundays even though most of my friends were at the beach rather than in church. Traditional family values were accepted and esteemed, and television had very little swearing or nudity. Most kids lived in a traditional family, with married parents and siblings. We called ourselves a ‘Christian country’ and our community values respected that.

Fast forward forty years and times have changed dramatically. None of the things I just mentioned are true anymore. Sunday is one of the busiest retail days of the week, and many people have to juggle their desire to attend church around their work commitments. Most television is full of inappropriate content, and sadly, the majority of Australian children live in a home with either a single parent or in a blended family of divorced adults and stepchildren.

With the breakdown of Christian values our community is broken, and its people are hurting. The disease of accumulating wealth and success has gripped us, leading to workaholicism and the worship of productivity. The breakdown of family relationships has resulted in a community of hurt, lonely and broken people. People’s lives are full of conflict, unforgiveness and anger. Our community is ravaged by anxiety, suicide and mental illness.

I have been blessed to always be a part of a supportive and loving church family. This encouraging environment has helped me navigate the challenges of marriage and raising three children. I have been able to worship God wholeheartedly and listen to His word preached openly every week through my entire life. This is a gift I often take for granted. The local church has always been a safe place for me, a place I love and retreat to. My church was an integral part of my personal evangelism. If I wanted to introduce someone to Jesus, I would invite them along to church. Things are different now.

A few years ago we had a Royal Commission into institutionalised abuse, and a light was shone on the horror many children endured at the hands of those who claimed to represent Jesus. The moral failures of high-profile church leaders made the headlines, and the Church’s reputation was smeared. It has become more difficult to be a Christian in Australia.

I have been compelled to my knees as my heart breaks for a community who desperately needs Jesus, and yet has largely rejected the Church. It has changed the way I think and the way I live. I am learning to take Jesus outside the walls of my church.

This has had to be very intentional for me. For most of my life, all of my close friends were already Christians—already part of my church family. I had to make an effort to mix with people who don’t have a faith, people who are very different to me. First, I joined a fitness group. We met to work out in a park close to my home three mornings a week. I found myself making friends with a lady who was openly gay. It was so good for me to get to know her as a person, with hopes and fears and worries similar to my own, and for me to share my life with her.

I also joined a community book club. Each month we read a new book, most of which I wouldn’t have chosen for myself, and we discussed the themes and characters together. The group was smart and diverse, and very different to me. They had different political views, different backgrounds and different values. At the end of my two years in the group one of the ladies said to me, “I’ve never known a proper Christian before.”

Reading the gospels, I am always challenged by the way Jesus lived and who He spent time with. It wasn’t with the religious people, who were often judgemental and exploited those they were supposed to be leading. No, Jesus spent time with sinners. The people who were far from God. The ones who needed healing, saving and loving.

In Matthew 9 we read about Jesus calling Matthew to be one of His disciples. Matthew was a tax collector, someone who had betrayed his own people to work for the occupying Roman nation. Matthew was getting rich by exploiting others, and the people hated him for it. And yet, Jesus calls Matthew to be part of His inner circle.

The first thing Jesus does is have lunch at Matthew’s house with his tax collector friends, but the Pharisees, the religious leaders, didn’t like it. They questioned the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:11—12)

As an Australian Christian I have spent most of my life with the healthy, people who already have a relationship with God. But now, God has called me to go to the sick. It is challenging and uncomfortable at times. I often feel awkward and struggle to find the right words to say, but God is faithful. I am learning to be a friend to those who are far from God and show them what Jesus is like. Australians need Jesus.

My prayer for the Australian Church is we would represent Jesus well, both as individuals and as an organisation. Pray we would be a friend to the sinners and introduce them to the One where hope is found and help them find a safe place of belonging in God’s family, here on earth as it is in heaven.

Christine Wood

Bio: Christine is a writer who packed up her city life to live in an RV and travel full-time around Australia with her husband. She misses her three adult children and church family while loving the opportunity to explore the beauty of creation and strengthen her sense of adventure. Christine writes about faith, self-care and simple living on her blog, www.livingwithmargins.com.

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Nations Day 1 Out Of Darkness

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Ephesians 2:1-7
1 Peter 2:4-10
Luke 9:23-26

Nations, Day 1

When I consider the transformation we, the people of my village, have undergone, I find reason to thank God again and again. We, who once walked in the futility of our minds, having our understanding darkened, ignorant and separated from God, have received the mercy of God. Indeed, we’ve seen God’s great love toward us. He called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Once we were not a people, but He has made us a people in Christ; a people belonging to Him. Hallelujah! (paraphrase, Ephesians 4:17-18)

Surely, God’s love is not selective, conditional, or judgemental; if it was, who would have chosen and called us to follow Christ? Like His own disciples, we have been called irrespective of our backgrounds; like His own disciples, when confronted with His love, we are also confronted with the depths of our own sinful disqualification. When Peter experienced Christ’s overwhelming love, he exclaimed, “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord!” (Luke 5:8) Yet His call, and His love, remain undaunted.

By the grace of God, the gospel of salvation has penetrated all over our village, and many people are following Jesus Christ. A typical Sunday morning sees villagers of all ages rushing to various worship centres.

Women are at the forefront of God’s move in my community, following in the footsteps of Mary of Magdalene and other heroines of faith in Scripture. Their incredible zeal for the Gospel prompts some to even offer their “widow’s mite,” trusting tomorrow’s provision to God alone.

But there are some cultural issues frustrating the Christian journey among our people, and women are significantly affected. As with most Africans, witchcraft is a monster ravaging our people; every misfortune is attributed to it. Almost every death of a person below 70 years is attributed to witchcraft; likewise, any lingering or chronic illness. Most devastatingly, women and children are most often accused of being witches or secret cult members.

Additionally, many women experience tough times in their marriage as the culture demands a wife owe her in-laws respect and care. Some family members go beyond their boundaries and become a “thorn in the flesh” of the woman. In most cases, the husband is handicapped to protect his wife. Even more challenging to marriages is the issue of childlessness, because marriage without children, to our people, is like an orange tree without fruit.

Poverty also places a significant burden on women, as they are the primary contributors to household income, often through menial work. Drug use adds to the poverty level, as women lose spouses, followed by homes and belongings.

However, amidst those challenges, some women are forging ahead in following Christ. These courageous sisters do not allow hardship to determine their spiritual standing; they are making a lifetime of sacrifices for the sake of Jesus. They daily live out the words of Jesus: “If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Surely, following Jesus Christ requires self-denial, and we must not allow hardship or any inconvenience to deter us. We must be willing to sacrifice everything standing between us and Him. It is well-understood that challenges create room for our faith to grow, because the more challenges we face, the more we seek refuge in Christ. As the Scripture says, “Consider it great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3)

Unfortunately, when tough times come, some turn their backs on Him, like the seed that fell on stony places. On Sundays, they rush to church for worship, but in ignorance, turn to others beside Jesus in their suffering. To worsen their situation, they usually fall into the hands of fake pastors, who exploit the women’s pain for monetary gain.

As someone who is passionate for the gospel, my heart bleeds when I hear the perils my fellow countrywomen pass through. The biggest need I see is for a deep knowledge of God’s Word, which will only happen through sound teaching. My appeal to the global Church is to join me in prayer for God to open doors to enable us organise more teachings, and to add labourers for the work. Pray also that God will create in their hearts a strong desire for His Word, and also bless the work of their hands.

I am thankful to God for the Church in the nations, joined and knitted together in Christ despite physical distance; therefore, we share in the pain and joy of one another. How marvellous and glorious it will be when we see eachother face-to-face at the throne of Jesus!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Word Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “Do as I say, but not as I do” implying that the speaker’s life choices don’t necessarily align with their words. They likely see the wisdom of following a certain guideline, but find that in real life, it’s easier or more comfortable to choose a different action, even one that’s counter to what they advocate for with their words. In what situations have you witnessed this inconsistency? Identify some areas you are more prone to do this. In contrast, how does it make you feel knowing that someone’s life matches with full integrity to the words and teachings they verbalize? Would you be willing to trust a God who said one thing and did another? What does it say to other people who are watching your life when they see inconsistencies between what you “practice” and “preach”? Intentionally ask the Lord this weekend to open your eyes to where you tend to live inconsistent with what you assert to be true, then begin recognizing these patterns as they pop up in your everyday life.

2) Chosen. What feelings and thoughts do you conjure up with this word? What scenes from you life do you associate with chosen? What does it mean for you that God has chosen you? Are you living surrendered to His choice over you? What’s holding you back?  Appointed. We all hunger for purpose in our life’s story. What you involved in that fills your “cup of purpose”? What engagement makes you “come alive”. Do you feel boxed in or freed in knowing that the God of the universe has appointed you for work in His kingdom? Loved. Having a purpose is one thing, but knowing you are also dearly loved is altogether more significant. Do you view God has being Love? In what ways do you feel or know you are loved by Him? In what ways do you feel abandoned? Bring Him your honesty! Persecuted. We enjoy the feelings of being loved and adored, chosen, and appointed for a purpose, but the idea of persecution catches us off guard. What are your emotional, mental, and physical responses to the idea of persecution? In what ways do you feel these four descriptors are connected or in opposition to each other? Consider how you view Jesus, as God the Son, having demonstrated each of these. Look up Luke 6:40 as you process this.

3) I once worked for a librarian who left me with a pile of books that needed covered. She provided all the necessary materials, books, and a clear end goal. I snipped and trimmed and pasted and folded, spending significant time meticulously covering the books, but when the librarian returned she realized she’d forgotten to leave me with actual instructions. A task that should have taken minutes had turned into hours when I was left without an example to follow. What is something you learned just by watching someone else model a behavior or pattern for you? Did this process of learning effectively carry over into your own rhythms of life that you can identify today? In the same way, who has been influential in living out how to follow Jesus for you? Who has negatively impacted your perception of living a God-focused life? Can you identify some markers in your life where you are influencing others in their spiritual growth? We all follow someone’s spiritual example whether we realize it or not, therefore, we would be wise to make sure the people we are taking our spiritual faith cues from are those whose lives consistently align with the ultimate model of Jesus’s life.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from John 21:15 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”
“Feed My lambs,” He told him.

Prayer Journal
“More than these…” “Do you love Me more than these…” The words echo around my heart, Lord. Do I? Do I love you more than these? Show me my own personal “these”, the people and things and purposes I give myself for and the comforts that I love. As I consider next steps for our family, and some stretching possibilities that make me hedge in fear and discomfort, ask me again, Spirit, “Do you love Me more than these?”. It’s one thing to verbally confess that I trust You and I love You, but you don’t care about my lip-service. Will my life decisions, the big, scary ones and the seemingly insignificant ones, point brilliantly to a heart decision of trusting You or myself? Lord, align my heart with Yours. Teach my feet to follow in Your pathways. Guide my hands and heart to build Your kingdom, not mine. Hold me faithfully fast, even when I choose myself over You. Bring me back to following You.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music