Groom

Come Day 11 Come To Be Fulfilled

Leave a Comment

Come Day 11 Come To Be Fulfilled

Carol Graft

February 24, 2025

bride,Comfort,Community,Desperate,Faith,Fellowship,Groom,Heaven,Jealous,Mercy,Relationship,Seeking

Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 9:2-3
Revelation 21:1-4
John 7:37-39
Revelation 22:17-21
Matthew 11:28-30

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away”. (Revelation 21:4)

Can you imagine?

If you are struggling right now, working through a painful diagnosis, heartbreak, grief over a loss, or just frustration over the ways of the world, one day sorrows will be erased in less than the blink of an eye. According to Revelation, all Christ-followers will experience this good news.

But what about here and now? 

Scripture speaks…
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘the One who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” (Revelation 1:8)

“Both the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears, say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

“He who testifies about these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’” (Revelation 22:20)

What do you need from Jesus today?
This week? 
This season?

He simply says, “Come unto me.” 

Whatever you need, He is.

Come to Jesus,
The Bread of Life (John 6:25-40)  

This account takes place shortly after Jesus miraculously fed a large crowd. The disciples are still looking for more signs as to who He is, and He tells them to stop and instead look at Him.

He is offering more than food which fills a belly for a moment; He offers food to satiate and satisfy our souls forever. 

“‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry[.]’” (John 6:35)

When we try to fill ourselves with the things of this world, we will not be satisfied.

Come to Jesus,
The Light of the World (John 8:2-20) 

During the Feast of Tabernacles, great lamps were lit so the temple would be prepared for praise and worship. Jesus reveals Himself during this celebration as the Light of the World. 

Does it sometimes seem you are surrounded by dark news or continually met with dismay? Salvation in Christ means we no longer need to walk discouraged by darkness. (Isaiah 9:2) 

Come to Jesus,
The Door (John 10:1-10)

Jesus is the only true gatekeeper. Anyone else claiming to save and set people free is a liar. Jesus is the only one worthy of opening the door. (Revelation 5:3-6)

We want to be loved, known, and invited in and we can be easily deceived by someone who has less than honorable intentions. It is likewise easy to fall prey to someone who says we are not redeemable, even if that “someone” is our own feelings and thoughts.

Have we been listening to those voices? 

Come to Jesus,
The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-21)

A trustworthy shepherd looks after, protects, and is willing to lay down his life for his sheep. He knows each and every one, and the sheep also know their shepherd’s voice, picking it out from a crowd. 

So many voices clamor for our attention. Can we hear our Savior? 

Come to Jesus,
The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:17-27)

This scene convinced the Jewish authorities they must get rid of Jesus. They knew this miracle would only increase Jesus’ following and thereby potentially cause an uprising. 

Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jewish tradition stated the spirit of a dead person is still surrounding the person for three days, so four days would assure Lazarus was truly gone. Many questioned why Jesus had stayed away while Lazarus was sick. After all, healing would have happened had He been there; death would have been averted. 

Have you ever been distraught over the loss of a loved one, a chronic illness, or challenging diagnosis? Jesus wants to calm those heartaches and fears. 

Jesus can heal, either in this life or the next. 

Come to Jesus,
The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:1-14)

Counter to popular belief, salvation is found only in Christ. Jesus is the Truth and Life, so He is the only Way.

Are we seeking Truth? Are we seeking Life? 

Come to Jesus,
The True Vine (John 15:1-8)

In order to live rightly, we must remain close to the vine. The fruit of righteousness, loving obedience, and justice are proof of our flourishing connection to Christ. When we stray, when we seek sources beyond the True Vine, our emptiness is displayed in our actions and is felt deep in our spirit. 

May we seek to prioritize our connection to the Vine and enjoy the good fruit He produces in us.

Come to Jesus.

Christ’s first-century invitation is the same today, for He never changes. (Hebrews 13:8)

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)     

On that Day of Final Victory, we will see the splendor of the throne room and behold the majesty of God. (Isaiah 6:1-3, Revelation 4:1-11)

Sisters, He bids you come. 

Will you accept?

 

Tags :
Desperate,Fulfilled,hungry,Jesus,needy,satisfied
Share This :

Recent Journeys

Come, Day 12
Digging Deeper

Happiness is an outward expression identifiable by a smile or even laughter. It’s usually the result of some accomplishment or a favorable occurrence, so it fluctuates depending on the moment.

However, God promised joy through Jesus Christ, which comes from a person's inner spirit. It’s stable and enduring because the truths it holds dear, are precious and sure regardless of trouble or bliss.

Real, abiding joy does not ebb and flow due to circumstances or the type of day a person is experiencing.
Dig Deeper!

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!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Feb 10 - Feb 28, 2025 - Journey Theme #136

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!

Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!

Come Day 9 Come To Relate: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Come Day 9 Come To Relate: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

February 20, 2025

bride,Groom,Heaven,Jealous,Mercy,Redeemed,Relationship,Seeking,Stillness,Welcome

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 "Come To Relate"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How can taking up Jesus’ yoke bring rest for our souls? (verses 28-29)

First century farmers would join oxen using a wooden yoke so they could work hard plowing or carrying a heavy load. A yoke of oxen was an ordinary sight, making the yoke an apt symbol for Jesus to use in His teaching.

Marvin Vincent explains, “One of the most common figurative expressions of the time was that of the yoke for submission to an occupation or obligation.” The concept was referenced in the Shema, a public prayer, wherein, according to Alfred Edersheim, “The section Deuteronomy 6:4-9 was said to precede Deuteronomy 11:13-21, so that we might take upon ourselves the yoke of the kingdom of heaven, and only after that the yoke of the commandments.”

Jesus used the symbol of the yoke because it was well-known to His audience as representing submission. In contrast to the striving of the oxen, Jesus promised that taking up His yoke would bring rest. (verse 29) Christine Caine exhorts that the rest Jesus offers is a rest “where we labor from acceptance, not for acceptance . . . from a place of knowing we are loved by God, not striving to get that love from God . . . where we labor from our identity as sons and daughters of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.”

We often make things harder for ourselves than the Lord intended. The yoke we try to bear on our own includes worry, stress, and endeavoring to gain acceptance. Jesus’ yoke is easy because it comes with help and strength from Jesus Himself. (Philippians 4:13)

He lays out good works for each one of us and makes us able to complete those works in Him. (Philippians 2:13) I urge each one of us to take up Jesus’ yoke today and find rest!

The Everyday Application

1) How can taking up Jesus’ yoke bring rest for our souls? (verses 28-29)

As a kid, I had a few issues with anxiety and worry, but they didn’t really surface until I was married and had to share everything with another person and put my trust in him. I struggled to relinquish control as my completely opposite-from-me-husband did all the things not the way I would. I reacted to his absent-mindedness and inattention to detail with hyper-vigilance and constant reminders so I wouldn’t worry about lost keys, forgotten appointments, or the freezer door left open.

I fretted and fussed trying to avoid calamity, but I didn’t perceive it until we spent time away with some new friends. I recognized the same anxiousness in the wife’s behavior as in my own, and I realized I was causing unrest in my life and marriage because of my striving and worrying. I needed the rest for my soul that Jesus promises in Matthew 11:29.

Ruth Chou Simons asserts, “When we put our hope in Jesus, we trade restless feelings about our not-yets and not-enoughs for His already and all-satisfying. We trade the burden of trying to access what we think we’re missing for the rest that comes when we receive what God fully provides . . . We can be at rest right where we are because our ability to ‘be still, and know that [He is] God’ (Psalm 46:10) is not dependent on whether our circumstances feel restful or light. It’s wholly dependent on where we turn for true rest.”

I was able to give control of averting disaster over to Jesus and rest in knowing that God was in charge. Working with the Lord, I became a help to my husband rather than a micro-manager of his every move (Proverbs 27:15-16) and we could be at rest.

The Original Intent

2) Why does Jesus emphasize that He is lowly and humble in heart? (verses 29-30)

In Matthew 11:29, Jesus describes Himself as “lowly and humble in heart.” Jesus emphasizes His humility because it is a trait required for a heart to be at rest. He invites those who learn from Him and His submission to the Father, to take up this same yoke, finding rest in relaxing into the Father’s wise, loving care. He makes a way for us to follow Him, and it is done by donning humility. (John 10:9)

Christine Caine suggests, “Much of the burden that we feel, the weariness that we feel…is because we are on our minds all the time. It’s so releasing to get yourself off your mind and start thinking about someone else.” When we are humble of heart, we are not worried about receiving our due or getting what we think we deserve. Humility causes us to think about Jesus and His will. (Psalm 25:9)

Ray Ortlund suggests that Jesus’ “heart is not touchy, not sullen, not resentful, not haughty. The Son of God came down as an egoless nobody to make friends with self-important people like us, and he has not changed.” Jesus wants us to be lowly and humble in heart so we will be made more like Jesus. (Philippians 2:8, Romans 8:29)

In following the humble Christ we find salvation (Psalm 149:4), exaltation (James 4:10), and wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). God wants us to walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8) so we can imitate Him (Ephesians 5:1) and learn from Him. When we rely on our humble Lord and walk in His ways, we find rest for our souls.

The Everyday Application

2) Why does Jesus emphasize that He is lowly and humble in heart? (verses 29-30)

I attended a child’s birthday party outdoors under a giant tent reserved for the small gathering of friends and family. When the mom revealed the fall-themed cupcakes, all the kids were excited—including a tiny interloper who wandered in and plopped down at the table with the other kids, hands outstretched for his sumptuous treat.

Some parents tried to discover where the uninvited guest came from, but the party mom just welcomed him with open arms. She let him join the fun with the party guests while others sorted out where his family was. She wasn’t upset that this unattended child crashed her party. She didn’t make snarky comments to the negligent mom when she finally showed up or complain to management about the mishap, demanding recompense.

This mom simply welcomed and accepted the little guy. I think of her humble response sometimes when I watch viral videos of customers throwing food at workers who messed up their orders or airplane passengers de-boarding because someone grew violent about the seating arrangements.

These examples help us understand that Jesus emphasized the character trait of humility in Matthew 11:29. Without humility, we can’t be like Jesus. And one of God’s great plans for all Christ followers is to change us into His image. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

David Mathis declares, “True humility is not the denigrating of humanity, but God’s image shining in its fullness . . . To humble ourselves is to come ever closer, step by step, to the bliss and full flourishing for which we were made.”

When we are humble, the light of God shines through us. What a blessing that God walks with us on each step of our journey to Christ-like humility! (Proverbs 3:34)

The Original Intent

3) Why does Jesus say His yoke is easy and His burden is light? (verse 30)

Jesus declares in Matthew 11:30 that His “yoke is easy and [His] burden is light.” These are statements in contradiction for a “yoke” denotes hard work and toil and “burdens” suggest heaviness. Yet Jesus says His yoke is not hard but easy, and His burden is not heavy but light.

Jesus can say this because all we need to do to take His easy yoke upon ourselves is trust in Him and follow Him. We are not responsible to chart the course, just to follow it in His strength. (Deuteronomy 31:6) David Guzik declares, “The yoke is easy and the burden is light because He bears it with us. Borne alone, it might be unbearable; but with Jesus it can be easy and light.”

J. H. Jowett concurs, saying, “The fatal mistake for the believer is to seek to bear life’s load in a single collar. God never intended a man to carry his burden alone. Christ therefore deals only in yokes! A yoke is a neck harness for two, and the Lord himself pleads to be One of the two. He wants to share the labor of any galling task.”

Our burdens are light because Jesus bears them. (Psalm 68:19) His yoke is easy because taking up His yoke means accepting His grace and leaning on His strength. Scotty Smith suggests that to be yoked to God “is to realize (He) fully carr(ies) us, not just our burdens. (He is) our righteousness, our hope, our peace—all the way Home.” What a privilege to be yoked to our Savior, trusting everything to Him!

The Everyday Application

3) Why does Jesus say His yoke is easy and His burden is light? (verse 30)

I often mistakenly equate serving and pleasing God with working hard for God. I figure that the harder the work is, the better pleased He must be. The more lessons I plan, the more time I spend at church, the more devotions I write, the more pleasing God will find me. I fill my days striving to do the “God things” and soon feel weighed down, exhausted, and frustrated, much like Mary’s sister, Martha. (Luke 10:38-42)

I get weary in well-doing (Galatians 6:9) because I am doing everything on my own without relying on the strength and grace God lovingly provides. In Matthew 11:30, Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden light. We don’t have to shoulder all the work, or even half of the work. God lets us rest in the knowledge that He is in charge.

Christine Caine asserts that His yoke is easy because “Jesus does the work…What we need to do, our part of the yoke, is to believe and abide.” Kath Thomas suggests that “Perhaps part of that light yoke is resting in the knowledge that our God is sovereign. All things are in His hands and we can trust Him for our future, our present, and even our past. I don’t have to work it all out. . .”.

What pleases God is obedience (1 John 5:3), not my busyness. He commands us take His yoke upon ourselves and learn from Him. That is so much better than trying to do everything on my own.

Tags :
Community,friendship,hope,relationship
Share This :

Recent Journeys

Come, Day 8
Journey Study

Jesus desires for us to live, as one Bible translation puts it, “freely and lightly.”

Yes, we will face hardship in this life, but He wants us to live with an inner peace and lightness from Him, even in the midst of hardship.

This means, then, there is no place for the heavy bondage of legalism, the soul-crushing pace of hustle and hurry, the life-draining idol of comparison, or the guilt and shame-inducing fearful lies of the enemy.
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!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Feb 10 - Feb 28, 2025 - Journey Theme #136

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!

Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!

Come Day 8 Come To Relate

Leave a Comment

Come Day 8 Come To Relate

Rebekah Hargraves

February 19, 2025

Accepted,Affectionate,bride,Broken,Called,Captivating,Family,gentle,Groom,Heaven,Hope,Jealous,Journey,Love,Mercy,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 116:5-9
Song of Solomon 2:10-13
Matthew 11:28-30

When I discovered the topic of our next study here at Gracefully Truthful, I immediately saw the hand of God all over it. You see, the Lord has had me on a journey since the Advent season of 2023, a journey of becoming aware of the tender invitations He extends to me. I read a handful of Advent books at the end of last year, and in every one, the word “invitation” kept popping up. That, my friends, is no coincidence. 

Though I have walked with the Lord for the vast majority of my life, only in recent months have I considered my relationship with Him as a series of gracious invitations. In light of the specific invitation we are discussing today, this realization is both a gift and a balm to my soul. 

I tend to be hyper-focused on my to-do list, always hurrying from one thing to the next, and subconsciously taking on the burdensome belief that everything depends upon me. So when I read these words of invitation from Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, I am instantly stopped in my tracks:

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Though I had read those words many times, I learned something striking about this passage in the following excerpt from John Mark Comer’s excellent book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry:

“Jesus was a rabbi (Hebrew, meaning ‘teacher’). Yes, He was more – the Messiah and the embodiment of God Himself. I deeply believe that. But if you had been a first-century Jew and Jesus showed up in your synagogue one Sabbath morning, the odds are, the category you would have put him in was that of a rabbi or a traveling sage. 

“And like every rabbi in his day, Jesus had a yoke. Not a literal yoke; He was a teacher not a farmer. A yoke was a common idiom in the first century for a rabbi’s way of reading the Torah. But it was also more: it was the rabbi’s set of teachings on how to be human. His way to shoulder the (at times crippling) weight of life- marriage, divorce, prayer, money, conflict resolution, government- all of it. It’s an odd image for those of us who don’t live in an agrarian society. But imagine two oxen yoked together to pull a cart or plow a field. A yoke is how you shoulder a load. What made Jesus unique wasn’t that He had a yoke; all rabbis had a yoke. It was that He had an *easy* yoke.”

These words stopped me in my tracks as I was reading. Jesus desires for us to live, as one Bible translation puts it, “freely and lightly.” Yes, we will face hardship in this life, but He wants us to live with an inner peace and lightness from Him, even in the midst of hardship. This means, then, there is no place for the heavy bondage of legalism, the soul-crushing pace of hustle and hurry, the life-draining idol of comparison, or the guilt and shame-inducing fearful lies of the enemy.

Imagine if we all lived with THAT kind of freedom. The amazing grace and beauty of the gospel is that we can, if we follow the way of Jesus! 

This brings me to the beautiful words of Song of Solomon 2:10-13, a passage which begins with the same invitation as Matthew 11,  the invitation to “come”.

“My love calls to me:
Arise, my darling.
Come away, my beautiful one.
For now the winter is past;
the rain has ended and gone away.
The blossoms appear in the countryside.
The time of singing has come,
and the turtledove’s cooing is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs;
the blossoming vines give off their fragrance.
Arise, my darling.
Come away, my beautiful one.”

When placed alongside Jesus’ words in Matthew 11, this passage teaches us, with deep beauty and impact, about the nature of God’s invitation; it is all about relationship. We are invited and called to walk in step with Him, delighting in His presence, and feeling calmed and comforted by His love. 

Instead of striving, we now trust. 
Instead of rushing, we now slow down. 
Instead of thinking everything is on our shoulders, we realize, actually, He carries everything for us. 

What a beautiful relief!

Now, as I ponder my daily to-dos and encounter the events of each day, I am able to feel a soul-deep peace, for my Savior’s yoke is easy, and His burden truly is light.

“Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.”
(Psalm 116:7)

Tags :
come,invitation,relate,relationship,welcome
Share This :

Recent Journeys

Come, Day 9
Digging Deeper

David Mathis declares, “True humility is not the denigrating of humanity, but God’s image shining in its fullness . . . To humble ourselves is to come ever closer, step by step, to the bliss and full flourishing for which we were made.”

When we are humble, the light of God shines through us. What a blessing that God walks with us on each step of our journey to Christ-like humility! (Proverbs 3:34)
Dig Deeper!

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!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Feb 10 - Feb 28, 2025 - Journey Theme #136

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!

Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!

The GT Weekend! ~ Come, Week 1

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Come, Week 1

Katelyn Palmer

February 15, 2025

Adoration,Affectionate,bride,Captivating,Community,Dwell,gentle,Groom,Heaven,Hope,Jealous,Journey,Mercy,Relationship,Worship,Yahweh

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

His Words Before Ours

Ephesians 1:17-19

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit, of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength.”
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Thank You, Yahweh, thank You for loving us unconditionally. Thank You for showing us how You heal by Your mercy, grace, and love. Thank You for always being present in every circumstance, even when we don’t acknowledge You.

Lord, help me learn to see Your heart in every situation. Let my heart first seek Your Son when I experience spiritual hunger and thirst. (John 6:35) Help me learn to receive Your blessings (and rebuke) with gratitude and grace. (Philippians 2:14-18) Let my eyes see You working in my life (Philippians 2:13) and allow me to be a vessel of Your love for others (John 15:12-17). Then we shall certainly feast at Your table as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yahweh, from the beginning You have held true to Your promises. You have cared for Your creation with unconditional love. I pray that Your love is felt by those who are poor in spirit right now. (Matthew 5:3) I pray Your love permeates the hearts of those who mourn. (Matthew 5:4)

I pray Your hand blesses those who have been humbly working out Your will in Your name. (Matthew 5:5) Yahweh, give us all the strength to turn the other cheek when this world tests us, to seek Your heart when we lose our way, and leave a mark of love everywhere we go.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

Sometimes, we clutter things up with our own words. Our words just don’t heal our wounds the way we wish they would. But God’s Word is a balm to the deepest wounds of our soul. (Psalm 6:2, Psalm 147:3)

Remind yourself of God’s encouraging words Brenda shared with us on Monday; the Lord’s love overwhelms our understanding! “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, emphasis mine)

“Light shines in the darkness for the upright. […] He will never be shake. […] He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord. His heart is assured; he will not fear. In the end he will look in triumph on his foes.” (Psalm 112:4, 6-8, emphasis mine)

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30, emphasis mine)

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

“Be merciful unto me, O God… What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 56:1-4, KJV, emphasis mine)

Let the Lord’s promises be the foundation you stand on, the refuge you seek in times of trouble and in times of triumph. Let His Words soothe the ache in your heart. Decide to come, see Him!
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Humans are meant to live in communion both with each other and also with God. (Genesis 1:18-20, John 15:1-8) While God is omnipresent and His will reigns supreme (Psalm 139:7-16, Psalm 9:7-12), He allows us the freedom to choose Him in this life. We have the freedom to accept or reject His gift of salvation and communion with Him. When we choose not to allow the Spirit to dwell within us by choosing a relationship with God, or when we stray from the Spirit as a Christ-follower and attend to our flesh, our souls cry out because we are not whole.

This is spiritual hunger and thirst.

We are spiritual beings in a temporary physical world; we are designed for much more than the temporal and fleeting. Yet, we cannot realize spiritual completeness without Jesus. In John 7:37-39, Jesus promises us we will find completeness in Him; He is enough to satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst by providing reconciliation with God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

Jesus could pay the price tag of death for our sin because He is of God. (John 7:28-29) He is fully man and fully God. (Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:15-20) He did what we could not and took our sin upon Himself, defeating sin and death so we may live in God’s love forever more. (1 Peter 2:21-25, Galatians 1:3-5, Galatians 3:13-14) All that’s needed is our trusting faith in Jesus that He did this work for us, for without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

As is the case with all Biblical texts, we must study God’s word through a biblical lens that encompasses all of Scripture. If we take the text at face value, divorcing it from the rest of God’s Word, we run the risk of missing God’s heart and listening to enemy deception.

For example, consider Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Face value, and the enemy, might have us believe it somehow makes us wrong to request or receive help. Other lies include the idea that we must earn God’s blessings by giving to others or that we must give even when we are drained of spiritual and physical resources.

However, if we study through the lens of Scripture as a whole, we understand we must first receive from the Lord, be it directly from His hand or through the people and circumstances in our lives, before we have anything to give away.

Jesus was in constant prayer with the Father, asking for provision and trusting God to deliver. Then Jesus gave healing, blessing, and wisdom. Jesus also spent time alone with the Father to be restored physically and spiritually by Him. As Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, we comfort those in affliction through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2-for-1 Friday

This Week's Journeys

Remade Day 15
The Remade Life

January 20, 2017 No Comments

We’ve talked a lot during this Journey Theme about what it means to live this redeemed life that Jesus has so richly given us, but what does the “box top” look like? What does my everyday look like as I’m chasing after this God who longs to continuously remake me

Read More »

Remade Day 14
The Law of Love: Digging Deeper

January 19, 2017 No Comments

The pharisees asked a lot of questions, but they didn’t truly want to know Jesus’s heart. When we study the Bible or look for answers to our questions, let’s not go looking for evidence to support our pre-determined ideas, rather let’s seek to understand the original intent of the Scriptures,

Read More »

Remade Day 13
The Law of Love

January 18, 2017 No Comments

If we really are living out and doing exactly what Jesus tells us are the two most important commandments, then everything else He tells us to do will fall into place… because, by living out these commandments, we are allowing transformation.
When our minds are transformed, then our actions

Read More »

Remade Day 12
No Going Back: Digging Deeper

January 17, 2017 No Comments

Are you stuck in the past, attached and grasping for things leading to death, or are you clinging onto and sinking into the things of life? God is a good God, even on days when our past stops us in our tracks or a situation cements our feet. Be reminded

Read More »

Remade Day 11
No Going Back

January 16, 2017 No Comments

As fun as it is to “remember when”, there’s danger there too. Either we can romanticize the past and wish for it all over again, or we begin to drown in its sorrows and become perpetually stuck in its cycle. God wants neither for us!

God told Lot’s family

Read More »

The GT Weekend – Remade Week Two

January 14, 2017 No Comments

Lord, You have provided perfectly for us. You have given us a means for relationship with You through Jesus. You’ve given the Holy Spirit to keep us walking in step with You, yet I still think I can hide the real me from Your face. Father, forgive me for putting

Read More »

Join Us On The Journey!

Want encouragement
on the daily?
Registration gives you free, every day access to encouragement, weekly worship prompts, and daily Bible study that applies to real life.
Journey On!

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!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Feb 10 - Feb 28, 2025 - Journey Theme #136
Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!
Tags :
prayer,relationship,satisfy,worship
Share This :

Surrender Day 13 The One We Seek

Leave a Comment

Surrender Day 13 The One We Seek

Amy Krigbaum

February 8, 2023

Covenant,Groom,Lonely,Longing,Marriage,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hosea 1
Hosea 3
Luke 5:17-28
Lamentation 3:22-23

The struggles and joys of relationships are real.   

Some people love living close to their extended family and thrive on gathering with friends and family in their homes.  

Similarly, for some people, relationships seem to come easily. Whether through their church, friends, or marriage and children, they are surrounded by those who truly love and care about them. They thrive in the world of relationships.  

But for many others, relationships aren’t so simple. Some have deep hurt within their family, or within work or church relationships. Others find constant pain in their covenant relationship of marriage, due to cheating, harsh words, or addiction.  

Any relationship can thrive; any relationship can fall.  

All relationships require sacrifice and surrender. 

All of us were created with a desire for deep relationships. As women, we like “ladies’ night” and coffee time, and chatting about home and work with our friends. We long for security in our relationships, and the assurance we are wanted, are desirable, and needed. These desires aren’t new; they’ve been woven into us by our Creator since the beginning.

Hosea was a prophet of the Old Testament. He was chosen by God to speak to the northern kingdom of Israel regarding their iniquity during the reign of several kings. (Hosea 1:1-2) When we meet Hosea, God chooses a wife for him…but not the kind we would expect.  

God commands Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute.
Impure, unclean, likely to be unfaithful, yet this is who God ordains Hoesa to marry?!  

Why would God want him to marry someone HE knew did not love and would not remain faithful to Hosea? In Hosea 3, God commanded Hosea to rescue Gomer, for she had returned to prostitution. Hosea didn’t just offer her a lift home, but rather, bought her freedom and restored their covenant relationship. 

In this marriage, Hosea represents God.  

Gomer represents Israel.  

To be blunt, she also pictures us!  

We are sinners who have not remained faithful to God, yet His love for us remains steadfast. While Gomer’s freedom cost Hosea a monetary sacrifice, Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice to restore our spiritual freedom and restore our relationship with God. (Romans 8:1-4)

Even though this story took place thousands of years ago, I’m sure Gomer shared our desire to love and be loved in a satisfying relationship. Perhaps she just couldn’t believe in Hosea’s love, so she sought it elsewhere. Do we find ourselves reflected in her choice? It’s hard to believe the perfect God of the universe, the Creator of all things, would love us unconditionally, so we search for love elsewhere.

I imagine Hosea also had his own dreams. Did he desire a pure relationship with his wife? Did he desire a faithful wife? One who followed the Lord? But, God had other plans . . . plans inviting Hosea’s surrender.

Sometimes, God has other plans when it comes to our relationships, too. We may wonder why God is directing our paths through difficult relationships.  

I have wrestled with many relationships over the course of my life. Starting in about 5th grade, I became stuck in a pattern of one-year-long friendships. Every fall, it seemed like EVERYONE else continued building their friendships while I started over. I was shy, and it was hard.

I made some friends early in college, but by the end of my sophomore year, a “friend” betrayed me, lied about me, and turned others against me. Thankfully, I had a few friends who saw right through the mess and helped me along the way. How hard it was for me to trust and start over again!

I always desired a relationship that would bring marriage and family. Burdened by the hurt I carried and the loss of trust from past experiences, I longed for a relationship that did not materialize. 

“Maybe God has called you to be single,” a friend would suggest.

Or after a breakup, “It’s better to be single than married to the wrong person.”  

While usually well-intentioned, such comments still landed harshly.

What was I doing wrong? What was wrong with me? Why did so many people in my life come and go? Why was I constantly walking the lonely road? 

Eventually, I felt God inviting me to surrender, just as He had Hosea. 

He invited me to surrender my plans, my life, my relationships, anything that took priority over Him. Over and over, I had to choose God’s perfect way over my own. In Luke 14:25-27, Jesus explains how we are meant to love Him more than ANY relationship we may have. He is the One we seek. 

I can’t say I understand all brokenness, or why certain relationships fall apart, but I can say, God is faithful. In the midst of multiple chapters immersed in pain and suffering and grief, Lamentations 3:22-23 states,

“Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish,
For His mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
Great is your faithfulness!” 

I look back after getting married at 42 and see how God was working all along. As hard as it was to surrender and live with the loneliness, it was worth the wait.  

Relationships are hard. But our relationship with the Lord is constant, persistently unending. We can hold on to Him in the ups and downs of our human relationships for He alone is faithful and steady. 

“Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

There I will give her vineyards back to her and make the Valley of Achor [Trouble] into a gateway of hope [. . .]
I will take you to be [mine] forever.
I will take you to be [mine] in righteousness, 
justice, love, and compassion.”
(Hosea 2:14-15, 19)

Tags :
dreams,prostitute,Sin,surrender
Share This :

Recent Journeys

Surrender Day 14
Digging Deeper

Friend, I am sure of one thing: Jesus wasn’t calling us to walk around with a self-pitying demeanor while bemoaning our hard life. Discomforts through trials or suffering follow all humans in one way or another. What Jesus is calling us to is a death. A death of our hopes and dreams and possessions and people. And yes, even our own lives if necessary. These are all to be held in our opened hands accompanied by a humble prayer of surrender. And the promise He gives isn’t a guarantee of ease. It’s much better than that. Sister, the promise is Jesus’ presence WITH us!
Dig Deeper!

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!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Jan 23 - Feb 10, 2023 - Journey Theme #113

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!

Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!

Beloved Day 5 Beloved’s Pursuit

Leave a Comment

Beloved Day 5 Beloved’s Pursuit

Merry Ohler

November 20, 2020

Beloved,bride,Christ,God,Groom,Joy,Love,Marriage,Relationship,Shepherd

Read His Words Before Ours!

Song of Solomon 3:1-5
Proverbs 15:3-10
1 Timothy 6:6-14
Philippians 1:25-30
Ephesians 5:22-33


 

Pursuit.

The mere word evokes images of a hunt, doesn’t it? It brings to mind words like… desiring, chasing, overtaking, capturing, conquering. 

There’s a reason such great emphasis is placed on “playing hard to get” in current culture. The human race has placed immense value on being the individual who is sought after, regardless of the situation or relationship dynamic. Whether we are interviewing for a new job, foraying into a new friendship, floating a corporate merger, or attempting to infuse “life” into our marriage, we have bought into the belief that the individual who is not easy to “win” holds a loftier, more powerful status.

But what if that narrative doesn’t exactly line up with what our Father shows us?

Song of Solomon is a beautiful portrayal of the joy, desire, and intimacy God has given the human race in the form of sex. We witness the intense desire, breathless longing, and yes, pursuit, of each party, laced across every page of the book. Physical pleasure aside, what do we see here?

I see a woman who longed for intimacy with her lover, but she didn’t merely pine away for him; she pursued him. She roamed city streets, looking for her love. She asked passing guards if they had seen him. When they told her they hadn’t, she kept looking. She didn’t give up until she’d found him. 

And when she found him, she did not let go.

The words are stirring, because we each long to be pursued like that, don’t we? We long to be so passionately pursued, so sought after, so desired, so wanted.

Before marriage, pursuit is mainly surface-deep. We show our beloved we are interested in all kinds of little ways. We learn more about the things they are interested in. We communicate many times, each day. Sometimes we choose clothing, or makeup, or jewelry, or hairstyles we know are appealing to them. We pursue their interests and desires, and in that pursuit, we assist them in pursuing us.

When we enter into marriage, the dynamic shifts. The “newness” begins to fade, and it’s easy for us to believe the pursuit actually ended with marriage.

Beloved, this isn’t so! Throughout the New Testament, marriage is repeatedly held up as the embodiment of Christ and His Church. Husbands and wives are exhorted to mirror Christ in the way we love one another. To submit to each other in love, not so one can lord their power over the other, rather, in this loving deference, Christ alone is glorified.

But what does this look like, five, ten, fifty years in? What does it look like beyond spontaneous romantic encounters and flowers for no reason?

Sometimes, it looks like waking up early to make him coffee.
Sometimes, it looks like showing up for his parents in their time of need.
Sometimes, it looks like slipping a hand in his when his voice wavers.
Sometimes, it looks like reminding him who he is when it seems he’s forgotten.
Sometimes, it looks like going to marriage counseling.
Sometimes, it looks like driving him to every treatment.
Sometimes, it looks like being silent when you want to scream.
Sometimes, it looks like recounting all the times the Lord has seen you both through, when it feels like all is lost.
Sometimes, it looks like following him down a dark road you never expected, taking him by the hand, and walking back into the light together.

Sometimes, it looks like staying when you want to leave.

Beloved, how many times has your Shepherd Bridegroom carried you back when you’ve wandered far? Has He found you, when you’ve tangled yourself in all the places you never belonged? Has His voice been gentle as He quieted your fears and brought you back to His fold?

He invites us to love our husbands this way, too. To pursue them, gently, completely, guilelessly.

Marriage is not an end to an exciting pursuit; it’s an open invitation into the lifelong adventure in the pursuit of our lover, and to being pursued in return!

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally.

We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

Tags :
Bridegroom,Chasing,desire,Desiring,Gently,Glorified,intimacy,longing,Lover,pursuit,Song of Solomon,Submission
Share This :

Recent Journeys

Beloved, Day 5 Digging Deeper

When there is someone of great worth we should seek after them in the same manner the woman in Song of Solomon sought after her love. Single women, let’s invest in our friendships in the same way, determining to show value and worth to the ones we love!
Dig Deeper!

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!

This Week's Lock Screen
Explore This Journey Theme!
Nov 16 - Dec 4, 2020 - Journey Theme #80

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!

Join the GT Facebook Community!
Free Registration!
Share Your Story!

Bride Day 14 Snapshots & Love Notes: Digging Deeper

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 Snapshots & Love Notes!

The Questions

1) What is the book of Hosea about?

2) When was Israel a child? What time period is this talking about?

3) Who is Ephraim and when did God teach him to walk?

4) How is it that Ephraim didn’t know that God had healed him?

Hosea 11:1-4

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. The more they called them, the more they departed from Me. They kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never knew that I healed them. I led them with human cords, with ropes of love. To them I was like one who eases the yoke from their jaws; I bent down to give them food.

Original Intent

1) What is the book of Hosea about?
In the book of Hosea, God tells Hosea to marry a prostitute. He does, and she bears three children: two sons and a daughter. God uses Hosea’s relationship with his wife, Gomer, to teach the nation of Israel about themselves and about Himself. Throughout the book, Gomer cares little about Hosea and much about herself. She even leaves him and finds another man. However, Hosea pursues her and continually brings her back to himself. This is a beautiful picture of God and His people, Israel. Over and over they turned to idolatry, and over and over, God cared enough about them to pursue them and bring them back to Himself.

2) When was Israel a child? What time period is this talking about?
Israel began with the patriarch Abraham. In Genesis 12, God called him out of the land of Ur and asked him to go to a country that He would show him, and thus, Israel began. Throughout the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, the Israelites were babies or children, so to speak. They were slaves in Egypt for 400 years. During this time, God was molding them and shaping them into a people after His heart. When they were children in slavery, God called them out of Egypt. He called them as a father would call a son. 

3) Who is Ephraim and when did God teach him to walk?
Ephraim was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was after God released them from slavery in Egypt that He taught them to walk in the wilderness. They spent forty years wandering around the desert, and all the while, God watched over them. He protected them. He provided for them. He proved Himself to them over and over in numerous ways. He provided manna for food. He provided protection from other armies. He never left them and led them by cloud during the day and by fire at night. During this period, He was teaching them to depend on Him, to trust Him. He was proving His deep, deep love for them.

4) How is it that Ephraim didn’t know that God had healed him?
Despite God’s pursuit of Israel (the Northern Kingdom whom Hosea was writing to), the Israelites continued to chase after other gods, just as they did after He led them out of slavery in Egypt. The Northern Kingdom ended up right back in captivity to the Assyrians in 722BC, were scattered, and never heard from again. God had rescued them from slavery, led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land, and still, they failed to recognize all He had done for them. Throughout their journey, they looked to themselves and their own efforts. They became prideful and believed they had actually gotten themselves to the Promised Land. They forgot all God had done for them. Makes me wonder if they ever really “grew up”!

Everyday Application

1) What is the book of Hosea about?
Over and over, we fail God. We sin. We miss the mark. We can be so selfish and run after things of this world. If we’re really honest with ourselves, we know that we, too, have played the harlot when it comes to what or who we allow to be lord of our hearts. Maybe for you shopping is your idol. Maybe vanity is your thing. Could it be your husband or your children? Whatever it is, it’s a substitute for God. Yet God, in His infinite love for us, continues to chase after us despite ourselves.

2) When was Israel a child? What time period is this talking about?
I want you to think of yourself as Israel. There was a time when you were a mere child. Maybe you knew about God when you were growing up, maybe you didn’t. Even if you didn’t, God was using this time in your life to shape you and to draw you to Himself. Maybe you didn’t accept Christ until you were an adult, but according to God’s word, before that, you were a child, spiritually speaking. We were all slaves to sin at some point in our lives. It was during this time that God called us out of slavery to be His daughters.

3) Who is Ephraim and when did God teach him to walk?
Many times, after we accept Christ, we find ourselves in the wilderness wandering around, wondering where God is and why He led us here. It is during these times of trials and tribulations that God is teaching us to walk, but we certainly can’t do it on our own. If we tried, we would fall flat on our face! He is teaching us to lean on Him, to trust Him. When we don’t know where our next meal will come from, He will provide. When we’re scared about the enemies surrounding us, He will protect us. When we feel lonely, He is there!! He is using the wilderness to teach us to walk tall in His love.

4) How is it that Ephraim didn’t know that God had healed him?
As an adult, it is so easy for me to look back and see all my parents did for me! How hard they worked to provide for me and take care of me. They care so much about me! And yet, sometimes I fail to remember how God has called me out of bondage to sin, how He has provided His very Son to pay the price for that sin, and how He has never left me alone on this road to the Promised Land of eternity. I easily fall back into old patterns of trying to do things on my own, forgetting that He taught me how to walk. Somehow, I think I can work myself to the Promised Land if I’m just “good enough.” When I do this, I fail to recognize that God has healed me. He has given me everything in Christ Jesus that I need to grow up. When I recognize that Jesus plus nothing equals everything, then I recognize the fact that I am healed! I am grown, and I’m on my way to the Promised Land, hand in hand with the Love of my life!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Snapshots & Love Notes!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Bride Day 13 Snapshots & Love Notes

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hosea 11:1-4
Proverbs 3:1-12
Matthew 2:13-15

Bride, Day 13

The first four verses in Hosea 11 paint beautiful pictures of the Lord’s love.
As I read them, I find myself challenged to apply them in my everyday life.
I can imagine the Lord speaking those words over Ephraim,
but I don’t always make the jump to include myself in that expression of love.

Who am I to evoke that level of response from the Lord?

I’ve discovered speaking Scripture with my name included, invites me to experience the expressions of His love in a deeper, more personal way. Picture them with me.

“It was I who taught (your name) to walk, taking her by the hand.” Hosea 11:3

Odds are high all of us have had the chance to watch a toddler learn to walk or have seen a video showing those first, tentative steps. The family rejoices and cheers for those steps, then move to catch her when she falls. Prior to those initial independent steps were probably several backbreaking parental moments, bent over with tiny fingers wrapped around theirs as they walk around the room.
Let your mind connect those images to the Savior…
“It was I who taught (your name) to walk, taking her by the hand.”

Looking over the years since I accepted Christ as my Lord and asked Him to lead my life,
He has taught me to walk.
His Word guides, directs, and strengthens.
I’ve taken steps, sinned, and fallen flat on my face.
Yet the Lord has been there, graciously accepting my request for forgiveness and reaching down to lift me up, teaching me to walk.

I have learned how to grow and stumble less, walking more and more like an adult alongside the Lord, while other areas of my life still require my childlike fingers wrapped around His as I work through sin struggles and fears. Someday I desire to grow in maturity in those areas, but until then, I will reach for His hand and ask Him to teach me to walk.
And just like a good parent,
His hands are never far from mine.

“I led her with human cords, with ropes of love.
To (your name), I was like one who eases the yoke from her jaws.” Hosea 11:4

While the first verse brings to mind the early toddler years of growth,
this verse calls to mind teenage rebellion and the process of submission.
Yes, that is a bit of stark comparison, but I have discovered the battles, where I’m called to submit my flesh to the Lord, have been some of the hardest fought training seasons of my journey with Jesus.
In the midst of these lessons, it has been the love of the Lord that has led me and not the boundaries set by legalism.
His ways are love based. Proverbs 3:1-12

“I bent down and fed her.” Hosea 11:4

Snapshots of life made sweeter by a meal come to mind:
a toddler’s joyous face covered with spaghetti sauce,
the sweet awkwardness of a first dinner date,
the moments of shared laughter over coffee with a friend,
a mom bringing a bowl of soup to a sick child,
a friend delivering a meal to a family with a newborn or one who has just said farewell to a family member who passed away.

Food is often a backdrop to intimacy, and this verse reminds us that the Lord beckons us to an intimate relationship with Him.
He provided manna in the wilderness,
sent the ravens to deliver food,
ensured the oil and flour never ran out,
and in His final night before death, drew His disciples deeply into the new covenant with a beautiful gift, The Last Supper.
 Not only does the Lord physically provide food,
He also provides for us through His Presence and His Word.

As the Lord provides, He proves that His love is extravagant, powerful, persistent, and sweet.
Sometimes I forget that.
And sometimes the Lord reminds me by revealing a love note He sent years ago.

This particular love note is nestled in the first verse of Hosea 11.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.”
The cross reference for this verse is Matthew 2:13-15 where Joseph is told by God to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt. An Old Testament verse foreshadowing a New Testament reality, and what an incredible New Testament reality!

Hosea 11:1 isn’t just talking about the Lord rescuing Israel from captivity in Egypt, the Holy Spirit is using Hosea’s words to draw an arrow pointing directly to Jesus! Jesus, the Messiah who came to show the world His love for God the Father and create a way for us to have relationship with Him by becoming the sacrifice that takes away our sins.

“When (your name), was a child, I loved her, and out of Egypt I called My son Jesus, to be her Redeemer.”
Long before our Salvation walked the earth in human flesh,
the Lord put into writing His love for us.
Signed, sealed, delivered.

In what ways has the Lord shown His love for you?
Which aspect of Hosea 11 impacted you today?
Reflect on your day, your week, your month, your year, and see Him teaching you to walk, binding you with His love.
May the reminders of His love bless you.

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Bride 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 Bride!

Bride Day 8 The Groom and His Bride

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Hosea 4 
Genesis 3:1-13 
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 
Colossians 1:15-20 

She was riveting. 

Bride, Day 8

The heady fragrance of fresh flowers filled the air, sweet strains from the grand piano echoed through the church, guests beamed, catching tears in their throats as their eyes took her in.  
The Bride.  
 
As beautiful as the scene before her was, she had eyes only for one, her groom.  
Long awaited.  
Greatly anticipated.  
The wedding day.  
 
The anticipation had filled their hearts with an ache of longing.  
The looks they’d exchanged were like tasting honey, awaiting the fullness of bliss to come. 
He was her champion.  
She was his bride.  
 
Happily ever after was always the intent.  
But one day, the grass appeared greener on the other side.  
Maybe it was…. 
What if I’m missing out? 
What if my marriage is holding me back from achieving more? 
Maybe he doesn’t really love me like he claims.  
My feelings have changed. 
What if he is hiding something? 
And she turned her eyes away from his.  
 
Just a little at first.
Who could blame her for flirting back just a little?
He was pretty attractive.  
He was so nice. The feelings in her heart felt different, exciting, her breath caught in her throat in a different way.
I wonder… What if…. 
 
And His heart broke,  
But He still called her Bride.  
 
The dreams they’d shared…they began to fade.  
But the love He had for her remained.  
 
She was caught up in it, the greener grass becoming increasingly intoxicating, taking her farther than she dared. It was becoming too late, she couldn’t go back, maybe she didn’t even want to. Her old life seemingly a shadow compared to the thrill of new misters. Why keep it to one? There was so much to explore!
New excitement at every opportunity for this new love.  
 
You have betrayed me, my Bride, my Beloved, my chosen one.  
His voice chased her down. 
You’ve been unfaithful, abandoned our love, refused to know me intimately.  
You’ve wreaked havoc in our marriage, you’ve broken down our relationship, and trashed your reputation. This one choice has created a rippling effect.  
Those who looked up to you, don’t anymore.  
Those who saw our marriage as beauty, see ashes.  
No one wins, everyone is broken.  
Most of all you, my precious Bride, but you don’t even see it.  
 
You think you’re living thrill to thrill, but I know you’re dying inside.  
All of these lovers, I know they are leaving you empty hearted.  
You are being destroyed without our intimacy, because knowing me, and enjoying each other, was always the intention. 
You weren’t made for this.  
Remember, happily ever after was our destination? 
 
You keep on chasing this broken love, glittery on the outside, empty on the inside.  
You’ve taken the glory of our marriage and exchanged it for shame.  
You have left me so you could play the whore, with not just one counterfeit lover,  
but countless ones.  
But still I call you Bride.  
 
Why? 
Love.  
 
Love that knows you will only find fullness with me.  
Because I’m the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13) 
Love that knows your life is found when it’s hidden in me.  
Because I hold life together. (Colossians 1:15-20) 
Love that knows happily ever after is not just a dream.  
Because I hold eternity. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15) 
 
Remember, my Bride… 
Lace. Glowing cheeks. White dress. Dazzling pearls. 
Happily Ever After. 
It’s still our future hope.  
Come home, Beloved.  
 
The heartbreak of God is something we can never fully understand.  
The heartbreak that began in the Garden of Eden and continued right on  
through every story in the Old Testament,  
every law that we have a hard time understanding,  
every miracle of Jesus,  
all of His teachings, and sweeps past His death and resurrection.  
 
His begging pleas to return continue in the voices of Paul, Timothy, Peter, and John in the New Testament as His Church flourished and grew, yet still fought hard against the relentless Enemy.  
 
Every time His Bride chose sin, chose adultery, chose another lover,  
He ached to bring her home.  
If even creation itself longs for the final restoration,  
how much more so the very Being of God Himself?  
 
We often see the brokenness around us and long for it to be made whole.  
We see relationships shattered.  
We see financial strain.  
We see bodies twisted in sickness.  
And we long for healing. We ache for it.  
But we miss the heartbreak of God over our adultery.  
 
Today, let’s decide to see it.  
Let’s ask God to show us His heart.  
Let’s see our sin, our wretchedness.  
Then let’s see the groaning of God as He too waits to bring restoration.  
 
Happily ever after…. It’s still coming!  
Bride dressed in white….She is still on the horizon!  
 
Christ is her champion.  
The Church is His Bride.  
 
And one day, that Wedding Day will be reality.  
The marriage feasting will begin and never end.  
The fullness of a consummate marriage will be everlasting and His Bride will discover beauty, depth, purpose, meaning, satisfaction, and wholeness like she never dreamed possible.  
 
But it starts with opening our eye to our adultery,  
beholding the heartbreak of the Groom who loves us,  
and choosing to return to His embrace.  
 
Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

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