Fullness

Pause VI Day 14 Whole Life Generosity

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Pause VI Day 14 Whole Life Generosity

Melodye Reeves

January 19, 2023

Faith,Fullness,Provider,Security

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:15-20

15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Read More Of His Words

Do you ever wonder why so many people suffer from lack of food, clothing, or money? In light of this passage, it’s especially difficult to believe God always provides when it appears to us that believers may not have everything they need.

“And my God will supply all your needs …”

Sweet friend, ponder this: perhaps it is because our greatest needs are not material. If you haven’t meditated on the previous passage (Philippians 4:11-13), I encourage you to pause now and look back. Spend a few minutes reading, re-reading, and prayerfully allowing these God-breathed words to seep into your soul. Paul mentioned his ability to be content in every circumstance. His secret was understanding that his joy wasn’t found in gifts themselves, but in the Giver.

“… according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s reflect on these things from God’s perspective. He is a gift giver. Paul knew the supply of our needs comes through Jesus Christ, and his joy was found in that reality. The most important thing to Paul was not the gifts themselves. How beautiful is this kind of joy! What deep love Paul demonstrated through his own thankfulness for the spiritual reward they would receive because of their financial investments in his ministry. (verse 17) He knew God’s spiritual resources are endless.

Paul had faithful friends and supporters, but we know he did not believe Christ followers would never experience lack. Paul endured many hardships, including being without. (Philippians 4:12) What we are promised is God’s faithfulness to fully supply us with what we need to continue to serve and glorify Him. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Paul’s secret was knowing God is trustworthy to be generous in every way we need Him!

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write out Philippians 4:15-20 today. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). 

2) Take time to read through all of chapter 4. Copy down onto notecards the verse or verses about Paul’s joy that inspire you or maybe even convict you. Share them with someone and why they touched your heart.

3) Continue to memorize Philippians 4:4-5

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Pause VI
Day 13

Paul had a secret.

But it was a different kind of secret. It was a “sacred secret” that wasn’t to be kept from public knowledge. It was his explanation regarding his previous instruction to the people in Philippi. He had stated and repeated: Rejoice … always.

“In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content.” (verse 12)
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Champion Day 2 The Barren And Broken: Digging Deeper

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Champion Day 2 The Barren And Broken: Digging Deeper

Dr. Leslie Umstattd

May 31, 2022

Constant,Digging Deeper,Encourage,Faith,Faithfulness,Fruitfulness,Fullness

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 "Barren And Broken"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 1:27-31

27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world- what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence 30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption 31 —in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) In verse 27, what is Paul referencing by beginning with “instead”?

Practicing reading backwards to understand a verse or set of verses is extremely important in studying Scripture, but especially when we encounter a word like “therefore” or “instead” signaling how the previous writing ties directly to the next passage. Every time we open His Word, we should practice this study habit so it becomes our natural response to rightly understanding God’s Word.

Prior to this passage, in verse 18-26, Paul compares the world’s wisdom with God’s wisdom. With tongue-in-cheek, he speaks of God’s “foolishness”, which of course doesn’t exist, for nothing about God is foolish, but he uses this linguistic tool to make an emphatic point. Even if God did have a hint of foolishness about Him, it would still be infinitely wiser than humanity’s best wisdom. (verse 25) When Paul reaches verse 27, he intended the reader to recognize that God doesn’t follow the course of earthly wisdom. He turns worldly wisdom on its head, proving that only by divine wisdom and perspective, could it be conceivable for a holy God to rescue sinful humanity.

The Everyday Application

1) In verse 27, what is Paul referencing by beginning with “instead”?

God’s ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9) The beauty of the Gospel is that it simply does not make sense to us. God calls the barren and broken of the world to serve as His champions of grace. Instead of calling the best and strongest, He invites the heavy laden and the weak to come to Him. (Matthew 11:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus actively chose to speak and live in unconventional and counter cultural ways. He ate with tax collectors and hung out with prostitutes to transform not only their earthly lives but also their heavenly position before God. (Luke 19:1-10, Mark 2:13-17) He touched the forbidden and unclean lepers and, although a very real physical healing took place, spiritually healing was at the heart of His encounters. (Matthew 8:1-4) He intentionally sought out the outcast, the lonely, and the ostracized of society in order to minister to them, saying, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick…”. (Mark 2:17)

In God’s wisdom, He sacrificed His own Son to make a way of salvation for sinners who neither deserved mercy nor could earn righteousness. He designed for Holiness to take the punishment for the wretched in order that light could enter the darkness of this world, and that none could boast, insisting they had somehow contributed to their salvation. (John 3:14-21) The lost in the world, those without the Light of Christ living inside them, stumble over God’s righteousness and wisdom out of rebellion, rejecting it as ludicrous. But when we submit to His wisdom, we recognize God and the rightness of His ways (Hosea 14:9), which brings about our humility and repentance.

The Original Intent

2) What does God view as important and how is it described by Paul in verses 27-30?

Paul explains that God has chosen what seems foolish in this world to shame the wise and He’s chosen what is weak to shame the strong for the purpose of humanity to realize they cannot save themselves. (Romans 3:10)

No amount of worldly wisdom, strength, generosity, or human ability can save us from our sins. Yet, in our own pride we assume we can save ourselves. (Psalm 10:3-4) But, God’s definition of wisdom and strength points all glory and boasting to Himself because Only He can save; our rescue comes from Christ alone. (1 Corinthians 1:21)

The Everyday Application

2) What does God view as important and how is it described by Paul in verses 27-30?

God intentionally chooses what the world views as weak to share His truths. In one encounter found in the Gospel of Luke, the rich leaders of the city were dropping money into the offering by the bag full. Then a poor widow gave what little she had, and Jesus noticed. 

Human convention would watch that scene and applaud the leaders for their generosity because the amount they gave was seemingly so significant. Yet, Jesus commended the widow for her small amount, because her sacrifice was more significant than the surplus of the wealthy. He called on the people of the city to emulate her, a poor widow. (Luke 2:1-4) Jesus did not look at the amount given but the heart behind the gift. (Psalm 51:16-17)

Throughout history, God chooses the smallest, the weakest, and what the world sees as incapable to champion His purposes. (Matthew 18:1-5)

The Original Intent

3) According to verses 28-31 what is the purpose of God’s different perspective?

God desired to bring what the world deemed as nothing into a place of honor and glory. Paul describes the heart and mind of humanity in this passage by highlighting our tendency to boast about our knowledge and our strengths. Paul pits this against Christ’s entrance into the world and the incredible humility He displayed. Christ, being both fully God and fully man, having all wisdom and knowledge and power, defied all human logic by laying it down, putting on flesh, and dwelling with humanity.

Jesus embodied the pure wisdom that comes from above (James 3:13-18) which stands in stark opposition to human wisdom; this humble manner of living by God’s wisdom is to be imitated by all who are in Christ. (Philippians 2:5-11) He became our standard from which to boast. If we boast, we boast about Him and how He saved us. (1 Corinthians 1:31)

The Everyday Application

3) According to verses 28-31 what is the purpose of God’s different perspective?

Ultimately. God wants His people to be set apart and accomplish His purposes in His power, wisdom, and strength. God’s grace is sufficient for this work, and as Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthians, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Only in our brokenness, and our recognition of it, are we positioned to fully rely on God. In our self-sufficient world full of self-promotion, self-ambition, and self-centeredness the idea of humility and sacrifice is foolishness, but in that foolishness God’s purposes are championed. Our spiritual barrenness requires reconciliation with the one true God and Jesus provided a way for this as He gave Himself up for us. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

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Journey Study

The Bible is full of weak, foolish, sinful people God used to fulfill His plan of redemption. God didn’t choose Abraham in order to give him a platform to be a hero. Rather, God chose Abraham to show God is the Hero. To show God is able and wise and loving. He alone could redeem His children; just as God alone traversed the split animals in Genesis 15, Christ alone could fulfill the requirement of the law and bring us salvation.
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Kneel Day 8 Believing The Best Of God

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:5-7
Psalm 139
Colossians 1:3-14
Ephesians 3:14-21

Kneel, Day 8

Have you ever told someone a story, only to have them remind you they were there? Sometimes, while we’re talking, we forget to whom we are speaking: of course we remember their identity at a basic level, but we might also assume something of them inaccurately . . . like their presence or absence on a particular occasion!

The same thing happens in prayer.

We might pray, “Father,” and then speak, assuming God is distant, cold, and uninvolved. There are times when we tell Him all about a problem and how to solve it, grateful He knows every detail, but forgetting He also has power over every detail.

While there are many powerful insights to glean from the apostle Paul’s many prayers as recorded in the Bible, I am most often struck by Paul’s assumptions, or beliefs, about God as he prays.

“[I]n everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6, emphasis mine)

Everything.

Paul believed God wants to hear it all. In Psalm 139, the psalmist reveals God knows us intimately, even knowing our thoughts before they reach our tongues. If He’s aware of everything anyway, why not share everything with Him?

Paul’s prayer life demonstrates this reality. A quick perusal of all prayers recorded by Paul in the Bible show his prayers cover a wide variety of topics. Similarly, all the spheres of our lives – physical, social, emotional, work, etc – are fair game for prayer.

For example:
Paul prayed for healing and relief from suffering. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
He prayed for God to make him fit for his work and to enable him to share the gospel well. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
He thanked God for the fellow believers God placed in his life. (Philippians 1:3-6)
He prayed for others’ spiritual lives. (Colossians 1:3-14)

When we read Paul’s prayers for other believers, we also find Paul believed God wants us to know Him better. 

To the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Similar words are echoed throughout his letters, as Paul prayed for other believers to be filled with ever-increasing knowledge of Christ, to be one in the Lord, to keep growing in God. Through his prayers, we learn Paul fervently believed God delights in filling us with His fullness, and He wants us to know His love.

Another hallmark of Paul’s recorded prayers is thanksgiving; gratitude is closely tied to the Biblical command to pray.
For example, let’s revisit Philippians 4:6 (emphasis mine): “[I]n everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Paul believed God was good at giving good things. If Paul was praying about a good gift, he assumed it came from God, which he lived out time and again, in thanking God for the very people to whom he was writing. If Paul was petitioning God for something, he believed God’s answer would be for his good. He thanked Jesus for strengthening him and working through him, even though Paul was a sinner. (1 Timothy 1:12-14) In everything, God’s good provision meant prayer could coincide with thankfulness.

I don’t know about you, but reading Paul’s prayers convicts me that too often, I believe less of God than I should when I pray. Afraid of being demanding, or getting it wrong, I don’t pray about everything. Concerned with things of the world or not being spiritual enough, I pray as if I should already know God thoroughly, and not as though He wants me to know Him more and more. And it’s easy to fall into the trap of praying, especially petitioning, without thanks!

But one of Paul’s go-to prayers, which marks many introductions and conclusions in his letters, offers encouragement, “Grace and peace to you.“ (1 Corinthians 1:3)
Today, as we engage with God in prayer, believing the best of God, we can also pray assuming we will experience His grace and peace as we learn.
Thanks be to God!

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Worship IX Day 14 Lyrical Pursuit: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

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

1) How can we take refuge in God?

2) How does God shelter those who rejoice in Him?

3) What does it mean to boast about God?

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You.

Original Intent

1) How can we take refuge in God?
The concept of God’s people taking refuge in Him is central to the Bible’s teaching and is most often found in the Old Testament. In Psalm 5:11, David writes, “all who take refuge in You (God) rejoice.” To take refuge implies removing ourselves from harm’s way and under God’s wings of protection. Author, Alexander MacLaren, explains, “As a man in peril runs into a hiding-place or fortress, as the chickens beneath the outspread wing of the mother bird nestle close in the warm feathers and are safe and well, the soul that trusts (God) takes its flight straight to God, and in Him reposes and is secure.” To take refuge in God means to run to Him when trouble comes. Psalm 46:1 proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” One way David takes refuge in God is by coming to Him in the morning; he habitually begins his day communing with the Lord. Author, David Guzik, explains that Psalm 5 is a “morning prayer. It shows David coming to the LORD in the morning and receiving the strength and joy he needs to make it through the day against many adversaries.” David had real enemies and dire circumstances to fear, but He trusted in God to shield and save him. Proverbs 14:26 tells us, “In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence and his children have a refuge.” David feared the Lord and trusted in God’s promises of protection more than he feared his adversaries. David knew God alone would provide true refuge from life’s perils. We are blessed that the same is true for us today. I encourage you to call on God and let him be your refuge from the chaos of life today!

2) How does God shelter those who rejoice in Him?
In Psalm 5:11, David tells God, “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You.” David notices a correlation between God sheltering His people and their praise to Him. David asserts that God’s shelter–His presence and protection–is not extended to the unrighteous, and His people should praise Him for the loving refuge He provides. God drives out His enemies (Psalm 5:10), but He shelters those who love Him. He shields them, sheltering them through hard times. (Psalm 119:114) Those who are sheltered have reason to rejoice, and those who shout for joy to the Lord will be sheltered by God. David again calls God his shelter in Psalm 27:5-6, declaring that he will shout for joy because of God’s salvation. David implicitly trusts in God’s protection. Author, Bill Crowder, contends that we rejoice “because we know Someone who is strong enough to carry us through the churning waves of life that threaten to overwhelm us. . . In the face of life’s great dangers and challenges, we can know a joy borne out of our trust in God. His strength is more than enough!” God shelters those who love Him by being with them in their troubles and sometimes helping them out of their troubles, resulting in rejoicing. God’s people can call on Him when life is challenging, and He helps them. Author, Becky Harling, suggests, “As you praise Him in the middle of your anxiety, the Holy Spirit awakens your soul to His presence and the Holy One calms you down.” Those who trust in Christ are blessed that His presence acts as a shelter from the problems they face on a daily basis. This is reason to rejoice!

3) What does it mean to boast about God?
David tells the Lord, “…may those who love Your name boast about You.” (verse 11) David wants God’s people to tell everyone about His great and glorious works and how He makes Himself a shelter for His people. Author, Tony Evans, explains that David “urges God’s people to boast about Him and to shout for joy as a way of expressing recognition of who God is, what He has done, and what He can be trusted to do.” We should boast about Him so others know about His goodness, but also because God delights in our praises. His Word says He is enthroned upon the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) According to author Jessica Brodie, this means that “God inhabits—rests in, sits upon, dwells within—His people’s songs of worship and adoration.” God delights in our praises because He loves us, and He desires a relationship with us. When we praise Him, we invite His presence to actively dwell with us. Psalm 16:11 tells us abundant joy is found in God’s presence. Praising God ushers us into the fullness of His presence, which brings us the fullest joy we can know! John Piper asserts, “God would not be loving if He was indifferent to our praise. If He didn’t pursue our praise in all that He does, (…) He would not be pursuing the fullness of our satisfaction.” God is worthy of all praise and honor (Revelation 4:11), and He encourages us to do everything for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). When we boast about our loving God, we are entering His presence in more full ways; this is where we find abundant joy.

Everyday Application

1) How can we take refuge in God?
When I hear the phrase “take refuge,” I remember the storm cellar we had in my childhood home. It was a mound of earth with a door leading down to a dirt floor. It was dark, dank, and covered in cobwebs, so we never went inside unless we either wanted to impress visitors with our “dungeon” or a storm was coming. Several times each summer we found ourselves throwing open that cellar door and scurrying inside to wait out dangerous storms in the company of bugs and the spiders. One time, we emerged to find tree limbs down and damaged property. We knew the storm was bad, but we didn’t know the level of devastation from the safety of our cellar refuge. This is how it feels to take refuge in God. He shields us from the dangerous storms of life. No matter how bad things get around us, we are safe in His sheltering arms. His plans are good, despite how it feels at the time. (Psalm 119:68) He is sovereign over all things, even the difficult. Author Josh Philpot notes, “Taking refuge in God does not always mean immediate escape from pain and suffering. But because God is enthroned, he is in control and unperturbed by the apparent chaos on earth. . . He remains unshaken and eternally in power, which provides us with confidence in the day of trouble.” I can understand why David said of God, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them shout for joy forever”. There is true joy in having God as your protector. Again in Psalm 34:8, the psalmist declares, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in Him!” No matter the storms raging around you today, take refuge in God and rejoice in the shelter He brings.

2) How does God shelter those who rejoice in Him?
Two weeks overdue with my daughter on March 19, 2003, I fell asleep knowing I would be induced the following day. It was already March 20 in Iraq, and war ensued as the USA fought to defeat Saddam Hussein. I kept thinking of the Iraqi women like me, about to give birth, but with nowhere to seek medical care due to the chaos. I prayed these women would find safety and shelter in the midst of the conflict, and I thanked God for the roof over my head and a hospital nearby in the morning. I’m reminded of this scenario when I read Psalm 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You.” I rejoiced in the physical shelter God provided for me and prayed He would shelter those in need, but He has faithfully provided shelter in many ways throughout my life. He provides godly relationships (Hebrews 10:24-25) as a shelter from loneliness and discouragement. He provides the shelter of my church family (Acts 2:44-47) who help me grow in faith and reach out in service to those who don’t know Christ. God also makes His presence a shelter for me. (1 Corinthians 3:16) The presence of His Holy Spirit empowers me to do His will and strengthens me when hard times arise. (Romans 8:26) God shelters me in the physical world, and for that I rejoice! But He also provides refuge when I am sad, when I am afraid, and when I am losing hope. In those times, I run to Him and find shelter from life’s troubles and strength to endure. (Proverbs 18:10)

3) What does it mean to boast about God?
In high school, my friend participated in a basket lunch auction where the girls bid on lunch dates with boys to raise money for charity. My friend spent the morning of the auction bragging on his basket, which consisted of fish and chips from a local restaurant. He raved about the golden fried batter, the flaky fish, the crispy fries, and the creamy coleslaw. When it came time to eat, he was mortified to find his order was wrong and the paltry meal he offered did not live up to his hype. He had boasted in something that did not deliver. When David hopes that all those who love the Lord will boast in Him in Psalm 5:11, it is because God’s works are definitely worthy of boasting about. Much of the Psalms consist of David and other writers boasting in God for who He is and what He has done. In Psalm 34:1-2, David declares, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will boast in the Lord…”. Psalm 44:8 declares, “We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name forever.” David also prays in Psalm 86:8-10, “Lord, there is no one like you among the gods, and there are no works like yours. All the nations you have made will come and bow down before you, Lord, and will honor your name. For you are great and perform wonders; you alone are God.” When God’s people recognize His goodness and His divinity by praising Him alone, God is glorified. We serve a mighty God who is worthy to be praised, so let us boast in the Lord by praising Him for being a God of wonder and majesty!

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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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Terrain Day 14 The Island Of Patmos: 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 Island Of Patmos!

The Questions

1) How is perseverance through persecution clear evidence that God counts us worthy of His Kingdom? (verse 5) 


2) Why is it just for God to “repay with affliction those who afflict you”? (verse 6) 


3) What does it mean to “pay the penalty of destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength”? (verse 9) 

2 Thessalonians 1:4-12

Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. 5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength 10 on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Original Intent

1) How is perseverance through persecution clear evidence that God counts us worthy of His Kingdom? (verse 5)
Paul was pleased with the Thessalonian believers because they continued to remain faithful to the Lord through the trials they suffered because of Christ. Many converts were former Jews, “which angered the Jews and caused them to resort to violence and mob activity”. (Bible.org) Even amid persecution, the new Christians held to their faith, which Paul called “clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering”. (2 Thessalonians 1:5) The wording here can make it sound like these Christians were worthy of God’s Kingdom because of their suffering, but that isn’t accurate. People can’t do anything to make themselves worthy of God’s Kingdom. We can only gain Heaven through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. (Titus 3:5-7) Suffering for God’s Kingdom, though, shows love for God and faith in His Word and His promises. It is a mark of genuine, saving faith in Christ. It is easy to fold under pressure, and enduring the face of persecution demonstrates authentic faith; it pleases the Lord when His children endure. Author Steve Lewis asserts, “Something about the Thessalonians was a plain indication . . . that God does indeed judge righteously. The indicator was not the trials themselves, but their response to the trials. Their perseverance and faith provided solid proof that God was at work within them, enabling them to behave in ways that were opposite to their natural desires.” The fact that the Thessalonian believers allowed Christ to empower them proved they belonged to Him, had His Spirit within them, and were truly part of His Kingdom. Author David Guzik suggests “Paul’s prayer was that the worthiness of Jesus may be accounted to the Thessalonian Christians.” Paul was pleased to know the Thessalonians stood strong in their faith in Christ and His power at work in them.

2) Why is it just for God to “repay with affliction those who afflict you”? (verse 6)
In verses 6-7, Paul encourages the persecuted church by writing, “it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us.” This resonates with many because it doesn’t seem fair when someone is mistreated for no good reason and the perpetrator goes unpunished. Everything in us cries out for justice! Acting justly is a crucial component for believers in accurately reflecting God’s character. (Micah 6:8) However, God does not want us to exact justice for ourselves. (Matthew 5:38-39) He tells us vengeance is His alone. (Deuteronomy 32:35) God instructs us to seek justice and show mercy; because He is Righteous and Just, He must let justice be served. Author David Guzik explains how “God’s judgment is based on the great spiritual principle that it is a righteous thing with God to repay those who do evil. Since God is righteous, He will repay all evil, and it will all be judged and accounted for either at the cross or in hell.” The Scriptures tell us God is a jealous and avenging God (Nahum 1:2) and that God will judge everyone according to what they have done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) The wicked will face the wrath of God, but Christians are righteous through Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30) because He sanctified us through His death on the cross, which cleansed us from our sins. He took the punishment of sin on Himself, fulfilling the justice of God. We can rejoice because, unlike those who don’t have faith in Christ, God’s wrath is turned away from us because Jesus’ blood makes us righteous before God.

3) What does it mean to “pay the penalty of destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength”? (verse 9)
Paul describes what will happen to those who persecute God’s people in verses 9-10 when he writes, “They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength on that day when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed . . .” While Paul does mention “flaming fire” in verse 8, the greatest penalty for the wicked is being cut off from the gracious, good presence of the Lord. Author David Spence Jones explains, “As the presence of the glorified Jesus will constitute the happiness of heaven, so banishment from His presence will constitute the misery of hell, because the soul is then cut off from the source of all good and of all holiness.” In the beginning, before sin entered the world, God walked with humans in the Garden of Eden, communing with them in perfect harmony. After their sin, Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden, never to walk in perfection with the Lord again. (Genesis 3:4-24) Their sin separated them from the presence of their Holy God. Being deprived of God’s presence is disastrous because it is only in His presence we can find fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11) The persecutors of the saints were also cut off from the glorious strength of the Lord, for it is the joy of the Lord that is our own strength for believers. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Everyday Application

1) How is perseverance through persecution clear evidence that God counts us worthy of His Kingdom? (verse 5)
I coordinate children’s church volunteers, and I quickly recognize those who will stick and those who will hand in their nametags before they even get smudged with finger paint. The ones who stay endure toddler tantrums, diaper blow-outs, eye-rolling tweens, and difficult parents because they love serving the Lord. They believe sharing the Good News of Jesus with kids is essentia. Their willingness to serve, despite the challenges, blesses the Lord and plays an integral part in growing God’s Kingdom. Truly following Jesus always means struggle and suffering. Depending on location in the world and your dynamics, that suffering looks different. Sometimes it’s loving on hard-to-love kids, being rejected by your friends, or choosing the unpopular decision to follow Jesus first. For many believers around the world, following Jesus means literally putting their lives at risk because of their faith. This was the case for the believers in Thessalonica. In 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, Paul wrote, “Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring.  It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering.” Paul lauded the believers for walking out their faith in trying times. Author David Guzik observes that “Where suffering is coupled with righteous endurance, God’s work is done. The fires of persecution and tribulation were like the purifying fires of a refiner, burning away the dross from the gold, bringing forth a pure, precious metal.” When Christians experience difficult things and come through on the other side with their faith intact, they mature and develop the characteristics God desires in His Kingdom people. May we seek the Lord’s grace, wisdom, and strength to endure hard times so we can grow in our faith and fulfill the role God has for us in His Kingdom. 

2) Why is it just for God to “repay with affliction those who afflict you”? (verse 6)

Have you ever fumed at someone speeding past you at a ridiculous rate on the highway only to rejoice a few miles later to see an officer giving a speeding ticket? Something in our nature hates to see wrongdoers get off without penalty. It is satisfying to know that justice has been served. It seems easy to agree with Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 when he writes, “it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us.” It is fitting for the Righteous God to enact justice on sinners, but it can be very tempting for us to take matters into our own hands. God is very clear that making wrongdoers pay is His job, not ours. Jesus tells us in Romans 12:19-20, “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. 20 But if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. ” Not only does God tell us not to avenge ourselves, He tells us to treat our enemies with love. We are to show kindness and let Him repay the evildoers. Treating those who afflict me with love and letting God handle the justice is not as natural as cheering on the punishment I think they deserve, but it is what God requires. It’s a helpful perspective to remember that, in view of God’s supreme holiness, we are all sinful and rebellious. (Romans 3:23) My prayer is that seeking justice and loving mercy becomes easier as we humble ourselves before God and allow Him to be the Righteous Judge over every situation in our lives.  


3) What does it mean to “pay the penalty of destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength”? (verse 9) 

Being a Mom means having “superpowers” such as Finder of Lost Things and Healer of Boo-Boos. But the best “superpower” is that Mom’s presence can instantly make things better. Kids sleep better and worry less when Mom’s around. A mother’s presence brings incredible peace to her children! The Lord’s presence blesses His children in infinitely greater fashion. Zephaniah 3:17 declares, “The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in His love. He will delight in you with singing.” In God’s presence, we experience His salvation and the delight of His love. In John 15:5-6, Jesus remarks, “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. . .” Jesus tells us that if we stay in His presence, we are productive and alive. Without His presence, we are like useless, withered branches. Paul describes the loss of God’s presence in verse 9, when he notes that those who persecute the Church will “pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength.” Eternal destruction is described as being apart from God forever. Author David Guzik explains how the phrase, “From the presence of the Lord”, sums up the Bible’s teaching on hell. Nothing more needs said of its horrors, other than hell will be completely devoid of God’s good presence and every kind aspect of His character. Only His unrelenting holy justice remains. Just as being in God’s presence is a blessing, being apart from Him is punishment. We delight and take comfort in God’s presence, and we suffer when our sin separates us from the Lord. Anyone who finds themselves deprived of the Lord’s presence need only repent and turn from their sins to experience refreshing from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19-20) We serve a mighty and merciful God!

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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)
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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.

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If Day 12 Free Ride: Digging Deeper

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If Day 12 Free Ride: Digging Deeper

Shannon Vicker

July 27, 2021

Christ,Digging Deeper,Follow,Fullness,Gift,God,Jesus,Kingdom,Obedience,Salvation,Treasure,Truth

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 "Free Ride"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why was the man willing to sell everything for this treasure he found? (verse 44)

Though Jesus’ parable doesn’t specifically describe what the man found in the field, we know he found it to be of extreme value. This wasn’t something he intentionally went looking for, rather, he happened to stumble upon his grand discovery.

Once he found it, he knew its high worth and was willing to bury it again in the field, keeping it hidden and protected, while he went to sell everything he had in order to purchase the field. In this way, he could be certain the treasure he had found would be his forever.

The Everyday Application

1) Why was the man willing to sell everything for this treasure he found? (verse 44)

The man in Jesus’ story found a treasure he knew was more valuable than anything he owned or could ever own. It was so valuable, in fact, he was willing to part with everything else in his life in order to gain this single treasure. Jesus intended His hearers to understand the Treasure to be Himself as the fullness of God.

We have access to Him through His sacrifice where He paid the death penalty we deserve because of our sin so we might be reconciled back to Him. This Treasure had been hidden away in the Old Testament for centuries. Jesus wanted those listening to understand they could “dig” into the “field” of the former prophecies and historical narrative and even the Law in order to find the True Treasure.

When we discover Jesus and the Truth of the Scriptures, we are urged to surrender all we have for the vast richness of Christ! (Philippians 3:7-8) Of believers in Jesus, Matthew Henry writes, “upon gospel terms, buy this field; they make it their own, for the sake of the unseen treasure in it. It is Christ in the gospel that we are to have an eye to.” 

When we understand Truth, recognizing its supreme value, we must make it our own. However, unlike the man who bought the field, our treasure of Christ is not meant to keep to ourselves, but instead share it with the world!

The Original Intent

2) Who is the merchant? (verse 45)

An experienced pearl merchant knew exactly what to look for, and he was intent on finding the “perfect pearl”. His life’s work was to know what a perfect pearl looked like, and then pursue that.

Pearl merchants knew the worth of each pearl they encountered, and they knew the price to pay for it.

Unlike the man who wasn’t expecting to find a treasure in a field, this merchant is actively seeking out the ultimate pearl. On finding it, he knew he had found a treasure worth a lavish price tag. He was willing to sell all he had in order to own the priceless pearl.

The Everyday Application

2) Who is the merchant? (verse 45)

This merchant knew exactly which pearl he was pursuing and would stop at nothing to obtain it for himself. Of this pearl, Matthew Henry writes, “a Jewel of inestimable value, which will make those who have it rich, truly rich, rich toward God; in having him, we have enough to make us happy here and forever.”

As believers, we understand that in discovering Jesus and the truth of who He is, we have more than enough. Possessions and money are worthless in comparison to having the Treasure of God.

There will never be anything more valuable to gain or pursue. Those who have pursued many things, seeking satisfaction, and finally finding Christ are the merchant from Jesus’ story; these people have found the Pearl of Jesus and have understood its supreme value. We don’t need to chase anything else.

The Original Intent

3) What can be learned from these two parables?

Jesus often taught in parables, or stories, throughout His earthly ministry. In these stories, Jesus used common things His audience would easily relate with in order to bridge to deeper spiritual truths.

In this passage, Jesus wanted His audience to understand the inestimable Treasure He was about to offer them by dying in their place and paying the ultimate price for their sin. He also wanted them to understand the extreme cost of following Him once they understood the true value of embracing Him as Savior.

While those listening to these parables did not fully understand them in the moment, His disciples came to understand them after His death and resurrection. They knew that following and obeying Jesus would cost them greatly; many paid with their lives.

The Everyday Application

3) What can be learned from these two parables?

Both the treasure in the field and the pearl cost a great deal to obtain. Jesus came as God in human flesh to pay the ultimate price for sin with His life that we might be set free from sin and shame. In order for us to spend eternity with God, this price must be paid, because God is just and righteous.

This payment cost God His only Son. While there is nothing we can “do” to “purchase” this gift of salvation, there is a cost involved in following Jesus. (Luke 14:26-33) When we understand who Jesus is, we realize the cost is worth it. We become like the merchant and the man who bought the field when we realize the value of the Treasure of God and are willing to pay the cost.

Just as these men were willing to part with everything in order to have their treasure, we too must be willing to part with everything in order to follow Christ. It isn’t going to be easy, and we may often question the cost, but as we become more like Jesus we will never regret the choice to pay the price and follow Him in full surrender!

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If Day 6 Triune God

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If Day 6 Triune God

Rebecca Adams

July 19, 2021

Fullness,God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Mercy,Perfect,Praise,Scripture,Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 14:18-26
Psalm 89
Titus 2:11-14

One God.
Three persons.
Three holy Beings comprising One Divinity.
Wholly singular, yet holy They.
God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit.
Co-equal. Co-eternal.
None created. None superior.
One. Perfect. Deity.

Scripture is clear, yet we still question.
Inquiring minds beg to be satisfied.

Wouldn’t one-without-three be simpler?

Does God “need” to be triune in order to be perfectly righteous and holy?

Our Messy Misunderstandings
We tend to think of God the Father as an Old Testament reality.

Creator, judge, righteous (perhaps arrogantly so), and wrathful (perhaps overtly). This leaves us with a half-baked picture of the Father; powerful, but crotchety, maybe even petty. This “Father” is more likely vengeful than benevolent, while also disconnected and disinterested in our everyday lives.

Jesus, God the Son, appears, but not until centuries later. Maybe He’s the lesser, gentler, version of God. Jesus is God’s Son, right? So, Jesus came from somewhere, right? Maybe the Father created Him? Maybe Mary?

Jesus lives His life, makes a sacrifice to atone for all of mankind’s sin, past, present, and future (Ephesians 1:7), yet this redemption is only available if we choose to accept His offering for ourselves (Ephesians 2:8). But, to Whom is Jesus sacrificing? If Jesus is “God”, is He sacrificing to Himself?

Finally, God the Spirit enters the scene after Jesus ascends back to the right hand of the Father. (Mark 16:19) Jesus said His disciples could accomplish more through His Spirit than when Jesus physically walked beside them. (John 14:12) But how? If there is one God, why are there three Beings? Wouldn’t one-without-three be simpler?

Sift For Truth  
We bring our messy misunderstandings, and for most Christians, we simply shrug our shoulders and say something spiritual, “Well, God’s thoughts aren’t our thoughts; He is a mystery. We surely can’t expect to understand God!” While true, these phrases allow us to keep our messy misunderstandings swirling in some dark corner of our heart, while we continue living with a very incomplete, dangerous, concept of who this beautiful, infinite, majestic, and yes, mysterious, but truly knowable, Triune God is.

We become caught in technicalities of what we cannot understand,
while missing what God has clearly revealed as foundationally essential.

Father God is Creator God. Yes!
“…God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

So is God the Son
“For everything was created by Him (Jesus).” (Colossians 1:16)

So is God the Spirit
“…the Spirit of God has made me (Job)…” (Job 33:4)

Father God is Judge. Yes!
“…for God is the judge.” (Psalm 50:6)

So is God the Son
“The Father… has given all judgment to the Son.” (John 5:22)

So is God the Spirit
“…He (Spirit) will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” (John 16:8)

Father God is all-powerful. Yes!
“…nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

So is God the Son
“Jesus… said, “All authority has been given to Me…” (Matthew 28:18)

So is God the Spirit
“…you will receive (God’s) power when the Holy Spirit has come…” (Acts 1:8)

Father God is disconnected and disinterested. No!
“You (God) have recorded my wanderings (and) put my tears in Your bottle.” (Psalm 56:8)

Neither is God the Son
“When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, He felt compassion…” (Matthew 9:36)

Neither is God the Spirit
“…the Holy Spirit (…) will teach you all things and remind you of everything.” (John 14:26)

God the Son is created. No!
“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Neither is God the Father
“You are the same, Your years will never end.” (Psalm 102:27)

Neither is God the Spirit
“…through the eternal (Holy) Spirit…” (Hebrews 9:14)

God the Son is the “gentle version” of God. No!
“…Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead…” (2 Timothy 4:1)

The Father’s core nature is merciful
“…For He (The Most High God) is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)

The Spirit’s delight is to make Father & Son known to us
“He (Holy Spirit) will glorify Me (Jesus), because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is Mine.” (John 16:14-15)

Are Father, Son, and Spirit One Divine God? YES!
“You, Father, are in Me (Jesus), and I am in You.” (John 17:21)

“The words I (Jesus) speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works.” (John 14:10)

“The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My (Jesus’) name, will teach you all things..”. (John 14:26)

“The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

If we accept one part of the Bible, we do not have the leisure to exclude the rest of it based on feeling or whimsy. All of Scripture is God-breathed; Triune God breathed.

Dangerous Deceptions
If God were only a singular Being, He would have no community to enjoy within Himself.
He would indeed be stodgy and self-focused.
There would be no natural generosity, no loving deference to another, no joyful sharing of delight, because there would only be a single Divine Being to occupy, rule, and reign over anything and anyone else.

As soon as He created people, He would have easily lost interest in them because His nature would be to love Himself, not others. Instead, His very nature as Triune, is to give of Himself in pure radiant delightful love to another over and over endlessly.

God, as Father, Son, and Spirit, divinely chose to be triune in nature because only here is perfect love eternally made manifest.

One God who sacrificed Himself, making atonement for rebellious human hearts, that He might satisfy His own righteous justice and cleanse for Himself a people, His own possession, to dwell with for eternity. Here, the Triune God experiences the fullness of delightful community by extending to His children what He has already shared from eternity past among the Divine Singular Being of Father, Son, and Spirit.

The Triune God came to us, to accomplish what we could not, that we might enjoy Him, and one another, forever.

What radical love!

Isn’t this a God who is worth every adoring thought and action of our lives?

Isn’t this a God who is both beautifully mysterious and yet divinely knowable?

Praise this Triune God!

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Jesus not only gives us abundant life on earth (1 Timothy 6:18-19), but this life also extends into eternal life in Heaven (1 John 5:11). Life with Jesus also gives us full access to the Father. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can come boldly to God’s throne of grace and receive mercy in times of trouble. (Hebrews 4:16) In fact, Jesus is the only way we can get to Father God because only He lived our human life perfectly for us. Jesus tells His followers that no one comes to the Father except through Him. If we know Jesus, then we know the Father (John 14:6) We can rejoice in the full access we have to the Father through Jesus’, His Son!
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If Day 2 One God?: Digging Deeper

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If Day 2 One God?: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

July 13, 2021

Blessed,Digging Deeper,Dwell,Fullness,God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Truth

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 "One God?"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 1:13-22

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him…
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)

Colossians 1:15 states Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” The use of the term firstborn has been problematic for some readers. It would seem to indicate that Jesus was created first, implying He is a created being, similar to an angel, and not co-existent with God before time began.

According to author Arthur Peake, “there have been some false doctrines who assert that “angelic mediators usurped the place and functions of the Son in nature and grace.”

Author David Guzik explains, “The Greek word for firstborn, prototokos, “can describe either priority in time or supremacy in rank. As Paul used it here, he probably had both ideas in mind, with Jesus being before all created things and Jesus being of a supremely different order than all created things.”

Calling Jesus firstborn in the original language was a way to describe Him as being above all, not born or created first. There are several other Scriptural instances of the term firstborn to indicate exalted state or rank, including God telling Pharaoh that Israel is His firstborn son (Exodus 4:22) and God calling David, Jesse’s youngest son, His firstborn, “greatest of the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 89:27)

Author William Barclay also points out that the word firstborn is “a title of the Messiah.” The Bible tells us clearly that Jesus is God, not just an angel or some other marvelously created being. Colossians 2:9 declares, “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ.”

We can be secure in knowing that the Jesus who came to save us (John 14:6) is the same God who created all things (Colossians 1:16).

The Everyday Application

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)

When Paul called Jesus “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,” (Colossians 1:15), he was declaring Christ’s supremacy over all things God (as Father, Son, and Spirit) had created. It was part of his teaching about the power and purpose of Jesus on earth.

Jesus is our Creator, and He desires to help His creatures. Paul reminds us that Jesus is not just a great moral leader created by God, as some false teachings suggest, but that He is Almighty God Himself, one part of the triune Godhead.

Author R.C. Sproul says of Jesus, “We are called not simply to follow His guidelines but to throw ourselves at His feet in adoration and praise. Consequently, if we want others to have a proper view of the Messiah, then we need to be careful and always speak of Him as God incarnate, who rules over all.”

This is why Paul declares Jesus to be pre-eminent over all things. Paul’s message to anyone who will listen is that the omnipotent God, because of His great love for us, came to earth as our Redeemer and covered our sins. (Colossians 1:14)

It is astonishing to realize that the God over all creation longs to be in relationship with the finite, sinful beings He created and for them to each be reconciled back to Him! (Colossians 1:22)

The Original Intent

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)

We read in Colossians 1:17 that God “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” If God is before all things, then He existed before creation. We read the truth of this in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Before the beginning, there was God. The “beginning” was when time began!

Author and researcher Ken Ham explains that before the creation, there was “God existing from everlasting to everlasting—God existing in eternity.” God was there, before all things, being “I AM” (Isaiah 48:12) He also holds all things together.

Author Albert Barnes states that God keeps all things “in the present state; their existence, order, and arrangement are continued by His power. If unsupported by Him, they would fall into disorder, or sink back to nothing.” Hebrews 1:3 makes a similar statement, that God “is sustaining all things by His powerful word.”

As author James Coffman puts it, “Not only did Jesus Christ create the universe, He sustains, upholds, and supports it!” God is the Author of all things and the maintainer of all things. Without Him, we would have nothing, and without Him, nothing we do have would hold together. We are divinely blessed that not only did God create everything, but He also continues to support everything He made.

The Everyday Application

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)

My friend taught at a school where the longtime secretary retired at the end of the school year. The next school year was quite chaotic for my friend because folks in the office didn’t seem to know what to do, or when to do it. The teachers received last minute requests to submit paperwork, schedules were revised multiple times, and annual events were forgotten or cobbled together at the eleventh hour. When the secretary who held the office together retired, everything fell apart! I think of this situation when I read Colossians 1:17, stating that God “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”

Not only did God create everything, but He holds it all together in ways we don’t even suspect or understand.  If He suddenly stopped holding things together, nothing would be the same and everything would come crashing down. 

David Guzik describes Jesus as “the personal sustainer of all creation.” Not only does He hold all things together, but the verse also says He is before all things. I have sometimes wondered about that time before creation, before God spoke the world into being. Author Adam Clarke calls Jesus “the unoriginated and eternal God.” He is outside of time as we understand it. 

R.C. Sproul proclaims that God’s “Eternality goes in the other direction as well. There will never be a time in the future when God will cease to be. His being remains self-existent for all eternity.” It is both awe-inspiring and comforting to know that the eternal God is the One sustaining all creation, including you and me and all whom we hold dear.

The Original Intent

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18) 

When Paul called Jesus “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” in Colossians 1:18, he was referencing Christ’s resurrection. Calling Jesus the “firstborn” was a way to say that He was pre-eminent, the highest of those ever to come back from the dead. He obviously didn’t mean he was the first to come back from the dead, because Jesus Himself had raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11:42-44.

Author Don Stewart explains, “Jesus was the first person in time to come back from the dead never to die again. In addition, He is preeminent over the dead and death itself. Jesus said that He has the keys, or the authority, to death and Hades.”

Paul alludes to Jesus’ resurrection, but He also refers to a beginning, a new age, ushered in by the resurrection. R. C. Sproul explains that people redeemed by Jesus “now experience a taste of the power of the age to come through the ability to resist sin by the Holy Spirit. This future age will arrive in its fullness when all are raised from the dead, and our union with Christ assures us that we will then be raised unto eternal life just as He was.” The resurrection of Jesus points to the day when all Christians will have eternal life with Christ. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

The Everyday Application

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18) 

I bought a book for my friend about the names of God because he liked to pray using the various names given to God in the Bible. The cover featured Immanuel, which means “God with us,” Jehovah Jireh, “God provides,” Prince of Peace, and Light of the World, among others. Nowhere on the cover did I see the name Firstborn From the Dead, though that is one of the names of Jesus in Colossians 1:18.

It doesn’t sound as dazzling as Alpha and Omega, but the meaning behind it is just as powerful. The name firstborn indicates that Jesus is above all and over all, and in this case, it means He has power over death. He is the only one to come back from the dead and not die again.

Author Scott Hubbard explains, “Only Jesus, the second Adam, has gone from dust to dust to glory. Jesus is the first human to have a heart that will never stop beating, lungs that will never stop breathing, legs that will never stop walking, eyes that will never stop seeing.”

When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered death (Romans 6:9) and sin (1 Peter 2:24) Because of His victory over death, we have the opportunity to live forever with Him in Heaven when we repent of our sins and accept His forgiveness (John 3:16)

While Firstborn From the Dead might not sound like a great name, it conveys the best news ever shared…Jesus died to set us free from sin!

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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) What was the last thing you ate? It’s a silly question, but what was your “why” for eating it? I know, crazy, right? But the answer might not be as easy as you think. Were you famished and ate the crusty piece of bread anyways? Were you stressed and ran for your secret stash? Maybe you were bored, or tired, anxious, or just available where food was present. Or, just perhaps, you were actually hungry and you intentionally chose to eat the specific foods you had specifically prepared for the purpose of nourishing and fueling your body. The everyday aspects of our normal lives provide a bit of a reflection into the spiritual realm. We regularly take in “food” to feed the soul-hunger inside each of us. Are we fueling love for Jesus and others by consciously considering, and preparing, what we take into our hearts? Are we slowing down enough to recognize when we are providing fodder for our insatiable pride, anger, or self-righteous indignation? What will you feast on today? And Why?

2) From a bush aflame with orange tongues of fire came a voice declaring His power, might, and complete authority over all. Period. I AM WHO I AM said the Lord God to a trembling, aging, forgotten shepherd. The bush bursting with heat from hungry flames, remained as green and unscathed as it had before the burning fire engulfed it. Authority over all. Period. Centuries later, a smattering of fishermen were caught on the waters in the midst of a storm. Waves sweeping over their craft, death imminent, and a solitary ghost-like shadow walking toward them, seemingly oblivious to the terror around them. Then, the voice, the same voice that had spoken ages before to the fearful shepherd, Moses, spoke again to paranoid sailors. IT IS I. Authority over all. Period. One greater than their storm had spoken, capturing their attention. The storm continued its rage. The flame continued its fury. But the Lord God held all authority, insisting that the forgotten and the bedraggled focus on the single most important Being. I AM. In the hush of now, as you quiet your heart in the presence of this very same God, consider, whose voice will you give your full attention?

3) Nothing can remain hidden when the brilliance of light is cast upon it. Shadows escape as all is instantly, relentlessly made known. Every crack in the windshield, every chip on our phone screens, every spot on the window pane. Nothing Hidden. But for the one who insists on running for shadows, forever fleeing the light, not wishing exposure, they not only miss out on truth, but also prevent themselves from dancing in freedom and forgiveness. Full exposure is terrifying because we all have secrets and shame we’d rather keep hidden away, forever unknown. Tossing aside your masks, what are the secret things you hide in your soul? On what does your shame hang? It’s easy to gloss over and say we have nothing, but then we only deceive ourselves. Sit with it; what hides in your corners, evading the Light of Jesus? Perhaps just as important, explore why you’re hiding it. Yesterday, Sara prayed for us, asking the Lord to give us eyes to really see. Eyes to see our sin, eyes to see Christ for who He is, and eyes to recognize that real life is found only in walking in the Light instead of hiding behind shadows. Where will you live and what will you choose to see?

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 Exodus 3:13-15 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

When Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

Prayer Journal
All inclusive. No exceptions. “I AM WHO I AM” With this name you encompass all things, all time, all authority, and all rule; there is none like You. How dare we look up at You? How dare we breathe without Your permission? Yet, in the un-imaginable narrative of Moses’ life, You come to him, speaking Your Name over him, mysteriously calling him into Your work. You hold all rule, life and death are in Your hand, with Your breathe You formed the intricacies of blood vessels and microscopic cells, yet You, with the greatest of all humanity and dramatic, radical love, spoke. With unquestionable power, You made Yourself known, not only to Moses, not only to Israel, but with the birth of Your Son, God in the flesh, You made Yourself known to all peoples. Oh Lord, whom I have the privilege, to call my Savior, fix the focus of my heart upon the magnitude of Your incomprehensible love, oh great I AM.

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