Guidance

If Day 7 Triune God: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

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

1) Why did Jesus say, “Because I live, you will live too?” (verse 19)

2) What does Jesus mean when He says, “I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you?” (verse 20)

3) How does the Holy Spirit teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus taught? (verse 26)

John 14:18-26

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it you’re going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

Original Intent

1) Why did Jesus say, “Because I live, you will live too?” (verse 19)
In John 14:19 Jesus tells His disciples, “In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too.” Jesus was referencing His resurrection and the eternal life He gives to those who accept Him as their Savior. Though His followers will die one day, each one will live forever in Heaven with Jesus because they chose to fully rely on His sacrifice on the cross to pay the debt owed for their sins. Romans 6:23 tells us the “wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Because Jesus died, but now lives again, all who trust in Him can live forever just as the original disciples are even now! This life Jesus promises, however, is not only eternal life. His followers can live an empowered life while on earth as well with new perspective and purpose. Author Matthew Henry explains, “The life of Christians is bound up in the life of Christ; as sure and as long as He lives, those that by faith are united to Him shall live also; they shall live spiritually, a divine life in communion with God. This life is hidden with Christ; if the head and root live, the members and branches live also.” Because Jesus lives, Christians are alive in Him, learning and growing in Christ, praying to Him and hearing from His Word precisely because He Lives! Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came so we could have “abundant life”. We can live this abundant life now today because of Jesus’ work on the cross to put to death our sin nature and wake us up to real life inside of His life! Let’s purpose to live fully today in surrender to His Spirit at work within us, thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice and aware of His power working in and through us.

2) What does Jesus mean when He says, “I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you?” (verse 20)
Jesus’ words in John 14:20 sound a bit like a tongue twister, “I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.” Jesus can authoritatively say He is in the Father because God Himself is three persons, known as the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is not just the Son of God; He is God. The Bible tells us Jesus only does what He sees the Father doing, and only speaks what the Father says (John 5:19-23). Father, Son, and Spirit are separate Beings while also the exact same God. The Holy Spirit only speaks what He hears God the Father say (John 16:13-15); three Beings, but only One God. When Jesus tells the disciples, “You are in Me,” He refers to the fact that Christians are a new creation, now alive in Christ, and free to live in unity and communion with God, just as the 3 distinct Beings are 1 God. Author, James Burton Coffman, explains, “The identification of believers with Christ is revealed in this verse to be exactly the same as the identification of Christ with God. God is in Christ; Christ is in God; Christ is in Christians; and Christians are in Christ.” Christians have given God control of their lives and hearts. His Spirit dwells within them, leading them and guiding them into deeper unity with Himself. (John 14:26) When we surrender our hearts and our lives to God, we experience the love of the Father (1 John 3:1), relationship with Jesus (John 15:4-5), and freedom and guidance from the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17).

3) How does the Holy Spirit teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus taught? (verse 26)
Just before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus taught the disciples about the Father God and their relationship to the Father because of their relationship with Jesus. He explained that, though He would not always walk with them on earth, God the Father would send them a Helper to continue teaching and reminding them of the things they learned through Jesus. He told them, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” (John 14:26 The Holy Spirit, given to us by the Father, dwells in each Christian and empowers each one to follow the teachings of Jesus. As author David Guzik explains, “The disciples would not only see Jesus by the Spirit, they would also continue to live in Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. Their dependence on the life of Jesus would not end when He departed; it would continue in greater measure through the Holy Spirit.” We can do the things set out in Scripture, not in our own strength, but through the help of God’s Spirit. When we try, in our own strength, to obey God and keep His commands, we end up failing. (Romans 7:18-19)  But when we are weak, God is strong (2 Corinthians 12:8), and enables us to remember and carry out the plans of the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives us power through His presence and enables us to display His fruitful work (Galatians 5:22-23) in our daily lives.

Everyday Application

1) Why did Jesus say, “Because I live, you will live too?” (verse 19)
One year, my family received a fabulous deal on all-inclusive passes to a giant theme park.  Everything was included in park tickets, hotel rooms, meals, and transportation. We went to dinner with some friends at the park, and as their eyes popped out of their heads when the pricey bill arrived, we just flashed our park pass and the meal was free! Living life with God is a lot like having that all-inclusive pass to the amusement park. Everything we need for life and godliness is accessible in Christ. (2 Peter 1:3) Jesus tells us in John 14:19, “Because I live, you will live too.” Because Jesus is alive, we have life in Him. Charles Spurgeon notes, “A man is saved because Christ died for him, he continues saved because Christ lives for him. The sole reason why the spiritual life abides is because Jesus lives.”  Jesus not only gives us abundant life on earth (1 Timothy 6:18-19), but this life also extends into eternal life in Heaven (1 John 5:11). Life with Jesus also gives us full access to the Father. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can come boldly to God’s throne of grace and receive mercy in times of trouble. (Hebrews 4:16) In fact, Jesus is the only way we can get to Father God because only He lived our human life perfectly for us. Jesus tells His followers that no one comes to the Father except through Him. If we know Jesus, then we know the Father (John 14:6) We can rejoice in the full access we have to the Father through Jesus’, His Son!

2) What does Jesus mean when He says, “I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you?” (verse 20)
The Triune Godhead is made of Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit; all are co-equal as God. Jesus told His disciples, “I am in my Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20) His words declared that Jesus and the Father are both different parts of the same Godhead. Jesus also promised the disciples that the Father would send them the Holy Spirit, another member of the Trinity, to teach and guide them. (John 14:26) Author, R.C. Sproul, explains, “The three persons are not distinguished by different divine attributes, for They share the same attributes. Instead, they are distinguished by Their relation one to another. We confess that the Father is unbegotten and that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father . . . We confess that the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.”  The three Persons of the Trinity are the same in Their characteristics, but differ at times in the expression of those characteristics and in the roles They play. Each Person of the Trinity is equally important and equally God. As Christians, we are blessed to have a relationship with God in three Persons, and experience the blessing of God’s Triune nature.

3) How does the Holy Spirit teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus taught? (verse 26)
My church wanted to get involved in a summer camp for foster kids, so a small team went through rigorous hands-on training and learned the contents of a ginormous training manual. When we brought our first kids to camp, however, no one had time to look up the section on runaway campers as we were scampering in all directions to keep a kid from making it to the highway. Knowing what to do and putting it in action were two different things! Christians are blessed because not only does God give us a “training manual” in the form of the Bible, but He also gives us the Holy Spirit to help us live out His Word in real-time. Jesus taught that God sent the Holy Spirit to instruct us and remind us of Jesus’ teachings. (John 14:26) God revealed in Nehemiah 9:20 that His Spirit was sent to instruct us, and Scripture also tells us that God’s anointing teaches us about all things. (1 John 2:27)  We also learn in Luke 12:12 that the Holy Spirit can teach us what to say even while we are being called upon to make an answer. God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us, instructing us what to do, and even telling us what to say when needed. Referring to John 16:12-14, author R.A. Torrey asserts, “It is His (the Holy Spirit’s) work above all else to reveal Jesus Christ and to glorify Him. His whole teaching centres in Christ. From one point of view or the other, He is always bringing us to Jesus Christ.” As Christians, it is our heart’s desire to know God more and to know Him better. What a comfort to know that God sent His Holy Spirit to bring us into deeper knowledge of His Son!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Sketched IX Day 15 On This Rock

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Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Peter 1:12-15
1 Peter 3:14-18
Luke 22:54-62

Sketched IX, Day 15

In the pale half-light of early morning, softly growing light glows in the east. The speckled rooster slumbers still. I know he’ll rise to remind me of my failure. Crowing roosters and early mornings like these could forever taunt me, but they now proclaim His holy calling upon me, a fallen man. Because of His calling, I shepherd His flock of those who believe.

The menacing specter of evil looms, yet we remain His glowing lampstand in this idolatrous place. In recent days, dear brothers have fallen beneath the brutal blade of martyrdom. Our Lord Christ has made plain the path before me; I too will soon lay aside this earthly tent. The brothers can no longer depend upon me for nourishment and guidance. My focus now must be transferring the baton of faith to the brothers, so they will remain steadfast in my absence.

False teachers prowl among the flock, confusing and deceiving the sheep with their insidious half-truths. These babes in faith need the pure milk of truth taught by reliable brothers, so they can grow strong, able to teach and lead others. Remaining in the Scriptures, craving and continuously feeding upon the truth, is the only way to remain steadfast and not be led astray.

My earnest desire is that they will not simply know the truth, but be seized with wonder by this precious faith. We’ve been given the riches of the Law and Prophets, all anticipating and announcing beforehand the coming of our Messiah. I’ve not only seen Him, but I’ve known Him as my Friend and Brother.

However, even while He was among us as Friend and Brother, He was clearly not of us, but from a high and holy place, discharged here on a sacred mission. The same dove-like Spirit present at creation was Him. All the truth of the Law and Prophets came to fruition in Him. I was privileged to see His eternal glory on the sacred mountain. This Friend and Brother among us is Elohim—I AM before creation. My Brother visited Father Abraham in his tent. Our Friend called Moses from the burning bush, decimated Egypt, and delivered our fathers through the Red Sea.

He is the true Lamb to which the Law and Prophets pointed. Our redemption was purchased by His human-yet-holy blood. Direct access was torn open by His blood; now within reach are all the divine resources we will ever need for this life of godliness.

The Holy Spirit is the key to this door of access. The Holy Spirit enables us to live such holy lives among the pagans that they will have no plausible grounds for accusation. Our faith must be expressed through virtuous lives in every facet, from our work to our citizenship, and especially in our relationships.

In these evil days, we can still live with steadfast and stalwart spirits. Trusting His sovereign plan is paramount, I believe. His plan spanned the epochs, has been in motion since before Eden, and plays out even now. His incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension were all key points of this sweeping drama of mankind’s redemption. Our Lord and Master—my Friend, is seated in ethereal glory now, as completely in control now as the day the stars spilled from His nail-pierced hands.

Because our Friend is also “I AM,” we have no cause for fear. While this brutal persecution will likely grow increasingly worse, our suffering is not in vain. It purifies and strengthens us, provided we are trained by it; as our dross is burned away, we emerge as pure gold, reflecting the character of our Lord Christ! Even though it is painful now, it is only temporary. Our sufferings here are “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17) compared with the glory to come.

Christ is our model in this. Though He existed in ethereal glory before His incarnation, He stepped into this narrow slice of time and space for a season and endured the brutality of a Roman crucifixion on our behalf.

However, now He’s seated in Heaven at God’s right hand!
Our salvation has been secured and death and hell, forever defeated!

Like Him, we shall endure suffering for a little while and then receive the glories of heaven. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, Death, our final enemy, is now simply a doorway into eternal glory where Jesus awaits just across the threshold! I must soon cross that threshold; the path stretches plainly before me. He has lit the way well by His example. For the joy set before Him, He endured the brutality of the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)
As He calls me, I shall follow. 

When the brothers come today, I will dictate a letter. Time is short; truth must be imparted.

Ah, the rooster crows now! He mocks me! However, the truth remains that my Lord Christ has redeemed me as His called and chosen child, and placed upon me this mantle of shepherd. Therefore, I shall faithfully discharge my duties until I cross that threshold into eternal glory.

“Mock on, rooster, your crows no longer taunt me, for I am His called and chosen, the shepherd of His flock, and will soon run into His embrace as I cross that blessed threshold!”

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping 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 view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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 Sketched IX Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Ready Day 1 Trade Routes

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Thessalonians 4
2 Thessalonians 2
Acts 17:24-31
Romans 8:35-39
Isaiah 66:1-4

Ready, Day 1

As I sit savoring my tea, I recall learning about ancient trade routes in school. Of interest to me back then was The Tea Horse Road. Now I take particular interest in the most famous trade route linking ancient China to the Roman Empire, “The Silk Road.” It was for more than just trading silk, produce, leather, gold and grains; it also facilitated the exchange of knowledge, technology, arts and intellectual ideas.

Most importantly, it helped spread the Gospel. And Paul was one of the main “traders.”
I learned recently the Silk Road may have been instrumental in the spread of Black Death. How significant then that Paul was spreading the good news of “The Life,” Jesus Christ! (John 14:6)

In the church Paul planted in Thessalonica, there were a few Jews, “a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.” Paul wasn’t able to provide extensive teaching because the Jews from the synagogue threatened his team’s safety. So, the church sent Paul and Silas to Berea. (Acts 17:5-10) As a result, the new believers in Thessalonica were left . . . alone.

As newcomers to anything, our knowledge is limited and we need guidance. For example, if I don’t read the instructions for steeping time, I’ll brew bitter, nasty tea. Similarly, without experienced leaders present to offer instructions on how to live new life in Jesus, the church fell into discouragement and disarray due to persecution and bad theology. This made Paul’s two letters critical, because they instructed, corrected, and encouraged during his physical absence.

Discouragement. Troubles. Suffering. Even today, first-world Christians have a hard time believing we’ll endure such hardship. After all, we belong to Christ. Surely we should be exempt. Likely, these babes in the faith at Thessalonica thought and felt the same.

Here’s the rub. As a believer, suffering is certain. Jesus told us in John 16:33 to expect trouble in this world because we follow Him. Throughout his letters, Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ suffering and persecution, as well as his own. Consider Romans 8:35, which speaks of affliction, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. Honestly, by itself, this list scares me a little.

But suffering is not the end of the story. Jesus completes His thought in John 16 by declaring He has overcome the world! Jesus suffered on the cross, but He rose victorious over sin and death. 

For us, we endure “by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
We become imitators of Christ through suffering. (1 Thessalonians 2:14)
We are “counted worthy of God’s kingdom” when we suffer for it. (2 Thessalonians 1:5)
In the end, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us,” Jesus. (Romans 8:37)

Yes, suffering is certain, but so is hope, for when we suffer well, we imitate Christ and become examples to others. In fact, Paul tells the Thessalonian church, “you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:7) This was especially significant for the Thessalonian church, because their position as a seaport, allowed influence to reach not only other believers, but also those still following other religions. Recognizing this immense opportunity for spreading the Gospel, Paul sent Timothy to encourage and instruct them. They needed the encouragement to continue to hold strong in their faith. But what about instruction?

Both Paul and Timothy gave instructions on how to live as believers. Thessalonians needed to be anchored in the truth of the gospel so they would not be deceived and influenced by false teaching, flawed doctrine, and a polytheistic culture. There were two particular points of instruction. One was how to live as they waited for their ultimate hope, Jesus, to return. The second was regarding the Day of the Lord (the return of Jesus).

Our hope is in Jesus’ return, for which we expectantly wait. But, like the Thessalonians, we frequently view waiting as passive. They had false teachers who convinced many the Lord’s return had already happened. So why continue preparing for the Lord’s return or live faithfully?

Paul corrected this lie. He said, until Jesus returns, believers are to not be lazy but instead, to love one another, “to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:10), to “stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote,” (2 Thessalonians 2:15) and to “stay awake and be self-controlled” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Sisters, we also need to wait expectantly for Jesus’ return, by engaging in active readiness, not just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. There won’t be time to get ready when He comes. (1 Thessalonians 5:2) We need to be ready!

It’s been over 2000 years since Jesus left earth. Let’s not become lazy in our wait for His glorious return. Instead, let us be humble, submissive, and honor His word, thereby experiencing His favor. (Isaiah 66:2) I encourage us to read Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians and determine how we will go about being ready for His return. How can we be traders of the gospel? Let’s each settle on actions through prayer and study and then live ready!

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

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Pause IV Day 7 Unchanging Almighty

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Have you ever wished God would just drop a message down from the sky to tell you what to do next? Or maybe send a care package of “patience”, “healing”, and “strength” along with a checkbox list of what to do or where to go next?

I know I have!
I’ve often thought people in the Old Testament surely had it easier because God just spoke from the sky to them. Or set a bush on fire. Even better are the disciples who lived during Jesus’ time who could just ask Jesus a question face-to-face and get an immediate response.

But my perspective reveals a flawed perception of the Almighty God.

God wants to be known by us, and speak to us, that is abundantly clear in Scripture. My tendency, however, is to elevate the “answer” over the “relationship”.

I want the “next” instead of delighting in the walking with Him on the journey.
I’m looking to check off my boxes and make sure I’ve done all the right things.

But God is looking for my heart, to shepherd it, to teach me to trust, to develop my faith in Him as He leads me deeper into our relationship.

How much sweeter His ways are than mine!

In Habakkuk 2:2-3, the Lord assures Habakkuk the vision God had given to him would indeed come to pass. God reminds the prophet the timing is God’s alone for its coming.

Habakkuk would have the choice to trust God at His word or lean into his doubt instead.

God gave very clear directions to Habakkuk to write out the words of the vision detailing the coming judgement so everyone would be able to read and understand them.

The Lord’s Words would indeed be fulfilled.
Judgement would come.

In the same way Habakkuk and ancient Israel had access to God’s words through the prophet, so do we have direct access to God and His will for our lives by reading Scripture. As God assured Israel His words were unchanging and would be fulfilled, so can we have the same confidence when it comes to God. His word never changes, His character remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is trustworthy like nothing else in all of creation!

Listen to His word, heed His message of hope and salvation offered through Jesus, and trust Him with all you have! Grow your relationship with Him by studying His word and practicing listening to the Holy Spirit!

Today's Invitation

1) Pull out your Bible and read Habakkuk 2:2-3 fully through 3 times. Read it slowly, emphasizing different words each time. Let the words of Scripture hang over you as the Spirit speaks to your heart.

2) Each time you read, write down everything that pops out at you, makes you curious, or wonder “why?”. When you’re finished, go back through and you’ll be amazed at the new things the Spirit is leading you into knowing about Him!

3) Write out a prayer of thanks to God for being a God of clarity and wisdom instead of a God of secrets and deception. Ask Him for clear understanding where you need it most, and praise Him for how He will provide as you wait for Him.

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Habakkuk 2:2-3

The Lord answered me:

Write down this vision;
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it,
since it will certainly come and not be late.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

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 Pause IV 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 Pause!

Neighbor Day 1 The Neighbor Kids

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Psalm 78:1-8
Luke 10:25-37
1 John 3:16-24

Neighbor, Day 1

“We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbor,” declared G.K. Chesterton. I believe the same truth applies to our families. Often, we subconsciously think of family as an entity apart from friend, foe, or neighbor.

For a LONG time in my life, family was in its own, separate category. I took family for granted, treating them in ways I would not treat anyone else. Familiarity can, indeed, breed contempt, and I was caught in its trap.

Something shifted, however, when I began to view my family as humans, and even more so when I applied the Biblical definition of neighbor to my loved ones. I believe we can and should view family as our neighbors, neighbors whose relational ties grant us access to their lives to show them Good Samaritan love.

I am both a mother and an aunt: mother to three, aunt to twenty nieces and nephews. There are 23 children in my life whom God chose for me to love like my neighbors.

Apart from my three children, most of my nieces and nephews do not actually live near me. Yet, they most certainly have been placed in my proverbial path, along with many other special kids from church and my neighborhood.

As Deuteronomy instructs, we can take on the mantle of responsibility and privilege to speak of Jesus not just to the children we bore from our own bodies, but the ones our brothers’ wives and sisters bore from theirs. We point them to God’s standard of holiness, while also and always reminding them of His promise to clothe us in His robes of righteousness when we fall short of that standard. (Colossians 2:13-15)

Whether it’s our nieces, nephews, or the kids down the street, we can demonstrate unconditional love both in word and deed.

A simple way to demonstrate love is to make eye contact when they are speaking or sharing something of import with us. We can forget how children, in particular, need that very sensory-oriented connection with us. Put the phone down to look at them. If your only interaction with them is when you greet them with a hug and say goodbye with another hug, be sure to look them in the eye. Giving them our whole attention in this manner declares both their value and our love for them.

Show interest in whatever interests them. This may involve a learning curve, especially as the age gap deepens. Even with my own children, I’ve had to posture myself as a student of their interests. We can sit with them and ask questions about the sport they play, the internet game they’re into, or the books they read. We might even do a little research ahead of time to know what questions to ask.

Another simple strategy is to recognize special days in their lives. Remember birthdays with a gift, card, or even just a phone call. We can request a heads-up for sporting events, fine arts performances, and any other extracurricular activity with which our nieces and nephews might be involved. Then, we can attend, if possible, or send a note of remembrance or encouragement to them ahead of their event. Celebrate championships, or even just a goal scored at their game.

As children grow older and have access to email or social media platforms, it’s easy to follow them and comment on their posts. This communicates that though we don’t see them daily, we think about them often. God has written them on your heart.

I encourage you to press in when you know they’re going through a challenging season. During a visit to my brother’s house, two of my nieces had a tough morning and simply couldn’t make themselves go to school that day. My brother and sister-in-law had to work, but I was still home visiting.

I took the opportunity to seek my nieces out in their pain, and asked if they wanted to talk. Surprisingly, they did. Both girls opened up to me about performance anxiety and hard social dynamics at school. Though they both had shared these troubles with their parents, there is something unique about being able to share it with an adult who is NOT one’s parent.

Being an aunt or uncle is an invitation to be a confidant, if we’re willing to press into the painful moments, too.

When we allow God to frame our view of neighbor to include our family, we ask God to give us a vision for demonstrating selfless love to our particular family, with its specific interests and needs. We can trust Him to guide and empower us to love our family like our neighbors.

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Here Day 11 Orient Kings

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 2:1-12
Micah 5:1-6
Psalm 72:10-11
Isaiah 60:1-7
Luke 24:13-32

Here, Day 11

For years we had studied the stars, each of them documented meticulously and monitored closely. We knew each of them intimately and their fixed place in the sky. So, when Melchior told me a new star, shining brighter than all the rest, had been sighted the night before, my suspicion and confusion were palpable.
A new star? How could it be? One that was brighter? Unbelievable.

But that night, as we stepped out to observe the night sky, there it was, as sure and prominent as described; a beautiful, vibrant star outshining all others against a blackened sky, truly unlike anything I’d seen before.

After our observations, we went in and sat together, too delighted about our recent discovery to go our separate ways and settle for the night. We began discussing the possibilities of where the star originated, but after hours of spinning every theory, we decided to rest our heads and rally again the next day.

Over the next few weeks we overheard rumbles and rumors of the King of Jews being born! Of course! The Jewish prophecy! Could it be connected to the new star? It must be! After much discussion, several of us decided to make a quest to meet the newborn King of the Jews – to worship the One whom prophets across the world had foretold.

During the next months as we prepared for our journey, we kept a close watch on the star. From where we were, we saw its steady, unwavering glow from the west, mysteriously beckoning us to draw near. Finally, we were ready and we turned our caravan west towards Jerusalem, using the star as guidance.

When we arrived, we requested an audience with King Herod to inquire about the birth of the King of the Jews. We were ushered into an ornate room and welcomed with grandeur as we approached King Herod. He seemed pleased that men of such knowledge had requested an audience, but we were focused not on the king in front of us, but on the newborn King foretold centuries before.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”, I inquired, “For we’ve seen His star at its rising and have come to worship Him!”

Much to my surprise, King Herod’s face swelled with anger and he ordered his servants to escort us out of the palace court at once. Four men came to usher us away and we murmured in confusion to one another as Herod shouted for the Chief Priests to be assembled in his presence.

We waited and waited. Soon it grew dark and we were provided beds within the palace and commanded to stay until the King was ready to have an audience with us once more. Exhausted from our travels, and the unexpected turn of events, we settled in and hoped for the opportunity to see the child King soon.

King Herod requested our presence late the next day in a secret room. When we walked in and with no others around, he quietly asked us when we had first seen the star appear. After giving him the requested information he said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”

So, we went on our way in wonder, eagerly following the star that moved ahead of us toward Bethlehem. Some time into the journey, the star that mysteriously moved along with us finally stopped above a small house. This is where the Child would be!

Each of us eagerly pulled our gifts for the young King from our pouches. Of course, He was only a child, but nothing else seemed fit for a King of this magnitude. One who had been foretold by the prophets. Even though we brought the finest of gifts, it still felt as though we did not have enough.

We walked toward the house with the gifts:
Gold – the precious metal fit only for a King. Presenting it would acknowledge the child’s rightful place as King.

Frankincense – the oil used to anoint the high priests of the Jewish tradition and used in temple worship, recognizing this boy as High Priest.

Myrrh – an expensive oil often used for beauty and symbolizing suffering as the prophets had foretold He would suffer.

We walked into the house, and there we saw a most radiant child. Instantly, we were drawn to our knees and worshipped Him as our own King! Our hearts burned as we were in His presence, and we presented our gifts to the little Christ. What an honor to be with Him, even for a brief time! His mother told us they had received visitors from all around who had come to see if the news was true.

That night with our hearts still bursting, we fell asleep. In a dream, I was warned not to return to Herod with news and whereabouts of the child. The next morning when we re-convened, I told my fellow magi about my dream, and they had received the same warning! Confident we should not report back to Herod, we began our journey back East in awe of all that had happened and praising the God of the Jews, the joy of His presence never leaving our hearts.

What had begun as an odd curiosity, had upended our lives as we’d journeyed to meet this King. We would never be the same!

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Esther Dy 10 Wisdom: The Best Adornment

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Esther 4:12-5:14
Proverbs 3:1-12
Proverbs 1:1-9

Esther, Day 10

“Oh Lord, please give me wisdom and discernment!
I know Your plans for me are far greater than any I could imagine.
I recognize how I need to know Your thoughts in this scenario.
Are You leading me to this?
What does it look like to walk this out?

Lord, I sense the outcome of this present possibility has the potential to impact the rest of my life, so the need to hear from You weighs heavy on my mind today.
Guide my feet, steady my heart, tune my ears to hear Your voice.”

The sound of my pen moving across my journal pages filled the air around me as I wrote these words and poured out my heart before the Lord. While an element of me felt somewhat overdramatic at my thoughts, another part resonated so fiercely with the significance of this season I knew not to take my journaling lightly.

When I no longer sensed any more words to pour out before Him, I set my journal aside and opened my laptop to begin working on this Journey Study. Have you ever had one of those moments in which the Lord heard and answered you before you even prayed?
This particular assignment has been in my hands for several months and it is today I opened my Bible to truly soak in the verses.

There, nestled in the middle of the Old Testament, I found another brave soul navigating the journey placed before her, a journey where literal life and death hung in the balance. Had Esther kept a journal, our words may have paralleled one another in unique ways.

In the three short chapters leading up to where we find ourselves in chapter four, Esther has lost the only family she’s known, won the longest version of the Bachelor ever, become queen of a nation and wife to a very powerful man ruled by the law of the land, and successfully kept her true heritage a secret from all in the palace. While that is enough fodder for multiple full-length movies, the plot thickens. Haman, an Agagite, who has a serious vendetta against the Jewish population in Susa and has been aggravated by one specific Jew (Mordecai) who refuses to cower before him, has gained the ear of the King. Enjoying his position, and fueled by his hatred for Jews, manages to convince King Ahaseurus to send out an edict stating all Jews to be attacked on a specific day. In essence, a mass genocide has just been approved and declared to the entire country. Esther, who is a Jew, and all of her kinsmen suddenly have targets strapped to them as the day draws closer.

This is where we find ourselves as the curtain opens on Esther 4:12. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, sends her a message that sums up her past while prophesying her future without an altered course of action. “If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for a such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

Esther responded by fasting and praying for three days before going to the king. She knew the law stated that anyone who approached the king without being summoned, would likely be killed.  Rather than dismiss Mordecai’s pleading message, her immediate response to his message spoke of a beauty that went more than skin deep.
Esther understood the value of wisdom and sought it earnestly.

It was her first beauty treatment in preparation to go before the king.
When was the last time that we thought of seeking wisdom
as an element of beauty?

In Proverbs, listening to father’s instruction and a mother’s teaching is referred to as “a garland of favor on your head and pendants around your neck.”  (Proverbs 1:9)
Seeking wisdom and instruction brings beauty and leads to beautiful outcomes
when applied to a life.

In Esther’s story, she followed Mordecai’s instruction and sought the wisdom of the Lord. Through that process, the Lord poured out a courage and discernment that granted her favor with the king. Her interactions with the king and Haman resulted in an edict giving Jews permission to defend themselves on the day of their would-be-massacre.

Esther’s beauty was a key piece of the puzzle in finding herself living in the palace and married to the king. However, it was not her outward beauty that enabled her to advocate for her people; it was the beauty of her wisdom. Her time spent in the presence of the Lord, seeking His guidance, made all the difference.

The Lord’s wisdom comes through reading His Word, spending time talking with Him, and seeking the direction of mature Christians to name a few key resources. Proverbs 3 tells us to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways and He will make our paths straight.
Isn’t that a beautiful promise and thought?

Do you find yourself in a similar season of needing the wisdom of the Lord?
Seek His wisdom and submit yourself to His direction.
Be astounded at the beauty He brings forth and wear His wisdom well!


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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!

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Focus Day 4 Wisdom’s Way: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Wisdom’s Way!

The Questions

1) Why is there such an urgent tone in the writer’s word choices?

2) According to this passage, how does someone “be wise”?

3) Is wisdom truly the difference between life and death?

Proverbs 4

Listen, sons, to a father’s discipline,
and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,
2 for I am giving you good instruction.
Don’t abandon my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender and precious to my mother,
4 he taught me and said:
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
don’t forget or turn away from the words from my mouth.
6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 She will place a garland of favor on your head;
she will give you a crown of beauty.”

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,
and you will live many years.
11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;
I am guiding you on straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;
when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Keep off the path of the wicked;
don’t proceed on the way of evil ones.
15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.
Turn away from it, and pass it by.
16 For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they don’t know what makes them stumble.

20 My son, pay attention to my words;
listen closely to my sayings.
21 Don’t lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and health to one’s whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.
24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.
25 Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Carefully consider the path for your feet,
and all your ways will be established.
27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;
keep your feet away from evil.

Original Intent

1) Why is there such an urgent tone in the writer’s word choices?
Listen! Pay attention! Don’t abandon my teaching! Whatever else you get, it must be wisdom above all else! Don’t forget it! These phrases of urgency are repeated within this chapter as well as the first nine chapters of Proverbs, a book themed with wisdom from beginning to end. Proverbs was written by King Solomon, son of King David. God lavished Solomon with wisdom that went far beyond his own human capabilities and throughout the book, we can’t help but notice the intensity with which Solomon is impressing upon his sons. As a child reaches for a hot burner, we intensely shout and push their hand away because wisdom protects. It is with this same intensity Solomon is writing to his sons. Wisdom would be the safeguard for them even after Solomon passed away. He wouldn’t always be there for be wise for his sons, so he urges them to personally own the process of seeking wisdom as well as living wisely.

2) According to this passage, how does someone “be wise”?
Being wise first begins with seeking out wisdom, which means we need to define the reality of our current state of affairs. How wise are we truly? Do our everyday life choices reflect wisdom? Do our relationships demonstrate wisdom? I’ll cut to the chase, we all, (yes A L L) need more wisdom. The starting line is realizing our need and seeking it out. Solomon teaches one way of attaining is simply by listening and learning as wisdom is spoken to you and modeled in front of you. It’s a given that Solomon was wise, but wise people listen to wise people. When Solomon spoke these words, he intended them as a means of making his own sons wise, and all they had to do was define reality (their current need for wisdom), listen to wisdom spoken and written, and watch what it looks like to live out wisdom in real life. Wisdom was enacted for them, they just had to “pay attention!”. (verse 1)

3) Is wisdom truly the difference between life and death?
Returning to the idea of urgency with which Solomon wrote, yes, wisdom is precisely the difference between life and death. We can see this in the obviously practical such as looking both ways before you cross a street to avoid being hit by a car. Here, wisdom avoids physical death, but we also see this truth at work in the less obvious. When we listen well in tense arguments rather than push our viewpoint, wisdom brings life by allowing for deeper relationship and understanding to occur. To spout off our thoughts, letting anger control us, is not only unwise, it also is like a sword to our relationship. Wisdom brings life, reckless abandonment of wisdom brings death, no matter what scale you use to measure its affects or what scenarios are being lived out.

Everyday Application

1) Why is there such an urgent tone in the writer’s word choices?
The entire purpose of parenting is wrapped up in passing on wisdom from the tiny ages to the older ones. We want our children to see, understand, and process the world through the eyes of experience, able to make wise choices. The thing about wisdom is that once you’ve held it and owned it for yourself, you want others to experience the same delight you have by embracing wisdom; the only logical step is to share it. The one who has taken wisdom in knows how precious it is, and the urgency to share it increases. We want others to experience this wisdom as we have. This is exactly like the gospel! Jesus is the literal embodiment of wisdom as He, being fully God, took on our flesh while maintaining His deity, which includes all wisdom. The more we take in of Jesus Christ, the more we naturally are moved towards sharing how sweetly wonderful it is to know and experience Christ! Is Jesus sweet to you? If so, you’ll want to share Him! Maybe you’d like this sweetness, but it just never seems to be a reality for you no matter how hard you try. As Merry invited yesterday, “carve out a few moments and find a quiet space.
Talk to the Lord. Have a real conversation with Him. Tell Him where you are and ask Him to help you, then trust He is faithful and will respond to His beloved daughter!” Sweetness is available and He longs for you to experience Him!

2) According to this passage, how does someone “be wise”?
While Solomon wanted his sons to live wisely, this passion for pursuing and embracing wisdom was a precursor the coming Wisdom of Jesus Christ. There is no wisdom outside or beyond the Lord God. We, as humans, may become really good people, treat others well, and take care of the planet, but until we have defined reality that we are stuck in our sin without a Savior and have humbly surrendered ourselves to Jesus as our only hope of rescue, we have entirely missed the boat on being wise. To truly embrace wisdom is to embrace the gracious gift of salvation Christ offers to us who are trapped by our inescapable punishment for sins. And that’s  A L L of us. Once we have acknowledged the reality of our sin and asked Jesus to rescue us, we can choose to grow deeper in wisdom by listening to His words in Scripture and watching His wisdom modeled in others around us who have long chosen Christ as their own Rescuer. Apart from God, there is no wisdom. And no one can really become wise without Him!

3) Is wisdom truly the difference between life and death?
When we become aware of wisdom’s influence in our lives and the gift of life it carries with it, we learn to walk more wisely because the reward of life is worth the cost of defining reality and then pursuing wisdom. When we understand that following Jesus, as the fullness of wisdom, brings life in both the mundane, the mediocre, and the magnificent, embracing His wisdom as rescuer of our souls is absolutely worth it. The alternative to surrendering control to Jesus? Death. Eternal death and complete separation from the God of all wisdom and authority. The choice we are each faced with will result in either life or death, both on the grand scale for eternity, as well as the innumerable small ways as we live out our everyday lives. With Jesus, we can live supremely wise lives, but without Him, we will bring death with us everywhere we go and into every relationship we have. Choose wisdom! Choose Jesus! And then urgently share this sweet gift with others!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Ignite Day 5 Purposed Orchestration

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Proverbs 21:1-2
Hebrews 1:1-4
John 10:22-30
Ephesians 4:11-16

Ignite, Day 5

It’s easy for me to live as if this life,
this season I’m in,
my community,
issues the modern-day church wrestles with,
and this post-Christian era with its messages flashing from screens,
are all held inside a vacuum of time.

That’s because I forget my (and our) place in history.
I forget the church’s place on the timeline of God’s mission.
I forget just how much of a dot I am on the map and how much of a tick this era is on history’s timeline.

That is, until I look up at the night sky and remember I’m simply one light among the host.
With a zoomed-out lens I see this divine orchestration by which God has used countless people and circumstances on His stage through the centuries, igniting a spotlight on men and women at just the right time, to bring about His purposes.

A Light in the Night
Constantine was one of those men. He ruled the Roman Empire from 306-337AD and is said to be the first Emperor to convert to Christianity. For over two centuries before his rise to power, Christians had been persecuted, threatened and killed.  The most severe persecution ramped up in the 250s all the way up until Constantine took over the empire. (Read more on the Diocletianic Persecution)

Constantine took power and policies began to change, but the most notable turning point occurred during a battle in 312 AD. Constantine saw a vision of a cross of light in the sky that read “CONQUER BY THIS”.  The message burned within him. He is said to have made a commitment to the Christian God, if he indeed won the battle.  Upon winning, Constantine required all soldiers to don the Greek letters for “Christo” on their armor, a clear message to the world where Constantine believed his power came from.

The years that followed revealed his favor toward Christians by way of new Empire rules.  One such proclamation Constantine was instrumental in establishing was the Edict of Milan in 313AD. It declared religious freedom not only for Christians, but for all religions and cults of that time. Beyond that, it commanded citizens to right any wrongs done to Christians including returning property, church buildings, and belongings previously confiscated.

The second major assist Constantine provided to the Christian faith was to convene together The First Council of Nicaea.  The church bishops gathered with the primary purpose of creating a common belief statement specifically regarding the relationship between God the Father and God the Son, Jesus.  This specific point was sparked because of Arianism, a false teaching which challenged the fully divine nature of Jesus, making Him out to be a created being. From this council came what we know as the Nicene Creed.  It reflects foundational Biblical truths including an affirmation of Scripture’s position on Jesus’ deity, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3), and “He [Christ] is the very image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

Without this Nicene Creed, and the handful of believers who fought valiantly for biblical truth to be upheld over society’s popular sway, Christianity today would be vastly different! How far the flame they ignited has carried!

Many throughout history have attributed Constantine’s favor toward Christianity to a personal conversion, though he was not baptized until his deathbed.  It’s not completely clear where Constantine’s heart and motives were.  How can we truly know the heart of any man? Only God knows. What we can know throughout history, God has used men to accomplish HIS purposes, whether they knew it or not.  Proverbs 21:1 says, “A king’s heart is like channeled water in the LORD’s hand: He directs it wherever he chooses.”  Constantine’s abiding favor toward Christians was clear throughout his entire reign, which allowed the body of Christ to ignite anew, spread and grow.

Why it Matters
The council of Nicaea proved to be incredibly important in unifying the church and fortifying her against future false teaching.  If Constantine had not been so forward in calling the council together, if the church leaders had backed down from facing hard conversations and challenges to the faith, and if Arianism had gained a stronger foothold, the church would not have thrived as it did as a result of Constantine’s initiatives.
It mattered then and it matters today. 

Paul warned the church at Ephesus saying by “growing into maturity……..we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.” (Ephesians 4:13b-14)

May God fortify and set our hearts ablaze with a fervor for His Word and a passion to spread His good news, while upholding truth.  May we be people willing to do hard things with a long view in mind, knowing the future of the church is built today.  May we turn to this same God who has been lighting up the church since her beginning, for guidance and wisdom.

We may just be another star on the map, but string it all together under God’s amazing plan, and you can be sure His flame will light up the night!

Curious for more on Constantine?
https://www.thoughtco.com/constantine-the-great-112492
https://www.ancient.eu/Constantine_I/

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

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

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

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Ignite!