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The GT Weekend! ~ Another, Week 3

March 25, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Another, Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

March 25, 2023

Christ,church,Clothed,Community,Faith,Family,Fellowship

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, this week of study together has been a wonderful reminder that You are love and You have made us from love. Our calling in this lifetime is to spread Your light to others in the face of a broken and hate-filled world. (Matthew 5:14-16) I cannot imagine a better way to spend my life.

Of course, it is easier said than done some days, so I ask that on those days, You put Your words on my tongue and fill me with Your strength. (1 Peter 4:11) When I feel consumed by the brokenness of this world, remind me what authentic love looks like (1 Corinthians 13) and the deadly consequence of sin You have already rescued me from (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

I ask for a heart that seeks only to use my God-given gifts to glorify Your name, Lord, and reflect Your love onto others. (Romans 12:6-13, 1 Peter 4:10-11) In Your Son’s name, Jesus, I ask these things, Lord, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

On Monday, Meribeth asked us many thought provoking questions about what it looks like to “lovingly devote our lives to worshiping Jesus and serving His people.” She reminded us that serving others can be as simple as offering our presence after a hard day of work or giving someone the space to gush about a topic they love. Ultimately, devoting ourselves to serving God’s people simply means showing up.

When we are present, we must remember to move forward with the same love Jesus illustrated, which means seeing others as God’s children, not the traitorous tax collector or the grumpy neighbor. (Luke 19:1-10)

His love prods us to be the first one to say hello, the first one to offer a helping hand, and the first one to seek reconciliation when conflict arises. Who can you show intentional devotion to this week? Stop now and ask the Lord!

We must also remember as we serve God’s people, to take time to authentically worship Him. There is nowhere He cannot go and nowhere He cannot hear us, so why not use that drive through rush hour traffic to praise the Lord for a paycheck or sing a hymn while we get ready in the morning. There is no wrong time to turn our faces upward and express our love and gratitude to our Father.

JOURNAL TWO

As broken people, we are inherently self-centered and severely limited in our perspective of the world around us, whereas God is omniscient. This means He knows the fight each of us walk through, which is why the Lord emphasizes to His people the important command to love everyone, especially those who hurt us.

When we love like Him, we show the world what His heart looks like! He calls us to stoop low and carry another’s burdens, that we might reflect His heart more clearly to those around us.

When I consider the powerful effect of kindness in my life, I am reminded of many instances where a person’s kind word freed me from a negative mindset or, in some cases, led to life-changing action.

Rebecca reminded us we cannot authentically love what we do not deeply know. As we seek to follow Christ, we must remember to first seek to deeply know Him that we might authentically love Him and His people.

Are you struggling to love someone? Seek the Lord and ask to know Him better so you can love more fully!

JOURNAL THREE

Have you ever looked at someone’s life and thought, “They’re such a good person!”. Have you ever considered whether their kindness was enough for God give them a check mark of approval, or perhaps it’s just been assumed that of course He would. Have you ever wondered if good works could balance out bad ones?

Marietta called out two realities from Scripture yesterday. One, all believers who claim to follow Jesus are not only compelled by Christ’s love to serve one another with gentle humility, but they’re also wondrously empowered to accomplish this. Believers sin when they choose not to serve others with love.

Two, we cannot masquerade ourselves into being God’s child when we haven’t been changed from the inside out by Christ. We can’t fool God by stacking up good deeds, and we can’t escape God’s call on our life to love like Jesus.

The secret? When we admit we can’t be good enough on our own and confess the ugliness of our sins, God forgives us and makes us His own. Then, He fill us with His Spirit to equip us for loving others by serving them.

Have you set aside the masquerade? Or are you already His, but tired of serving others because you’re doing it on your own strength? Whatever it is, give it up to the Lord Jesus and walk free to serve others with HIS power!
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Posted in: Christ, church, Clothed, Community, Faith, Family, Fellowship Tagged: family, Gentle, hope, kind, lowly, serve

Another Day 12 Loving Devotion: Digging Deeper

March 21, 2023 by Rachel Jones Leave a Comment

Another Day 12 Loving Devotion: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

March 21, 2023

Affectionate,Captivating,Character,Christ,church,Clothed,Community

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 "Loving Devotion"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Thessalonians 5:12-28

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will do it. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us also. 26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How are we instructed to recognize and regard our Christian leaders? (verses 12-13)

In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul urges them to “give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) God desires the church to regard their leaders very highly in love because of the work they do to teach, nurture, and lead His people.

Nearly all churches in America recognize their pastors during October for Pastor Appreciation month. Pastors receive gift cards, baked treats, cash, flowers, and other tangible rewards as appreciation for their service. Pastors love being valued in this way, but the church should honor their leaders through encouragement and prayer on a consistent basis. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

The work our leaders do on the daily is what keeps our churches growing and thriving. Pastors teach us the Scriptures and instruct us how to live out Christ’s teaching in our daily lives. They pray for our health and well-being, they counsel us in family matters and relationship struggles, and they challenge us when we need to hear God’s truth applied to our lives. Author and pastor’s wife, Kristen Wetherell, suggests “Your encouragement will both deepen [your pastor’s] confidence in the power of God’s Word and also increase his desire to faithfully read, enjoy, study, communicate, and apply it. You will help him press on in ministry when the going gets tough, whether personally, culturally, or within the church.”

Let’s commit to encouraging and praying for our pastors with regularity (1 Timothy 5:17) for in doing so we minister to the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).

The Everyday Application

1) How are we instructed to recognize and regard our Christian leaders? (verses 12-13)

Somewhere in my box of “treasures” languishing in the basement is a note I received during my junior year of high school. I was assisting in a first grade class where one little boy needed some extra help with reading. A few days into our work together he slipped me a note that melted my heart. In clumsy, backwards letters he let me know how much he appreciated my help and the time and attention I gave him. I have worked with kids most days since then, in some capacity or another, and those letters, cards, pictures and gifts of encouragement have never lost their power to recharge my batteries or refocus my vision.

Knowing I’m making a difference for my students gives me the strength to face the hard days that seem like swimming through peanut butter. Under the Spirit’s leading, Paul instructed the Church to recognize and highly regard our leaders. Charles Ellicott explains, “The bond which binds the Christian community to their directors is not to be one of ‘recognition’ and obedience only but of holy affection above all.”

Paul knew the dedication of leaders to the care and nurturing of their churches was labor intensive and sacrificial, patterned after the example of Jesus. (Mark 10:45) He exhorted the church to do more than acknowledge and say thanks, though they should do that as well. He wanted them to act in love, sharing their blessings with church leaders as a way to honor the work of God done through them. (Galatians 6:6)

Follow Paul’s suggestion and reach out to your church leaders with love and encouragement, let them know the work they do is impacting your life.

The Original Intent

2) Why is it important for Christ-followers to be at peace among themselves? (verse 13)

Paul charged the believers in Thessalonica to “be at peace among yourselves” as he taught the church how to engage with one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:13) A.S. Patterson asserts, “Social peace among true Christians is highly important, both for their own mutual improvement and personal comfort, and for the recommendation of religion to the world; and it is to be maintained by the cultivation both of unanimity of sentiment and of kindliness of feeling”.

When there is disharmony among Christians, it sends a negative message about the church to the world. Feuding between Christians makes it seem the truths they share about Jesus are ineffective. Christians are meant to be identified by their love (John 13:35); discord detracts from the winsome beauty of Jesus’ love. Disunity makes it difficult to see Christ in our lives when we are not living at peace with one another. (1 Corinthians 3:3)

Since living in peace is so important to the Lord, Christians ought to focus on the things they have in common and let God guide them through their differences with a heart committed to loving devotion toward each other. (2 Timothy 3:17)

Jeremy Ham explains, “Since there is one faith, there will be unity in this faith, so we should be like-minded. Whenever Christians have conflicts, we should remember that we all are pressing and working toward the same goal.” We must walk out what we preach, living in peace under the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

The Everyday Application

2) Why is it important for Christ-followers to be at peace among themselves? (verse 13)

When my son was in 2nd grade our state allowed homeschoolers to attend online school for free, so we took advantage of the program. He was in virtual class with kids of different races and religions. One student was Rastafarian, others Muslim, some were Jewish, others Christian and Catholic. From all over our state, these kids and their backgrounds were as different as they could be, but our families were unified by the common goal of learning at home and curating the learning environment we found most beneficial for our children.

The Body of Christ could benefit by remembering the common goals we all have, to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7) and make Him known in the world (Acts 20:24). Paul admonished readers to “be at peace among yourselves” in 1 Thessalonians 5:13. He knew divisive issues would arise, pitting believers against one another and dimming the light of our testimony as we point others to Jesus. (Matthew 5:16)

Christ desires us to live in peace together, despite our differences and contentions, so we will draw others to know Him as He truly is. (Mark 16:15) John Piper notes, “The gospel creates peace with God. And the gospel creates lovers of humble peace and workers for peace.” When Christians pursue peace among themselves, they bring glory to God and cause others to want the peace they have found.

The Original Intent

3) What does it look like to always pursue what is good for one another and for all? (verse 15)

In 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Paul exhorted readers to “See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.“ Instead of retaliating or looking for payback when bad things happen, the Lord teaches believers to actively pursue things that are good for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

To pursue what is good for each other means we are not looking out for our own best interests ahead of others (Philippians 2:3-4) while working for the good of our fellow believers. (Galatians 6:10) Pursuing what is good for all involves treating other people the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12) with a willingness to be last instead of first (Matthew 20:16).

Loving devotion to one another means surrendering our presumed “right” to have the last word about everything. It means speaking the truth in love instead of turning a blind eye to keep the peace. (Ephesians 4:15) Pursuing what is good for each other doesn’t mean we always agree, but it means we can disagree with respect and love. (Romans 14)

The Everyday Application

3) What does it look like to always pursue what is good for one another and for all? (verse 15)

I admire moms and dads who are purposeful in their parenting. They plan ahead and budget time for teachable moments. This means they allow their kids to actively help cook a meal or fold the laundry even if it takes 3 times longer than if they shooed the kids out of the room and finished the tasks themselves. These parents know it is best for the child and, eventually, the whole family for their children to learn life skills like cooking and cleaning at an early age. Purposeful parents consider what is best for their children in the long run and value those goals over immediate convenience.

The Apostle Paul championed purposefully pursuing good towards others when he wrote verse 15, “See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.“ Paul desired to mimic Christ’s heart-desire for His people to always be about the business of doing what is good for all, even when it’s tempting to be retributive for personal injustices.

The way to live peaceably is to put others first and treat them honorably, even when they don’t deserve it. (Romans 12:10-14) When we give a gentle answer rather than quarreling, we squelch anger and promote peace. (Proverbs 15:1) It can be difficult to put others’ needs above our own (1 Corinthian 10:24), but we can ask the Lord to help us pursue good for each other so we can live together peacefully and show the world God’s love in action. (John 15:12)

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Another Day 11
Journey Study

Have you ever been in the shoes of Zacchaeus? On the receiving end of extravagant love despite who you are and what you’ve done?

Perhaps you’ve heard the voice of someone who loves you and looks your way and says, “I want to spend some time with you today!” This is the Jesus kind of love. This is “One-Another” kind of love. This is the lifestyle love we are called to exhibit in our everyday lives as believers.

I know for a fact Zacchaeus’ life changed that day by the words in Luke…”hurrying down and receiving Him joyfully.”
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Posted in: Affectionate, Captivating, Character, Christ, church, Clothed, Community Tagged: care, family, humility, kindness, preference

The GT Weekend! ~ Another, Week 2

March 18, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Another, Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

March 18, 2023

Affectionate,Character,Christ,church,Clothed,Community

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Philippians 2:5-11

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death - even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name…
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

My Lord, Yahweh, You have convicted my spirit heavily as I studied the concepts of humility and submission. Thank You for offering the perfect example in Christ to model my life after. Thank You also for the encouragement of Your loving chastisement each time I fall victim to my pride and stubbornness.

Over the next week, please open my eyes to the areas of my life where humility and submission are scarce and offer me the wisdom to strengthen those areas. (Psalm 139:23) I am not yet a finished work of Your hands, but I know one day You will complete the good works you have started in me. (Philippians 1:6)

Until then, I will strive to serve those You have placed in my life with a humble heart and lean into all opportunities of growth with an eager spirit, using Your Son as my example. I wish for Your heart to guide my own; teach me to rest in Your promises, Lord.
In Jesus’ name that I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

The image of an ax and the act of its sharpening is used throughout the Bible in both the Old and the New Testaments. It is a powerful image and quite pertinent to living out our faith as we follow Jesus.

An ax dulls after just a few uses and a dull ax is both inefficient and requires more strength. In keeping with His wisdom, God highlighted this very fact in Ecclesiastes 10:10. One way God sharpens us is through other people. (Proverbs 27:17)

Just as it is important to grind into the edge of the ax when sharpening it, we must lean into the grind of being honed with a humble heart. It can be uncomfortable, painful even, but with each stroke of the file we become more like Jesus and we reflect God’s light to those around us.

Who is God using to sharpen you? Have you leaned into the process or fought it? When the Spirit convicts us of fighting against spiritual growth, we can accept His reprimand with gratitude because it means we are hearing the Spirit!

We can be encouraged to draw near to Him as He aligns our hearts with God’s will in the future.

JOURNAL TWO

Jesus taught us by practical example how to live a righteous life pleasing to the Lord, but the most important thing He taught us is how to love.

Just before His death, Jesus left His disciples with this, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” (John 13:34) In Paul’s letters to the church of Corinth, he clearly expounds upon what loving one another looks like in real, everyday life. He details the attributes of love, as well as what love does not look like. (1 Corinthians 13)

Take time this week to study 1 Corinthians 13, read a few studies from GT’s Journey Into Kaleidoscope, and consider where you see evidence of love in your life and where it could use some cultivating.

I struggle with putting my desire to be right over my duty to love others. Somewhere along the way, I started associating being right with my self-worth, which led to me selfishly and sinfully putting myself over Jesus’ command in John 13. Love begins with a thought, just like its counterpart hate.

This is why we must spend time wrapped up in God’s loving Word, so we are ensuring our thoughts, and consequently our actions, are stemming from truth and love!

JOURNAL THREE

Plato said art imitates life. Biblically, this idea is fleshed out with the imagery of  Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and us as His work of art. (Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 64:8) We are instructed to live as Jesus lived (1 John 2:6), starting with humility and submission.

Through Jesus’ many examples of submission to His Father, we find encouragement in our own pursuit of submission to His will. We may find ourselves asking God why He favors the humble and submissive spirit. We need only look as far as Isaiah 66:1-2, which reminds us we have nothing to offer God that isn’t already His.

However, He gives us the choice to follow Him, which means our submission is the greatest gift we can offer the Creator of Everything.

What is the result of submission? There are many blessings found in submission, but a few notable benefits are the grace lavished on those with a submissive spirit (1 Peter 5:5), protection from the enemy (James 4:7), and the ability to spread the gospel in perhaps the most powerful way…by humble example! (Philippians 1:27-28) When we live a life worthy of the Gospel, others take note and His good news of forgiveness and restoration spreads!
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Posted in: Affectionate, Character, Christ, church, Clothed, Community Tagged: care, family, genuine, humility, love, Submission

Another Day 9 Wrapped Up In Love: Digging Deeper

March 16, 2023 by Dr. Leslie Umstattd Leave a Comment

Another Day 9 Wrapped Up In Love: Digging Deeper

Dr. Leslie Umstattd

March 16, 2023

Affectionate,Christ,church,Clothed,Lord,Love

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 "Wrapped Up In Love"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.

31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Who is the speaker and the listener in this passage? (verse 27)

Throughout this passage we see the pronoun “he”, which signals the necessity of going back earlier in the chapter to find the initial reference to “he” and properly identify him.

We need to search backwards to Luke 6:9 where Jesus’ name is used. Luke, as the writer of this book, is providing a written record of Jesus’ teaching. The audience’s identity can be found a few verses later in Luke 6:17, where Luke records, “After coming down with them, He (Jesus) stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great number of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.” (emphasis mine)

The crowds traveled the countryside from city and farmland and all walks of life to hear Jesus teach, see His miracles, and be healed by Him. (Luke 6:18-19) 

The Everyday Application

1) Who is the speaker and the listener in this passage? (verse 27)

Luke records for us this interaction between Jesus and a large group of followers that included His disciples. This group had gathered specifically to hear Jesus’ teaching but also to receive healing. Luke 6:19 tells us “power was coming out from Him and healing them all.”

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, which is recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament, Jesus leads, teaches, loves, heals, disciples, and rebukes. People flocked to hear Him because His message of love and freedom was radically different from the self-righteous burden the Pharisees placed on them. (Matthew 23:1-5)

Over two thousand years later, people still flock to know the identity of this Jesus. Why are you drawn to Him? Are you seeking something from Him like many in the crowd, or are you seeking Him?  

The Original Intent

2) What six commands are given by Jesus in this passage? (verses 27-29)

The first two commands are given by Jesus in verse 27, “love your enemies” and “do what is good to those who hate you”. Jesus continues teaching with two more commands in verse 28, “bless those who curse you” and “pray for those who mistreat you”. The last two commands come in verse 29, “if anyone hits you, offer the other cheek” and “if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt.”

In these particular teachings, Jesus focuses on what it looks like in real life for His followers to show true love to the people who are hard to love. Jesus pointedly calls out the ones in our lives who are ungrateful, the easily offended, those who have taken advantage of offered kindness, and even more blunt, those who hate us and could be categorized as enemies.

Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves has no fine print exclusions (Matthew 22:37-39), rather He provides clarity on how to obey such a command.

The Everyday Application

2) What six commands are given by Jesus in this passage? (verses 27-29)
On a deeper level, Jesus commands those listening to go beyond just doing the checklist of right and wrong. He pushes His hearers deeper, further into self-evaluation of not simply the action but the heart behind the action.

It’s one thing to be kind to a stranger, but an entire heart shift and empowerment by the Holy Spirit within you is required to love your enemy and do kind acts to those who hate you.

In Matthew 5:43-45, we see a similar teaching moment by Jesus where He instructs His audience to go beyond loving their neighbor to loving their enemy. He calls His followers to take radical action by praying for those who harm and persecute them. Jesus desires us as His children to follow in His footsteps and extend love and prayer to those who are different from us and walk a different life path.

The Original Intent

3) Why does Jesus use the comparative analogy phrase, “even sinners do that” three times in this passage? (verses 32-34)

In this context Jesus’ teaching moves beyond the simple outward appearance of righteousness, cutting to the heart of our motives and laying all “pseudo love” appearances out in the open. 

The religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, had taken the Law of God and added many man-made laws for the people to follow. They taught that following their law was the only way to God. Following the law as a checklist of do’s and don’ts, simply the doing of right and wrong, became their center of worship rather than adoring the one true God with hearts and lives of true worship. (Matthew 23)

Jesus wants His listeners to realize that following God is an issue of the heart as much as it is the actions flowing from a heart of love. Actions can give the appearance of righteousness, but when there is no heart transformation by the Holy Spirit, these actions are empty, and the person is missing the mark and far from God. (Matthew 15:8-20) Jesus wants His listeners to understand that following Him requires going beyond just loving the loveable; following Him means loving the unlovable, giving without desire for return, and doing good even to those who are not necessarily good. 

The Everyday Application

3) Why does Jesus use the comparative analogy phrase, “even sinners do that” three times in this passage? (verses 32-34)

Being a good person who does good things does not mean you have a relationship with Jesus. There are a lot of people who give to charity, provide resources to help others, and will even loan out money without interest, but they do not know Jesus. Actions can give an appearance of a heart transformation, but Jesus is asking for more.

He calls us to live as those under the law of freedom and show mercy because mercy was shown to you. (James 2:8-12) We have freedom in Christ to love well and He has equipped us to be able to love well by placing the Holy Spirit inside of all persons who choose to trust Christ as their Savior and repent of their sins.

Although our old sin-nature may desire to only love those who are loveable, Christ transforms us into a new people who bear the fruit of His Spirit through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to all of God’s creation. (Galatians 5:22-26)

The Original Intent

4) What model does Jesus give us to follow and what is its reward? (verses 35-36)

The model Jesus provided His audience was evidenced in His own presence as God incarnate. The holy, righteous God came to earth and humbly put on flesh in order to show us what kind of God He is. In this, He demonstrated lavish mercy and graciousness, even to those who are ungrateful and spiteful in return.

In the same way, Christ calls us to follow His example by being gracious and merciful in the midst of the ungrateful and evil persons in our lives. In verse 35, Jesus says to love and do good without expecting anything in return. In verse 36, Jesus tells His listeners to be merciful just as your Father is merciful.

The reward is being children of the Most High and honoring God with everything you do. We confidently know we belong to Him as His daughters when we regularly love others genuinely and authentically through the power of His Spirit working inside of us. There is no greater reward than being called His own!

The Everyday Application

4) What model does Jesus give us to follow and what is its reward? (verses 35-36)

Jesus is our model of how to love those who are hard to love, even those who hate us, and as His followers, we are to be imitators of Him in everything we do. (Philippians 2:5-11) Jesus gives us very specific examples throughout His ministry of how we should love.

In Mark 2:13-17, He called a tax collector to follow Him and then He ate at his house with other tax collectors and sinners. (Mark 2:15) This doesn’t seem odd for us, but in Jesus’ day tax collectors were hated by the Jewish people because they worked for Rome and charged more than required in order to pad their own pockets. Jesus, being a Jewish man, culturally speaking should have hated tax collectors, yet He shared a meal and fellowshipped with not just one tax collector but a host of tax collectors and other “sinners”. The Pharisees of the day thought themselves too religious and questioned Jesus’ and His actions. (Mark 2:16) Why would Jesus do this? Jesus answered the Pharisees in verse 17, “I didn’t come to call the righteous but the sinner.”

Have dinner with your atheist neighbor. Invite your friend to coffee who has been vocal on Facebook about her political beliefs that are different from yours. Have a conversation with that family member who is hard to love. Pray diligently for that one who frustrates or hurts you. Our model was Christ laying down His life for all people, and our reward when following Him is the power to love as He loved, and an eternity spent with Him. (John 3:14-20)

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We must not underestimate the importance of this love in our testimony of faith. Jesus said, “By this [love] everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Love distinguishes us from others. Love marks us as Jesus’ followers. Love is our uniform and Christ-followers.

Just like the church in Corinth in the first century, we struggle to love one another the way Jesus commanded and modeled, because let’s be honest, some people are difficult to love. (Not you, of course.) And, often our culture (and even our churches) seem to value being right above being loving.
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Posted in: Affectionate, Christ, church, Clothed, Lord, Love Tagged: action, choose, love, real life

Another Day 4 Willing Responsibility: Digging Deeper

March 9, 2023 by Multiple Authors Leave a Comment

Another Day 4 Willing Responsibility: Digging Deeper

Multiple Authors

March 9, 2023

Captivating,Character,Christ,Clothed,Faith,Family,Fellowship

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 "Willing Responsibility"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:12-17

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What did Paul mean by “bearing with one another”? (verse 13)

Paul’s letter to the Colossians was written as an encouraging exhortation and was delivered in response to reports of false teaching which had infiltrated the church in Colossae. These errant teachings were fostering a number of errors while sowing discord among believers in Jesus. 

While Paul had not personally visited the church at Colossae, he labored over the fruit growing there and was compelled to respond to false teaching and affirm the deity of Jesus Christ. Because these known Christ-followers were Paul’s family in Christ! Just prior to this passage in Colossians 3:5-11, Paul exhorted the believers at Colossae to turn from their old ways, listing a number of behaviors that were consistent with their old way of living before repenting of their sin and surrendering to Jesus. 

Next, Paul encouraged Christians in the Colossian church to “put on” the markings of their new life in Christ. The primary signs Paul listed as identifiers of their new lives included compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Paul wrote that these attributes were all unto a purpose: bearing with one another, forgiving one another, and achieving harmony. 

Paul wrote specifically to Christians in this epistle, and this passage held special regard to their personal interactions with one another in God’s family. He wasn’t writing about their response to unbelievers, or to relationships external to the fellowship of believers. Paul wrote specifically about human relationships between individual believers within the local church setting, and the crux of his exhortation to the Colossians in this passage is direct: be patient with each other. 

The Everyday Application

1) What did Paul mean by “bearing with one another”? (verse 13)

The “bearing with one another” Paul had penned while under the Holy Spirit’s breath (2 Timothy 3:16), is only possible when a believer is surrendered to the work of the Spirit’s leading within them. It’s simply impossible to achieve this divine work under human powers and motivation.

When I consider the “how” of living everyday life under this teaching, I think of an action that is often difficult for me, slowing with humility. Often, my agendas and lists that must be accomplished cause me to rush faster and faster, making it easy to overlook the many ways I could instead choose to slow down and bear another’s burden alongside them instead of rushing ahead of them, or even tooling around behind them.

I think of the things I’d rather overlook or are unimportant to me but are critical to my fellow brother or sister. My child struggling to tie their shoes, my friend who continually battles issues irrelevant to me, the neighbor who could use a meal. “Bearing with” means slowing down to place another’s needs and challenges on the same level as my own. I could choose to zip around their need, justifying that it’s not mine to worry about, or I could remember that, as brothers and sisters in Jesus, we are “each part of the other.” (Romans 12:5)

Whatever challenges, hurts, brings joy, or causes celebration for another Christ-follower should cause the same responses within me if I’m truly “bearing with” them. A chilled, callous, or critical response to my brother or sister should send warning flags to my soul, reminding me to return again to the Spirit’s work in me to soften my heart with a genuine desire to slow down and “bear with” my fellow ones in the Family of God.

The Original Intent

2) Why was Paul exhorting and instructing the believers in Colossae in this way? 

The false teachings Paul referenced in his letter to the Colossians were tinged with both Greek and Jewish beliefs, which indicates the Colossian church was likely filled with a mixture of both Greek and Jewish believers. Having never visited the church at Colossae, his friend and fellow co-laborer in the gospel, Epaphras, kept him abreast of what was happening; through him, Paul heard about the false teaching. 

This was a church of new believers who had put their faith in Jesus Christ and were actively experiencing the mystery and miraculous work of sanctification. Paul’s encouragement to “take off” their old ways and “put on” their new life in Christ is evidence they were growing in their walk and needed continued discipling and teaching. Although Paul was not personally acquainted with them, he held spiritual authority as an apostle and sent this epistle to further disciple them in the way of Jesus Christ. 

The Everyday Application

2) Why was Paul exhorting and instructing the believers in Colossae in this way?

The Colossian church was filled with people who had put their faith in Jesus Christ, and who were learning how to walk His way. Just like any believer, they were growing, learning and being changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and just like any believer, they were imperfect.

False teaching had infiltrated the church and was undoubtedly stirring up plenty of opportunity for disagreements and disunity. Paul recognized the need for spiritual guidance, encouragement and exhortation, and with Timothy, he wrote to the Colossians. He expressed the importance of the call to be patient with each other and allow their new lives in Christ to transform the way the believers interacted with one another.

We need this same encouragement, don’t we? There is no shortage of issues believers disagree over; from denomination to denomination, yes, but also from one believer to the next. It’s easy to talk about essential beliefs, but many times we are quick to distance ourselves from believers whose nonessential beliefs do not match our own. Paul’s words in Colossians are for us today.

We are called to “put on” the clothing of life in Christ, and to operate with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love and peace in our interactions and relationships with others in the body of Christ. 

The Original Intent

3) What did Paul mean by “admonishing one another in all wisdom”? How  does this instruction correspond with the encouragement to bear with one another? (verse 16)

The Greek word for “admonishing” in this verse could also be translated as “warn, rebuke, advise or instruct.” The Greek word used for “wisdom” might also be translated as “insight, learnedness or skill”.

Paul prefaced his exhortation by directing the Colossians to “let the word of Christ dwell in them richly”. Paul emphasized it was only by being immersed in Scripture that they would be able to wisely instruct one another. Paul called the Colossian believers to be patient with one another, and to live together in harmony by the power and love of Jesus Christ, being taught by His Word.

Paul intended them to live their lives drenched in the word of Christ and His Gospel message, sharpening one another in Christ through the wisdom He gave.

Paul laid out for us a clear picture of healthy, godly accountability in the context of the local church. There was no “top down” structure outlined here, just hand-in-hand and alongside one another. Paul didn’t write about one or a few believers holding all the rest accountable to some manmade standard. Nor did he write about believers doing whatever they wished, holding fast to their old way of life and continuing in sin.

Instead, Paul painted a beautiful picture. A call for every believer to deliberately operate in what might be called a high challenge sweet spot. Every believer intentionally steeped in the word of Christ. Every believer turning from sin and instead operating in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace and thankfulness. Every believer choosing to live in vulnerability and be held accountable to the word of Christ by other believers. Every believer holding one another in the local body accountable to the word of Christ in return. Every believer, together.

The Everyday Application

3) What did Paul mean by “admonishing one another in all wisdom”? How  does this instruction correspond with the encouragement to bear with one another? (verse 16)

The Greek word for “admonish”, which most commonly is understood to be “caution, warn, or exhort” is intentionally rooted in another Greek word meaning “gentle bolstering”. When these two definitions converge, we likely end up with an understanding much different than the imagery we first conjured up when hearing “admonish”.

Perhaps you drew pictures of a shaking finger, a hand slap, shaming, condescending tone, or punishment.

But imagine feeling flustered in cooking. Attempt after attempt ends you with burnt meals, dirty piles of dishes, and frustration. Enter a seasoned “mama chef” who chats with you in your kitchen, encourages you as you add your flavors, dices the vegetables alongside you with ease, gently correcting your knife position as she tells stories, and listens to your woes with a tender heart. The meal is savored, the cleanup is shared, and you gained more culinary skills in an hour of “gentle, bolstering exhortation” than you had learned in the last 18 months.

This is the beautiful pairing of Christ’s call to admonish one another in all wisdom while also bearing with one another. In the heart of God, these two commands fit together like perfectly fitted puzzle pieces, revealing deeper layers of God’s extravagant love.

When we live like this, we reflect the beauty of “one another love” that strengthens unity and builds a family! Spend time praying right now and ask the Lord who He intends you to admonish and bear with this week!

*This Digging Deeper Study was co-authored by Merry Ohler and Rebecca Adams

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This life in Christ is not for the faint of heart.

We are utterly incapable of fulfilling this call in our own strength, but we are now in Christ if we have repented of our sins and accepted His gift of salvation and forgiveness! Thank God! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Through Him, we are able to respond in obedience.
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Posted in: Captivating, Character, Christ, Clothed, Faith, Family, Fellowship Tagged: Clothed, early church, family, love, real life

Another Day 2 Live At Peace: Digging Deeper

March 7, 2023 by Mandy Farmer Leave a Comment

Another Day 2 Live At Peace: Digging Deeper

Mandy Farmer

March 7, 2023

Blessed,Captivating,church,Clothed,Comfort

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 "Live At Peace"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:18

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the context of Romans 12:18?

Paul, a messenger of God, wrote his letter to the believers living in Rome. (Romans 1:1, 7) While he traveled to Rome through Jerusalem, the Spirit of the Lord warned him of trouble brewing in Jerusalem. (Acts 21:11) Perhaps Paul wrote to the Romans with concern wondering whether or not he would be able to deliver his messages in person. He wanted to be sure these believers received the gospel of Jesus that he had been commissioned to preach (Acts 13:2), which offers eternal salvation for all who repent of their sins and place their trust in Christ. (Acts 16:31) Many in the history of Christian faith, including Augustine and Martin Luther, have expressed the vital importance of this letter as it explains the undergirding theology of the Christian faith.

Today, we dig deep into one small verse near the end of Paul’s letter commanding God’s people to, “live at peace with everyone”. To live at peace in the way God intends is a tall order unless the Holy Spirit fills you and directs your life. In fact, without the Spirit’s power working inside a believer’s life, it’s impossible to effectively “live at peace with everyone”. God’s command through Paul was essential to these early believers as living peaceably exhibits the heart of God and the fruit His Spirit brings. (Galatians 5:22) Christ’s church in Rome was meant to live as an example to the chaotic culture around them of what it looked like to not only live peaceably with others, but to have peace within.

All of us can remember times in our lives where circumstances have pushed us to the limit of our patience. So, it’s essential we lean into God’s command in Romans 12 to “live peaceably with everyone”, and practice how we can submit to the rule of the Spirit at work in us. Verses 1 and 2 show us the key to success lies in, “being transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Latter verses lay out practical things we can do to pursue peace but, remember the necessary foundation is allowing the Holy Spirit within us to transform us as we intentionally renew our minds with truth, which leads to peace.

The Everyday Application

1) What is the context of Romans 12:18?

I was never one to pick a fight; I will typically walk away from any situation that seems to invoke conflict. Still, despite my best efforts, there have been a few times when I found myself in conflict. If I saw it coming, I would spend time in prayer to prepare. Other times, people around me were more inflamed at the situation than I.

Generally, I have found it best to walk away for the sake of Jesus Christ. No matter the hurt, it’s better for my own soul care and the unity of those around me to remain quiet as Jesus did when He was falsely accused or even threatened with death. (Luke 4:28-30) Raising an argument seldom changes anyone’s mind, especially in the heat of the moment.

Jesus is our prime example of living at peace with others as He, the innocent one, faced a humiliating death on the cross. We did not deserve His forgiveness, yet He willingly chose to lay down His life without a fight to make peace with God accessible to the whole world. His peaceful sacrifice provided us access to the Holy God through the perfect Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 2:5)

The Original Intent

2) Define what “depends on me” means.

Bible study author, Guzik, says this wording “as far as it depends on you” validates the real instances when keeping the peace is impossible. But the Preacher’s Homiletical Commentary tells us, “If commotions arise, let there be no real fault on your side. Offenses will come but see that no offense spring from unwise ordering of life.” We can do our part by not avenging ourselves, pursuing peace, and building each other up. (Romans 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

It is God’s part to avenge those who are wrong, for He alone is the perfect judge. (Deuteronomy 32:35) Our responsibility is to return kindness for evil. (Romans 12:20-21)

Sometimes kindness is difficult but surrendering our lives to the Holy Spirit’s direction makes extending Christ’s kindness possible. The first lines of chapter 12 point us in the right direction as we lay the foundation to step into alignment with the Spirit at work within us, as He desires to produce peaceful living, “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice (…)” and “do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (…)”. (Romans 12:1-2)

When we submit to the Spirit’s work by surrendering ourselves as a living sacrifice, intentionally committed to renewing our mind through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit is free to cultivate His fruit in us!

The Everyday Application

2) Define what “depends on me” means.

The Bible makes it plain we don’t earn salvation and forgiveness from sin through good works we attempt to accomplish on our own. (Ephesians 2:9) However, because of Jesus’ sacrifice in taking our place of rightly deserved punishment on Himself and forgiving us, we rise up and want to please Him by following His ways. Shannon Vicker discussed this living sacrifice beautifully in Worship VIII Day 12 Authentic Worship: Digging Deeper.

Our part begins with presenting our lives to be transformed into the nature of Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through us. We cannot do it without Him. It’s like being a glove. We are limp and have no stability on our own. The glove moves how the hand moves. If the Holy Spirit is the hand, then He controls every movement the glove makes. What if the glove had one finger closed off? That finger would be lifeless and worthless. But if the hand comes into every nook and cranny the glove, the glove is full of life with every part working together.

It is the same for us when we allow the Holy Spirit to come into every area of our lives. His Spirit transforms us! We will move as the Spirit moves and display the likeness of Christ described in Romans 12:9-21. It can only be done within the moving of the Spirit. It’s a process, because we all have areas in our lives we want to hold onto with our authority instead of God’s. The Holy Spirit must chisel away the old nature at times and it is painful to lose our grip on the façade of control. Our old nature wants to tightly grasp our pride, our anger, our rights, our hurts, our ______ {you fill in the blank}.

Ask God to make you “willing to be made willing” to give Him everything. (Michael Youssef, Leading the Way)

The Original Intent

3) What difference does living a peaceful life make?

Jesus provided us with the best example of living a peaceful life. When the religious elite brought Jesus before the governor, mocking and accusing Him, Christ remained silent. (Matthew 26:11-14) He forgave those who crucified Him, and the by-standers marveled saying, “surely this is the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39)

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) When people watch Christ-followers living peaceably, they see the God of Peace reflected in their lives. Guzik states that being a peacemaker does not limit us to acting as mediator between two people. We are peacemakers by putting on peaceful attitudes and actions even when we are the ones being offended!

Living peaceably, especially in the face of conflict, will show the world God’s design for relationships, most notably, the one we can have with Himself who came to make peace between our rebellion and His righteousness by taking our punishment upon Himself. (Ephesians 2:14, 17, 1 Timothy 2:1-6)

When others see the winsomeness of our lives, it draws them to God. Choosing to live at peace, opens opportunities for us to introduce people to Jesus, the true Mediator and Peacemaker!

The Everyday Application

3)  What difference does living a peaceful life make?

Peace can seem elusive, but when we discover the anchoring source in the Prince of Peace, and submit to growing by His Spirit, we find He cultivates the strength of His peace in us. This makes all the difference in real life relationships.

When board members made false accusations of my husband, he chose to remain silent (as Jesus did). Led by the Spirit, he knew that arguing would neither accomplish unity nor bring God glory, so he chose to humbly resign and we moved away. As a result, unity was preserved; the church survived, and we survived the tumult.

There are times when being a peacemaker does not end peaceably, as we all have the option to respond with peace or anger.

One particular day, I was folding my clothes at a laundromat when a woman aggressively approached me accusing me of taking the clothes in her dryer. I had used a dryer with time left, but it was empty. I kindly offered for her to inspect my items and see if anything belonged to her, but she screamed all the louder, “You stole my kid’s clothes.” She maneuvered me up against the dryers and hit me in the face.

I had chosen to be a peacemaker, but she would have none of it. My calmness frustrated her even more. She was not expecting kindness from me. Someone else came to my rescue and saved the day, but the woman left angry, clearly without peace. Perhaps God spoke to her later when she was quieted. I won’t know until we are in heaven, but I am at peace that I exemplified Christ in my manner.

Share in the comments of a time you were a peacemaker. What were the results? I’d love to hear your stories!

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It seems that everywhere we turn – especially since 2020! – there is increasingly more infighting, more drama on social media, more name-calling, more squabbles, more rash and harsh judgments, and much, much less peace.

The problem with this – beyond the obvious sin! – is we have abandoned our role as the representatives of Christ, the Prince of Peace, to a hurting and sin-stained world. (Isaiah 9:6) They need us, the Gospel we share, the hope and love we can offer. Sisters, we are letting them down.
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Posted in: Blessed, Captivating, church, Clothed, Comfort Tagged: church, Clothed, family, peace

Philemon Day 11 Partnership In Christ

February 27, 2023 by Sarah Afan Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 11 Partnership In Christ

Sarah Afan

February 27, 2023

Believe,Christ,church,Clothed,Faith,Family,Fellowship,Forgiven,Freedom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:17-20
Ephesians 4:1-6
Psalm 133
Ephesians 4:31-32
Matthew 5:23-26

When we talk of partnership from the perspective of the secular world, it is easy to focus on commerce. Partnership is often seen in the context of a relationship between people doing business together, bound by a legal agreement. 

Yet partners in Christ are bound together by more than a mere agreement enforceable by law. We are bound by the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Him, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesian 1:13) 

We have been “called to one hope [. . .] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6) 

While a partnership in commerce can be terminated, the one in Christ can never be revoked. His blood has brought us together, and we are now members of God’s household, bonded in His love.

In consideration of this relationship between believers in Christ, today’s passage in Philemon reveals the Apostle Paul advocating reconciliation between Philemon and his estranged slave, Onesimus. Paul says, 

“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me.” (Philemon 1:17)

By implication, Paul is saying Philemon should consider Onesimus as a brother, as Paul does. Though Onesimus was once Philemon’s fugitive slave, now as a believer in Christ they share a common hope. By dropping all charges against Onesimus, it would prove Philemon regarded Paul, as well as Onesimus, as fellow partners in Christ.

Scholars believe Onesimus had run away from his master, Philemon, and encountered Paul in Rome. Having converted him to Christ, Paul finds it expedient to reconcile Onesimus with his master because unity is absolutely essential within the Body of Christ. (John 17:21) As the one who introduced both of them to Christ, Paul pleads with Philemon to forgive whatever wrong or debts he might hold against Onesimus. He directs Philemon to charge to his account anything Onesimus owes, and Paul would provide repayment. As he contends on Onesimus’ behalf, Paul reminds Philemon, “you owe me even your very self.” (Philemon 19)

Paul displays a perfect example of the unity Christ prayed should exist among His believers. As a spiritual father to Philemon, he does not take advantage of his position, but rather pleads with him and calls him a partner, just as Christ no longer calls us slaves, but His own brothers! (John 15:15) Furthermore, he assumes the position of Onesimus before Philemon, assuming any debt charged against Onesimus. 

In this interaction, Paul is a living example of Christ; just as Christ has forgiven Philemon’s debt to sin, Paul assumes Onesimus’ debt and urges Philemon to extend forgiveness. Both forgiven and restored, they can maintain the unity of purpose they have in Christ.

As humans, we wrong each other because of our sinful natures. The Scripture requires us to seek reconciliation when offense happens, in order to preserve unity within the Church of Christ. (Matthew 5:23-26) As Scripture says, two cannot walk together unless they agree. (Amos 3:3) Reconciliation can only take place when there is forgiveness; therefore, Paul urged Philemon to forgive Onesimus. 

But sometimes offences are so grievous, or our offenders fail to show remorse, that we find it difficult to forgive. However, if we are to remain united, the only way forward is through forgiveness and reconciliation.

We cannot claim to be walking with Christ
if we are walking apart from each other.

As painful the offence or attitude of our offender may be, we must make deliberate effort to forgive, and pursue reconciliation. Knowing offences can be painful and humiliating, Paul says, “[Bear] with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace[.]” (Ephesians 4:2-3) 

If we truly see each other as partners in Christ,
as fellow sisters in the household of God,
then we must make sacrifices to keep that partnership.

When it comes to offences we must forgive, not out of affection for our offender, but rather affection for Christ as we look to Him as our advocate. Christ did not consider our sinfulness as a barrier to dying for us; rather out of His limitless love, He died for our sins. 

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in our trespasses.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

If we are to maintain unity in our families and the Church at large, we must be willing to forgive and pursue reconciliation, just as Christ has forgiven and reconciled us.

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To the early Christians in Ephesus, this word may have brought to mind images of the marketplace and commerce. Paul encouraged them in this verse to “weigh” their calling and to walk accordingly. He had previously told the elders in Ephesus, “the church of God had been purchased with Christ’s own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
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Posted in: Believe, Christ, church, Clothed, Faith, Family, Fellowship, Forgiven, Freedom Tagged: family, forgiven, freedom, friend

Surrender Day 3 Pride Or Intimacy?

January 25, 2023 by Mary Kathryn Tiller Leave a Comment

Surrender Day 3 Pride Or Intimacy?

Mary Kathryn Tiller

January 25, 2023

Clothed,Humility,Mercy,Pride

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 10:25-37
John 13:1-17
Proverbs 11:2
Romans 12:3-21
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

I felt a shock of pain reverberate through my body. The woman’s cutting remark wounded me, deeply. Instinctively, my pride bristled and the desire to wound back reared its ugly head. Mercifully, I heard His voice: 

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord [. . .] Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” (Romans 12:18-19, 21)

Had this happened a few years earlier, I would have embraced vengeance without a second thought. I’m quick-witted and hot-blooded; I know how to spin up a razor-sharp defense.

But things had changed.
I had encountered Jesus and was growing to be more like Him.

Through that process, I learned I no longer had the right to use my wit as a weapon. Nor could I nurse my wounded pride. I surrendered those the day I chose Christ as my savior. And so did you. 

Pride has no place in the gospel. 
Surrendering our pride is essential to experiencing intimacy with Christ.

The Good Samaritan: a study in surrendered pride
In one of my favorite Bible stories, Jesus speaks with a scribe, an expert in the Law. (Luke 10:25-37) At first, the scribe seems to simply lack understanding. He wants to know how one obtains eternal life. But Jesus quickly uncovers the root of his question. The scribe understands what the Law requires, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27) 

The scribe does not lack understanding, but the ability to live it out.
In an effort to justify himself, the scribe asks, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29)
In response, Jesus tells him a story… 

A man was robbed while traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was beaten, stripped, and left to die. Luckily, it’s a busy road and a Jewish priest comes along. When he sees the man, however, he crosses the road and keeps walking. Later, a Levite (Jewish holy man) walks by, but he too ignores the wounded man. 

Finally, a Samaritan (an ethnic enemy of the Jews) encounters the man, and is moved with compassion. He tends to the man’s wounds, places him on his own donkey, and brings him to shelter. The next day, he leaves money with the innkeeper, asking him to care for the wounded man and promising to cover any cost. (Luke 10:30-35)

Jesus’ point is clear, our neighbor is anyone God places in our path. The scribe, however, would have understood a deeper truth, caring for this man cost the Samaritan his pride. You see, Samaritans were despised. Chances are, the beaten man would have spit on the Samaritan had he had been well. Only compassion could compel the Samaritan to show such mercy.

While compassion compels us to draw near another’s suffering, pride erects barriers and interjects mockery. Jesus’ lesson? We cannot love our neighbor while holding onto pride.

Washing Feet: an act of surrendered pride
Jesus lived what He taught. Instances of His surrendered pride is evidenced throughout the gospel accounts, but my favorite is the night He washed His disciples’ feet. (John 13:1-20)

The setting is the final meal Jesus and His disciples would share. His betrayer sits at the table. Jesus knows once they leave, His death will be set into motion. This is the last time He’ll be with the men He has loved and led for the last three years. I can only imagine the emotions He experienced.

Here, John shares some of my favorite verses in the Bible: 
“Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing [. . .] and began to wash his disciples’ feet [.]” (John 13:3-5)

Jesus was assured of His identity and authority. Yet in those precious moments, He didn’t choose to display his power. He chose, instead, to demonstrate His love.

Even in the face of this divine humility, human pride bristles. When Peter realizes what Jesus was doing, he balks at the insanity of it. His pride will not allow Jesus to do something so lowly. 

Jesus gently rebukes him saying, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:8) Jesus knows our pride distances us from true healing only He can provide. Jesus calls us to surrender our pride because He wants to offer us healing and intimacy instead. 

The promise in practice
Both of these stories, rich with meaning and subtext, offer us one simple truth. 
As long as we cling to our pride, we will be unable to experience intimacy with Christ or offer it to others.

Surrendering our pride allows us to respond to this hard and hurting world just as Christ did. 
Surrender teaches us to look to God for our identity and defense. 
Surrender leads us to care for our enemies and wash the feet of our traitors. 
Surrendering our pride may feel like a loss of protection, but in reality, it is the opportunity to experience the fullness of Christ.

And in the fullness of Christ,
we want for nothing.

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justice,Justify,love,mercy,pride,surrender
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Anyone can study God’s Word and grow in knowing God and His character and His purpose for us, but if you’ve recognized yourself as a sinner, repented of that sin to Christ who died to pay the penalty of your sin, and surrendered your life to Jesus, you also have the Holy Spirit living in you. The Spirit makes Scripture come alive to teach, correct, and remind us to walk in Truth. By studying God’s Word under the power of the Holy Spirit we become experts in knowing what He desires. (Hebrews 4:12-13)
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Posted in: Clothed, Humility, Mercy, Pride Tagged: justice, Justify, love, mercy, pride, surrender

Whole Day 1 The Broken & The Cure

June 20, 2022 by Guest Writer Leave a Comment

Whole Day 1 The Broken & The Cure

Guest Writer

June 20, 2022

Broken,Christ,Clothed,Faith,Forgiven,Freedom,Future,Healing,Heart,Identity

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3
1 Corinthians 15:45-49
Mark 5:21-43
John 8:1-11
Acts 9:1-16

I sat on the floor of my closet, squeezed between an overflowing laundry hamper and a stack of neatly stored shoes. Tears streamed down my face. Maybe if I couldn’t see the brokenness, it wouldn’t be real? With the lights off and the door closed, I hoped to find an escape from the wave of emotions threatening to take me under. I was broken, in need of mending. 

What makes you want to run and hide, blinded by unbidden tears? While it’s likely different for each of us, brokenness is something we all experience. Sitting in the dark doesn’t make it go away, because it knows how to burrow inside of us.

Sickness, disease, family feuds, a broken marriage, a wandering child, addiction, death, war, hate. It’s all here in our world. In the muck of life, amid the hard and the heavy, who is suitable to hold our tears?

When God created the world, He made it perfect and whole. Humanity revealed its weakness when the first Adam leaned into the Great Deceiver’s carefully crafted deception. (Genesis 3:1-7) The moment Adam and Eve chose themselves over God, the world became twisted, wraithlike, shadowed. Broken. 

Before we get too consumed by righteous indignation at Adam and Eve, how often do we still fall for the lie God is withholding something good from us? 

Similar to our beeline to our closets, the first Adam ran and hid. (Genesis 3:8) Maybe he, too, hoped the brokenness wouldn’t catch up to him? In His love and goodness, God didn’t leave Adam hiding under the inadequate covering he created. (Genesis 3:9-21) God sought him out and provided a suitable replacement. 

God hasn’t left us in our brokenness, either. He’s provided a covering for us, as well. Jesus, referred to as the second Adam, would enter our brokenness and live out the perfect life sinful humanity could not. 

“So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45)

In His final days, he was betrayed, abandoned by those who claimed to love Him, mocked, beaten, and eventually crucified. (John 19) 

He lived the life we couldn’t live… 

and died the death we deserved…

and made a way back to the Father we could never have forged. 

Over His head on the cross hung the words “King of the Jews”. (John 19:19) While this placard was tacked up in mockery, it proclaimed a haunting truth: the Jews’ long-awaited King hung on a cross, dying in front of them, at their demand. 

God’s refusal to withhold anything good from His children, even Himself, was displayed that day, hoisted high on a bloody cross for all to see. Yet, they missed it. How often, amid our brokenness, do we miss the goodness of God so clearly in front of us? 

It doesn’t matter who we are, our status in life, where we live, our education level, or what we’ve done, our greatest need is to know the One who made a way out of brokenness and into wholeness with Him. 

When Jesus walked the earth, time and again He brought wholeness from that which was broken. When he delivered two demon-possessed men, he demonstrated authority over darkness and evil. (Matthew 8:28-34) When he healed Jairus’ daughter, He revealed His power over sickness and death. (Mark 5:21-43)

Jesus touched those whom others refused to touch, and He permitted the untouchables to touch Him. (Mark 5:25-34) He welcomed sinners, withheld condemnation, and forgave sins. (John 8:1-11) He redeemed a chief sinner into a chief messenger of the Gospel (Acts 9:1-29), showing us Jesus can change even a once-murderous heart and use it for great good. 

When life hurts, when the world is unfair, when we fail, when evil is rising, 

we have a place to run – the cross. 

We have a place to hide – Jesus. 

He is the One who willingly holds our tears. (Psalm 56:8)

He turns closet floors into prayer rooms, hiding places into healing spaces.  

Our Savior understands our weakness, our brokenness. He knows what it’s like to be human. 

“For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16) 

Through His death and resurrection, He has made a way to restore our brokenness into wholeness.  

*Written by Mandie Maass of Brave Girls Gather

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Subtle lies tell us enough of the truth to make us curious, but we can become too lazy to seek the whole truth. Sin begins to take root in our hearts when curiosity turns to doubt followed by wrong choices. God has given us His word that is sufficient instruction for our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) He has also provided for us everything we need to enjoy life to its fullest. (1 Timothy 6:17) God has not left out anything.
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Posted in: Broken, Christ, Clothed, Faith, Forgiven, Freedom, Future, Healing, Heart, Identity Tagged: broken, cure, hope, Jesus, whole
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