Forgiven

Worship X Day 15 The Eternal One

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 10:1-18
Matthew 8:23-27
Psalm 73:23-28
Psalm 32:6-8

Worship X, Day 15

Thomas O. Chilsolm is the author of Great is Thy Faithfulness, the hymn we’ve been unpacking in this Journey Theme. Converted to Christ during a revival service, Chilsolm went to work for the Pentecostal Herald. He later became ordained with the Methodist Episcopal church and wrote an astonishing 1200 poems, having more than eight hundred of them published in various periodicals.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at the third verse of his poem-turned-hymn:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with 10,000 beside
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

Pardon For Sin
In the Old Testament, the Lord instructed the Jews to obtain forgiveness for their sins by bringing offerings to sacrifice on the altar at the temple. (Leviticus 16) However, Hebrews 10:1-4 explains these sacrifices only served as a temporary placeholder, needing to be repeated again and again as people continued to sin. That’s where Jesus came in, paying the price for your sin and mine, once and for all time:

“But this man [Jesus], after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. [. . .] For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:12-14)

Therefore, the apostle and preacher Peter made a great call for repentance, found in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Peter’s words echo through the centuries, urging each of us to experience the transformative power of repentance and seeking forgiveness from God.

A Peace That Endureth
With this pardon for sin, we can rest in God’s peace which will endure. In the Old Testament, both David and Gideon found peace in God, despite harrowing circumstances. (Judges 6:23-24; Psalm 4:8)

In the New Testament, three Gospel writers share an example of how great the Prince of Peace, Jesus, truly is by describing how He calmed a storm at sea. (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25) We can rest in the assurance that our God, Who calmed a storm in the middle of a sea, is ever-present with us through our storms.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

Thine Own Dear Presence To Cheer
When we walk in the peace and the presence of God, we have an awareness of Him.
“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

The knowledge that He’s with us has a way of cheering our souls.
“But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge[.]” (Psalm 73:28)

And To Guide
Just as Gideon was given instruction by God to outwit the Midianite army (Judges 7:12-23) and Pilate’s wife was aware God spoke to her in a dream about Christ (Matthew 27:15-19), God continues to guide His people today.

“I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
With my eye on you, I will give counsel.” (Psalm 32:8)

Strength For Today And Bright Hope For Tomorrow
David, a young shepherd, had the strength to fight the militant giant Goliath, simply because David knew God was bigger than any giant, and he acted on that faith. (1 Samuel 17) Today, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives gives us divine strength.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.” (Ephesians 6:10)

With Christ as our Savior, we have a glorious Hope for tomorrow!

Blessings All Mine With 10,000 Beside
It’s easy to mistakenly consider blessings as only that which is tangible, costly: a large house, a boat, a seven-figure income. And these certainly can be blessings, but what if there’s much more to blessings? What if the blessings God has given us can’t be measured by financial cost? 

Consider the blessings of our children actively seeking the Lord.
Or a family member set free from addiction.
What if the blessings of the Lord are found in breath for another day?

Even in the midst of trials, if we focus on Him, we can see all the blessings He lavishly bestows.
His transforming forgiveness and peace,
His unending presence and guidance,
His unfailing strength and hope.
When we survey these many blessings, we can join Thomas Chilsolm in worshiping, “Great is Your faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

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Worship X Day 12 From Eternity To Eternity: 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 From Eternity To Eternity!

The Questions

1) How do forgiveness and healing tie together to display God’s benefits? (verse 3)

2) What does it mean to be redeemed from the Pit and how does it showcase the blessings of God? (verse 4)

3) What definition of satisfaction and “good things” are intended by the author? (verse 5)

4) Are the benefits of God only given to those who obey? (verse 17-18)

Psalm 103

1 My soul, bless the Lord,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 My soul, bless the Lord,
and do not forget all his benefits.

3 He forgives all your iniquity;
he heals all your diseases.
4 He redeems your life from the Pit;
he crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
5 He satisfies you with good things;
your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6 The Lord executes acts of righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He revealed his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us
or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his faithful love
toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows what we are made of,
remembering that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass—
he blooms like a flower of the field;
16 when the wind passes over it, it vanishes,
and its place is no longer known.
17 But from eternity to eternity
the Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear him,
and his righteousness toward the grandchildren
18 of those who keep his covenant,
who remember to observe his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Bless the Lord,
all his angels of great strength,
who do his word,
obedient to his command.
21 Bless the Lord, all his armies,
his servants who do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works
in all the places where he rules.
My soul, bless the Lord!

Original Intent

1) How do forgiveness and healing tie together to display God’s benefits? (verse 3)
David’s psalm expounds on the blessing of receiving God’s benefits and he praises Him for these. (verses 1-2) David knew when he focused on blessing the Lord, he was aligning his heart with worship and inviting others to do the same. (verses 20-22) The first two blessings of David’s psalm are God’s forgiveness and healing. (verse 3) David had experienced the Lord’s forgiveness in a very personal way on many occasions, but most notably in the aftermath of his sin with Bathsheba. He not only committed adultery with her, but abandoned his job, manipulated others to cover his tracks, and committed murder. While David suffered the consequence of losing his firstborn son (2 Samuel 12:13-14), he understood God’s mercy on him. (Psalm 51) For many cases of sin, the Old Testament law allowed blood sacrifices to be made at the temple to pay for sin. God initiated this system to create a visual for the cost of death required for sin. However, it could be easy for sinners to reduce forgiveness to a simple exchange without true repentance and heart change. Simply bring a sacrificial offering to expunge your sin, and escape God’s wrath and righteous judgment for your sin. With an attitude like this, the offender missed how God was also healing their relationship with Him by offering forgiveness. Every sin separates us from the Holy God; His forgiveness offered because of a required blood sacrifice brought healing to the relationship. However, God did not limit His healing to relationships, but also brought physical healing as a demonstration of His good character and love. Much like He would later do in the New Testament, and even today, God extended healing to display His glory and bless His people. (Exodus 15:26, Psalm 147:2-3, Jeremiah 30:17)

2) What does it mean to be redeemed from the Pit and how does it showcase the blessings of God? (verse 4)
Verse 4 sings of God’s benefits, “He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion.” In Old Testament time, Israelites didn’t have the benefit of reading the New Testament’s details on afterlife, but there was an understanding that God was ruler of life and death. (Daniel 12:2-3) Sheol, or the Pit, were common names for a “holding place” after death, much like we would say “grave”. Both wicked (Psalm 9:17, Psalm 31:17) and righteous (Genesis 37:5, Psalm 16:10) were held here. (Got Questions) To be declared righteous in the Old Testament required strict adherence to Old Testament Law, which included the Ten Commandments. When someone failed to follow the law, a blood sacrifice was required to pay for their transgression. Ultimately, Israelites understood it was God’s sacrificial system, and it was He who showed mercy when they sinned. It was only God who could redeem them. While David was certainly singing about God’s eternal redemption of souls from the dead in verse 4, he was also likely recalling God’s deliverance from Israel’s slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 13-14) David ties together the benefits of redemption from death with God’s faithful love and compassion, for God’s redemption is made possible because of God’s unchanging character. God is, and always has been, a God of faithful love. (1 John 4:16, Psalm 136) From creation, His love for humanity is displayed as He provided for every need with magnificent wisdom with His greatest show of love at Adam and Eve’s sinful rebellion. He could have justifiably killed Adam and Eve and started over; instead, He performed the first blood sacrifice by killing His own creation to provide a covering for them. (Genesis 3:21) Yes, He banished them from the Garden and they suffered consequences but He still protected them and provided for them.

3) What definition of satisfaction and “good things” are intended by the author? (verse 5)
David had learned the lesson of delighting in the goodness of the Lord and he often wove the beauty of this benefit into his psalms. (Psalm 34:8-10, Psalm 107:5-9) He knew nothing else would satisfy him but Jehovah Himself, the Giver of all good things. (Psalm 103:5, James 1:17) In his life, David had looked in many places for satisfaction, often falling into sin in his efforts. Still, he always returned to the God who had never ceased His faithful love and benefit toward him; God became the steadfast source of satisfaction, leaving all other desires as meaningless in comparison. (Psalm 42) In verse 5, David chose language the prophet Isaiah would later echo to describe the strength of the Lord’s goodness. He likens an eagle to the strong renewal and restoration found in the good satisfaction of the Lord. (Isaiah 40:31) Like most birds, eagles molt, but for the eagle, it is like a second wind and a new beginning. David knew to Whom he could run to begin again and find vitality and strength.

4) Are the benefits of God only given to those who obey? (verse 17-18)
David’s words on blessing for the obedient in verse 18 are a common theme in the Old Testament. “The Lord’s faithful love is toward those who fear Him.” (Deuteronomy 7:9) “Of those who keep His covenant and observe His precepts.” (Psalm 25:10) Blessings came to those who obeyed the Lord, which was often evidenced by physical blessings like wealth, land, or descendants. (Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 13:14-17) These blessings were a precursor to the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the New Testament, where the greatest of all blessing would be given, God Himself living within His people. In the New Testament, the focus of blessing shifts from tangible to spiritual. Jesus promised His followers they would have trouble and persecution for following Him. (John 16:33) Understanding this Old Testament mindset helps us understand David’s words more fully. Even still, David and many others in his time, understood the greatest blessing came not from temporary benefits but from an eternal relationship with Yahweh. Many in the Old Testament evidenced this deeper relationship as they walked with God like Elisha, Elijah, and Moses. Others communicated with God, but were mostly hearers of the word, not involved in a personal relationship with The Eternal Word. Largely, the average Israelite’s lifestyle revolved around obeying the Torah, which are the first five books of the Old Testament containing God’s Laws. Keep in mind, the Holy Spirit did not live inside them to actively engage, teach, and equip them to follow Him and, more importantly, know Him deeply. God displayed His faithful love toward those who faithfully obeyed Him. Knowing this helps us tremendously in understanding their perspective on blessing and obedience. Because of the example of those who went beyond obeying the Lord to knowing Him, we glimpse the greater blessing is the Lord Himself! It’s not just about obedience, but about a relationship with Him!

Everyday Application

1) How do forgiveness and healing tie together to display God’s benefits? (verse 3)
Benefiting from God’s forgiveness in the 21st century looks nothing like sacrificing animals under the Old Testament system. We have forgiveness in Christ Jesus, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) when He spilled His blood on a tree and took our curse of sin and its consequence of death. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:13) If we repent of sin and surrender our hearts and lives to Him, accepting His offer of complete payment for our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us. (1 John 1:9). God’s eternal healing of our relationship that was torn because of our sin is offered to us because of Jesus! God also physically heals today, but there are many times He doesn’t. Either way, we can be confident His ways are for our ultimate good and His glory; He is neither cruel nor haphazard. (Romans 8:28) When God doesn’t physically heal us, His good character isn’t negated. He has a plan and sometimes earthly healing isn’t part of that plan; His wisdom is boundless and wrapped in goodness and love. (Proverbs 2:1-10) Even the disciples couldn’t always heal people. (Mark 9:28) Paul himself was plagued by a ‘thorn in the flesh’.  The Lord used Paul to preach the gospel around the world and used his letters to speak to believers for generations to come. Even so, God didn’t heal him. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) As long as we live in a broken world, we will suffer from disease and illness. Whether He heals us or not, God is merciful through every aspect, never abandoning us. (Isaiah 41:9-10)

2) What does it mean to be redeemed from the Pit and how does it showcase the blessings of God? (verse 4)
Sometimes we think of redemption as taking revenge for a wrong done against us or someone we love. This, however, isn’t a biblical definition of redemption from God’s perspective. The original word for redemption literally means “to buy back”. Sin earns us a place of eternal death, and we become slaves to Sin and Death. The author of Hebrews writes, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. (Hebrews 9:22) Christ shed His blood to redeem us by paying the blood debt we owe for our sin. He buys us back from the grip of sin and sets us free to obey and enjoy Him forever! Sister, even now, He has redeemed your life from the Pit! He has redeemed you from eternal death and instead offers you eternal life. His compassionate, faithful love has compelled Him to offer Himself for you, and to hold Himself out to you in spite of your sinful rebellion. If we come to Him, accept His gift, and surrender ourselves to Him by calling Him our Lord and Savior, He “crowns you with faithful love and compassion”. We become His; we become the redeemed. Only a merciful, compassionate God would humble Himself to give up His life for us, the rebellious ones. (John 15:13) He loves us like a Father, adopting us as His own if we will throw ourselves upon Him in faith. (Romans 8:14-17) Christ loves the Church (all believers) like a bridegroom; we are His bride! (Revelation 19:7) While we wait for the marriage supper in Heaven (Revelation 19:9), we can rest and bask in His love on Earth.

3) What definition of satisfaction and “good things” are intended by the author? (verse 5)
Like David, and the rest of humanity, we are never fully satisfied in life. We are always striving, always seeking, perpetually chasing new, better, different, and more wonderful.  We may sense a fleeting satisfaction in our lives at any given moment of pleasure, temporary peace, a “job well done” accomplishment, or simply a “good day”.  We can all attest, however, none of these wonderful sensations last very long. The relationship hits a snag, the finances bottom out, the dynamics change at work, or we feel unsatisfied in the monotony of life. This emptiness, and the nagging longing for more reveals a hole in our spirit only the Lord Jesus Christ has the ability and fullness to satisfy completely. Blaise Pascal, a 17th century mathematician, called it a “God shaped hole”.  No job, however successful, no relationship, however fulfilling, no ______fill-in-the-blank-anything, no matter how good, will ever fill the void that only a relationship with Christ Himself can satisfy. If you are struggling with the raw edges of this emptiness but cast it off thinking you are “fine” and don’t need anyone or anything else, I urge you, look deeper. This hole in your spirit is meant to be filled to overflowing. God, who is rich in mercy and faithful love, will answer your need to fill it up if you call out to Him. (Psalm 23:6, Jeremiah 33:3)

4) Are the benefits of God only given to those who obey? (verse 17-18)
Christ came to fulfill the law, perfectly obeying it for us because it’s impossible for us to be perfect in obedience. (Romans 8:3-4) While Jesus provided many examples of what living for Him looked like, He was actively flipping the mindset tables for Israel. A relationship with God no longer needed to be attained through obedience to the Law, the Law’s requirements had been fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17) When pressed by experts of the Law on which law was the most important, Jesus spoke of loving God and loving others. (Matthew 22:35-40) The relationship that was missed by so many in the Old Testament, but was accessible through the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is available to you and I because of Jesus. This is why Christ gave Himself on the cross for our redemption. His payment for our sin was not only to rescue us from sin’s consequence of eternal death and give us eternal life (John 3:16-17), but to give us direct access to a deeply satisfying relationship with Him. He did this by sending His Spirit to actively live inside all who put their trust in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. The Spirit is our constant Comforter and wise Teacher for He is God Himself! He is available to us! Today, in this moment, all who follow Christ have the power to walk with God because He walks with us! We can talk with Him now because His presence never leaves and His ear is ever compassionately bent to hear. And if we listen closely enough, learning His rhythms and His voice through His word, He will speak to us. No greater benefit exists, certainly nothing like land or inheritance can surpass the blessing of knowing and intimately speaking with the Lord God!

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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!

Digging Deeper Community

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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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The GT Weekend! ~ Sacrifice 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) Sarah kicked off our final week of Sacrifice with a powerful story about forgiveness. She demonstrated how the forgiveness we receive from Jesus can lead to personal forgiveness toward others. As she walked us through the Bible, unpacking the path from animal sacrifice to the sacrifice of our Savior on our behalf, how did you personally connect to the purpose of sacrifice? Journal your thoughts and prayers on how this sacrificial thread has affected your life. Looking at Ephesians 2, which is where we find our memory verse, we can see clearly that without the sacrifice of the cross, we would be eternally lost. God’s love for us is so great that Christ paid the highest price to win us to freedom, peace, and belonging. With whom can you share this great truth? Write down their name and share your story with them, giving them a glimpse into the gospel. Check out the Journey Theme, Gospel, to help ground you understanding “the Gospel in one verse” in John 3:16.

2) One of my favorite worship songs is “Mercy Seat”, which describes how believers in Jesus have freedom to run to the mercy seat and find God’s presence, grace, and mercy. In the Old Testament, the “mercy seat” was a physical part of the Ark of the Covenant, the place where God would “meet” with His people. In the New Testament, that physical mercy seat has been replaced by the constant spiritual presence of God’s Spirit living within all who place their faith in Him. Jesus has made one sacrifice for all sin, replacing the Old Testament’s animal sacrificial system. Because of His sacrifice, we who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior have victory over sin and death as well as the constant presence of God’s Spirit within us. The mercy seat dwells in us! Write a prayer of praise and thanks for the daily ability to access the mercy seat. Journal how God’s mercy has impacted you. Choose a second person and share your journal entry with them. Invite them to either share their own story of God’s mercy or to gain access by praying to the Lord Jesus as Carol led us at the close of her Journey Study, “One Sacrifice”.

3) On home renovation shows everyone gets excited about demo day as the old is torn down to make way for something new and better. Our spiritual Demo Day is no different. To be made new and become more Christlike, the old must go. This means leaving behind our old sinful ways and surrendering our lives to God’s transformative plans. Lori encouraged us to pray a simple, but sometimes scary, prayer of surrender “God, break my heart for what breaks Yours.” Did you do it? If not, write it in your journal, pray it aloud and keep track of what God does with your prayer of faith. It’s not easy to walk the road of surrender, but we’re reminded in Paul’s letter to the Galatians that it is an important and necessary road we must walk. So let’s do that! As we conclude our Journey Into Sacrifice, do a quick review of the entire study and journal about which day impacted you most and why. How can you more effectively live out what you learned from that day? How can you sacrifice your time to bring others awareness of the greatest sacrifice ever made as Jesus gave His life on the cross?

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 Ephesians 4:20-24 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

But that is not how you came to know Christ, assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, to take off, your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on, the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

Prayer Journal
Lord today I pray a simple prayer, “Break my heart for what breaks Yours”. There is no way, Lord, for me to surrender my life to You in this way and not be changed. I will not be able to hold onto my old selfish, sinful ways if I am giving every part of my life over to You. Let me see and respond to others the way You do. Help me respond to situations the way You would. Transform my heart to be more like Yours. May it be so Lord for Your glory.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sacrifice Day 13 One Sacrifice

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 2:5-8  
2 Corinthians 5:17-2
Leviticus 16:2
Hebrews 10:19-22

Sacrifice, Day 13

The priest arrives early to the temple. As he enters the courtyard with the others, the noise from the animals waiting beyond the gate sets him on edge.

If he is honest with himself, he began the day on edge.

This morning, his wife was unusually quiet. He remembered her tightly drawn mouth as she helped him on with his priests’ robe and shawl, as if she was willing herself not to speak. She was spending too much time listening to rumors; surely, she must understand he had nothing to do with what was happening outside the city gates.

Here comes the lamb.
The handlers bring the animal closer for inspection. The priest looks it over. Not a blemish upon it. He nods to the handlers.
He looks to the altar, plates ready to receive what is left of the sacrifice. Levites are ready to complete that task.
He walks up the steps to The Holy Place, counting them, trying to focus on the duties at hand. He lights the candles and incense, hoping the aromas bring him an extra measure of peace.

He begins down the steps, pauses.
At once he feels the atmosphere change, and abruptly the sky grows dark. A hush falls over everyone in the inner court.
A sound like nothing he has ever heard before echoes behind him and he turns back to The Holy Place. The curtain! The veil–separating his priestly place of sacrifice from the cloud of God’s presence–is ripping before his very eyes. (Matthew 27:51) He gasps and falls to his knees, pressing his face to the ground. The curtain has been split in two, from top to bottom. Life, as he knows it, is finished. (John 19:30)

The curtain in The Holy Place was four inches (10 cm) thick, 60 ft (18 m) tall, and 30 ft (9 m) wide. Splitting the woven linen from top to bottom was humanly impossible.

But why was it split? And what does it mean?

The plan of blood sacrifice began in Eden, to cover Adam and Eve’s first sin. As we’ve seen  throughout this Journey Theme, sacrifice played an important role in the ongoing relationship between God and His people.

Sacrifice would be a regular part of religious life for Israel following their miraculous rescue from bondage in Egypt. (Exodus 11-12) On the eve of their departure, God established the sacrificial rite of Passover.

That first Passover night, God was making a way for freedom from physical bondage.

As the people of Israel began life after Egyptian enslavement, blood sacrifice became a measure of escape from the bondage to sin. 

The priests became the only people permitted to perform the sacrifices, which needed to be repeated, because they couldn’t offer complete redemption. (Hebrews 9:6-10) People were not brought into relationship with God Himself; He remained separate, His physical presence among them hidden behind the curtain in the temple. (Leviticus 16:2)Until Jesus took the role of High Priest and Sacrifice. Redeemer and Savior.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus–he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)– and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith[.]” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Jesus became the final, atoning sacrifice, the embodiment of God working to bring His sin-stained children to Himself.
“Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

Jesus’ one sacrifice covered the sins of every person, across the world, for all time.

“He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

The eternal penalty for our sin was paid.
The path to a full, restored relationship with the Father was opened. (John 10:7-9)
At the very moment Jesus gave up His last breath, His work of purchasing salvation for humanity was finished (John 19:30), and the proof was evidenced by the Hand of the Holy One granting access to the Holiest place, His own dwelling place.
(Matthew 27:50-51, Mark 15:37-38, Luke 23:45-46)

As the tattered edges of the temple curtain fluttered in the breeze, the separation of sin between God and His children was ended.
A barrier between man and God no longer existed;
the Mercy Seat was exposed and available to all.

In three days, Jesus would rise to life again in victory over sin (Matthew 28), and soon after, He would send His very Spirit to live within His people. (Acts 2)

I am so grateful for the people in my life who helped me realize I needed a savior, and pointed me to my God, who loves me so much He willingly gave His life as the ultimate sacrifice for my redemption.

Sisters, His love is calling out to you, too. Today, you can turn away from your sin, toward God, and accept His gift of forgiveness and redemption!

Father, I have sinned. I believe Jesus is Your Son, God in the flesh, and His sacrificial death paid the eternal penalty for my sins. I believe in Jesus’ resurrection, and I accept Your gift of forgiveness and redemption for the complete payment of my sin. Amen.
If you prayed to receive Jesus as your personal Savior, reach out! We want to connect and celebrate with you!

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

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

Sacrifice Day 12 The Price Of Forgiveness: 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 The Price Of Forgiveness!

The Questions

 1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those far from Him?

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He do it?

Ephesians 2:11-18

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Original Intent

1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)
“Remember that at one time …” (verse 11) Ephesians is a letter from Paul written to the Christian believers in Jesus in a city which had a considerable population of Gentile (non-Jew) believers. These believers needed to be reminded of their spiritual condition before Christ’s grace rescued them. In chapter 1, Paul shared the good news with the saints by rehearsing for them what they have in Christ through faith. He told the believers they had been chosen and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God, and he prayed for them to deeply comprehend the glorious salvation which God had provided for them in the Lord Jesus. Verses 1-2 of chapter 2 begin with the stark contrast from what they have in Christ to who they once were without Christ. Paul’s words strike a solemn tone, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1-2) Paul proceeds to offer examples of just how far from God they were before they surrendered in faith to Jesus: uncircumcised, without Christ, excluded, foreigners, without hope, and without God. Circumcision was a sign of covenant that Jews had with God as a sign of His covenant with them. (Circumcision and the Covenant) Those who were not of Jewish decent would have been excluded from this special covenant had it not been for Christ! But exclusion was never the heart of God. (Galatians 3:7-9) Though He had worked in specific ways through His people, Israel, He is a God of salvation to all!

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those who are spiritually far from Him?
Since there is no bold lettering or underlined words in Scripture, we are forced to intently read the passage for the author’s intended highlights. After studying these verses, I believe Paul would have designated verse 13 as a key point with an asterisk or underline. The two-word phrase “but now” coupled with the two-word phrase “brought near” in verse 13 give us the crux and the beauty of the gospel message. It is the good news factor! Whenever there is bad news connected with the word “but”, the listener is meant to take note. Harsh words like “excluded” and “without God” are now replaced with glorious words and phrases, “…you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility …” (verses 13-14) The gracious of plan of God from the beginning was for Jesus came to earth to bring everyone near to God, including Gentiles. (Romans 15:7-13) This news was challenging and liberating to the reader. The old way of life was to no longer exist in everyday living. In its place, there was a new life of abundance to be lived out because of their acceptance of forgiveness and freedom offered only in Christ. Remembering their old life was not meant to keep them trapped in condemnation, but to remind them of who God is as their Savior and how He has set them free by His grand rescue and gift of new life.

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He choose this?
Verse 16 says Jesus “did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which He put the hostility to death.” Redemption and reconciliation were why He came. We’ve heard it said about Him: He was born to die. But there’s more! He was born to die to unite us with each other and with God. Jesus lived and died and rose again to offer all those who believe in Him a new identity. In this passage, Paul is referring to all believers as a singular group of people. Jews and Gentiles are joined as one in the one body of Jesus. Though we are each born individually into Christ at salvation (Ephesians 4:20-24), believers  are also joined with other believers, whatever  their origin, to make us all one new person in Christ. This isn’t simply us being changed into a new person; this is two groups of people becoming one Whole Body, the Church. “Early Christians called themselves a ‘third race’ or a ‘new race.’ Early Christians recognized that they were not Jews, not Gentiles, but one new man embracing all who are in Jesus.” (Enduringword.com) What a wonderful and glorious gospel Paul shares with the Ephesians and us. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord for mercy is moved from “you were” to “but God” to “so then”! (Ephesians 2:19-20)

Everyday Application

1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)
Remembering who we were, and/or would be, without Christ is essential to our daily understanding of the gospel message. Some confess Christ as their Savior and Lord as a child because their parents taught them who Jesus is and offered them an opportunity to put their faith in Him. Others come to Him because a missionary shared the truth of the gospel with them they’d never heard. Still others come from backgrounds of long-time sinful behaviors and blatant rebellion. A few even confess Christ at the very end of their lives, sincerely seeing their need for a Savior. But all of these souls are in the same predicament. And sweet sister, so are we! We all find ourselves far away from Christ because of our sin. The Bible says not one of us was born sinless. (Romans 3:22-24) We remember where we were because we want to understand the heart of God toward us. He rescued us only because of His grace. We were far away. He came to us to draw us near to God, paying the debt we were hopeless to repay, and offering us His righteousness in place of our sinfulness. And that’s the gospel! (Colossians 1:13, 2 Timothy 1:9)

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those who are spiritually far from Him?
“There is nothing we can do to make God loves us more, and there is nothing we can do to make God loves us less.” I’d heard that statement many times, even sung similar sentiments, but honestly, I didn’t really believe it because I didn’t fully grasp the work of Christ on my behalf. Although I would never have admitted it, I subtly carried the belief that my goodness somehow added to God’s favor toward me. I was a born “rule follower”; this belief in earning God’s love blinded me to my desperate need for God’s grace. I knew I sinned sometimes and needed God’s forgiveness and grace. I also understood that only one sin would keep me from God because I am a sinner. (James 2:10) But I had this sneaky suspicion God loved me most when I was good. Oh, sweet friend, how wrong I was for years! I simply couldn’t comprehend that goodness was not mine to offer to God. Being a circumcised Jew wasn’t what made Jews accepted by God and being Gentiles didn’t keep them from being accepted by God. Christ was all they needed! We need to be reminded that it is God’s work in creation and in salvation. A little boy made a boat he floated downstream, billowing way beyond his reach and out of sight. One day he saw his boat in a store window and explained to the man about his boat. As he walked out the door of the store with his boat he purchased, he declared, “Little boat, you are twice mine. First I made you, now I bought you!” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19) So it is with us as Christ made us, then paid for us, freeing us from the prison of sin and death!

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He choose this?
Jesus brought peace by bringing Himself to us. He IS our peace. It is Jesus Himself, God in the flesh, who brought reconciliation to humanity. We were God’s enemies. He still loved us and desired to rescue us from ourselves and Satan’s power. The resurrection of Jesus we celebrate at Easter is the event that disrupted the world forever. Its power was known from Heaven to Hell, and what was accomplished on the cross was timeless. Jesus’ work of salvation through His death was sufficient for all who had lived before Him and believed, for all who lived at the time of His death and believed, and for all who would believe through all time! It is Christ who draws us, Christ who saves us, and Christ who keeps our souls for eternity! (Ephesians 2:4-10)
Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One who suffered there for me.
And from my stricken heart with tears, two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
(Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with The Price Of Forgiveness!

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!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sacrifice Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

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 :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Sacrifice Day 11 The Price Of Forgiveness!

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 9:6-28
Leviticus 16:11-19
Ephesians 2:11-18

Sacrifice, Day 11

Many years ago, an American missionary based in my state of Nigeria was shot by an armed robber as he traveled to the northern part of our country. Wounded in his chest, he knew he would die; in his final moments, he placed his hand on his bloody wound, showed the robber, and said, “This blood is for your repentance; I have forgiven you.”

What a great price for forgiveness! Who can forgive so great a wrong, if not motivated by God? The missionary remembered the great price God paid to forgive him, and he extended the same to the robber, even using similar wording.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34)

God’s forgiveness was not only extended to the missionary, but to all who are willing to embrace it. God sacrificed His one and only Son as atonement for the sin of humankind, for Scripture says, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)

Since the fall of humankind, sin separated people from God, and the only way humans could approach God was through the sacrifice of animals.

God, speaking to Moses said,
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.” (Leviticus 17:11)

Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death,” and the sacrificial lifeblood protects the sinner from the consequences of sin, which are death and eternal separation from God.

But Hebrew 9:12-18 tells us an animals’ blood sacrifice was temporary, and the atonement was partial, since it had to be done repeatedly. Contrastingly, when Christ came as the high priest and entered the most holy place, He offered His own blood once and for all time, rendering future atonement unnecessary.

Jesus testified to this truth as He was dying on the cross, declaring, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Jesus’ death ended the sacrifice of the blood of bulls and goats, which is unable to cleanse humankind from their sins permanently. By His blood, we have been brought near to God. Hebrew 9:24 says, “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands [. . .] but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.”

Now, whoever believes in the atoning blood of Christ as the price for the forgiveness of his or her sins, they will be saved, rescued for eternity. Yet, I recall times of sharing the gospel when some people would respond they don’t need Jesus’ forgiveness because they had not sinned. This belief is a falsehood, because Scripture confirms, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God[.]” (Romans 3:23)

The prophet Isaiah testified,
“All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment[.]” (Isaiah 64:6)

Colossians 1:21 agrees, “Once you were alien and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.”

These passages make clear that on our own merit, we are lost, drowning in our sin.

For those who reject the gift of forgiveness, “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26)

Only the atoning blood of Christ can usher us into the presence of God.
And oh, how God longs to welcome us into His presence and fellowship with us!

Ephesians 1:5-6 tells us, “He predestined us to be adopted as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace lavished on us in the Beloved One.”

Jesus, while lamenting over Jerusalem, expressed God’s keen desire to gather His people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. (Luke 13:34)

Using imagery of living and feasting together, He expresses His desire for us to dine with Him, and Him with us. (Revelation 3:20) We who have received the covering of Christ’s righteousness through His atoning blood can confidently testify how glorious it is to fellowship with the Master of the Universe.

The psalmist confirms this abundance of joy in God’s presence. (Psalm 16:11)

In Him, we have freedom from the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13), because those the Son has set free are free indeed. (John 8:36)

Sisters, here is our hope, and the reason Jesus was willing to pay the excruciatingly high price of our forgiveness.
Our lives, once lost in sin, have been re-created in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), awaiting our acceptance of His forgiveness. ALL whose sins have been atoned for by His blood will be with Him forever when we surrender our lives back to Him.

He has gone to prepare a place for us, and one day, He will return to gather us to Himself in eternity. (John 14:3) Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

Sacrifice Day 4 Two Sacrifices: 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 Two Sacrifices!

The Questions

1) Why does Luke record the aside note in verse 9 of Jesus’ purpose in telling this parable?

2) What are the identifiable hinge points of each prayer? (verses 11-13)

3) Why are Jesus’ closing remarks so important to the whole of the story? (verse 14)

Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’

13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Original Intent

1) Why does Luke record the aside note in verse 9 of Jesus’ purpose in telling this parable?
Each gospel writer had a different, God’s Spirit-inspired motivation to record and compile their experiences with Jesus during His ministry on earth. Matthew wrote to his fellow Jews, and didn’t care much for chronological recording, but rather focused on seeing Jesus as the Promised Messiah who fulfilled every prophecy. Mark wrote with big emotion, and though his book is the shortest, it also contains more graphic detail in many accounts than the other gospels because his focus lies in highlighting Jesus’ total authority over all things, especially sin and death. John recorded his gospel from a different perspective than the other three as very few parables or miracles are recorded in his writings. His purpose was to logically lay out exactly why Jesus is both Lord and Savior; John prompts us to deep faith. Luke, as the longest gospel writer, intends to provide as much thorough, eye-witness confirmed information in a clear chronological order as possible. Luke, a physician by trade, is the investigative detective of the gospel writers. He was not an eye-witness of Jesus; he apprenticed under Peter and much of what he records came from firsthand accounts of Peter. Being well-educated and logical, much of his narrative falls under directive headings, like the one we see in verse 9, so the reader will not mistake the intention or become distracted by misapplication. Though Jesus’ audience was certainly wide and varied at the time He told this parable, Luke wants us to understand the thrusting purpose and heart behind why Jesus told it and for who He chose His words.

2) What are the identifiable hinge points of each prayer? (verses 11-13)
First, Jesus underscores that each character in the parable went to the temple to pray. Jesus included this aspect because the common place to pray was the temple. Though both characters went to the right “place” to gain access to God, this didn’t automatically grant them access. This would have astounded Jesus’ first hearers, for it was the common understanding that all who came to the Temple accessed God. Secondly, the true heart-posture of each man in Jesus’ story is identifiable by both their word choices and their body language. Though both men were standing, Jesus says the tax collector was “standing far off”. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says Pharisees would stand to pray in conspicuous places so as to be seen by others. (Matthew 6:5) One man stood to be noticed, the other chose to stand “far off” (think, tucked back in a corner), so as only to be seen by God. (Matthew 6:6) The Pharisee talked to God about himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like others…”. (verse 11) In contrast, the tax collector, without even raising his eyes, talked to God about his need for Him, “God have mercy on me, a Sinner.” (verse 13) The tax collector knew his condition as sinner, and he knew full well the only hope he had was in the mercy of the God who was perfectly holy and righteous. Lastly, where the Pharisee listed his self-proclaimed-righteous-acts, the tax collector merely beat his chest in an outward action that reflected an internal humility. Sisters, which are we? List-givers or humble-heart-bowers?

3) Why are Jesus’ closing remarks so important to the whole of the story? (verse 14)
Jesus finishes His parable with a hard reality and a sweet hope for every human heart; it’s the perfect antidote to the hopeless melodrama of the human condition. Regardless of a person’s good deeds or how wonderfully they view themselves, none can be justified before God by exalting themselves. (verse 14) Some may think, oh that’s good news for me because I always think the worst of myself. I don’t think I’m worthy of God’s love, I know how terrible I am, I mess up constantly. But do you notice the subject of each of those phrases? Self. Whether you think highly or lowly of yourself, you’re still thinking of yourself. Jesus teaches that only the truly humble of heart can “go home justified before God.” Humble of heart does not mean self-deprecation, which is self-focus just in a different form. Rather, humble hearts see the reality of their state as sinner and recognize God as the only available Giver of Mercy because we each deserve eternal death as a result of our sin. We cannot even lift our eyes to Heaven, as the tax collector demonstrated. Not because we think so terribly of ourselves and have lowered our innate worth as a person, but because we recognize God as perfectly holy and ourselves as utterly full of sin. We simply cannot bridge the impossible chasm between us. THIS is a humble heart. THIS is the heart God looks upon and says, “Yes! Welcome Home, Child! You are forgiven and free!”

Everyday Application

1) Why does Luke record the aside note in verse 9 of Jesus’ purpose in telling this parable?
When we read Scripture, it’s absolutely imperative we begin with the original purpose as much as possible in order to make correct application to our own lives. Luke, because he was a natural investigator, makes it easy for us to know we are headed in the right direction with this parable, but we must not gloss over his purposed introduction. This parable is not about how to be a good Christian, or who should come to church (temple), or even how to pray effectively. Though we can gain insights about each of these areas, they aren’t the main reason Jesus told the parable. We would miss the mark of understanding HIM if we go off on our own tangent to make HIS parable into something He didn’t intend. What are good applications for our everyday from this teaching? They are many! But let’s hang out with a handful of them that center around the original meaning and let the Spirit convict our hearts as we pray and study His Words before ours. In a nutshell, the original intent could be phrased, “Self-Righteousness Cannot Justify Us Before God”. Now, let’s offer out our hearts to the Spirit, asking Him to convict us of sin and change us to be like Him! We could ask the Lord, “Where am I holding onto my own “goodness” with You?”, “Am I expecting You, Lord, to act on my behalf because I have told You how much I “deserve” it?”, “Do I expect others to behave or speak in a certain way toward me because I have declared myself “worthy”?”. These are only a few questions we can bring to the Spirit through prayer, but when we pair true Scripture study with genuine, humble prayer, we can be absolutely certain the Lord will speak to our hearts!

2) What are the identifiable hinge points of each prayer? (verses 11-13)
The first-century Jews believed that if they went to the right place and did the right things, they would be right before God. We may live centuries later, but we can be guilty of believing the same deception! Bring these questions before the Lord as you authentically pray, and see how the Spirit convicts you, teaches you, and encourages you. Consider writing down your thoughts as you pray and listen to the Lord as He reshapes your heart to be like His! Ask God, “Where are the places I go, actions I take, and words I say that lure me to trust myself and my own goodness to give me access to You?” “Have I elevated my church attendance, service, giving, or personal ministry to others as a “good work” that You now “owe me” for, or that I “passively brag” about to others to show how “good” I am?” “Remind me, Spirit, that I am justified through faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone and my good works have absolutely no bearing on Your love for me, acceptance of me, or Your willingness to forgive my sin.” Consider taking the next few days and studying up on the core tenants of why Christians believe they are saved by grace, through faith, and of Christ; our Journey Into Sola is a great place to begin! When we study Scripture with a humble willingness to be changed by God, He will shift our hearts! (https://www.gracefullytruthful.com/journey-into-sola)

3) Why are Jesus’ closing remarks so important to the whole of the story? (verse 14)
Jesus begins His closing statements with an interesting phrase we might easily gloss over, “I tell you…”. The Jews held the Pharisee as the Top Dog of Jewish Law. None ranked higher in understanding the nuances than a Pharisee, but Jesus, ever intent on the flipping the tables of our worldviews, speaks with unequivocal authority, “I tell you…”. I, as God the Son. I, as God in the flesh come to rescue you from your bottomless, hopeless pit of sin. I, the God of Mercy. I, the original Law Giver who came to perfectly fulfill the Law and the Prophets for you because you never, ever will. (Matthew 5:17) You can’t. Your sin stops you. Your righteousness will fail you because it isn’t perfect. I know this, and I have come to Be Your Rescue. I have come to be Righteousness FOR YOU. “I tell you…”. Have you adopted these words into your view of self and God? What do they mean for you? What chains can fall away because of their truth? What burdens of “good works” and “trying harder” and “just can’t do all the things” would Christ desire to lift from your shoulders right now, in this moment? He is speaking, Sister, are you willing to give it up to the God of Mercy?

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Two Sacrifices!

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!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sacrifice Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

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 :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Training Day 12 Hungry For More: 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 Hungry For More!

The Questions

1) What is biblical fasting and what is its purpose? (verse 1)

2) Why was there great mourning among the Jewish people? (verse 3)

3) What role did fasting play in saving the Jews? (verse 16)

Esther 4

When Mordecai learned all that had occurred, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly. 2 He went only as far as the King’s Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing a sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate. 3 There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict reached. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 Esther’s female servants and her eunuchs came and reported the news to her, and the queen was overcome with fear. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear so that he would take off his sackcloth, but he did not accept them. 5 Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who attended her, and dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what he was doing and why. 6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the King’s Gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened as well as the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews.

8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and command her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people. 9 Hathach came and repeated Mordecai’s response to Esther.

10 Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to tell Mordecai, 11 “All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty—unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last thirty days.” 12 Esther’s response was reported to Mordecai.

13 Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. 14 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”

15 Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him.

Original Intent

1) What is biblical fasting and what is its purpose? (verse 1)
True biblical fasting is both a heart and body posture of seeking God above all else. We do away with the comforts of food or drink in order to display our desperate need, seek repentance for sin, or ask God’s guidance. In his fasting, Mordecai also wept and lamented. Is there a difference between the two? Lament is to be mournful or regretful, but in biblical settings the intonation is that the lament is directed in prayer to God. To weep is to cry aloud. Both actions denote deep, anguished grief, especially when combined together. Mordecai’s response to learning of the genocide of his people was to fast, weep, and lament in prayer. (verse 3) Many people who were mourning went a step further and wore sackcloth, functional garments made of coarse material from either goat or camel hair. God instructed the Israelites to wear sackcloth when repenting. “On that day the Lord God of Armies called for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads, and for the wearing of sackcloth.” (Isaiah 22:12) The uncomfortable fabric would have been a reminder of brokenness resulting from sin. Ashes were a sign of self-humiliation and mourning. Others would notice the sackcloth garment, see the ashes, and hear the laments. These outward signs were intended to usher in repentance as participants publicly declared the internal state of their heart for either humility in asking guidance or sorrow over sin.

2) Why was there great mourning among the Jewish people? (verse 3)
King Xerxes had a servant, Haman, who was elevated to a seat of honor higher than any of the other king’s nobles. (Esther 3:1) Everyone knelt to give him honor at the king’s gate except one man, Mordecai. (Esther 3:2) This infuriated Haman and irked his pride. (Esther 3:5) On learning of Mordecai’s Jewish heritage, Haman loathed the Jews even more; incited by Mordecai’s refusal to bow in Haman’s presence, Haman “planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews”. (Esther 3:6) In effort to preserve his own arrogance, Haman plotted the extermination of an entire people group, effectively eradicating the race he hated. Through trickery, Haman involved the king and gained his approval. (Esther 3:8-9) Within days, the king sealed an edict with his signet ring condemning all Jews to death. (Esther 3:10-13) This horrific legalization of mass genocide was the reason Mordecai and all his people came before the Lord in fasting, weeping, and lament.

3) What role did fasting play in saving the Jews? (verse 16)
Esther commanded Mordecai to commission the Jewish people to fast and pray for three days. (Esther 4:16) Esther also included herself and her maidservant in the fast as well. (Esther 4:16) Fasting is a biblical discipline intended to petition the Lord for His assistance, often on behalf of another. (Isaiah 58:6-8) We are to practice this with intentionality. In the Old Testament law given to Israel, God declared, “This is to be a permanent statute for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial and do no work, both the native and the alien who resides among you.” (Leviticus 16:29)  Fasting is a sacrifice and, as such, we recognize it will be uncommon and uncomfortable but not unrecognized by our Lord. (Matthew 6:16-18) Esther was willing to go to the king on behalf of the Jews, but only after she had fasted and prayed. Fasting demonstrates both a humble heart and willing submission to the authority of the Lord God. In recognition that all things are sustained and upheld by God (Colossians 1:16-17), fasting with prayer displays a pleading for mercy.

Everyday Application

1) What is biblical fasting and what is its purpose? (verse 1)
Mordecai was in anguish at Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews because of their ethnicity and beliefs. Division between cultures and races is evidenced throughout the Old Testament between Jews and any other population outside the tribes of Israel. The best example of this division, and Jesus’ loving, invitational response to know Him, is displayed in the dialogue between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, because His disciples had gone into town to buy food. “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.” (John 4:7-9) Jesus invited a relationship across cultural-racial boundaries because God’s heart is love towards all people to know Him as the God who rescues from sin and condemnation. When we fast as Mordecai did for his people, we are bearing up the burden of reconciliation and bringing it to the Lord who loves to bring unity. Mordecai was heartbroken for his people and desired their preservation, so his response was to bring his burden to the Lord through fasting, weeping, and lamenting. Jesus came for the sins of the entire world (John 3:16), therefore we should be concerned for the salvation of our world. Lamenting over our division through fasting and prayer as Mordecai exemplified is the place to begin. God would have us preach the gospel to all the nations. (Mark 13:10)

2) Why was there great mourning among the Jewish people? (verse 3)
The Jews were to be annihilated because of the selfish ambitions of one man, Haman. (Esther 3:1-6) Haman was “filled with rage” because Mordecai would not pay him the respect he thought he deserved. It’s easy to read this account and condemn Haman for such arrogance, but what happens to us when we don’t get our way or are wronged by another? Surges of anger? Feelings of indignation?  Perhaps even disgust? The rest of Esther’s narrative shows us that Haman grew so angry he not only plotted the destruction of an entire nation of people, but also constructed towering gallows on which to personally hang Mordecai. (Esther 5:14) Anger and rage burn inside us until we make poor judgments. (James 1:14-15) The Bible reminds us not to sin when we are angry and not to let the sun go down on the anger we feel. (Ephesians 4:26-27) Scripture also reminds us that God has final judgment on all actions. (Psalm 50:6, Psalm 75:6-8) In light of God and His righteous judgment, consider the comfort of Psalm 54:7, “For He has rescued me from every trouble, and my eye has looked down on my enemies. God is our refuge and strength, but he is also our defender!” God offers rescue to all who trust entirely upon Him! He removes our sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12) and gives His own righteousness to us in exchange for our great sinfulness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

3) What role did fasting play in saving the Jews? (verse 16)
When the Holy Spirit prompts us to fast we need to examine the reason. Have we sinned and are seeking forgiveness? Is there a decision to be made? Is there a certain calamity our family, employer, or nation is facing? When called to fast, how will we prepare our hearts? Will our focus be on reflecting God’s glory or on obtaining our desires? (John 14:13) When Mordecai learned all that had occurred, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly. (Esther 4:1) How will you respond to the discipline of fasting? If you are in another’s presence, can you lament? If there is a party or event planned can you dress in sackcloth? Should you fast from food in the presence of others? Although these might seem legalistic, they each have their importance in the picture of fasting. These are questions you must take to God in prayer. Jesus fasted before entering His earthly ministry. (Matthew 4:2) The prophetess, Anna, fasted in the temple as a routine discipline of her faith. (Luke 2:37) Esther fasted before petitioning the king. (Esther 4:16) Seek your own posture of fasting and allow God to direct the type of fast you will offer as a sacrifice to Him.

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Kneel Day 6 On Our Behalf

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 8:32-34
Hebrews 4:14-16
Ephesians 1:20-23
Acts 7:54-60
Hebrews 10:19-23

Kneel, Day 6

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived,
Jesus did for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
He died for our sins (Matthew 27),
rose from the dead (Matthew 28),
and ascended to Heaven (Luke 24:50-53).
He is sitting at the right hand of the Father far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given. Everything is subjected under His feet and He is appointed over everything for the Church. (Ephesians 1:20-21)
What a place of glory and assurance for those who believe in Him!

He assured us He has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven; eventually, He will come and take us to be with Him. (John 14:2-3) But while we wait for His return, we are not free from the challenges of a broken world, including pain, loss, and persecution. When faced with such sufferings, it’s easy for us to lose sight of Christ’s victory, and become discouraged.

Scripture assures us Jesus is making intercession for us (praying on our behalf). He is a great high priest who has passed through the heavens; He empathizes with our weaknesses and is able to help us in times of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16) He understands our experiences, because He also lived in the world in human form, faced struggles, and overcame. Now, having conquered sin and death, with everything subjected under His feet, and sitting at the Father’s right hand, He is able to help us.

When believers first began to spread the Good News, they faced intense persecution. One man, Stephen, was stoned by the Jews for preaching about Jesus. As he was dying, he had a vision of Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. (Acts 7:55-56) While Scripture often describes Jesus sitting, Stephen saw Him standing. What does His posture signify? I see it as a symbol of Jesus actively interceding for Stephen before the Father in his greatest moment of need and sacrifice, possibly reminding the Father of the ransom He paid for Stephen. It could also have been an assurance of heavenly welcome for Stephen.

Like Stephen, we are assured no one can condemn us, because the only One who has that power is Jesus, and He instead intercedes for us before the Father. He helps us when we are tempted, and advocates for us when we sin. Despite pressure from the world, Scripture assures us He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear; He will always make a way out for us to follow in obedience. (1 Corinthians 10:13) If we lose sight of His grace and yield to temptation by sinning, He is our advocate before the Father. He is the righteous One, the atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 2:1-2) If we confess our sins, He forgives us. (1 John 1:9)

Reconciled with God through Jesus, we can approach the Father in confidence.
“[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith [. . . holding] fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:22-23)

Furthermore, we hold an assurance that He hears our prayers:

“This is the confidence we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15, emphasis mine)

Did you catch the qualifier, sisters?

According to His will.

Our faith in Jesus does not guarantee an affirmative answer to any and every request. We must remain in Him and put His will above ours, learning to align our wills and prayers with the Father’s heart and plan. Jesus explained, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) Similarly, Scripture tells us that when we ask with wrong motives, such as to satisfy our pleasures, we do not receive what we asked for. (James 4:2-3)

In my personal walk with God, prayer has been paramount. But not long ago, I realized why so many of my prayers were not answered as I wanted. I held on to “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), while neglecting “If you remain in me and my words remain in you[.]” (John 15:7) It dawned on me that I must keep a close relationship with Jesus by studying and meditating on His Word always, just as God instructed Israel’s leader, Joshua, so long ago. I realized that my relationship with Jesus is what counts in the place of prayer.

Now, the pattern of my prayer has changed. I see prayer as an opportunity to worship and thank God, and not just asking Him to “give me-give me.” He has clothed me with His righteousness; I owe Him thanksgiving without end. Whatever need I have, I tell Him, and trust in His Word. While I have confidence He answers me, I submit to His perfect will over mine. I must testify that the result has been tremendous!

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