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Gospel

Pause VI Day 15 Greet With Grace

January 20, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 15 Greet With Grace

Melodye Reeves

January 20, 2023

Accepted,Gospel,Grace,Journey,Joy

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:21-23

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Read More Of His Words

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus … all the saints send you greetings! (Philippians 4:21-22)

Paul’s gospel is all-inclusive! Don’t you love that, sister? I just cannot ignore the intentionality of his mentions.

Emily Post was famous for writing about etiquette. She influenced the nation for years regarding what is proper, especially in writing. The apostle Paul was teaching us long before anyone knew of Emily Post. His letters included all the things that “the best letters” should. Under the influence of the Spirit: 1) Paul mixed the good with bad news, 2) he responded to questions asked or news shared in a previous letter, and 3) he always considered the recipients. (emilypost.com)

Post reminded her audience that good letter-writing included a positive salutation (greeting) and an encouraging closing (goodbye) in which the reader could relate. Paul did just that.

I heard someone say the gospel is not exclusive, but it is specific. And Paul was a master at making sure the reader understood this truth. I don’t know anyone who can preach a more concise gospel sermon in a simple greeting or goodbye. Paul is the GOAT for sure, and writing a good letter wasn’t even his goal!

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1-2)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Philippians 4:23)

When I read the letter to the Philippians it brings me such comfort. Even now, thousands of years after he wrote it and his original audience read it, Paul’s writing is relevant to us. Why? Because the grace of God is timeless, and it’s inclusive.

Sister, as believers, we are included in this marvelous grace of the Lord Jesus.

Grace and peace were offered to the Philippians. Grace and peace are offered to me. Grace and peace are offered to you.

Pause.
Receive this greeting into your souls this very day.

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read Philippians 4:21-23 out loud twice. Explore deeper by studying some cross-references of the authenticity of Scripture. (Here are some references regarding the reliability of the letters of the apostles: 1 Corinthians 14:35, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 16:25-26, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3:15-16)

2) Here is our last hand-crafted Spotify playlist for Pause VI!
Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause VI! Rehearse the goodness and grace of God. Let your worship be an act of joy and thankfulness before your God!

3)
Memorize Philippians 4:4-5

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gospel,grace,inclusive,Truth,welcome
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The GT Weekend! ~ Surrender Week 2
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Pause VI
Day 14

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.
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Explore This Journey Theme!
Jan 2 - Jan 20, 2023 - Journey Theme #112

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Posted in: Accepted, Gospel, Grace, Journey, Joy Tagged: gospel, grace, inclusive, Truth, welcome

Pause VI Day 13 Surprising Secret

January 18, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 13 Surprising Secret

Melodye Reeves

January 18, 2023

Adoration,Gospel,Identity,Joy,Kingdom,Longing

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 4:10-14

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

Read More Of His Words

Heard any of these expressions?

I’ve got a secret.
This is our little secret.
Do you want to know a secret?
The secret leaked out.

Or now at my age, I’ve asked this one when I observe ageless beauty, graceful grandparenting, or meaningful marriages:
What’s your secret?

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)

 Reflect for a moment on Paul’s location as he wrote this letter. From other verses in Philippians, we know he was in prison under house-arrest. Still, multiple times in his letter he has made a case for consistent, joyful living. Maybe he anticipated the Philippian believers feeling sorry or sad for him, and he wanted to assure them he had everything he needed. Because for Paul, knowing Christ was his single need.

Sisters, let’s take time to reflect on our own contentment. Do we miss much of the joy in our lives because we are wishing for something else we think someone else has? Maybe we have concluded that others have discovered the secret we’ve been trying to uncover. Is it possible we’ve lost sight of what we received when we gained Christ?

Paul had come to understand the essential, but often missing, element of knowing Christ. Though he had come to realize that the grace of Jesus equipped Him for every task (2 Corinthians 12:9), he had learned the secret sauce was the joy found in contentment. We can do it too, my friend! We can do all things through Jesus!

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 down every word of Philippians 4:10-14 today. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, consider the joy of Jesus! (Hebrews 12:2) He knew what was ahead of Him would be agonizing. He also knew the joy of obedience far outweighed the temporary suffering He would experience. Certainly, Paul considered Jesus as he meditated on the secret of his joy!

2) Choose one of these options to live boldly with authentic honesty in biblical community. As we grow deeper in God’s Word, the Lord designed us to share and grow with others walking alongside us.         

a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.

b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.   

c) Leave a comment here about it.

d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 

e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.

f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.

g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

3) Continuing to work on memorizing Philippians 4:4-5

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Christ,gospel,need,source
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The GT Weekend! ~ Surrender Week 2
February 4, 2023
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Pause VI
Day 12

One day on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus began teaching a group of people. What became known as The Beatitudes sums up Jesus’ teachings on earth. In essence, blessed are you if you need Me for you shall have Me. The reward and joy of the believer is Jesus! In the world as we know it, prosperity means bigger and better. It means accumulating more stuff.
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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Jan 2 - Jan 20, 2023 - Journey Theme #112

Join a GT POD!

Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

  • gtpods@gracefullytruthful.com
Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!
Posted in: Adoration, Gospel, Identity, Joy, Kingdom, Longing Tagged: Christ, gospel, need, source

The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched X Week 3

July 30, 2022 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

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) Many of us know the hard edges of pain, injustice, and sorrow we felt would surely swallow us whole, or worse, bit by bit. Joseph’s story, the longest recorded single narrative in Genesis, is fraught with many opportunities to sink into the waves of sorrow, bitterness, and injustice. But God’s love was, and always will be, the greatest game changer of every story. In His lavish love, He strengthened Joseph’s faith in the midst of suffering and, rather than allow him to be swallowed by grief and despair, slowly taught Joseph to trust the Almighty Sovereign God. We each have this same choice. Every day. Every moment. Inside of each second of mundane or pain, God has provided the opportunity to lean into Him with authentic honesty or pull back. When we lean in, He increases our faith, strengthens our souls, sustains us, and gives His courage and peace. When we pull back, we soon find ourselves running blind through a minefield of bitterness, anger, depression, and despair. In the end, we lose everything. Take time to identity the opportunities the Lord is giving you recently. Where do you find your heart turning?

2) Joseph wasn’t really looking for redemption. He certainly wasn’t expecting to see the familiar faces of his brothers amidst the sea of faces that day as they came to Egypt, bowing to him, to purchase grain. Redemption and restoration within his family relationships may have surprised Joseph, but it didn’t surprise the Lord. He had seen this day from long before Joseph’s brothers had plotted to murder him. The Lord knew redemption was coming when Joseph unjustly sat in prison. More so, the Lord knew all the internal wrestling, heart ache, and grieving hot tears Joseph would cry in the years between being sold into slavery and the day he would embrace his brothers with glad tears. God never once abandoned Joseph; not one of His promises was broken. The Lord proved faithful at every single point, and eventually, Joseph saw with his physical eyes what the Lord had taught him to see with his spiritual eyes: redemption. The Lord loves us far too much to simply give us what we think we want in the physical realm without first teaching us what we really need in the spiritual realm: God Himself. Wherever you are in your own journey, high hope or struggling to lift your head, be encouraged that the God of redemption sees you, and He knows your redemption story inside and out. Trust Him!

3) Every injustice. Every broken place. Every wound that has relentlessly damaged bodies and relationships. Every single tear that has stained our cheeks. Healed, made whole, and redeemed one day. Joseph experienced only a small sliver of the full redemption the Lord had planned for His people during his life. Joseph’s family experienced partial redemption and the nation of Israel was blessed temporarily with safe harbor and sustaining food for a season. Eventually, though, Israel became enslaved for 400 years and suffered significantly in many ways even into modern times. Still, their homecoming is sure and certain, and so is ours. Whatever good we experience and whatever redemption we receive in this life is merely a hint of the good restoration still to come for those who have trusted Christ completely for their salvation. When we choose to adjust our lens to see our struggles with the perspective of Home on the horizon, even hardship becomes more bearable. Practice turning over your perspective to the Lord this weekend. Ask Him to fix your gaze on the eternity to come! To help you anchor in this truth, marinate your soul in truths of Scripture like Revelation 21 and 22 and Psalm 27.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from John 13:7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus, like Peter at the Last Supper, like Joseph in prison, like Israel wandering the desert, like Abraham leaving his homeland to follow Your lead, Your words speak truth to our reality, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.” (John 13:7) When You sat with Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3), when You commissioned Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9), when You came to Isaiah in a vision (Isaiah 6), they had no way of knowing what You were doing in their timeline or how it would echo through the ages. But You did; You knew all along. You never cease to be faithful, steadfast, and true.

Teach us to trust You with our stories. Teach us to honestly bring You every piece of our painful suffering, surrendering it fully to You, and waiting with great, expectant Hope for Your sure and certain coming redemption. What You are doing now in our lives, we cannot comprehend the wide spectrum You have planned, but teach us to live by faith and not by sight. May our hearts choose praise, worship, and adoration now, whatever our circumstances look like. Here is my life, Lord God, make Your redemption known in its storyline!

Worship Through Community

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

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

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Anxious, Believe, Broken, Excuses, Faith, God, Good, Gospel, Grace, Journey, Joy Tagged: faith, follow, GT Weekend, hope, redemption, story, suffering, worship

Whole Day 2 The Broken & The Cure: Digging Deeper

June 21, 2022 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Whole Day 2 The Broken & The Cure: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

June 21, 2022

Enemies,Glory,God,Gospel,Lord,Love

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "The Broken & The Cure"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3:1-24

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So, she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

11 Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?

12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

13 So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life.15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.

17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

20 The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them. 22 The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”

23 So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What did the serpent ask the woman? (verses 1-6)

Could there be a more cunning question to ask someone than “did they really say that!?”. It begs for a skeptical answer and is meant to stir doubt in the mind of the hearer. The impact in Genesis 3:1 is that the question was referring to the command of God.

Though we don’t have clarity how it happened, we do know the serpent who was speaking was Satan himself. (Revelation 20:1-2) So brazen is he that he refers to God as “Elohim” rather than the personal covenant name “Yahweh.” Eve falls for his trickery and responds using Elohim instead of Yahweh Elohim in verse 3. (Bible.org)

Whether Satan possessed the serpent or deceived Adam and Eve into believing the serpent was talking to them, snakes do not have the ability to speak. And neither do donkeys. (Numbers 22:22-31) Yet in some circumstances, God allowed the words of animals to be used in His unveiling story of redemption.

Considering himself to be wiser than God, Satan devised a scheme to destroy the good which God had created. (Genesis 1:31)

The Hebrew word for “cunning” carries two meanings: negative implications are found here in verse 1, while more positive renderings of the word are found in the book of Proverbs referring to those who are “shrewd”. (Net Notes)

Sadly, Satan knew just enough about God to be dangerous! Though he underestimated the ultimate authority and character in the nature of God, it was in Satan’s nature to devise wickedness. By faking ignorance, Satan demonstrated the depth of his appetite for crushing us and consequently throwing creation into chaos. (1 Peter 5:8)

Four very sad words appear in verse 6, she saw, she took, she gave, and they ate.  Devastating! The world’s spiral into complete brokenness had begun. (Romans 5:12)

The Everyday Application

1) What did the serpent ask the woman? (verses 1-6)

Partial truths are the worst kind of lies. They are filled with subtleties that play tricks on our hearts and minds. A clock that reads 5:15 AM when it’s really 5:15 PM is so clearly off that we wouldn’t consider using it to tell time. But a clock that reads 5:15 AM when it’s 5:35 AM could make the difference in us being on time or late. It may seem later, but we convince ourselves the clock is right.

Subtle lies tell us enough of the truth to make us curious, but we can become too lazy to seek the whole truth.

Sin begins to take root in our hearts when curiosity turns to doubt followed by wrong choices. God has given us His word that is sufficient instruction for our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) He has also provided for us everything we need to enjoy life to its fullest. (1 Timothy 6:17)

God has not left out anything. As Creator, He ultimately provides us life itself in every breath we breathe. (Acts 17:24-25) Yet, you and I still fall for the enemy’s greatest lie: you need more. As Mandie wrote, “In a way, aren’t we still falling for the lies that make us believe there must be more for us than everything God has already provided?”

Oh Sister, I’m right there with you crying out to our good Father. He has said we are valuable to Him. He wants to provide for us if we would just turn from sin and rely on His goodness! (Matthew 6:26)  

Lord, help me believe YOU alone are good and truthful. Help me to trust YOU alone for everything I need.

The Original Intent

2) What did the man and woman hear that caused them to hide? (verses 7-13)

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze […].” (verse 8) The somber reality of their depravity arises within the senses of the humans.

They heard the sound of the Lord’s walking, but the debilitating volume of the guilt pounding in their hearts was what they feared most.

They had believed the lie of their enemy and now the loveliness of the evening breeze was ruined by the awareness of their nakedness. They had shared the forbidden tree’s fruit. And the aftertaste was bitter. It was true that they now knew the awfulness of sin. (verse 5)

Instead of being like God, they were terrified to be near Him. What Eve thought would bring delight brought dread. The wisdom she obtained was not glorious but horrifying! Her eyes were now opened to her humanity in light of God’s deity.

This revelation brought something they had never experienced, deep shame! 

God had commanded them to refrain from eating from one tree. (Genesis 2:16-17) But Satan put a different spin on God’s words and motives, and Adam and Eve choose to resort to hiding. It’s a dreadful scene.

The Lord calls out for His created companions, the ones He made in His image to bring Him glory. (Genesis 1:27) The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Lord’s desire for people in Isaiah 43:6-7. They were created to delight in Him and worship Him. Satan’s desire was to destroy that relationship and bring glory to himself. (Luke 4:5-7) He was clever enough to use the curious nature of humans to convince them he had their best interest in mind. As they turn on each other, it appears Satan’s goal to ruin them might very well be accomplished.

The Everyday Application

2) What did the man and woman hear that caused them to hide? (verses 7-13)

We’ve all been there. That moment when our wrong choices catch up with us. Maybe it’s the sound of a siren and the sight of blue lights behind us. Maybe it’s the sight of the checking account balance that’s lower than it should be because of an ill-timed and unnecessary purchase. Maybe it’s the gut punch we feel after a juicy conversation we had that should have ended long before it did.

Shame can be so loud!

Especially brutal is the shame that comes when we’re guilty and we know it. Adam and Eve weren’t afraid of God’s footsteps. They had obviously heard them before as they basked in the wonderful evening breezes. But this time was different.

We get it, don’t we? I’ve been relieved to see the lights of the policeman’s car when there was an accident. I have been delighted to open my bank statement and see the ways in which the Lord has provided. I’ve been filled with hope as I’ve had conversations with friends that stir me to kind deeds and encouraged me to find the good. 

Why did they hide? It was their guilt and shame! Oh, how wonderful that God sought them, knowing what He knew. 

Our shame is not the end of our story, sweet friend. We have a Father who calls out for us to admit our failure and find forgiveness and restoration. It is so tempting to hide in fear and shame.

But it’s unnecessary.

We can be restored, and God wants nothing more than our sincere humility and repentance. He is faithful and kind. (1 John 1:5-9)

The Original Intent

3) What was the result of their choice? (verses 14-24)

Before Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, they were allowed to eat from any tree, including the tree of life. Choosing to disobey God caused them to be banished from the garden, including this tree. The New Testament Bible writer, James, wanted his readers to understand the consequences of being drawn into sin. 

James 1:14-15 gives us an understanding of how temptation works. It is exactly how it worked in the garden. Adam and Eve were “drawn away and enticed by [their] own evil desire” to know more than knew. (verse 6) When they became aware of their guilt (nakedness), they hid in shame. God questioned them about what happened, but they knew they had been deceived and had chosen to disobey God.

Because of their wicked choices, the God who had created them needed to punish their sin. As the consequences were being explained, I wonder if Adam and Eve remembered what God did say to Adam, “On the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

Though Eve misquoted the Lord, it is evident Adam had told Eve what God said. (verses 2-3) They were both responsible for what was happening to them as they faced their day of reckoning. No matter how much they tried to place blame, Adam nor Eve had a defense. Yet the Lord showed compassion.

In His kind omniscience, denying access to the tree of life was for their good. God chose to cover their shame rather than leave them in the garden trying to cover themselves and struggle to live forever in their present sinful state. Living endlessly without the Hope of Redemption by the gracious God would mean only misery for humanity with no hope of relief, not even in death.

The Everyday Application

3) What was the result of their choice? (verses 14-24)

The enticement to sin comes not only from without (the devil), but from our own nature as well. James says we are drawn away by our evil desires. We think wrongly, leading to wrong beliefs, then we act wrongly.

The opposite is also true.

We are stirred to choose the right thing by believing it is best. Paul writes that all who have believed in Jesus must renew their minds. (Romans 12:1)

Adam and Eve hid because they had acted sinfully based on their belief that God might be wrong. Jon Bloom provides this example, “When my two oldest children were younger teens, they did what most younger teens do. They ransacked the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer for empty, sugar-based carbohydrates. If they didn’t find them, they would run to fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. My wife and I would urge them toward more balanced diets and cite the science-based negative effects of such foods on the body and mind, but with little success. Then, around ages 17 or 18, suddenly they began to eat healthy, nutritious food and eschew junk food. What happened? It wasn’t that they went from being ignorant to being informed. What they lacked was a belief that eating veggies would really make them happier in the long run.”

The most wonderful news is that our hearts can be changed and set on God’s purposes when we surrender to His work in us through His Spirit.

We can believe Him and trust His Word. By limiting the lifespan of humanity, God gave us time to come to know Him and His provision for eternal life through Christ.

We have been spared from the misery of an endless existence in a sinful condition. Praise be to the God of creation and redemption; our brokenness has a cure!

Tags :
enemy,glory,God,Lord,love,Sin
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Recent Journeys

The GT Weekend! ~ Surrender Week 2
February 4, 2023
Surrender Day 10 True Joy: Digging Deeper
February 3, 2023
Surrender Day 10 True Joy
February 3, 2023

Whole Day 1
Journey Study

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

Can We Pray With You?

Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
June 20 - July 8, 2022 - Journey Theme #109

Join a GT POD!

Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

  • gtpods@gracefullytruthful.com
Join the GT Facebook Community!
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Posted in: Enemies, Glory, God, Gospel, Lord, Love Tagged: enemy, glory, God, Lord, love, Sin

Champion Day 15 He’s The Hero

June 17, 2022 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Champion, Day 15

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peter failed. 

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

Again, Peter failed. 

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

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

Failure.
Again.

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

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

Over, and over, and over.

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

But then.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Posted in: Called, Enough, Freedom, God, Gospel, He, Healing, Holy Spirit, Love, Redemption, Salvation Tagged: boldly, champion, discipline, doubt, Failure, hero, humanity, hurt, plan, Son of God, surrender

Champion Day 14 The Unexpected Presence: Digging Deeper

June 16, 2022 by Rachel Jones Leave a Comment

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 Unexpected Presence!

The Questions

1) Why is Jesus called the mediator between God and people? (verse 5)

2) Why does Paul refer to Jesus as a testimony at the proper time? (verse 6)

3) Why does Paul need to assert that he is telling the truth and not lying? (verse 7)

1 Timothy 2:3-7

This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Original Intent

1) Why is Jesus called the mediator between God and people? (verse 5)
Paul, writing to his disciple, Timothy, declared “there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” (verse 5) In this passage, Paul explains the reason God sent His Son, Jesus, to the world, calling Him our mediator. Jesus came as a bridge to bring people to God after sin separated them from God in the Garden of Eden. (Galatians 3:19) Matthew Henry asserts, “Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is the Mediator who makes peace.” (Ephesians 2:14) It is Jesus who made a way for sinful man to access a Holy and sinless God (John 14:6) by coming to earth as a man and taking our sins upon Himself, though He Himself was sinless. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Erik Raymond explains that “Jesus had to be a man so that He could identify with us, suffering in our place and sympathizing with us in our weakness . . . [and] Jesus had to be truly God so that He could satisfy God’s wrath and secure for us true righteousness and life.” When Jesus came to earth and died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24), He made direct communion with God possible by becoming the “mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:15) Because Jesus mediated a new covenant between man and God, we are able to stand before God with the righteousness of Jesus (Romans 3:22) and cleansed of our sins because of His sacrifice.

2) Why does Paul refer to Jesus as a testimony at the proper time? (verse 6)
Paul claims in verse 6 that Jesus “gave Himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.” He refers to Jesus as a testimony to God’s redemptive plan for humans. (John 3:16) God sent Jesus to earth to reconcile humans with God by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:18) It was this testimony of the Good News of Christ as Mediator and Redeemer that Paul was appointed to share with both Jews and Gentiles for the remainder of his life. (2 Timothy 1:11) The proper time to share this message of salvation to all had come. (Romans 5:6) Albert Barnes explains that the testimony was “a doctrine of revelation that redemption was to be provided for all people, and that it was intended that the testimony to this should be afforded at the proper time. It was not fully made known under the ancient dispensation, but now the period had come when it should be communicated to all.” God’s people had been waiting to hear this Good News for generations (Isaiah 9:6), and now that Jesus had come to earth and fulfilled God’s plan (Galatians 4:4), it was time for Paul and other believers to spread the Gospel message to everyone. God wants us to do the same by sharing God’s message of love and forgiveness with those we encounter in our daily lives. (Matthew 28:19) It is our joy and privilege to share Jesus and spread the Gospel to those within our reach.

3) Why does Paul need to assert that he is telling the truth and not lying? (verse 7)
Paul’s letter to Timothy declares that God appointed Paul as an apostle and teacher of the Gospel, punctuating the statement with the assertion of his veracity, “For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth”. (I Timothy 2:7) He may have wanted to support his claim as a preacher of the True Gospel because he had formerly persecuted Christians until God compelled him to follow Jesus and preach the Good News. (Acts 9) Albert Barnes suggests it “probable that there were those in Ephesus who denied that he could be an apostle, and hence his solemn declaration affirming it.” God chose Paul because of his formerly violent treatment of Christians so he could testify of the life-changing power of God’s Son. Not only was it hard to believe that the staunch Pharisee could become a genuine Christian, but the content of the message was also hard to accept. (1 Corinthians 1:23) Matthew Poole emphasizes, “it was not easy to persuade the Jews that God had sent any to reveal the way of salvation to the Gentiles.” Paul makes it very clear in his letters that the freedom and forgiveness of Christ is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. (Romans 10:11-13) Charles Ellicott asserts that Paul’s words “were uttered solely in view of the surpassing magnitude of the message with which he was charged—solely to bear a weighty and imposing testimony to the truth of his assertion, which so many were ready and eager to dispute—the assertion that the gospel of Jesus Christ was a message of glad tidings, was an offer of salvation, not to a people, but to a world.”

Everyday Application

1) Why is Jesus called the mediator between God and people? (verse 5)
A friend of mine was embroiled in a property dispute with a family member over how to use land bequeathed in joint ownership to two parties. Eventually, the relationship was strained by the conflict and all communication was at a standstill. They were forced to call in a third party to mediate the terms of their dealings with the property, agreeing to accept the mediator’s recommendations. Through his work they were able to compromise about the property, repair their relationship and move forward. The apostle Paul tells us that Jesus came to earth in a similar capacity to act as Mediator between God and humankind. The sin of God’s people made a separation between God and humanity that could only be repaired by God’s Mediator, His Son. (Hebrews 8:6) Because our sin keeps us from God, Jesus made a way for us to reach the Father, taking our sins upon Himself so we could be presented as blameless before God. (Colossians 1:22) Because God’s perfect Son took our place, exchanging our sins for His holiness, He sees us as holy (Hebrews 10:10) for He has imputed His righteousness upon all who trust Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) God still wants us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48), but not in our own strength. Kristen Wetherell suggests “God expects you to be perfect, yes. But not because you can be—because Jesus has been, is, and always will be perfect. He imputes his holiness to you as a beloved child of God.” Jesus took our punishment for sin, but not so we can continue to sin freely without consequence. He desires us to “be holy as He is holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) He gives us the grace and power to obey His commands. He does not leave us to struggle in our own strength; God Himself makes us holy as He shapes us into the image of His Son! (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Romans 8:29)

2) Why does Paul refer to Jesus as a testimony at the proper time? (verse 6)
In one of my favorite novels, Sense and Sensibility, the main character, Elinor, hides a difficult secret. She learns that the man she loves, Edward, made a regrettable engagement at an impressionable age to a woman he does not love, but his integrity compels him to honor the engagement. Elinor cannot relieve her heart by confiding in her mother or sister because she promised Edward’s fiancée to keep their secret. When Edward’s family discovers the unsuitable betrothal and publicly disinherits him, the time has finally come for Elinor to seek solace from her family for her broken heart. While she desperately wanted to discuss her pain with someone who could comfort her, she had to wait until the proper time. The apostle Paul discusses a long-awaited event that finally could be shared with the world when he declared that Jesus “gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time”. (I Timothy 2:6) The coming of the Messiah and His kingdom had been long anticipated by God’s people (Isaiah 53), and Paul was appointed to share with everyone that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and the law as the Son of God, the Savior of the world. (Romans 8:4) Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection was the testimony Paul preached to anyone who would listen. Ephesians 1:9-10 tells us God “made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.” (emphasis mine) God chose just the right time in history to send His Son to earth to bring freedom from sin to the whole world, and He wants everyone who knows the Truth to share this perfectly timed message!

3) Why does Paul need to assert that he is telling the truth and not lying? (verse 7)
I started a new high school my senior year. Coming from a small Christian school to a large public school, I looked like a bewildered freshman instead of a confident senior at new-student orientation. Unaware that class officers circulated to help students, I was surprised when a gregarious young man offered his assistance. He introduced himself as the senior class president, but I was incredulous. I assumed the class president would look more official, but he was just some guy in blue jeans, cracking jokes and swigging a soda. I voiced my disbelief, assuming he was joking. Flustered, he sputtered, “No, really, I AM the Senior Class President! I’m here to guide you around campus.” I declined his help that day, but it turned out he was, indeed, who he claimed. The Apostle Paul likely faced significant disbelief when he announced that God chose him, who had fiercely persecuted the Church, to proclaim the truth of Jesus to the world. (I Timothy 2:7) Paul had once “intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. [He] advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among [his] people, because [he] was extremely zealous for the traditions of [his] ancestors.” (Galatians 1:13-14) When God revealed Jesus to Paul so he could preach Christ among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16), Paul’s entire life changed direction. Instead of persecuting Christians, He was preaching Jesus and converting people to Christianity. Some people doubted God could do this. (Acts 9:26, Acts 22:19-21) Paul wanted to convince people that He genuinely encountered the Jesus he preached, and his encounter had changed the course of his life forever. As true as this was for Paul, it is just as true for us today. We are forever changed when the Savior reveals His Truth to us and we surrender to following Him!

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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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Posted in: Digging Deeper, God, Gospel, Grace, Jesus, Kingdom, Peace, Power, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Strength, Truth Tagged: champion, Garden of Eden, Messiah, New Covenant, paul, presence, testimony, unexpected

Champion Day 13 The Unexpected Presence

June 15, 2022 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 1:15-16
1 Timothy 2:3-7
Acts 7 
Acts 9:1-21
Isaiah 66:1-2

Champion, Day 13

When we think of Paul the apostle, we might be in awe of his ministry. He traveled throughout the ancient world, teaching, preaching, and planting churches in the name of Christ. Much of his ministry was to Gentiles; he wanted everyone to hear and receive the Gospel of Christ.

Along the way, he endured many hardships. (2 Corinthians 11:24-29) He was imprisoned and placed under house arrest several times. He was beaten and stoned and finally martyred for the cause of Christ. His intense suffering for and dedication to the gospel could elevate him to hero status in our books.

But Paul didn’t start out so passionate for Jesus. He began life as Saul, the son of a tent maker in Tarsus (part of modern-day Turkey). A Roman citizen by birth, he was raised in a Jewish household, but his father’s tents were sought after throughout the known world, so Saul was exposed to and learned how to engage with people from all over the world. This skill set later served him well as a servant to Christ.

He was intelligent enough to earn a coveted spot in religious training with Gamaliel, a learned Hebrew scholar. Through his training, the Law and Torah became Saul’s life. He went on to join the Pharisees, the strictest sect of the religious groups in Jerusalem.

Saul had studied the prophets, but when he encountered word of a slain and resurrected Messiah, his devout practice of the Law and the strict traditions of the faith spiritually blinded him to the reality of Jesus. He joined with other Jewish leaders and Rome, the ruling government, in attempting to put a decisive and violent end to the gospel and followers of Jesus.

He became so vehement in his opposition to Jesus and His followers that when the opportunity arose, he began to hunt down the disciples of Jesus. Saul was instrumental in the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

After proclaiming Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish Messianic prophecy, Stephen was stoned, “[a]nd the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”  (Acts 7:58)

This was a sign of respect and acknowledgment of the leadership of Saul. That incident seemed to fuel the anger and violence in Saul, “[who] was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:3)

At this point in Saul’s story, I think we’d readily agree with his assessment of himself as the worst of sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) There’s nothing good or godly about this villain, we’d mutter as we disgustedly scratch his name off our list of Bible heroes. Champion of the faith? I don’t think so.

And we’d be right.
There was nothing special or heroic in Saul, only a heart bent toward self-righteousness, and the status and power to widely enact his cruelty.

The champion of his story is Someone else entirely.

For then came a trip to Damascus.
“Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul said.

‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’

Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing.”
(Acts 9:1-8)

It took a literal blindness to open his spiritual eyes to the Truth.

As was custom following a significant life event, Saul changed his name to Paul. His name wasn’t the only thing that changed, though. After his encounter with Jesus, the trajectory of Paul’s life shifted radically.

He’d met his Champion, and with the Spirit of God living and breathing inside of him, nothing would stop him from spreading the very Gospel he once despised . . . not those shipwrecks or beatings or even the threat of death.

In Paul’s story, we find hope for ourselves.

Throughout his letters to early churches, he reminds his listeners where he came from and if he can come to know Christ and be saved, so can they.

“‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

I imagine Paul’s words echoing across the generations to us, beckoning us to meet our Champion, encouraging us no one is beyond the reach of His mercy and grace.

There is much to commend Paul for, and much to learn from him.

Whole libraries could be filled with books written about Paul, both the parts of life that serve as a cautionary tale, and the parts that reflect a dedicated servant of Christ.

For today, we’ll close with this simple invitation, the same Jesus who loved and transformed Paul is reaching out to you. Come, your Champion awaits.

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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 Champion 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 Champion!

Posted in: Gospel, Jesus, Love, Suffering, Transformation, Truth Tagged: champion, fulfillment, Messiah, paul, presence, Spirit of God, story, unexpected

Champion Day 4 Bold And Brave?: Digging Deeper

June 2, 2022 by Rachel Jones Leave a Comment

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 Bold And Brave?

The Questions

1) Why did God choose Moses to help set the Israelites free from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11-12)

2) What does God mean by instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that I AM had sent him to release them from Egypt? (Exodus 3:14-15)

3) What explains Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s instructions even after the promises, signs, and miracles? (Exodus 4:13)

Exodus 3:11-4:17

11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” 13 Then 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. 16 “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 19 “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. 20 But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. 21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.” 4 Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” 2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. 3 “Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 The Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This will take place,” he continued, “so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 In addition the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow. 7 “Put your hand back inside your cloak,” he said. So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it had again become like the rest of his skin. 8 “If they will not believe you and will not respond to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign. 9 And if they don’t believe even these two signs or listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.” 10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” 13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”

Original Intent

1) Why did God choose Moses to help set the Israelites free from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11-12)
When God met Moses at the burning bush and called him to return to Egypt and free the Israelites from slavery, Moses was reluctant and baffled that God would choose him. (Exodus 3:11-12) David Guzik suggests Moses should have focused on God rather than his own shortcomings because “God’s identity was more important than who Moses was. When we know the God who is with us, we can step forth confidently to do His will.” God chose Moses because He wasn’t looking for eloquence and bravery. He was looking for faith, obedience, and willingness to follow Him. (1 John 5:3) God chose someone who was not a great speaker because He wanted Moses to rely on His power and His presence (Isaiah 41:10), not on Moses’ skill and talent. Christine Caine suggests, “There seemed to be a precedent in the Bible for God using people who considered themselves unqualified, insecure, and incapable. When they obeyed and did what He called them to do, it ensured that He received all the glory.” If a reticent stutterer could convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go, it was only because the God working through him was powerful and almighty. God performed amazing miracles through His flawed servant, Moses, and He has plans to use each one of us to do great things for His glory (1 Corinthians 2:9), no matter our imperfections. We can rejoice that God uses our weaknesses to show Himself strong! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2) What does God mean by instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that I AM had sent him to release them from Egypt? (Exodus 3:14-15)
There are over 1,000 names for God in the Bible, but the one God instructs Moses to use when freeing the Israelites is I AM, because He says, “This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.” (Exodus 3:14-15) John Piper explains how “the name Yahweh and the name I AM are built out of the same Hebrew word (hayah) […] Yahweh seems to be used here interchangeably with I AM. Contained in the name Yahweh is the first and most important truth about God: He exists.” God wanted to remind His people He had always been their God, since before Creation (John 1:1-3), and He would continue to be their Deliverer. (Romans 11:26) As David Guzik suggests, “God told Moses His name was I AM because God simply is; there was never a time when He did not exist, or a time when He will cease to exist.” Jesus uses this name for Himself in John 8:58 when He declares, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” He says something similar in John 18:4-6, when the Pharisees ask if He is Jesus and He answers, “I Am He”, and they all fall backwards on the ground. Lisa Lorraine Baker suggests, “The force of the expression of God’s name was akin to God telling Moses he was standing on holy ground.” The Almighty, Eternal God commanded Moses to make His name known to the captive nation of Israel so they would understand that the God of their ancestors could be trusted to deliver them from captivity. Jesus came to earth for the same reason, to set us free from our slavery to sin. (Romans 6:6) I AM truly is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

3) What explains Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s instructions even after the promises, signs, and miracles? (Exodus 4:13)
God used common things in a spectacular way when He called Moses to free Israel from Egyptian captivity. He employed a burning bush, a rod that became a snake, and a hand that became diseased and then was healed. God provided the promise of Presence and more miraculous events to prove His power, but Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else”. (Exodus 4:13) Moses was afraid and reluctant to obey because he focused on his own weaknesses and shortcomings instead of the Almighty God who performed miracles with amazing power. He trusted what he knew and understood about his own flaws more than he trusted God’s ability to work through his deficiencies. Karen Ehman explains that Moses “responded by using thoughts about His weaknesses instead of thoughts about God’s strength. His heart-closet contained so many ill-fitting assumptions that he was unable to quickly don the name-brand truths from his Creator and Designer, Yahweh.” Moses simply didn’t trust God could use him to do such important work. He needed to learn to see God as bigger and stronger than his weaknesses (Isaiah 40:29-31) John Piper suggests, “God’s answer to that maneuver is always the same: ‘RIGHT, you are small and weak. But WRONG, that is no excuse to cop out. Why? Because I will be with you, I will help you, I will strengthen you and will uphold you with my victorious right hand. I love to do big things through small people! How else will My name be glorified in all the earth?’” Moses needed to accept that none of God’s success was determined by Moses’ skill and prowess; everything depended on God’s ability to work through Moses’ trusting surrender. This is the faith that pleases God! (Hebrews 11:6)

Everyday Application

1) Why did God choose Moses to help set the Israelites free from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11-12)
As a new teacher, I quickly realized that no matter how good my grades were in college or how thorough my training was, a class full of high-schoolers could size me up and determine all my vulnerabilities within the first week of classes. Multiply that by 6 classes a day, and I was pouring over the help wanted ads by Christmas break my first year of teaching, looking for a career change. I thought God had led me to the profession, but I began to question, much like Moses did, who am I to do this job? (Exodus 3:11-12) I needed to learn, just as Moses did, what Christine Caine asserts, “It is never about who I am not, but rather, it is always about who He is in me.” I was not a great disciplinarian, and Moses was not a great orator, but that wasn’t the full story. When God chooses you for a task, He empowers you to accomplish the task by giving you His strength and working through you as you surrender. (Hebrews 13:21) Meredith McDaniel explains, “It was by God’s holiness and power that Moses was able to go back to the people and share with them the promises of their Creator. God provided just what he needed to do it and more. […] In the same way God equipped Moses, He provides everything we need through His mighty power and His ability to see farther down the road ahead than we can.” When you struggle in your own strength to do something God has asked of you, I encourage you to stop flailing and allow God to empower and direct your actions. He is gracious to provide everything we need to excel in what He has planned for us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

2) What does God mean by instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that I AM had sent him to release them from Egypt? (Exodus 3:14-15)
As a teacher, I taught a trick to identify “being verbs”. By replacing the verb with an equal sign in a sentence, one could know its identity if the words were equally defined. In, “I am a teacher,”, I = a teacher, so “am” is a being verb. In, “I teach Spanish,” I [does not] = Spanish, so “teach” is an action verb. When God instructed Moses to announce Himself as “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14-15), He didn’t follow the verb Am with anything. He simply declared, “I AM.” No equivalent was needed. “There is no equivalent for God but God. If you place God on the one side of your symbol of equation (=), there is nothing to put on the other but Himself.” (F.B. Meyer) God wanted His people to recognize that He is the one true God without equal. (Exodus 8:10) The Israelites found that I AM was their Every Thing in their time of need, including Deliverer (Exodus 6:6) and Provider (Exodus 16:13-14). There exists no need that cannot be fulfilled by the Great I Am! In our humanity, we may believe we need something different in a different timeline, but God is not our genie, bending at our whim. He lovingly knows exactly what is needed and will prove Himself to be the perfect I AM every time. (Matthew 6:8) Of Himself, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) and “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) to describe God as the Sovereign Lord who supplies every need. (Philippians 4:19) Our God, The Great I Am, is our complete supplier!

3) What explains Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s instructions even after the promises, signs, and miracles? (Exodus 4:13)
When my husband mentions something God may be calling us to do, I have been known to respond with, “God would need to send me a flashing neon sign before I would consider that.” When I read how Moses told God, “Please, Lord, send someone else” (Exodus 4:13), I recognize my own attitude in his reluctance and reticence. God performed miracles and gave Moses details about His guidance and direction during the exodus, but Moses was still afraid to trust God. Priscilla Shirer suggests, “Moses’ problem was that although he reverenced God, he didn’t yet know him very well. Understanding God’s attributes . . . helps us appreciate him in a deeper, more intimate way as it moves us from knowing about him to truly knowing him.” Moses needed to learn that God was faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9) and worthy of his trust (Psalm 111:7). He also needed to learn that, while God loved him and wanted to use him, God didn’t love Moses for his abilities or what he could do for God. Judah Smith said, “To solve Moses’ identity crisis, God reminds Moses who God is. […] The answer to our frequent identity crises is not first and foremost focusing on who we are, but focusing on who God is.” God used miracles to let Moses rest in truth, knowing that, when you have a powerful God on your side, you don’t need exceptional capabilities. God just wants a faithful and obedient servant to follow Him in a demonstration of faith. (1Corinthians 4:1-2) Although my own attitude is sometimes as faithless as Moses’, I am blessed that God gives grace to “bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name”. (Romans 1:5)

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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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Posted in: Faith, Forgiven, God, Gospel, Grace, Lord, Love Tagged: free, God, grace, love, strength

The GT Weekend! ~ Sacrifice Week 3

April 16, 2022 by Marietta Taylor Leave a Comment

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

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

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

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Posted in: Forgiven, Gospel, Grace, GT Weekend, Mercy, Peace, Sacrifice, Sin Tagged: forgiveness, GT Weekend, hope, remade, sacrifice
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14