Creation

Beloved Day 6 A Lover’s Delight

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Song of Solomon 4:12-16
Genesis 2:18-25
Proverbs 31:10-12

Beloved, Day 6

Have you ever walked in a garden under a pale moonlight? It’s counterintuitive, but at night, a garden truly glows. Everything is bathed in the moon’s gentle light. Visitors can breathe in the sweet fragrance of roses and lavenders, an intoxicating aroma.

During the day, the gardener tends to the plot, and the garden becomes hard-working and industrious. But at night, the garden invites the gardener to lay down the stresses of the day and rest in the pleasure of the fruits of his labor.

Our God is a giver. In Scripture, we encounter His gifts of both literal and metaphorical gardens. In the beginning, He created a world full of blessings. Then, God gave Adam and Eve dominion over creation and entrusted them to rule as He would. God also gave mankind the gifts of food and His Sabbath rest. Tucked away in the midst of all those blessings was another gift, a command to be fruitful and multiply while subduing the Earth.

In Genesis 2, we learn of the creation of the first man, Adam, and how God entrusted him with two gardens. The literal garden of Eden was given as part of Adam’s domain to cultivate, because it is where Heaven met Earth. The second and metaphorical garden, Eve, was given to Adam because God saw Adam needed a companion and helper in order to fulfill his purpose.

In the union of Adam and Eve, we find the design for pure delight and pleasure within marriage:

“This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, but felt no shame.”
(Genesis 2:24-25)
Wrapped up in the sacred space of marriage, both husband and wife were truly free and truly satisfied.

Song of Solomon builds upon the foundation laid in Genesis, giving us a detailed look at God’s plan for pleasure and delight within the boundaries of marriage. Chapter 4 recounts the culmination of the wedding ceremony; here, we find the groom describing his bride as an abundant garden.

Within the garden metaphor, our Creator begins to unlock the mystery of Godly marriage. A good gardener tends carefully to his garden, looking forward to a fruitful harvest. He protects it from pests and disease and rot. The gardener removes troublesome weeds, ensuring a nutrient-rich environment. Finally, his gentle hand encourages flowers and fruit-producing trees to grow. Such a prized and prioritized garden will not only produce an abundant harvest, but will be a great beauty to behold.

In the same way, a husband is to tenderly care for, encourage, and protect his wife, helping her to flourish. Proverbs 31 describes a wife who is industrious and productive under the care of a good gardener.

Within the partnership of Godly marriage, both husband and wife, gardener and garden, delight in the pleasures of a fruitful harvest. In the safety and innocence of lifelong commitment, spouses find every physical sense captivated and exhilarated:

“You have captured my heart with one glance of your eyes;
With one jewel of your necklace.
How delightful your caresses are, my sister, my bride.
Your caresses are much better than wine,
And the fragrance of your perfume, than any balsam.
Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride.
Honey and milk are under your tongue.”
(Song of Solomon 4:9-11, emphasis mine)

As with a garden, cultivating joy and pleasure within marriage requires time and intention. After the battles of the day have been fought, and the responsibilities of the day are laid to rest after bedtime prayers, husband and wife must intentionally turn their hearts, minds, and bodies to one another. Just as a vigilant gardener tends to every corner of his garden, we must make space to nurture our emotional, relational, spiritual, and physical connections.

But this sweet image of man and wife delighting in the fragrance and abundance of their nighttime garden is incomplete. Spouses will never find full delight, full satisfaction, full completion, solely in their mates . . . because husband and wife are human, and imperfect, and sinful.

Only when we have first found fullness of delight in God (our perfect, holy, lacking-in-nothing and possessing-all-we-need God) can we turn our attention from the scarcity in our spouse to overflowing gratitude for all the ways God blesses us through him.

And so, sisters, in the gardens of our marriages, let us first pursue and delight in our Master Gardener. Then, let’s enjoy the blessing of love and take delight in our spouses all the days of our lives.

“Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun.”
(Ecclesiastes 9:7-9)

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

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

Pause IV Day 3 Coming Justice

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Pause IV, Day 3

Contrary to what Habakkuk felt, the Lord God did indeed see every single violent act, every rebellious exploitation, and every painful fallout from yet another sinful decision. He saw, and He cared. He cared enough to cut to the heart of the issue, Israel’s idolatry.

They had long since traded walking in sweet communion with the Lord for continuing down a pathway of setting up themselves as their own god. They lusted in their hearts for everything under the sun. They traded worshipping the Creator God for mere things He had lovingly created. Worshipping things instead of God feels nicer for a while. It gives us a sense of control, and oh how we love that!

But the Lord knew Israel would ruin themselves as long as they worshipped themselves.
So, after decade upon decade of their hardened rebellion, and watching the heartbreak of people like Habakkuk, He chose, at just the right time in history, to send His justice. He wanted to break Israel’s prideful trust in themselves, so they could properly worship the only One deserving worship, Yahweh.

Make no mistake, God sent a just punishment to Israel, because He loved her.

The army who would carry out His justice was another nation hell-bent on rebelling against God. Their atrocities against the Lord’s holiness, made even Israel look good in comparison. But, to God, there is no sliding scale for sin. The gossiping tongue, the hateful thought, and the vile murderer are all equally guilty of marring the standard of holiness. God would use an evil nation to bring just punishment upon His chosen nation because He loved her and wanted her heart to return to Him.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down every word of Habakkuk 1:9-11 today. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, consider the heart position of both the Chaldeans and Israelis. Both had hearts that snubbed the Lord of All, trusting themselves and their ways over Yahweh. Ask the Holy Spirit to humble your heart as you pour over His Words.

2) Choose one of these options to live boldly with authentic honesty in biblical community. As we grow deeper in God’s Word, the Lord designed us to share and grow with others walking alongside us.
            a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
            b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
            c) Leave a comment here about it.
            d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 
            e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
            f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
            g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Habakkuk 1:5-11

5 Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards
and more fierce than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces are set in determination.
They gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture it.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty; their strength is their god.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause IV Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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

Ten Day 6 Family On Purpose

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 20:12
Genesis 1:1-2:3
Leviticus 19:9-37
Ephesians 6:2-3

Ten, Day 6

Dread knotted in my stomach.

I had done it.
I was sure my parents would not only find out, but also be disappointed.

I had chosen to do what my foolish little girl brain wanted, instead of listening to my parents’ request. I didn’t honor them with my choice, and guilt mixed with remorse was coming on hot and heavy.

I was probably 10 years old when I decided to sneak into the garage refrigerator after dinner one night. It was the spare fridge, the one Mom used when preparing for company.

I took a spoon to my favorite dessert, Éclair Cake, and thought I could get away with helping myself to a few more bites. Somehow though, when I was putting it away, the pan flipped upside down. Even with the lid on, the dessert was ruined. There was no way to keep my secret now. Mom would undoubtedly realize a little snitch had been to her dessert.

You see, Mom and Dad had some rules. There were four of us kids at home. Left to our own devices, we could create lots of chaos. Therefore, the ‘rents had some parameters for us to live within, which allowed our house to have order, stability, and certainty. In their parental wisdom, they demonstrated their love for us by maintaining boundaries.

The Lord our God also has rules and parameters for us, His children.

As we journey through the Ten Commandments, we first see a list of rules. However, if we look a bit closer, we realize what seems to be a list of dos and don’ts is actually a reflection of God’s character. 

“Honor your father and mother so you may have a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

God created the world in a specific order. (Genesis 1:1-2:3) He put in different systems to maintain this order. (Genesis 1:26-30) The Levitical law shows us God doesn’t act on a whim, but has a plan and a purpose for even the smallest part of our lives. (Leviticus 19:9-37)

Returning to Exodus, we see the family unit has order and purpose.
And we learn our God is a God of order and purpose.

Nothing Creator God does is wasted. His actions were purposeful in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and in our lives now. He holds the systems of this world in His mighty hand and works things together for our good.

Life often seems chaotic and confusing. Bad things happen, loved ones become terminally ill, senseless murder continues. Our finances crumble, our children don’t make wise choices, we need to retire before we had planned. Where is order and purpose?

David, the Psalmist, wrestled with similar troubles. He wrote, “Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck.” (Psalm 69:1)

Yet, by Psalm 71, David was able to declare, “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you because you have redeemed me.”

David recognized God was using the overwhelming parts of his life to draw him near. God was redeeming the mountains of challenges David had climbed throughout his life by giving them beautiful purpose. 

Where have you felt the flood waters rising?
When have you experienced the Loving Father’s redemption?

Just as a loving parent has rules in place for the good of their children, God gives us parameters to guide us. When we honor our earthly parents, we honor our Heavenly Father. He loves us perfectly and completely; He knows what we need and how we may stumble. Honoring our parents is a command we can take hold of, trusting the Lord is creating order and fulfilling purpose.

{Let’s talk for a moment about parents who are harming their children. Make no mistake: honoring our parents does not mean submitting to abuse. If you are currently being abused at home, you can reach out here (nationally) or here (locally in KCMO). We, the collective church, support you, even if your abusers are Christians. Even if they’re involved in ministry. Even if they’re pastoring your church. God is not asking you to stay in harm’s way.}

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

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

Ten Day 1 Only One Worthy

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 20:1-4
Acts 17:22-31
1 Kings 18:20-46
Isaiah 44:9-23

Ten, Day 1

Since the beginning of time, created beings have had an affinity for worship, we were in fact, handcrafted for worship! Alas, we set our worship on what we can visually feast our eyes on, or we worship the longings of our hearts. In all transparency, we worship ourselves.

Before you push back from the table and roll your eyes, can you see it?
Laundry folded my way.
The routine planned in benefit of me.
The fight with my spouse because I wasn’t being heard.
The dishwasher re-arranged to satisfy my preference.
Frustrated at church because they didn’t play the music I like best.
My playlist.
My meal plan.
My fitness agenda.
My way.
My pride.

Hold on and take a breath in, then say this with me, “I worship myself.”
Oh, that stings doesn’t it?!
My eyes are burning with tears having just said that out loud with you. Let its truth sink into the far-reaching corners of your heart, the areas we toss decorative throw pillows so no one sees what’s actually under there, least of all ourselves.

So, why would God’s first, most critically important commandment, and the second, jump off the page because it calls our attention to solely focus on Him as being God and the only One worthy of worship?

Because He loves us.

Wait, what?

Yes, do it with me again, take a breath in and linger over each syllable as you whisper out loud, “Because He Loves Us.”

Oh, that fills my heart and chills my skin.
What radical love exists that desires to loosen our death-like grip on ourselves, lift our chin to One Worthy, and allow us to bask in pure, brilliant love cascading over us?!

You shall have no other gods before Me.
I alone am He who brought you out slavery. (Exodus 20:2)
I alone have chosen you for My own possession and beautiful inheritance. (Deuteronomy 7:6)
I alone have cleared the ground before you, giving freedom. (Psalm 18:19)

You shall make no carved image and shall not bow down and worship it.
I am a jealous God, longing to pour out My steadfast love on you. (Exodus 20:5-6)
I alone am forgiver and redeemer. Only I can do what no created thing can. (Isaiah 44:17-22)
I alone am worthy. (Revelation 5:1-10)

One man stood atop a high hill, flanked on all sides by men who worshipped wooden idols their hands had created. They mocked him for worshipping Yahweh.

The man called aloud an impossible challenge, “You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the Name of my God. The God who answers with fire, He Is God.” He built an altar, dug a ditch around it, and flooded the entire area with so much water, it flooded the ditch.

All the while, the men mocked. They pleaded for hours and hours for their god to send fire. They cut themselves. They danced provocatively. They slaughtered an animal. Silence.

Dusk crept around the crowd, tensions ran high, and Elijah beckoned to each bloody man, “Come near me.” With an audience of enemies tightening around him, he lifted his head and said, “Answer me, Yahweh! Answer me so this people will know You, Yahweh, are God and that You have turned their hearts back.” (1 Kings 18:37)

Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the meat, the stones, and even the water.

Only One Worthy

A death sentence pressing against him because he refused to worship a man, Daniel fought against the grip of pride, and fell to his knees before an open window, choosing to publicly worship the Only One Worthy. The Lord God shut the mouths of the lions and spared Daniel’s life. (Daniel 6:10-21)

Dusty feet walking around a mega-city, eyes falling on a sign over an altar reading, “To The Unknown God.” With burning clarity, Paul turned to the citizens following him and said, “This God you worshipped in ignorance, I now proclaim to you.” (Acts 17:23) He, the Creator of all things, does not live in a shrine made by human hands. He who breathes into your lungs and fashioned your DNA is drawing you to Himself that you might worship Him, and Him alone. For He is the Only One Worthy of your worship. (Acts 17:24-29)

A vast multitude, innumerable by any standard, representing every nation, tribe, people, and tongue, stood as one body. Robed in white. Palm branches in their hands. They cried aloud with one, thunderous voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”.  (Revelation 7:9-10)

One who had power to pay our death penalty for sin by dying in our place.
One who offers to slay our pride so we can enjoy eternal life with Him.
One who commands our true worship because He loves us.

Only
One
Worthy

Who will you worship?

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

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

Blessed Day 12 Blessed Are The Peacemakers: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Blessed Are The Peacemakers!

The Questions

1) What does Paul mean in verse 1 when he relates being “justified” with having “peace with God”?

2) How does the peace mentioned in these verses teach us about the peace Jesus spoke about often in the four Gospels?

3) Jesus was the ultimate Peace-Maker. What does this mean for us? (verse 11)

4) What is the “much more” of having peace with God? (verse 15)

Romans 5:1-15

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many.

Original Intent

1) What does Paul mean in verse 1 when he relates being “justified” with having “peace with God”?
Humans were created to live in peace with God. At the beginning of time, all of creation was in sync and “it was very good.” (Genesis 1:27-31) Sadly though, the enemy of the human soul was hell-bent (literally!) on robbing us of our peace. (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:12) Satan convinced the first man and woman they were missing something. They bought the lie that knowing more was better than knowing God, and the unrest and chaos of humanity began. (Genesis 3:1-7) Since that moment, every human has been searching for more. In Romans, Paul reminds his readers of their ancestry through Abraham. Their spiritual patriarch had been convinced in his heart of God’s faithfulness to His promise to redeem and restore peace to the descendants of Abraham. This promise was an eternal one, good for every person who also believes the only way to reconciliation (peace now) and eternal life (peace forever) is through the perfection of God Himself. We are beneficiaries of this lasting peace as a direct result of our justification. Jesus’ death on the cross defeated the enemy’s power to continue to wreak havoc in our lives. His resurrection proved that by being God, He was declaring our reconciliation with Himself. (Romans 4:20-25)

2) How does the peace mentioned in these verses teach us about the peace Jesus spoke about often in the four Gospels?
In verse 1, Paul tells those who are justified we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Commentator Harry Ironside says this peace is “not a state of mind or heart. It is a prevailing condition between two who were once alienated. Sin had disturbed the relations of Creator and creature. A breach had occurred that man could not mend. But peace has been made by the blood of Christ’s cross. There is no longer a barrier. Peace with God is now the abiding state into which every believer enters. The sin question is settled.” (preceptaustin.org/romans) The Greek word used here is derived from the verb eiro which means “to bind together that which has been separated.” In Matthew 5, Jesus speaks about those who bring peace, “Blessed are the peacemakers …” (Matthew 5:9) The same Greek word translated “peacemaker” is used by Paul, and it speaks of the reconciliation for which Christ came and died. (Colossians 1:19-20) Jesus laid down His life to make peace between God and sinners. Those who receive His peace are now sons and daughters of God: “… for they will be called sons of God.”

3) Jesus was the ultimate Peace-Maker. What does this mean for us? (verse 11)
The reconciliation believers have with God, through Christ, is the reason for our boasting! The crushing weight of our own guilt was placed on Jesus when He was on the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14) The shame we deserve to feel over the sin we commit against God was taken by Jesus. As those who trust in Jesus, such mercy we receive that we are not affected ultimately or eternally by Adam’s sin! Though we still struggle with sin, and will until we reach heaven, we are assured that Christ has rescued us and restored us to God. (Romans 7:18-25) Confession of our sins is not to establish peace with God. Jesus has already accomplished that. It is a demonstration that we rest in His reconciling work on the cross and depend on that work to produce daily desire, daily obedience, and daily peace with God. Even now, sin disrupts our fellowship with God. But we have an advocate who assures us our relationship with the Father will never change! The Peacemaker, Jesus, went to the cross so we could enter an ongoing and permanent entrance into Father’s presence. 

4) What is the “much more” of having peace with God? (verse 15)
It was a common expression in biblical times to use the term “much more”. We find the phrase scattered through the gospels. In Romans 5 it is used five times in some translations. Paul wants us to understand that Christ’s single act of obedience was infinitely greater than Adam’s single act of rebellion. God’s grace is substantially superior for our ultimate good than Adam’s sin was for our bad. Understanding this is essential. We must acknowledge our previous human condition. We inherited a nature that brings automatic distance from our Creator. (Genesis 3:22-24, Romans 5:12). In that sinful state, we are unable to attain peace with God. (Romans 3:23) Yet, even in our pitiful and detached condition, God took the initiative of reconciliation. Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), offers us peace with God. Scripture calls this reconciliation message the “gospel of peace”. (Ephesians 2:13-16, Ephesians 6:14-15). God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, became one of us. The angels of heaven gave the glorious announcement of His coming to shepherds, proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors” (Luke 2:14). THIS peace offers us much more. It offers us salvation and everything else we need to live godly lives! (1 Timothy 1:14, Colossians 3:15-17)

Everyday Application

1) What does Paul mean in verse 1 when he relates being “justified” with having “peace with God”?
Peace is something most everyone desires, but does not easily obtain.  Wikipedia says it is a concept of “tranquility, harmony, or security.” Various forms of the word are found over 400 times in Scripture! The Bible mentions false peace, inner peace, peace with one another and most importantly peace with God. In the Old Testament, the primary Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom, and it refers to relationships between people and God’s relationship to us. In the New Testament, the primary Greek word for “peace” is eirene, and it refers to rest and tranquility. A key emphasis of peace in the New Testament is the coming of Jesus. At the moment we trust Christ as the only means of reconciliation to God, we are justified. That is, we are declared righteous. It is not the justification that makes us righteous, but it does pronounce that we are now at peace with God. We are kept in a relationship with God eternally. The peace that accompanies our being made righteous keeps our hearts and minds secure as we grow in spiritual maturity and discipleship.

2) How does the peace mentioned in these verses teach us about the peace Jesus spoke about often in the four Gospels?
There is a peace of God that is a more subjective peace in which believers experience daily assurance that their known sin is confessed and their consciences are clear. This inner peace is only available to those who have experienced reconciliation with God. Once we enter a relationship with God, that comes from a personal belief in Christ’s fully atoning and finished work on the Cross, [“When Jesus gave up his life as an obedient, deliberate, and purposeful sacrifice, He bore away the sins of His people once and for all.” Alistair Begg], we are able to walk in consistent peace that is beyond human understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7) Jesus called His followers to be people of peace, peacemakers. Once we have experienced the mercy of God, we are able to demonstrate mercy to others and to be vessels of reconciliation in a world of disorder, confusion and conflict.

3) Jesus was the ultimate Peace-Maker. What does this mean for us? (verse 11)
Jesus came to bring peace. The believer’s hope is secure, grounded in the knowledge and faith that Jesus has done all that was essential to make us right with God. After He ascended into heaven, we were gifted with the presence of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 1:20-22)He has been given to us to remind us of the peace and reconciliation provided to us. The Spirit of God convicts us of sin so we will seek God’s forgiveness and peace, He comforts us with deep peace in sorrow or suffering, and He reminds us of Jesus’ completed sacrifice on our behalf that brings us near to God. The reminders from God’s word to our hearts stir us, and the prompting we receive from the Spirit is evidence we are at peace with God.

4) What is the “much more” of having peace with God? (verse 15)
We had a good thing going with our Creator, but the thief of joy and peace destroyed what was good and pure and right. Thankfully, the Creator had a redemptive plan. He loved the people He had created and did not want us separated from Him. (2 Peter 3:9) Our good and merciful Father appointed His Son to accomplish what Adam could not. And now, anyone can call out to Jesus, sincerely believing and trusting He is the only way to be at peace with God. As we surrender our lives to Him, fully relying on His death, we can have a peace with God that holds us fast through eternity. This confidence in God’s sustaining salvation daily provides us with the means to take the message of reconciliation to a world so desperately in need of good news. We all need the good news that God’s mercy provides much more than we could ever imagine.
What riches of kindness He lavished on us.
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost.
We stood ‘neath a debt we could never afford.
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.
So much more! (His Mercy is More, Matt Boswell)

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He Day 11 Yahweh Sabaoth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 7:14-14:31
Matthew 14:22-32
John 6:16-21
Isaiah 43:1-2
2 Corinthians 4:7-9

He, Day 11

Hovering over the expanse of waters was the Spirit of Yahweh Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, creator of everything out of nothing. When man’s sin stained His beautiful creation, He promised a divine deliverer to pay the price for man’s rebellion. Throughout the ages of the patriarchs, Yahweh Sabaoth sustained, protected and pursued His people.

When Egyptians enslaved them, Yahweh Sabaoth waged war on their behalf, unleashing His fury upon the nation and Egyptian gods. Each plague landed a direct hit upon their god’s identity and supposed jurisdiction of power. The wizards mimicked some plagues, but quickly realized they were dealing with Someone stronger than they’d ever encountered.

Someone fierce.
Someone dangerous to their reign of deception.
Yahweh Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts.

Yahweh Sabaoth delivered the Hebrews and brought them to the Red Sea.
As the dust clouds rose from the desert signaling Pharoah’s advancing army, the Hebrews trembled. The people who just witnessed plagues, the decimation of one nation and the exodus of another by the Lord of armies . . . panicked.

Yahweh’s response?

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14) 

He called toward quiet trust;
they rushed headlong into despair.

Despite their faith-failures, the miraculous doorway of deliverance for the Hebrews became the doorway of death for the Egyptians. Placing His visible presence as a barrier between the Egyptians and His people, Yahweh Sabaoth thwarted the Egyptians while illuminating the Hebrews’ route through the sea.

Millenia passed, still God delivered valiantly. The One who created everything from nothing wrapped Himself in flesh and descended to redeem mankind.

Both Matthew’s and John’s gospels record a day in Jesus’ life depicting the Lord of Hosts at work with power and majesty.

Bringing their diseased and distressed, masses followed Him. Some sought a spectacle, while others sought physical healing and hope for their lost and hungry souls. He multiplied loaves and fishes to satisfy their bodies and offered the Bread of Life to feed their souls.

Following a long day of ministry, the disciples stepped into a boat, ready to unwind with a quiet nighttime row across the lake. However, they were met with fierce winds and crashing waves.

Through the splashing spray, an eerie sight arose, a human form walking toward them on the waves.

“It’s a ghost!” they shouted. Suddenly, they recognized His face. Jesus!

The One whose Spirit hovered over the waters of creation now walked upon the waves.
The disciples had known Jesus as Rabbi and friend;
now, they beheld Him as Yahweh Sabaoth.

Without hesitation, Peter issued his challenge, “If it’s truly You, call me out to You on the water!”

Yahweh Sabaoth answered, “Come!”
With stunning confidence and audacious trust, Peter stepped out, joining Jesus on the waves.

When they returned to the boat, two amazing things happened.
The storm stopped instantaneously and their boat immediately arrived at its destination on the opposite shore.

Stunned silence must have followed as the boat bobbed near the quiet beach. The disciples, slack-jawed, stared at Yahweh Sabaoth. Shaken, they gasped, “Who are you?”

Jesus, Lord of hosts, Lord of angel armies, Yahweh Sabaoth.  

Like the Hebrews at the Red Sea and the disciples on the lake, I, too, have encountered Yahweh Sabaoth. In the fall of 2012, my son, Matthew, lay in the PICU. A friend sent me the worship song “God of Angel Armies”. Initially, the lyrics sounded nice, but felt like a lie, or worse yet, a sick joke.

Matthew was in a coma. My conversations with God were wordless groanings of the soul.  My conversations with doctors were hushed, grim, and heavy. I felt like I was being slowly crushed in an invisible vice.

But eternal truth rose from the lyrics and I struggled to believe the words were true, despite what I felt. I was faced with the old dilemma: circumstances and emotions versus Scripture and Holy Spirit.

The answer was simple, not easy.
Truth always trumps emotion and circumstance.
It meant following His voice, through the fear.

Throughout Matthew’s journey, God never spoke audibly, and I saw no pillars of fire. However, the “yes and amen” within my spirit was my pillar of cloud, and Scripture, my pillar of fire.

Yahweh Sabaoth was present in each hymn I sang softly in the darkness, inhabiting worship rising from my battle-weary soul. There in Matthew’s PICU unit, He remained Yahweh Sabaoth, God of angel armies, friend of mine.

My emotions continued to whirl and our circumstances remained tumultuous. But as I clung to the truth, I found myself walking in confident trust and audacious faith, following Jesus through the fear.

For as He promised,
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” (Isaiah 43:2)

Yahweh Sabaoth, who hovered over the waters of creation,
hovered near us in the PICU.
Yahweh Sabaoth, who walked upon the sea,
sustained us “through the waters.”
Yahweh Sabaoth, who delivered the Hebrews,
delivered Matthew from illness and special needs, welcoming him Home.

The same Yahweh Sabaoth calls to each of us, reaching through the waves. Our spirits will gasp in wonder when we recognize Yahweh Sabaoth in the face of Jesus. And like Peter, our only option will be confident trust and audacious faith in the Lord of hosts, Yahweh Sabaoth.  

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He Day 10 Yahweh Shalom

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Judges 6:11-24
Isaiah 9:6-7 
John 14:25-31

He, Day 10

I recently created a little playlist called “JOY,” full of songs that make my heart bubble over when I hear them. The songs are often classics and quite simple, a mix of hymns and Elvis, JJ Heller and Ingrid Michaelson, and, believe it or not … Mr. Rogers.

One of my fondest memories is sitting in the den at my grandparents’ house, watching Mr. Rogers while my Papa (who was quite like Mr. Rogers himself, but with a thick German accent and a beard) sat next to me. Hearing Mr. Rogers sing his simple yet deeply profound songs still fills me with joy. So, I added some of my favorites to my “JOY” playlist.  “Peace and Quiet” is especially meaningful:

“Peace and Quiet,
Peace, peace, peace [ . . . ]
We all want peace,
We all want peace.

Do you know what peace means? Peace is wonderful.

It sounds like a piece of bread or a piece of paper. But it’s so much more than a piece of anything. 

This kind of peace is something very comfortable. When you have it, you feel inside yourself that the people you live with care about you, and you care about them, too. And what’s more, you care about yourself. 

Peace means you can talk with people and tell them you’re happy or sad or angry or anything, and they’ll understand, and they’ll tell you how they feel, too.” 

I love Mr. Roger’s simple explanation of peace, because we can all understand the feeling he describes, even though our lives aren’t always peaceful… that is, not everyone around us has cared about us.

It’s amazing how significantly the presence of peace can be affected by our companions. My daughters and I recently spent the morning with friends and, as we sat in their backyard, I found myself breathing deeply as I recognized the peaceful atmosphere surrounding me.

Kids were laughing, our conversation ebbed and flowed, but because I was with people of peace, I felt peace. Like Mr. Rogers said, I could feel the care of my friends embracing me, and felt my own care for them in return.

In John 14, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.”

He’s given us His peace.

In fact, Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, the Prince of Peace, hundreds of years before His birth.

And even further back in history, humans recognized special peace from the Almighty.
Travel back with me to our war hero, Gideon (remember, the young guy empowered by God, who conquered the Midianites against all odds?)

Before Gideon conquered the Midianites, he was called into battle by none other than Yahweh Shalom.

Gideon was beating wheat while hiding from the Midianites, who’d been oppressing Israel for seven years. Israel had nothing, certainly not peace.

As Gideon was laboring in the hot sun, a stranger approached him and proclaimed,
“The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” (Judges 6:12)

The Lord is with you.

He’s with you.

Now I could talk at length about the words of affirmation and prophecy delivered when he called Gideon “valiant warrior,” but I want to focus on the first words spoken.

The Lord, Yahweh, is with you.
You aren’t alone.

But Gideon is confused, asking the angel, “Please, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why has all of this happened?” (Judges 6:13)

Gideon recognized the utter absence of peace in his community; if there was no peace, how could the Lord of peace be with them?

The angel commands Gideon to prepare for battle, because the Lord was going to use him to bring justice and ultimately, peace throughout Israel.

Gideon knows he’s the youngest member of an already weak family, and therefore, by any human calculation, the least likely to conquer the mighty Midianites. He’s confused and he’s scared . . . and then he realizes he’s talking with an angel of the Lord.

Petrified.

But the Lord reassures him, “Peace to you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.” (Judges 6:23)

The Lord knew Gideon’s heart, understood his deepest fear, and addressed it directly.

“Peace to you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die.”

While “peace to you” was a common phrase used when coming or going, on this day, Gideon perceived it differently. Perhaps, like a puzzle finally completed, Gideon realized Yahweh Shalom was with him, and His presence was peace.

Gideon commemorated this sacred moment by building an altar, calling it: “The Lord is Peace.”

Yahweh Shalom.

Not just, “He brings peace” or “He gives peace.” No.

The Lord is peace.

The Lord is our peace.
Because He is with us.

Remember how Isaiah declared the coming Messiah would be called the Prince of Peace?

Jesus came. He was with us. He walked this earth, breathed this air, lived life within the fleshly limits of the mankind His Father created.

The Prince of Peace.

Yahweh Shalom. 

We know Jesus isn’t physically with us today, and, in John 14, when Jesus told us about the peace He’d give, He knew He’d be returning to His Father in Heaven. Therefore, He spoke to us of the Holy Spirit, who would come and dwell in every believing heart, teaching us and guiding us.

God with us.

Yahweh Shalom. 

We all long for peace, as Mr. Rogers reminded us, and peace will never be found apart from God, because

He is peace.

The Prince of peace.

The Giver of peace.

Yahweh Shalom.

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He Day 8 Yahweh M’Kaddesh

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Malachi 2:17-3:5
Romans 14:10-12
Ezekiel 37:23-28

He, Day 8

Yahweh, the Lord God, to Adam & Eve
Because of your sinful rebellion, pain will be yours. You will hunger for power and control, but those desires will leave you empty.

Your work will be cursed, as will the whole earth. Hardship, difficulty, loss, brokenness; these will be your consequences. You have chosen prideful arrogance over sweet friendship with Me. You are receiving what you lusted after, and it condemns you. (Genesis 3:16-19) 

Yahweh M’Kaddesh to Adam & Eve
I will be the first to slay one of My beautiful creatures because I love you. I will cover your nakedness with its skins as I will one day cover your sin with My own blood.

We can only have fellowship together if you are holy, as I am holy. You cannot be holy on your own, so I Am Yahweh M’Kaddesh, the God who makes you holy. (Genesis 3:20-23)

Yahweh, the Lord God, to Noah
I designed all of creation, from the millipede to the jewel of My work, human beings, to live in sweetest harmony together. Additionally, My Spirit was intended to hover over creation, singing My song, and calling hearts to be bound together in a majestically beautiful oneness.

But, Noah, My heart grieves over these people I so lovingly created. They rejected Me. 

They have mutilated My gift of sex to take advantage of one another.
They have abused My gift of food and become gluttons;
they have abused My gift of wine and become drunkards.
They have despised the gift of My presence, and worshipped themselves instead.

I will destroy all people because of their sin, for I am a just God. (Genesis 6:1-7:1)

Yahweh M’Kaddesh to Noah
All but you and your family will be wiped out because of their sin. But you, Noah, have walked with righteousness before Me, honoring Me in your heart and with your life. You will be rescued by a boat, which I have designed to perfectly save you, along with a remnant of creation, so all will be made new.

One day, Noah, a perfect Savior will come as God wrapped in flesh to offer rescue for all. He will be the new “boat” to save humanity.

My heart is love; my heart is to save.

Even though My creation has sinned against Me, mocking My standard of holiness, I will make a way for all to return to Me and be made holy, so we can fellowship together as I designed from the beginning. I Am Yahweh M’Kaddesh, the God who makes you holy. (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Yahweh, the Lord God, speaking to Israel
I have called you, Israel, to reflect My glory to the world. You are to love Me first and foremost. You are to be holy as I am holy, representing Me to all peoples.

But, oh Israel, you are not holy! Your sin is constantly before Me. You have profaned My sanctuary. You have been faithless. You have called “evil” good, and called “good” evil. You defy Me. (Leviticus 19:2, Malachi 2:10-17)

Yahweh M’Kaddesh to Israel
Because you are not holy, I will lovingly provide for you. I will be your blood sacrifice to cover your multitude of sin. I will make you holy through My holiness.

One day I, Myself, will come to you. I will be your Shepherd, I will give you a new heart to love Me, I will put My Spirit within you, and I will make an eternal covenant of peace with you. I will dwell with you.

I will, because I Am Yahweh M’Kaddesh, the God who makes you holy! (Leviticus 20:8, Ezekiel 37:24-28, Ezekiel 36:23-29)

Yahweh, the Lord God, is the very same God as Yahweh M’Kaddesh.
He is just and righteous, demanding payment for sin, unwilling to simply look the other way and pretend sin doesn’t exist.

Because who would want a God who simply excused
the murderer,
the rapist,
the suicide bomber,
the man who left his wife,
or the woman who destroyed friendships with her gossip and betrayal?

We wouldn’t.
We want justice.

And God is just. 

Because He is perfectly just, He cannot excuse some sin while demanding punishment for other sin. All sin is putrid in His eyes.
All. Sin.
There are no “mistakes” against God’s holiness; all offenses are sinful.

A snooty attitude.
Sharp words.
Cold shoulder of rejection.
Quiet whispers behind another’s back.
Rudeness.
All are just as sinful against God as murder, rape, and adultery. 

But Yahweh, is also, graciously, mercifully,
Yahweh M’Kaddesh,
the God who makes us holy. 

While we were still in our sin, still pursuing ourselves, still lusting after our own ways,
Christ died for us. (Romans 5:10)
He Himself became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

An unfathomable exchange took place at the cross where Christ’s blood was spilled for us.
He held out His righteous holiness to us with the same hand that willingly opened to Roman nails.

Where our sin demanded our death,
Christ died instead, defeating all death and offering righteousness and life to us.

This is Yahweh M’Kaddesh,
the God who makes us holy. 

Is His righteousness yours?

Have you surrendered all of yourself, allowing Him to make you holy?
Or are you still holding on to your sin, stuck in separation from Him?

One day, my friend, one day all will confess Jesus Christ is Lord. (Romans 14:11-12)
No choice will remain, for every tongue will declare His Lordship.
On that day, it will be too late to willingly accept the offer of Yahweh M’Kaddesh to remove your sin-soaked rags and clothe you in robes of righteousness.

Today is the day to be made holy!

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He Day 1 Elohim

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:1-2
1 Corinthians 8:1-6
Colossians 2:1-15
Matthew 28:18-20

He, Day 1

“In the beginning, [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.”

In the first sentence of Scripture, we are introduced to our Author and Creator with the Bible’s most common name for God, “Elohim.” We are told God was present in the very beginning, before anything else existed and, from Himself, created all we know, see, touch, and feel today.

Let me share a little context for our discussion of this foundational name of God, “Elohim”.

  1. “Elohim” is actually the plural form of the word “Eloah.”
  2. In Hebrew, Eloah/Elohim means “god/gods” and is used throughout Scripture to not only name our One True God, but also to refer to the other spiritual beings or gods of other religions.

So why would Genesis 1:1 use Elohim instead of Eloah? And why would the writers of the Scriptures use Elohim to refer to God, instead of a more specific and personal name like the one revealed to Moses in Exodus 3, “Yahweh”?

The use of Elohim in Genesis 1:1 is intentional. By using Elohim, the author is already revealing to us the concept of the Holy Trinity. Three divine, unique persons: the Father (Creator, Sustainer), the Son (Redeemer), and the Holy Spirit (Advocate) in one divine God. The Elohim Trinity was present from before the beginning of time at the creation of the universe. From the beginning of the world’s existence, the great and mighty power of Elohim is being revealed.

Scripture uses the word ‘elohim’ as a title for other gods and spiritual beings, too. Not only did followers of the One True God use Elohim to refer to God, but it was the common Hebrew word for discussion of the gods of other religions, whose worship caused people to turn away from their mighty Creator Elohim.

Therefore, Scripture repeatedly emphasizes how our Elohim is different and set apart from other elohim.

“For the Lord your God is the God of gods [Elohim of elohim] and Lord of lords,
the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God,
showing no partiality and taking no bribe.” (Deuteronomy 10:17)

“Give thanks to the God of gods [Elohim of elohim].
His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:2)

The God of these Scripture verses is mighty, the Elohim above all other elohim! The Spirit-inspired authors of Scripture made the distinction that even though there were countless other gods and idols, false as they were, our Elohim was sovereign above them all. He alone is the God whom we serve and worship.

His might is proved to us through Elohim’s greatest act of power, the salvation of His people through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

 “[. . .] ‘there is no God but one.’
For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth
—as there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’ —
yet for us there is one God, the Father.
All things are from him, and we exist for him.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through him, and we exist through him.” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)

 “And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses.
He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us,
and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

Paul reminds us even though other so-called elohim seek our attention and worship, rule with authority on earth, and attempt to pull us away from our Creator, we are subject to one Elohim and one Elohim only. We are subject to the Elohim who created us, sustains us, and gave us Jesus. 

I don’t know about you, but I am constantly bombarded with distractions seeking to pull my attention from the Elohim of elohim. They come in the form of never-ending household chores and errands, the pull of TV and social media, and sometimes even my relationships with others can become more important than my relationship with Elohim.

While none of these are inherently bad, they easily become idols and false elohim when I prioritize them above my mighty Elohim. 

Jesus came to once and for all end the power of sin, death, the devil, and all false elohim forever. He took on our sin and the wrath of God on our behalf through His death, and the power of all other authorities was broken when He defeated death itself! Now all authority on heaven and earth belongs to our mighty Elohim alone!

We have the gift to serve our Elohim and be witness to His mighty power through Jesus to all the ends of the earth!
All praise be to the Elohim of elohim! 

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