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Surrender Day 10 True Joy: Digging Deeper

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Surrender Day 10 True Joy: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

February 3, 2023

Enough,Faith,Freedom,Generous,Giving,Glory,Greed

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 "True Joy"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 6:16-24

“Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How does the Father reward those who fast in secret? (verse 18)

In Matthew 6:17-18, Jesus gave these instructions about fasting, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” When Christians fast, they demonstrate to God how much they love him and how they want to draw closer to Him.

As Andrew Murray explains, “Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.” Jesus instructed His disciples to fast in secret so they would not gain recognition from others for being pious. Instead, God would reward them.

Scripture tells us that fasting is the humbling of the soul (Psalm 35:13), and God promises to reward this humility. Hebrews 11:6 tells us God rewards those who seek Him. Sometimes when we seek God through fasting, God rewards us with what we are practically seeking through prayer. He did this with Anna, who prayed and fasted for the Messiah to come and was blessed to see Him before she died. (Luke 2:36-38) But, as David Mathis points out, “He rewards it not just with what we’re asking for with our fast, but ultimately with who He is as our desire, enjoyment, and satisfaction.”

When we fast, God rewards us with more of Him and with a greater understanding of how He satisfies our deepest hunger and thirst. (John 6:35) What we give up for God in secret He rewards in greater intimacy with Him. Taking less for ourselves brings us more of God. (John 3:30)

The Everyday Application

1) How does the Father reward those who fast in secret? (verse 18)

When election-day rolls around in the United States, you know it’s coming—the obligatory posting of “I Voted” stickers on social media. That tiny adhesive flag becomes a status symbol for a few days every year. While it encourages the privilege of voting, which is admirable, it also demonstrates that you are one of the “good guys” as a responsible, upstanding citizen who exercised your right to vote. Even children at the polls with their parents snag a sticker so they, too, can be cool, though everyone knows they didn’t actually vote.

There was certainly no “I Fasted” sticker back in Bible times, but Jesus did warn against showing off that you had been fasting in Matthew 6:17-18, when He admonished His followers to fast in secret and expect to be rewarded by God. Fasting focuses believers on what God has for us and what He longs to do in us. This is one way He rewards our fasting; He uses our time of devotion to Him to pour Himself into us.

Susan Gregory writes, “I knew what it was like to be so hungry for more of God that the only way to be fed was to fast.” God uses our offering of fasting to capture our attention so we can focus on His plans and purposes and carry them out in our lives. David H. Roper asserts, “God always rewards hidden spirituality. He hears every private prayer; He recognizes every secret gift; He notes and richly rewards each unseen act of devotion. You will be strengthened, and the Lord will make you all that He wants you to be.”

Fasting in secret, with God as our only witness, feeds us in a way no food ever could.

The Original Intent

2) Why does the heart disclose our treasure? (verse 21)

In Matthew 6:20-21, Jesus urged His disciples, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” He was teaching them that what was valuable were the eternal, spiritual things that could not be damaged or lost. He wanted them to cherish the things of God above the things of the world. (Colossians 3:2)

One way we lay up treasures in Heaven is by giving God the treasures we have on earth. John Piper suggests that “laying up treasures in heaven is giving money away for Christ’s sake rather than accumulating it.” When we care for the poor and needy (Matthew 19:21), the widow and the orphan (James 1:27), and worship God with extravagant giving (Matthew 26:6-13), we show that our hearts are set on heavenly things.

Albert Barnes explains that “To have treasure in heaven is to possess evidence that its purity and joys will be ours. It is to be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 1:4)” When we care more about money and what it can bring us than we care about God’s kingdom, we risk heartache and pain as we elevate these idols above the Lord in our heart. (1 Timothy 6:10) When we concentrate our time, money and attention on God, then our heart will rejoice in the things of God. (Psalm 16:11)

The Everyday Application

2) Why does the heart disclose our treasure? (verse 21)

One look at credit card statements from our time as DINKS (Double Income No Kids) shows you where our priorities lay at that time: dining out, weekends away, antique store shopping and furniture purchases indicate we were busy building a relationship and a home. After we had 2 kids and I became a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom), the credit card statements told a different story: diapers, braces, and sports team fees indicated we were focused on the care and raising of children. We spent our time and money on the things that mattered most to us.

Jesus taught that if you look at where your treasures lie, that is where your heart lies also. (Matthew 6:21) It is okay to spend your money on earthly treasures like antiques and vacations, but it is not okay to make them your heart’s treasure. Can you live without them? How much would it hurt your heart if you couldn’t have those things anymore?

Our hearts should treasure heavenly things, that which impacts the Kingdom of God, the most. Charles Ellicott asserts, “Men may try to persuade themselves that they will have a treasure on earth and a treasure in heaven also, but in the long-run, one or the other will assert its claim to be the treasure, and will claim the no longer divided allegiance of the heart.”

While it is okay to earn money and spend money, Jesus taught us not to value money, or anything, over heavenly things. (Matthew 6:33) Ruth Chou Simons writes, “if your treasure is Christ/You have all you need/Through the One who did all that was necessary/For you to be pleasing/To the only One that matters.” We don’t need to set our hearts on storing up earthly treasures because everything we need we have in Christ.

The Original Intent

3) How can the “light within you” be darkness? (verse 23)

In Matthew 6:23, Jesus stated, “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!” Adam Clarke writes that “An evil eye was a phrase in use, among the ancient Jews, to denote an envious, covetous man or disposition; a man who . . . loved his own money and would do nothing in the way of charity for God’s sake.”

Jesus wanted His followers to know that anyone who let love of money or greed affect their view of the world would have a dark outlook. If your eye is bad, that means your outlook and your perspective are clouded and you cannot see clearly. (Ephesians 4:18) The light of God’s Word is not illuminating your mind, and you are living in darkness. (Psalm 119:105)

David Guzik explains, “Jesus tells us that either our eye is directed at heavenly things (and therefore full of light) or it is directed at earthly things (and therefore full of darkness) […] our attitude towards material treasure will either bring great light or great darkness to our lives.” When we love money and earthly things more than God, we will live in a deep darkness that affects everything we do. We can ask God to help us see things from His perspective (2 Corinthians 5:16) so we will focus on heavenly things and have God’s light shining within us. (Matthew 5:14-16)

The Everyday Application

3) How can the “light within you” be darkness? (verse 23)

One of my favorite Christmas tales is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. After encountering the gruff, angry old miser, Ebeneezer Scrooge, at the beginning of the story, it is gripping to travel back in time to witness him as a caring young man with hope for the future and love in his life. The juxtaposition of the bitter old man next to his younger, happier self, remembering the way his heart used to feel, is sorrowful. After seeing how greed and avarice dampened the light in his life, it makes his eventual transformation into a generous, compassionate man all the more powerful.

Scrooge is an example of Jesus’ warning in Matthew 6:23, “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness!” The love of money that Scrooge succumbed to sunk him into deep darkness, but be warned that any sin we put ahead of God eventually results in this same spiraling, stealthy darkness meant to steal, kill, and destroy our lives. (Romans 1:21, John 10:10) Evie Polsley writes, “God had so much He wanted to show me in His Word, but I had closed my eyes to it because it wasn’t enough for me. It wasn’t what I wanted to see. I had created my own darkness, my own blindness, because I wanted to be in control.”

There are times we find ourselves choosing things that lead us into darkness, even on an everyday basis. (John 3:19) This is when we turn to Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12), to help us throw off darkness and walk in His light (Romans 13:12-14).

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Surrender Day 10 Journey Study

…But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, there your heart (read: deepest joy and delight) will also be.”

Joy is a naturally produced “fruit” of the Holy Spirit living, working, and breathing inside our surrendered souls. (Galatians 5:22-23) Therefore, true joy is a result of an ever-deepening walk with the Lord, one which grows over time with dedicated discipline to focus or hearts on the unseen and eternal.

Conversely, what enemy deadens our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s voice? A heart and mind satiated with the pleasures of this world.
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Champion Day 15 He’s The Hero

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 5:1-11
Luke 6:12-16
John 18:16-27
John 21:15-19
1 Peter 2:1-17

Champion, Day 15

For as long as I can remember, my husband has contended the fictional comic book character Batman is the only plausible superhero. When asked why, he will happily explain: unlike other illustrated literary superheroes, Batman doesn’t have any special powers or alien origins.

Immeasurable wealth and influence? Sure.
Mad ninja skills and physical prowess? Check.
Insanely cool superhero lair and technological marvels to help him fight crime? Yup.

But aside from the seemingly endless supply of money and inner torment,
Batman is basically just a regular guy with excellent resources. 

This might seem an unusual way to introduce a journey with Peter, but stay with me.

When we study the radical accounts of miracles God performed through Peter, it’s easy to see him as a spiritual giant.

He boldly exhorted those in Jerusalem following the Holy Spirit’s outpouring on Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36).
He miraculously healed (Acts 3:6-8),
raised the dead to life (Acts 9:38-43),
was the first to witness the unveiling of God’s complete plan of salvation for all people (Acts 10:9-33),
was imprisoned for his faith and proclaiming the gospel (Acts 4:1-4),
was freed from jail. by angels (Acts 12:6-19),
and people were healed simply by his very shadow (Acts 5:12-16).

With a resume like that, anyone would assume Peter was basically a Biblical beast. In a way, he was, but if we only examine the miracles and remarkable eternal impact of Peter’s life, without acknowledging Peter’s colorful humanity and frailty, we miss the best things about Peter’s story.

Just like the overarching account of Scripture and every vignette therein, Peter’s story points to God, His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, and the redemption He alone brings.

Peter was a man of humble beginnings. His work was essential to the economy, but could hardly be considered illustrious. Brash and outspoken, Peter was impulsive, rough around the edges, and often ruled by his emotions.

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water, they were frightened. (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus comforted them; when He was tested by an impulsive Peter, Jesus invited him to step onto the waves. Peter initially fared well, but became afraid and began sinking.

Peter failed. 

When Jesus told His disciples He would be killed, and raised to life on the third day, Peter “caught feelings” and again tested Jesus, rejecting what He said outright. (Matthew 16:21-22)

Again, Peter failed. 

When Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter was overcome by his emotions, drew his sword, and cut off a man’s ear. (John 18:1-11)

Jesus also prophesied Peter would deny Him three times. Vehemently, Peter objected and declared he would never. When Jesus’ words came to pass and he heard the rooster crow, Peter was broken. (John 18:16-27)

Failure.
Again.

It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it?
Separated from the Messiah, Peter carried the weight of his personal betrayal of the Master he loved while Jesus was persecuted, crucified, and buried. Even after He was resurrected to life three days later, Peter’s actions undoubtedly haunted him.

Time and again, Peter messed up,
and doubted,
and hurt others,
and didn’t believe Jesus,
and argued with the very Son of God,
and failed.

Over, and over, and over.

Oh Peter. I can relate. On every. single. count. 

But then.

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ [Peter] said to him, ‘you know that I love you.’

‘Feed my lambs,’ [Jesus] told him.”
(John 21:15)

Three times, Peter had denied Jesus.
Three times, resurrected Jesus asks this question and commissions Peter, restoring him to full relationship and ministry.

Herein lies the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the trajectory of salvation!

Peter wasn’t enough. Yet, Jesus called him.
Peter failed, many times. Yet, Jesus disciplined him in love.
Peter denied Jesus. Yet, Jesus died for him.
After all that, Jesus offered him redemption, commissioned him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformed Peter to be a living demonstration of the work of the Gospel. 

The most important part of Peter’s story is that
he
wasn’t
enough.

In fact, Peter was basically just a regular guy, with excellent (read: supernatural) resources.

When we look at the accounts we see in Scripture and compare ourselves to the people we read there, we miss the point completely. Throughout all of Scripture, no one was ever enough, except Jesus Christ.

When faced with that reality, Peter put his faith in Jesus. He allowed himself to be transformed completely. Because of that surrender, the Holy Spirit was freed to work through him.

Beloved, the truth is, we aren’t enough, either.

If we were, then we would actually BE God.
We wouldn’t need salvation, because we wouldn’t sin.
We wouldn’t need sanctification, because we would already be completely holy. 

Just as He saw Peter, Jesus sees us as we really are, in all our frailty and failure and not enough. Because He IS enough, He transforms us into a new creation! Praise be to God!

Jesus, thank You for being enough, for filling every gap and showing Your strength in my weakness. Teach me to walk in Your ways and help me to remember that You are the real Champion in all of Scripture, and in my life.

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Champion Day 7 Behind The Scenes God: 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 Behind The Scenes God!

The Questions

1) How do you pursue God’s will when you are feeling weak or discouraged? (verse 18)

2) How can this Scripture help us navigate a chaotic culture like Esther’s?

3) Why is it so important to resist revenge? (verse 15)

I Thessalonians 5:14-18

And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Original Intent

1) How do you pursue God’s will when you are feeling weak or discouraged? (verse 18)
The apostle Paul exhorted the believers in Thessalonica to help one another in their daily lives as new Christians with their eye on the coming return of Jesus. Paul was very concerned for these new believers. He and Silas fled Thessalonica because of intense persecution, and he worried about those left behind as they faced hardship. Paul sent Timothy to check on them and received good word about the faithfulness of the new believers, so he wrote to encourage and spur them on to new growth and deeper maturity. Persecution was rampant, but Jesus was worth it and he urged them to stay the course of following Christ. Hope was coming! The new believers were both Jews and Gentiles, and Paul suspicioned that false teachers were likely to come in attempting to sway them from solid truth. Paul knew the believers would need each other in order to mature, so he taught them to be on the lookout for those in need of encouragement or a reminder to work hard and do good towards each other. Paul taught God’s will is to “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything […]”. (verses 16-18) God’s will is unity between believers and between His people and Himself. When we cast our focus and affection on the Lord, choosing to worship Him in prayer, we are sowing unity. Paul knew if they pursued worship together, they would continue growing together as a community of believers with one central focus: God. To pursue God, they would need help and encouragement from their brothers and sisters in Christ. In the case of Esther, her story was woven with community as her cousin, Mordecai, and all the Jews prayed to the Lord together bringing unity and glorifying God.  

2) How can this Scripture help us navigate a chaotic culture like Esther’s?
The Thessalonians had much to contend against between the time Paul led them to believe in Jesus and the time Paul sent Timothy back to check on them a few months later. They dealt with ongoing, intense persecution that caused Paul and Silas to flee Thessalonica. Some of their members died, and they were dealing with grief and the confusion about what would happen to their departed friends when Jesus returned. They also wondered what would happen to those alive at the 2nd coming. Some members were being lazy and living off of the generosity of wealthier Christians, while some were struggling with forsaking all of their pagan ways. The church in Thessalonica was dealing with struggles particular to their time and culture, but the intensity of need and the desire for answers is relatable for each generation. Esther stood at a crossroads for her people as they faced extermination. She interceded for them with bravery and humility, but for every step she took, it was the Lord God leading her. We don’t face the same challenges Esther or the Thessalonians did, but our culture screams just as loud to abandon our faith, choose self over intercession, and apathy over zeal for the Lord. The Thessalonians were eager for Paul’s presence, but his letter was welcome instruction on how they should proceed in his absence. Paul wanted them to keep rejoicing, keep praying, and keep thanking God for everything. This would help them focus on God and grow in their faith despite the tumult of the times.

3) Why is it so important to resist revenge? (verse 15)
Paul may have instructed the new Christians in Thessalonica to resist revenge because they were being intensely persecuted by the Greeks in their culture. Their natural, human instinct would be to get even with those harming them, but Paul counseled them that Christianity does not work that way. Even in the Old Testament, God commanded that the faithful “do not take revenge, or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) Not only were they to resist revenge, but they were to pursue the good of everyone, even their persecutors. Paul was intent on emphasizing God’s character as their Champion to the new Christ-followers; He gives generously of Himself to His enemies by sacrificing Himself in their place. Since Paul himself had zealously persecuted Christians before his conversion, his admonition held particular significance. We are not to take revenge on others, for God Himself did not take revenge on us, instead He sacrificed for us. Mordecai particularly could have taken revenge on his arch-enemy, Haman, at any time, but he showed restraint, waiting on the Lord, trusting His ways over his own. We are to do the same.

Everyday Application

1) How do you pursue God’s will when you are feeling weak or discouraged? (verse 18)
The exhortation in these verses is important every day, but especially on those down days when we just can’t go it alone. If the command to worship through prayer brought an entire city together to beseech the Lord on behalf of the Jews, its benefits to us in our everyday struggles are immense! Prayer and worship prove effective not because of our flowery words, but because it is the Lord who hears and acts on our behalf through our faith. There is one Champion, and it is the Lord God. Paul’s writing reminds us we need to lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ who can pray on our behalf just as Mordecai and the Jews did for Esther. We should reach out for help, encouragement, accountability, and prayer from the community around us. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reads, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” We are also reminded that prayer and praise change our perspective. If we are called to rejoice always, there is always something to rejoice over. If we pray constantly, we are communicating with God about our daily needs. Giving thanks even in the midst of hard times helps us recognize all the blessings we have that are often taken for granted.

2) How can this Scripture help us navigate a chaotic culture like Esther’s?
It is easy to get bogged down by our never-ending to-do lists and our constant busyness. We don’t always have time to take a shower or eat a full meal, let alone pray constantly or lend a hand to a friend in need. These verses call us to be both intentional and singular in our focus on God. Esther’s need was desperate, pressing, and urging, and though our challenges aren’t the same, we can relate to her sense of desperation and urgency. Consider how we respond in our urgent need moments, or even the long-term needs we’ve been agonizing over for months or years. Are we seeing these as opportunities to turn to the Lord in prayers of faith? The more we cultivate our relationship with the Lord, the more natural it becomes to “pray always” as if breathing. God calls us to invest in our fellow Christians who may need an encouraging word or some extra patience as they face a struggle. He calls us to always pursue what is good for one another, which flies in the face of our culture’s “me first” mentality. While it can be challenging, it is one of the best ways we can represent Christ to our neighbors. John 13:35 tells us, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” We are challenged to make careful choices about where we spend our time and energy, purposing to help our friends in need, to seek support when we need it, and keep our focus on God alone.

3) Why is it so important to resist revenge? (verse 15)
Paul implores us to be patient with everyone, which includes our enemies. Why is this so necessary? In a way, revenge seems like a great way to ensure that justice, at least our version of it, is served. If someone is doing evil, they deserve to get some pay back. God says, “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.” (Romans 12:19) God wants us to focus on forgiveness and doing good toward others, not on how we can make someone pay for their sins. We cannot champion our own stories by exacting our own revenge. James writes that, “human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent […].” (James 1:20-21) The only one worthy to judge or bring retribution is the Lord God! Romans 12:21 tells us we are able to conquer evil with good. It is vital to resist revenge because by doing so we are taking the first step to overcoming evil with good; only in this can we surrender to the True Champion. In this way, we get our enemy’s attention and turn their focus to the goodness of God instead of our own vengeance. In this way, we practice being like Jesus and trust the results to Him, just as Esther modeled!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Ready Day 15 The Lord Be With You All

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Thessalonians 3
Acts 17:1-15
Psalm 118

Ready, Day 15

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

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

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

Budding branches gently dancing in the spring air.

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

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

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

Three weeks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

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

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

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

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Word Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

Journal Prompts
1) What was the last thing you said aloud? What were you wanting to convey? Was your message received in the way you intended? What was the position of your heart as you said those words? Did your heart come across? We want our words to carry meaning. We want our hearers to know us, to really understand us, and not reject us in response. Hold onto these thoughts as you consider what God wants us to hear and know about Himself through His words. What does He really want us to know about Him? The Word of Scripture is replete with His message for us. He wants us to hear, to know Him, to really understand Him, and then walk in acceptance of His heart for us. Sit with a passage of God’s Word today, read it again and again, praying for Him to show you His heart. What does He want you to know about Him? (we recommend one of the references from Monday’s Journey Study, “Do You Believe?”)

2) Joyful surrender. Endlessly generous. Unconditional love. Total surrender for another. It sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? For someone to love us like this? Do we dare hope it’s true? Pause for a minute and think of the relationships that whisper of these riches. Who is in your life who loves you so well? Name them and draw up specific ways you’ve experienced their lavish love. Turn the page and allow the faces pass before you who have epitomized the direct opposite of extravagant love. Hurt. Wound. Stinging bitterness. Grief. Loss. Turn the page again; how do you see yourself? Name the scenarios where you’ve demonstrated rich love and then those scenes where you’ve been the self-seeking, self-protecting miser. It’s so hard to consider being endlessly loving, isn’t it? Parts of our heart recoil and justifications raise their hands with arguments as to why you can’t possibly love endlessly. Praise God, Jesus relied on none of those justifications, instead choosing total surrender for us. How does this shape the scenes playing out in your everyday life?

3) Jesus spoke the same language as Nicodemus as He waded into the familiar passages of the Old Testament that Nic had known since childhood. But Jesus added depth, shifted the lens to bring brilliant color and clarity and brought new focus to words that had become rote. The same Jesus who met a man full of questions that incessantly demanded answers under the cover of a starry night, is the same Jesus who seeks you out in this moment. Already know the Savior as your own? Never crossed the line of faith? Have a million doubts? Feel so irredeemably far from the One you once called Shepherd? It doesn’t matter. It’s the very same Jesus, and He is ready to bring newness. Fresh understanding. Depth and brilliant color to the words and traditions and Scripture passages and relationships and everyday rhythms your familiarity has rendered rote. Will you surrender your all to the totality of all He’s holding out? What’s keeping you back? Don’t breeze past the question, let it sink in to the corners of your heart. Meet Him under your own night sky and hold open your heart.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from John 1:10-13 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, and yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

Prayer Journal
You came to Your own, but they did not receive You. You, the God who created, the God who humbled Himself and left the glories of Heaven to walk the sod You crafted and breathe with the lungs Your own hands had fashioned. You, the God who shaped and loved and breathed into humanity, it was You human hearts rejected. It was me. Me who rejected You. I chose sin. I still choose sin. But, oh Lord Jesus, how gracious, merciful, and kind that You would speak Your words of life over me! I praise You for Your Spirit opening my eyes to see the ways I spurn You. May Your words stir in me, sing over me, and speak light, life, and truth over my errant heart. Cut me with Your words, keeping me soft to listening and responding to Your voice, and Yours alone.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend! ~ Enough Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Mandy shared on Monday about a piece that is missing from each of our lives. Take a few minutes and write down the “missing pieces” you long to be filled. What shape do they take on in your life? Making my list are a stronger marriage, knowing where to serve in ministry, and the ever-present ache for the little boy I never held. Wounds from the past, longings for what I felt should have been, and sadness over opportunities I’ve missed are all missing pieces I feel would make me more whole, happier, or satisfied. Mandy’s words challenge us to not only identify our missing pieces, but then to realize every jagged edge is meant to point us to our need for Jesus. Only One King can satisfy with abundance all the empty, wounded, lonely places of our hearts. This King is for us! If Christ is the ocean, what would it look like for you to intentionally leave those empty pieces behind you on the shore, trusting Jesus to satisfy you as you swim in His sea of abundance and fullness?

2) God intentionally, lovingly, gave His people, ancient Israel, a picture of His extravagant love for them in the sacrificial system He instituted. Yes, it was messy. Bloody. Animal sacrifices on the daily; visually repulsive. Yet, every single day, with every single sacrifice, God was turning their eyes to the innocent animal who gave its life that Israelite men, women, and children would be forgiven. Innocence slaughtered right in front of them that their sins might be paid for through the shedding of blameless blood. Every. Day. Sacrifice. Each Jew knew their sin carried a price, and every Jew knew it required a payment they could never muster on their own behalf for they were already stained with sin. Then, one day, outside of Jerusalem, the perfect Lamb of God offered Himself as the once and for all sacrifice to cover every sin and bind back every shame. God Himself lay slain on the altar of sacrifice. Whether you’ve long walked with Jesus, you’ve just begun, or you have lots of questions about faith, we must each decide what we will do today with such an immense sacrifice from such a lavishly loving God. Will we give Him our sin? Will we surrender the shame we carry? What will you surrender to the Slain, Resurrected Lamb of God?

3) Yesterday’s Journey Study begins, “A friend made a sign for me that said, “You are enough”. She meant to encourage me to not feel burdened to live up to another’s expectations. It sounds great, but not one of us is enough on our own, least of all me.” We all have areas of our lives we feel pretty great about. We’ve put in hard work and determination. We’ve made significant changes and grown in big ways. We want a stamp of approval, like the sign “You Are Enough”, emblazoned across our investment. What are those areas for you? While I strongly advocate for personal growth and I champion hard work and dedication (just ask my high schoolers J), Marietta’s words ring true, “…not one of us is enough on our own…” Perhaps you’ve also seen this at play in other areas of your life. No matter how hard you try, it still seems impossible to meet an expectation or climb that ladder of success. As you consider your experiences with this, allow these struggles to remind you we are each hopelessly far away from attaining our own righteousness, our own deep satisfaction, or our eternal salvation without Jesus Christ. He who came to sacrifice Himself and set us eternally free is the Only One Who Is Enough. The best part? He gives His own enough to each of us when we surrender to Him! Cease your striving, Sister, let His enough become your own.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Philippians 2:5-8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when He had come as a man,
8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.

Prayer Journal
Oh Lord my God, how small I am often tempted to make You. Fashioning You in my mind to dwell only within a small box of my own making. How quick I am to imagine myself as able to avoid Your divine all-knowing, free to live my own life and be my own deity. Inflating myself, I make You lower. Lord, break my heart free from the folly of following myself! My chains to myself are many. Lust. Pride. Control. Self-satisfaction. Hard work. Gossip. Bitterness. Manipulation. Negativity. Self-promotion. Lord God, these are sins, every last one of them and many more. Slay them in my heart, Lord Jesus, making Yourself Lord in their space. Rule and reign with all freedom as You help me give ground where idols once rose high in my heart. Teach me full surrender here at the cross where You, the God of all, gave Your own full surrender to rescue me. Un-fathom-able LOVE. What grace. What mercy to free me from myself. Let it be so, Lord Jesus, let it be so. Amen and Amen.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Enough Day 15 Promised Land Restored

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 13
Isaiah 65:17-25
Philippians 2:5-11
Revelation 21:1-8
Revelation 22

Enough, Day 15

A friend made a sign for me reading, “You are enough.” She meant to encourage me not to feel burdened to live up to anyone else’s expectations. It sounds great, but not one of us is enough on our own, least of all me.

“You are enough” sounds easy and available for our immediate gratification.
But let’s not settle for the immediacy of what we can muster up
when what God has promised is glorious.

You see, God is love. He is worthy. He is Lord.
God is enough.

Any hope we have should be placed in Him, not ourselves. He alone can satisfy our every desire, heal every broken place, give us victory, and gather us to live with Him forever. Only He can fulfill every promise.

I know I’ve made some lofty statements here. But friends, they aren’t mine. They are God’s, breathed into the hearts and minds of men, and penned on the pages of the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16) Shall we explore a little?

God is love.
1 Corinthians 13 gives us a picture of biblical love, explaining love is patient. Furthermore, 2 Peter 3: 9 tells us God is patiently waiting to fulfill His remaining promises, so more people may repent and join Him in heaven. Y’all, it’s been over 2000 years since Jesus came. Patient? Check.

We also see love is kind and not self-seeking. During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, taught thousands, raised the dead, forgave sins and most importantly, died on the cross to conquer sin and death! Yet, He didn’t go around announcing His miracles and acts of kindness. In fact, He usually instructed people not to speak of their interactions. (Luke 8:56 and Matthew 8:4)

1 Corinthians 13:6 says love rejoices in truth. In the New Testament, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth” over 70 times!

Clearly, God is love.

God is worthy.
There are many verses I could point to, but I’ve settled on two. First is John 1:1-5, where we learn:

  •     God is eternal
  •     Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit created everything.
  •     Jesus is the light of men and cannot be overcome by darkness

Then, there’s Revelation 5. Verse 12 gives us a glimpse of the throne room of heaven when the Lamb (Jesus) takes the scroll, thousands upon thousands of angels, the living creatures, and the elders will loudly say, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

In verse 13, we see “every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth on the
sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

I can’t add anything to this. Quite simply and wonderfully, He is worthy!

Jesus is Lord.
God could have saved us from our sin and from death any way He wanted; He chose to send His Son, Jesus, to die for us on the cross.

Because Jesus was obedient to do the Father’s will,
“God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth —
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

And when we reach the end times, written on the robe and thigh of Jesus will be His name “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” (Revelation 19:16)

Speaking of the end times, did you realize they bring fulfillment of an early promise God made to Abraham? God promised Abraham would be the father of many nations, but He also promised actual land. However, because God’s perspective is eternal, there is an even greater land we’ve been promised! Revelation 21:1-8 tells us of the “land” where God will dwell for the rest of eternity with “those written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

In this New Heaven and New Earth, we find:

Gather us to live with Him forever? Check.
Abraham never saw the extent of the land he was promised, but his offspring did. Now we can wait expectantly with the hope of God’s eternal Promised Land.

Friends, I hope you feel the same longing as Abraham. While we wait on the God who is enough, let’s get to know Him better. Let’s share Him with others, so they, too, will be in the Lamb’s book of life.

This world we live in is hard, but it’s not our real home. Can we agree to live in anticipation of the glorious day when everything is restored and we are eternally and blamelessly in the presence of our holy God? Let it be so.

Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Enough Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Enough Day 14 Sacrificial Lamb: 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 Sacrificial Lamb!

The Questions

1) What boasting is Paul referencing in verse 6?

2) Why does Paul care about cleaning out leaven (yeast) and new batches of dough? (verse 7)

3) What feast are we to be observing? (verse 8)

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Original Intent

1) What boasting is Paul referencing in verse 6?
When we read Scripture, it’s extremely important we first read for context. What does the whole passage say? What is the main point? If we fail to do this, we will quite likely run away with a poor understanding of Scripture, of God, and even ourselves. Then we try to apply this mis-alignment to our lives and end up with a mess! The church in Corinth, who first received Paul’s letters we’ve cleverly dubbed “1 & 2 Corinthians” had major issues. They had serious conflict, bad beliefs, and were known for blatant sins that ran counter to Christ and His gospel of love and unity. Yet, they still felt justified in boasting about how great they were doing. Paul’s admonishment was meant to sternly call them out for their lack of love and inconsistency in holding to truth and what it really meant to follow Jesus as His Church. In this specific instance, a man was committing a gross sexual sin by sleeping with his father’s wife, an action not even condoned by Corinthian culture outside the Church. Yet, inside the church, they boasted on how loving they were by not calling this man out for his blatant hypocrisy and sin as he claimed to follow Jesus and love people. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2) They felt they were doing the right thing by ignoring this man’s sin. It’s also very important to note that Paul makes a distinction in verses 9-13; he did not intend believers in the church to cast judgement on people who were not Christ-followers. “I did not mean the immoral people of this world (…); otherwise you would have to leave the world!” Christians are not meant to judge those outside the church, only God can do that! “For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? (…) God judges outsiders.” (verses 12-13)

2) Why does Paul care about cleaning out leaven (yeast) and new batches of dough? (verse 7)
We don’t use the word “leaven” much in today’s world, but it refers to yeast one would use in baking. Why does Paul care about yeast? Well, he actually didn’t; he knew his audience understood “yeast” to be a symbol for “sin”. In the Old Testament, God had commanded His people to rid their houses of yeast as they prepared for Passover, a special festival commemorating God’s rescue of Israel from slavery to the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:14-20) When Paul states, “Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?” (verse 6), he wasn’t trying to mock them for their lack of scientific understanding. Rather, he was illustrating the extreme potency of sin and its deadly affects. If Christ’s Church was like a batch of dough, even a small bit of sin (yeast) would quickly spread throughout the dough. Because the Corinthian church understood yeast to be a metaphor for sin, Paul’s point was abundantly clear, they could not just “ignore” sin within their local church body for eventually, the entire church would be consumed with sin. No one would hold them accountable for their sin because everyone would just “accept” a lower standard and justify each other’s sinfulness. Paul instructed the Corinthians to “clean out the old leaven” by confronting sin within their churches. He reminds them they are indeed a “new, unleavened batch” (verse 7) because Christ has died for them, declaring them righteous! Jesus paid for their sin, so they should respond by fleeing from it and following Christ in living holy lives that honor Him together as a whole church. Out of great love for one another and gratefulness to Jesus, they should encourage each other to reject sin’s allure and run instead toward the life of fullness offered in Christ.

3) What feast are we to be observing? (verse 8)
Imagine the churches of Corinth gathering together in the homes where they regularly met for worship and preaching to listen to Paul’s letter. Jews, Gentiles, men, women, and children all came together under the freedom Christ had come to give them. This was the New Testament church! They had complex lives with countless temptations to sin, worship idols, and pressure to achieve more just like us today. The Jews present, who were probably fewer than the Gentiles, were as familiar with Torah (Old Testament) Law as the back of their hand. Though the Gentiles hadn’t grown up with God’s Law, they were still familiar with Jewish practices, sacrifices, and feasts because they played such a prevalent cultural role. When Paul wrote, “Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us observe the feast…” (verses 7-8), everyone listening immediately understood the connection between Christ and the Passover lamb. Christ was the One crucified on a Roman cross and resurrected from the grave three days later. The Passover lamb was the animal slain every year by every Jewish family during the Passover feast which commemorated God’s rescue of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Paul was tying these two together as the same symbol. Christ had become the Passover Lamb. Once Paul made this clear, he urged the churches to go out and live everyday lives in light of this incredible sacrifice. “Therefore, let us observe the feast…” The audience recognized the feast as Passover, but Paul wanted them to go deeper and understand that feasting was now meant to encompass the whole of the Christian life. Believers were now to feast on Christ as the Bread of Life (John 6:35) who has no sin in Him and calls those who trust Him to also leave behind all sin (yeast).

Everyday Application

1) What boasting is Paul referencing in verse 6?
It’s so easy to justify ourselves, isn’t it? Or maybe it’s just me who is always running ahead with ready defenses for every action, thought, or word. I’d much rather point to the shiny, pretty things I’ve done and completely ignore those sinful patterns I keep right on living with. Shockingly, I was given another opportunity to confront my sin just a few days ago as my husband expressed his frustration with how I consistently interacted with him. Regardless of the suggestion, dream, or feeling he shared with me, I was oh so quick to shut him down with my own counter opinion or critique. As he talked with me about his frustration, the Lord opened my eyes and I realized my husband was right. I was stuck in a pattern of criticism and harshness, but I had justified my attitude and sharp words toward him as me being allowed to have my own voice. Expressing myself was never the issue, my willingness to listen and encourage him was where I was deeply lacking. I’m sure Paul’s sharp words were hard for the Corinthians to hear; facing our sin is generally painful. As difficult as it was, I am so grateful for my husband’s willingness to point out my sinful pattern and for the Spirit enabling me to recognize how I wasn’t loving my husband despite my lengthy list of justifications. Where is the Lord pointing out your sin patterns? Resist the urge to boast in your justification and surrender to His conviction! Maybe you see sin habits in a brother or sister who loves Jesus. Make the loving choice and confront them, calling them to recognize their sin and turn away from it! Our churches desperately need believers to hold each other accountable to following Jesus and loving others! 

2) Why does Paul care about cleaning out leaven (yeast) and new batches of dough? (verse 7)
How often do you think about “getting rid of” the sin in your life? Probably not often! If we look at our sin patterns, we can feel overwhelmed and weighed down with impossibility of breaking comfortable habits. We choose to sin because it’s easy and we enjoy it, but we like it because we have forgotten the far greater delight of following the ways of the Lord. Psalm 119 is FULL of declarations on how joy-full (Psalm 119:14-16), wise (Psalm 119:23-24), life-giving (Psalm 119:25), freeing (Psalm 119:45), and even delicious (Psalm 119:103) the commands of the Lord are to His people who follow them. Proverbs says the path of those who reject wisdom leads to death. (Proverbs 2:19) Paul knew, and had experienced in his own life, that Jesus was always the Better, which is why, when writing to confront the Corinthians of their sin, he turned their focus onto the Sacrificial Lamb. (verse 7) Only when we keep Christ, His love, and His sacrifice that we could never repay in focus, do we become repulsed by our sin instead of drawn toward it. When you think of “getting rid of sin” in your life, begin in prayer and ask the Lord to show you His glory, goodness, and righteousness. As we gaze on Him, His Spirit will stir within us a far greater love for God than for our sin. Only in Jesus do we have victory to break the deadly pattern of sin in our everyday lives! (Romans 7:24-25)

3) What feast are we to be observing? (verse 8)
We don’t have the same contextual benefit the first New Testament churches had when they read Paul’s letters. Most of us don’t celebrate all the Jewish festivals, and we have no concept of an annual Passover Lamb, let alone daily sin offerings through animal sacrifice. While the first century church had real life visuals for these concepts, 21st century believers need to work a little harder to understand the original culture and context. Nevertheless, Paul’s connection of Christ as the Passover Lamb and his urgent call for the early church to reject sin’s pull and move forward into living as God’s holy people is a message for us today! Sin isn’t a plaything, something to be ignored, or passed over as insignificant. Our sin is what cost the Savior His life. If it wasn’t for our sin, there would be no need for Jesus to sacrifice Himself on our behalf, but because He did, we are free to reject sin and love God and others around us! Consider your role in your local church body as you think about what if you had been one of the first believers in ancient Corinth. Would you hear Paul’s Spirit-led words and become an advocate for addressing sin in yourself, your family, and your church body? Would you hunger for the sinless “bread” of Christ, desiring to daily feast on Him through studying His Word and developing a deeper relationship with Him? It’s one thing to claim you’re a Christian, it’s quite another to take your relationship serious enough to leave your sin behind and feast on the holy life God has called us to enjoy together!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
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Catch up with Sacrificial Lamb!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Enough Week Three!
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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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Enough Day 13 Sacrificial Lamb

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 118
Exodus 12
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Mark 11:1-11

Enough, Day 13

“Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar!”
(Psalm 118:27)

This was the concluding chorus of King David’s praise song, preceding his final stanza, “You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will exalt You.” (Psalm 118:28)

Then, arms flung wide, inviting all to join him in praise at the Passover festival, the King shouted victoriously the timeless familiar refrain of God’s chosen people, “Oh! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:29)

Israel’s King David, known for his whole-hearted passion for God, his musical ability, his songs of celebration and laments, his sin and his forgiveness, was leading his nation in another Passover feast.

The hingepoint?
The binding of the Passover lamb.

One sacrifice, given on behalf of all, to atone for their sinfulness and free them from the slavery of sin and the cords of death.

Each Jew in attendance imagined the mighty Red Sea rolling back on itself at the command of Yahweh, so Israel could pass on dry land.

Freedom was coming, even as Pharaoh’s militia followed them, effectively sequestering them between two death traps, the sea or the army.

I can imagine Israel’s intensifying fear coiling within them. Mamas, hushing babies as their own tears flowed and panic pounded in their ears. Fathers, knowing they were helpless, pushed their families behind them, certain there would be no mercy from Egypt’s finest soldiers.

Israel knew these faces.
They’d seen them every day.

These Egyptians didn’t just ride chariots and fight Pharaoh’s battles; their hands held whips and their voices laughed as Jewish blood spilled under their abuse. These were the taskmasters. These were the men who spit on the Israelites and cruelly dictated every aspect of their lives.

Freedom from this nightmare seemed utterly impossible, until one afternoon Moses announced Yahweh had heard His people’s cries.
Mercy was coming.

But now, with desert sands quaking beneath them from the thunder of oncoming horses’ hooves, mercy seemed like a cruel joke. Where was Yahweh now? Where was His great freedom? Death from the sea on one side. Death from the ruthless Egyptian army on the other.

Then, in one unthinkable act, the Lord breathed a pathway through the Sea while His cloud moved to block the army, lavishing an entire nation of runaway slaves with incredible mercy.

In the place where Death had reigned, mercy ruled.

“Lord, save us!
Lord, please grant us success!
He who comes in the name
of the Lord is blessed.” (Psalm 118:25-26)

Hundreds of years after the Red Sea victory, David’s voice carried across the nation sprawling before him on Passover, his words a prescient echo of centuries beyond, when another crowd gathered before another King.

Palm branches waved, excitement electrified the atmosphere, and the same prophetic words reverberated through the air, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” (Mark 11:9)

Victory seemingly swelled, but the cheering participants were oblivious to the pervasive Death around them. Two Death Traps.

Death was the rightful consequence, earned like a paycheck, for even one sidestep from God’s standard of righteousness. And sins were aplenty. Lies, gossip, lusting hearts, and manipulative tongues named only a few.

An impassable chasm stood on one side, separating every person, of every color, every language, every gender, every sin from the glory of freedom and delight found only in the presence of the God of everlasting, enduring love.

On the other? Eternal Death. Unending darkness, unceasing punishment, and the fullness of God’s wrath poured out without pause for grace or mercy.

Mankind was hopelessly caught between Death on either side; yet freedom was coming.
In one unthinkable act, God Himself left His rightful glory and humbled Himself to stand between the ones He loved and the relentless onslaught of Death’s fury.

“Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar!” (Psalm 118:27)

Impossibly, the sacrifice of God Himself was bound to a Roman tool of unthinkable torture.
His blood spilled to pay for our sin. Mercy had come.

Mercy to take the eternal blow of death.
Freedom unleashed as Christ’s once-dead body flooded with the warmth of life.
Death lost and Life won as Christ rose to victoriously conquer the grave, forever.

Mercy ruled where Death once snarled.

“There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the righteous:
‘The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!
The Lord’s right hand is raised.
The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!’”
(Psalm 118:15-16)

The Lord God had done, again, what mankind could never accomplish. Just as He forged the path of mercy through the Red Sea, so He paid the consequence of Death in His own body, allowing Himself to be bound as the Sacrificial Lamb. In His offering, He became the gate of Life, declaring “righteous” all who enter through Him, trusting Him as their sacrifice on their behalf.

By the blood of the Sacrificial Lamb of God, we are emancipated from the slavery of Sin’s whip, shame, mockery, and reign to run forever free in the rich flood of Christ’s unabashed mercy and love. And so my lips will ever shout King David’s refrain,

“I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the Lord has done!”
(Psalm 118:17)

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