Healing

Terrain Day 6 The Jordan River

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Joshua 3:1-17
2 Kings 5:1-14
Matthew 3:13-17
Ephesians 2:1-10

Terrain, Day 6

I don’t like dirt. I know it’s necessary for gardening, farming, and supplying life nutrients, but in my home or on my person, no thanks. Dirt equals unclean and impure. So, one could imagine how my mind struggles with a dirty river making anyone clean, cured, or blessed. But that’s exactly the role of the Jordan River in Biblical times.

The Jordan River starts at the base of Mount Herman and descends, flowing through the Sea of Galilee and ending in the south at the Dead Sea. It twists and turns through steep-walled valleys; the Jordan Valley contains reeds, tamarisks, willows, white poplar, and dense bushes, also known as thickets. Perhaps because it’s a floodplain, vegetation is so lush it concealed lions within those thickets in biblical times! And finally, Joshua and the Israelites found themselves on Jordan’s flooded banks as they traveled to the Promised Land. (Joshua 3:1-17)

After God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egpyt, they crossed the Red Sea on dry land (Exodus 13:17-14:31), and camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. Terrified and refusing to enter the Promised Land, they wandered the desert for 40 years. At last, Joshua was tasked with leading them into the Promised Land, but how would they cross the Jordan at flood stage, a half mile wide by 10 feet deep with swift currents?

God instructed, “Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: When you reach the edge of the water, stand in the Jordan.” (Joshua 3:8)

Stand. In water 10 feet deep.

This could have evoked the same fear that kept them wandering in the desert, but God was gracious to share His plan. “When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s water, its water will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.” (Joshua 3:13) They obeyed, which allowed the people to cross over to Jericho on dry land.

For a generation, the Israelites had been confined within the boundaries of their fear and disobedience. But now, like the Jordan River overflowing the boundaries of the riverbanks, their obedience allowed them to break through their boundaries. They crossed over from their old life of wandering to a new life of the blessings of God’s fulfilled promises.

Now let’s imagine you have a skin disease. You’re told the cure is washing seven times in a particular, dirty river. Would you do it? Personally, I would protest first and then speed to the river.

Far from hypothetical, this is Naaman’s story (2 Kings 5:1-14). The prophet Elisha told Naaman, a leper and the commander of the Syrian army, to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed. But Naaman was prideful and resisted. Why couldn’t he wash in the Abana or Pharpar rivers, which were clear and always abundant, unlike the Jordan, which was swampy, muddy, and shallow in places?

Thankfully for Naaman, his servants convinced him to follow Elisha’s instructions. So there amongst the thickets, also known as ga’on, or pride, he washed seven times and God healed his skin immediately. Naaman became renewed by leaving his pride in the pride. Who would think a little dirt could cure what ails you?

Naaman wasn’t the only one who took a “dip” in the Jordan. Journey with me to the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, where John the Baptist performed baptisms, an outward act of obedience that reflected inward purification by God. Baptism by John affirmed belief in the coming Messiah and repentance of sin. One day, Jesus came to be baptized in the Jordan; not for repentance, because He was sinless and holy, but to consecrate Himself for His earthly ministry.

Again, this dirty river served as a source of purification. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, identifying Him as the Son of God through God the Father’s voice. The dirt and mud did not, and do not, diminish the Jordan River’s significance to Christians. Jesus’ Jordan River experience led Him into ministry for three years before He shed His red blood to pay for “our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Ephesians 2:1-4 tells us, “you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” “walked according to the ways of this world,” and we lived in “our fleshly desires.” But
God…”made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.”
God takes us from old to new, from death to life.
In the same way, He took the Israelites from the desert to the Promised Land,
Naaman from diseased to cured,
and Jesus from unknown to known so we could be cleansed.

Looking at our spiritual lives, how has God taken us from old to new, from diseased to healed, from abandoned to loved? Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” We might get a little dirt on us, or have to tread floodwaters from our own “Jordan River,” but God will faithfully see us through these challenges into newness and fullness of life!

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If Day 14 Un-Risen: 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) Who were Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary”? (verse 1)

2) Why were women the first ones arriving at the tomb?

3) Why was an angel sent as the messenger instead of Jesus Himself? (verses 5-7)

Matthew 28:1-7

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

Original Intent

1) Who were Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary”? (verse 1)
The gospels only record a few words about Mary Magdalene. From her name, we know she came from the town of Magdala. Luke tells us she was healed from seven demons. (Luke 8:2) We don’t know if Mary was truly “possessed” like the man from the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-17), as ancient culture had no distinction between demonic possession, mental illness, or even trauma. All of these were associated with “abnormal” behavior likened to “demon possession”. Because Luke concludes his list of women who followed Jesus by stating how they “support(ed) them from their possessions”, scholars suggest Mary was independently wealthy from the sale of her land or home. (Luke 8:3) Whatever the case, after being healed, Mary began following Jesus. Culturally, this was unheard of as following a Rabbi was reserved only for men. Not so with Jesus! Mary Magdalene was one of several women who traveled with Jesus along with His twelve disciples. Mary likely served Jesus and the Twelve by preparing meals with the other women and financially providing essentials like food and lodging. John’s gospel account reveals that she followed Jesus all the way to the cross and was the first to see Him after His resurrection. (John 19:25, John 20:11-18) The ‘other Mary’ is considered the mother of Jesus. She knew the prophecies concerning the promised Messiah as God in the flesh were being fulfilled in her Son. She had sung of God’s faithful goodness when the angel announced she would be His mother. (Luke 1:46-55) She also knew Jesus would suffer a cruel death according to prophecy. It doesn’t appear she actively followed Jesus during His ministry as she had other children to tend to, but she was present for His first miracle, at minimum, and attempted to visit Him. (Mark 3:31, John 2:1-11) His mother was also present at Calvary when Jesus died. Though Mary knew Jesus was the Messiah, she may not have fully understood Christ as her personal Savior until the gathering in the Upper Room. (Acts 1:12-14) In the final hours of Jesus’ life, as Mary watched her precious son die in agony, the prophecy of Simeon was fulfilled as a “sword would pierce (her) own soul”; surely her heart was breaking! (Luke 2:35)

2) Why were women the first ones arriving at the tomb?
In ancient culture, the task of preparing a body for burial generally fell to women. Jesus was crucified at sundown on Good Friday, which meant Sabbath had begun and no work could be done according to Old Testament law. (Leviticus 23:3) Tending to a dead body, even a family member, would be considered work. Additionally, Jewish law outlined consequences for touching unclean things, which definitely included a corpse. (Numbers 19:11-13) In effort to hasten Jesus’ burial before sundown, they simply wrapped His body and laid it in the tomb. Unlike the Egyptians, Jews didn’t embalm bodies as mummies, but they still prepared it in a fashion similar to current, and previous, Western cultural practices. This preparation included various oils, herbs, and spices, which is why the women were present at the tomb the morning after the Sabbath. Of course, Jesus’ mother, Mary, would have been there, as any mother would. She, who had tended Him from birth, would surely now tend Him in death. Mary Magdalene, and other women who had faithfully followed Jesus, would join her for both emotional and physical support.

3) Why was an angel sent as the messenger instead of Jesus Himself? (verses 5-7)
God’s heart character is love and active humility. He demonstrates this repeatedly through Scripture, and in the Church today, by drawing others to do His work and be intimately involved in His mission. God didn’t send an angel to die for the sins of the world, only He could do that, and so He did. God’s master plan for telling the world the good news about His sacrifice on our behalf, however, is a joyous work that He freely shares and invites us to participate in with Him. Of course, Jesus could have sat atop the rolled away stone to declare His own resurrection, but this doesn’t fit with His heart character of humble love. His ministry on earth was never about elevating Himself. God chose an angel to declare the Good News of Christ’s victory over death to set an example for us to go and do likewise as His ambassadors to the world. Scripture describes angels as messengers from God and provides many examples of them communicating His divine plan to humans. Each instance in the Bible may look different, but there was generally no mistaking that these were Heavenly beings sent by God to either make known His willful purposes or protect His people. Angels came to Lot’s door warning him to leave Sodom before its destruction. (Genesis 19:15-17) Angels appeared to Daniel (Daniel 10:5-6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 10), Joshua (Joshua 5:13-14), Mary (Luke 1:26-38), and many others. The shepherds heard of the Messiah’s birth from a group of angels (Luke 2:8-14), and many angels are found in the book of Revelation (Revelation 7:1-2). Angels are God’s appointed Heavenly Messengers, and as Christ’s resurrection was the most important message ever, it was first heralded by an angel with God’s own stamp of divine approval, wrapped in His humble love for mankind.

Everyday Application

1) Who were Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary”? (verse 1)
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus had different backgrounds, life experiences, and likely even ages, but they shared one constant, Jesus as their Savior. It would be easy to write off these women from an ancient culture, thinking we have nothing in common with them. Yet, just as we all come from various backgrounds, we all need a Savior.  Jesus wants us to know Him as a Healer, Jehovah Rapha, as a Provider, Jehovah Jirah, as Friend (James 2:23), and as the perfect Fullness of God Himself (Colossians 1:19). We may wrestle with feelings of worthlessness or shame because of our past, sins we are stuck in, or the judgement of others. Or maybe we feel like we are in a very good place, so good, in fact, we don’t seem to need a Savior. But even Jesus’ mother needed a Savior! Giving birth to the Messiah, holding Him in her heart and raising Him in her home was not a free pass to Heaven. Just as Jesus died to give life and unshakeable hope to Mary Magdalene and His mother, He is available for us today. Let’s acknowledge our lack, our loss, our sense of emptiness, our shame, and guilt to the God who gave Himself for us to heal us and make us His own! (Titus 2:14) Jesus loved His disciples and the women who followed Him; Jesus loved everyone He encountered. He loves you.

2) Why were women the first ones arriving at the tomb?
Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother were not the first women to faithfully love and serve God. Throughout Scripture, God honors women and purposes them for His glory, starting with His promise to the first woman, Eve. Even amid punishment for her sin, He held out a promise that one day a Redeemer would come to crush Satan’s head. (Genesis 3:15) Many stories of women esteemed by God, and used for His purposes, are recorded in the Old and New Testaments. The midwives who hid Moses from Pharaoh (Exodus 1:15-21), Deborah, the wise judge (Judges 4:1-14), and Jael, the brave woman who acted with swift justice (Judges 4:17-22).  Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, served Yahweh as the mother of John the Baptist. She surrendered her body and her life to the Lord’s work at an age when she was far past childbearing years. (Luke 1:5-19) The widow, Anna, faithfully prayed every day in the temple as she waited for the coming Messiah. She realized her prayers were fulfilled when Joseph and Mary appeared at the temple to present their infant Jesus to the priests as required by law. When she saw the tiny baby, she knew she beheld the Messiah. God used many women, from vastly different backgrounds and lifestyles to fulfill His eternal plan. Tamar (Genesis 38:6-30), Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), Rahab (Joshua 2:1-22), Ruth (Ruth 1-4), and Mary (Luke 1-2) are even included in the lineage of Jesus! (Matthew 1:1-16)

3) Why was an angel sent as the messenger instead of Jesus Himself? (verses 5-7)
Angels are messengers and protectors even in the 21st century. That time you are running late could be God’s hand of protection over you as you encounter a traffic accident happening moments before. If you have encountered someone intent on evil against you, then suddenly you are guarded, this is God’s ordained protection for you; He may well have used angels to accomplish this work. Angels are not present everywhere in every place like God and His presence; they exist to do God’s bidding and worship Him as created Heavenly beings. (Hebrews 1:14, Psalm 34:7) Though God created angels as powerful beings, they are not worthy of worship and are not all-knowing like God. All things are under God’s authority and purposes. Christ died to save humanity and bring us redemption, but He did not do this for angels, neither do we “become” angels when we die. Just as God ordained angels as the first messengers to announce both Christ’s birth and His resurrection, so are we commissioned with the same gloriously divine message. When we read of an angel’s proclamation from God, let’s be encouraged to actively proclaim the good news of Jesus that He offers freedom from sin and shame through His sacrifice on our behalf!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Sketched IX Day 11 I Have Seen Him

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 35:5-7
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Psalm 78:2-4
Luke 5:1-11
Acts 1:12-26

Sketched IX, Day 11

Golden-rosy light glows in the east, dispelling the darkness. The breaking dawn mirrors the dawn of truth upon my soul. Truth casts its glow into the dark soul, ever brightening, ever rising, finally flooding the soul with radiant light. Like the rising sun, the truth of Jesus’ incarnation and His sojourn on earth has become increasingly clear. The light has broken upon my darkened understanding.

It all began on an early morning like this one. The crew and I had just finished a frustrating, fruitless night on the water. Usually we caught something, but that night there was nothing; it was odd. 

A rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, whom Andrew knew, often came to the lake in the early mornings, teaching from the boats. Many viewed him as the Messiah. He told parables; His teaching was interesting and relatable. He taught as One having first-hand knowledge of ancient truth. His wisdom was primordial, yet fresh and alive. He was not just another rabbi, but Who He was remained a mystery to me. Andrew hung upon His words, convinced He was “the prophet” of which Moses prophesied.

That morning, He taught from our boats longer than usual. Water slapped against the side of the gently rocking boat and I dozed, half-listening. He roused me and matter-of-factly instructed, “Go out into the deep water; let down the nets for a catch.”

This Nazarene was serious. Andrew was already in his boat, shoving off; I followed. Andrew flung out his net; it slapped onto the water and slowly sank. Nothing, silence . . . then in an instantaneous rush, there were schools of fish!

Andrew gasped, then whooped as he began drawing in the net. Immediately his boat listed violently, nearly keeling over. We rowed fiercely, reaching them in time to fling out our net to reinforce theirs. Immediately, ours were full, nearly breaking under the weight. We were in danger of losing all the fish, both boats, and our lives as well.

We dug in with the oars, straining in unison for the shallows. I bailed into the lake and with rhythmic heave-hos, the crew and I made for the shore, dragging the straining nets. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the beach. My chest heaved as I lay on the sand and simply breathed.

He came to me. I stared up at the Creator against His blue dome of sky. He extended His hand and helped me stand. We all gaped in silence– at the haul of fish, at one another, but mostly at Him. He smiled and simply said, “From now on, you will be fishers of men!”  The light of truth was breaking upon me.

As I watched and listened, evidence began to mount. He just might be “the prophet” as Andrew insisted. He certainly held power over the movement of fish in the lake; no ordinary man does that! Every day He healed someone, often anyone who asked. Isaiah prophesied when “the prophet” came, healing those born blind would be one of His miracles. With my own eyes, I witnessed Jesus restore sight to people blind from birth. Elijah healed on a few occasions, but Jesus healed all the time.

The evidence continued increasing, but we understood Messiah’s coming as restoring Israel’s political and national glory. While Jesus spoke often of “the kingdom of Heaven,” He showed no interest in initiating an insurrection. On the other hand, His fulfillment of prophecies couldn’t be coincidental, or denied.

He multiplied food and wine as needed and had power to heal all diseases.

Nature obeyed His commands as though He were its Master. Storms stopped at His command; trees withered at His rebuke.

With evil spirits came immediate recognition, “Son of the Most High God,” they called Him. It wasn’t their first encounter with Him; they groveled in His presence. He held their fate in His hands, it seemed. Only Elohim could do this.

Then, in a brilliant, unforgettable moment of divine splendor, He showed James, John and I His glory on the sacred mountain. He stood as Friend with friend beside Moses and Elijah, emanating an ethereal, other-worldly light.

Then there was Lazarus’ return from death, and the people shouting “Hosanna” as He entered Jerusalem, riding a donkey’s colt. Within hours, the tide turned. His arrest, the flogging, and the cross. It was brutally sudden, unnerving, and terrifying, yet all of it followed straight from Isaiah’s prophecies.

Then Resurrection Day; He was back! It was stunning, yet confusing. Now He’s ascended to His former glory. He’s gone, and He left me in charge! This is both terrifying and humbling.

Every crowing rooster reminds of my failure. However, it was another early morning like this one, days ago, when His grace breathed life into my deflated soul. As long as I live, in the soft gray stillness of each breaking dawn, I will remember the fire of coals and the breakfast of fish. His questions were like well-aimed arrows piercing my soul. The same knowing gaze rested upon me, as it had in the courtyard the night of His trial. There was eternal knowing, yet eternal kindness in His eyes.

“Shepherd my sheep,” He said softly, His eyes of grace locked with my own shame-filled eyes. He placed before me the enormous calling of shepherding this fledgling flock.

The brothers and I remain in steadfast prayer since He returned to Glory.  It seems job one is to appoint Judas’ replacement, as Scripture says. We shall proceed in prayerful obedience, as we await His affirmation upon the chosen man.

In the courtyard below, the rooster fluffs his bronze-green feathers in the first rays of dawn and readies himself for a morning crow. Though he attempts to remind me of my failure, I choose to remind myself of my Lord’s grace and His holy calling.

“His grace covers me! Crow away, rooster, crow away!”

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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!

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

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched IX!

Sketched IX Day 10 Peter’s Pursuit

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 10:1-43
Galatians 2:11-14
John 14:1-31

Sketched IX, Day 10

I did it again, Lord. Why can’t I seem to get this? Why do I so desperately want to follow You, only to fail miserably?

Over and over, You have loved me when I have passionately succeeded at the wrong thing. Instead of lashing out at me when I cut off that servant’s ear, You healed him and let them lead you away. All I wanted to do was serve and protect You. But that wasn’t Your plan. (John 18:10-11)

It was never part of Your plan.
It all makes more sense now. Well, most of the time.
I still think about all You spoke to us while You walked with us. You told us over and over You were showing us the Father. (John 14:1-11) You told us You would be going to the Father, but the Holy Spirit would be coming in Your place.

At the time, I subconsciously categorized Your words into my mental folder tagged, “Sure, Jesus.” That folder held Your teachings I partially understood, but weren’t urgent for me to completely figure out. You would always be with us. You were the Christ. Er, You are the Christ. I assumed You would be walking with us into victory, instead of into what felt like such a depressing defeat.

After You died and reappeared to us in your resurrected body, I understood an entirely different level of victory. You had defeated death! Not even Lazarus did that permanently.
When You ascended, You were lifted up, fulfilling Your words about going to the Father.

I miss You, Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong. I love the gift of the Holy Spirit and am so thankful for His presence. I just wish, sometimes, I could see Him. I could watch You love the unlovable and understand how I could do the same. I could sense the tone of Your words and feel the peace emanating from You.

Now I need to navigate each day without You physically beside me. I know the Holy Spirit guides me, but sometimes He’s not easy to understand.

Like when I had the vision about the sheet of unclean animals and was told to eat them. It was repeated three times and a voice told me to kill and eat. When I replied that I would not eat anything unclean, the voice responded, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” (Acts 10:15)

Lord, that was very confusing. Yet, as soon as those men came to the gate of the house where I was staying, I knew it was the Holy Spirit telling me to go with them. When we arrived at our destination and I found myself being honored in the midst of God-fearing Gentiles, the words from the vision came back to me.

Who was I to call these people impure? If God orchestrated this meeting, He had a purpose, a clean one. A holy one.

Lord, You showed up when I began to speak. I shared of Your love for them and then You unleashed the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, You. Poured. Out.  (Acts 10:44-46)

We were all dumbfounded. I thought for sure I would never forget the lesson I’d learned over those few days. You came for anyone and everyone. Jews and Gentiles alike, You welcome us all.

Yet, here I am again, Lord. I feel the same sinking feeling I had when I began to flounder out on the waves. I so valiantly tried to serve You, and I am once again in need of rescuing. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Paul called me out. Paul, the one who previously persecuted Christians and never physically walked with You the way I did. He reminded me of the truth I preached to Cornelius on the day I thought I’d never forget.

Well, I forgot.

It became easier to add a few conditions to the truth of Your love to make it more palatable for my Jewish brothers to embrace the Gentiles. I know You never loved us with contingencies, Lord, but it felt easier for me to keep the peace.

But Paul is bolder than I. He declared the expectation of circumcision was not part of Your criteria for entry into the Kingdom. As Paul likes to remind us, we are saved by grace, through faith. How did I forget this important truth? (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Oh Lord, forgive me. Once again I ask You to catch me, helping me find my solid ground again. Help me live and love as You did, Jesus. Help me know the Father as You do.
Holy Spirit, guide and lead me on.

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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 Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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

Sketched IX Day 6 Heart Healer

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 3:1-26
Isaiah 53:3-6
Luke 7:1-10
Luke 22:47-51

Sketched 9, Day 6

I noticed him straight away by the Beautiful Gate. It’s strange; I must have walked past him many times before, but as John and I approached the Temple, just in time for the afternoon prayer service, my attention was immediately drawn to the man.

He had been lame since birth, and he was over forty years old. Unable to earn a living any other way, his only hope was to beg for money from those visiting the Temple. I felt a pang of compassion as I saw him being carried there by friends and seated in his position by the gate.

“Please give me some money!”

As we got closer, he called out, his eyes lowered to the ground. Although he was not addressing his words particularly to us, and although we had no money, something made us stop, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. We had become familiar with the Holy Spirit’s work in recent days. On the day of Pentecost, God had filled us with His Spirit and empowered us as He promised He would. Where once we had been weak and fearful, now we were bold as we shared about Jesus, and miraculous signs and wonders were now regular occurrences.

I stood and gazed at the man, and my heart went out to him.

“Look at us,” I said. He raised his head eagerly, and I could see the hope in his eyes, the expectation that we were going to fulfil his request for money. But there was also something deeper, a glimmer of faith. Maybe the reason he sat outside the Temple each day wasn’t only because of the gathered crowds. Maybe his desperation had drawn him to the place of worship. I admired his hope and faith persisting after so many years.

I had no money, but I had something better to offer. I thought of all the times I had witnessed Jesus’ healing power as He cured the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, and even raised the dead. His authority was so great He had healed a centurion’s servant without even visiting the man, just by saying the word from a distance. His desire was always to heal.

Even not so long ago, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus’ enemies came to arrest Him, He healed one of them! In my panicked attempt to defend Jesus, I had cut off a man’s ear, but Jesus simply told me to put my sword away, picked up the man’s ear, and restored it.

Now God had sent the Holy Spirit to fill us with the same power.
I knew what I had to do.

“I don’t have silver or gold,” I began, and the man’s face instantly fell. “But what I do have, I give you,” I continued. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

He looked at me in confusion, so I reached out my hand, and as I helped him to his feet, his ankles were instantly healed and strengthened!

His eyes were wide as he began walking, hardly daring to believe it was true. At first his steps were small and tentative, but then they became bigger and more confident. Before long he was leaping and shouting praise to God, unable to contain his joy and exuberance.

As we entered the Temple, he came with us, praising God all the way, and clinging to us. Unsurprisingly, a crowd gathered to learn the cause of the commotion, and I could hear their incredulous conversations.

“Isn’t that the beggar who sits by the gate?”
“It can’t be – you know he can’t walk.”
“But it looks like him… It is… It must be…”

As the truth sank in, they were completely astounded!

They surrounded John and me, and I knew I had to set the record straight. It was an amazing opportunity to tell the people about the source of this awesome power.

Addressing the crowd, I explained the man had not been healed in our power, but by Jesus’ power and by faith in His name.

They knew about Jesus. Many of them had been there that awful day as He stood before Pilate. Many of them had shouted for Jesus to be put to death and for Barabbas to be freed. (Mark 15:6-15)

Yet, I felt no bitterness towards them. Jesus’ death had been part of God’s plan, and God had shown His power by raising Jesus from the dead. Their sin, all of our sin, had been the very reason Jesus came. His command to “love your enemies” came to mind (Matthew 5:44), and I longed for them to understand how they were just as much in need of healing as the man who was now able to walk for the first time. They did not need healing of the body, but healing of the heart. This was exactly what Jesus’ death had made possible, if only they would accept it.

“Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19-20)

The physical healing of the man pointed toward a deeper, spiritual healing each one of us needed, a healing available to all because of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory.

The fire in my belly, a longing for each wounded heart to meet its Healer, burned ever stronger. Where would He lead us next?

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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!

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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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The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched IX Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Monday’s Journey ended with this thought about Jesus, “He is everything. He is power, spoken and enacted. He is humility and authority. He is Rescuer and Healer. He is [our] Final Sacrifice and Restorer. He is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Peter’s whole life was changed and shaped by this God-Man. Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah until the day of his death. How would it change your life if you really believed, not just with your mind, but also with your heart and actions that Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING you need? He is your rescuer and your healer. He is the Final Sacrifice and Restorer for you. How would you live differently if you fully trusted Him? Write down something in your life that needs to be healed or restored. Maybe it is a broken friendship or familial relationship. Maybe it is a health issue or financial struggle. Commit to praying faithfully and steadfastly for Jesus Christ’s redemptive healing in that area of your life. Acknowledge that healing and restoration, at times, look differently than we expect or take longer than we would like, and watch eagerly for God’s rescuing hand to move in your life.

2) On Wednesday we considered what it must have been like for Peter to count the cost of following Jesus. Peter didn’t have the benefit of knowing the whole story as he followed Jesus. He had to wrestle with questions and partially-revealed wisdom. Even when he thought he had it all figured out, Jesus corrected him in the most stunning way. Maybe Peter thought to himself, “Though it would cost me everything, even my very life and all the pleasures and materials I had once loved, I was to crucify those daily, torturously even, and be left in the wake of the life of Yahweh so I could follow Him freely without any hindrance.” What does it cost you to follow Jesus? What pleasures and desires have you put to death to obey His call on your life? How have you seen Him work in your life as a result of your faithful obedience? Prayerfully write down your story of God’s blessing on your life. Consider sharing your story with another believer, friend, or neighbor. You may even consider stepping out in boldness and sharing your story on social media or in some other public way to declare the goodness of God!

3) It’s hard for us to live in the space of “almost, but not yet.” Whether it’s waiting with excited anticipation or waiting with dread of the unknown, “almost, but not yet” is a place of intensity. Peter experienced the shattered discouragement of attempting to return to a life that no longer “fit” after following Jesus for three years. Fishing wasn’t his thing anymore, but he didn’t know what else to do after Jesus’ crucifixion, and even His resurrection. It wasn’t until Peter was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit after Jesus ascended back to Heaven, that his “almost, but not yet” was finally over and he moved into purpose and direction. Jesus’ power alive inside of Peter made all the difference, which is equally true for all of us. Consider specific aspects of your life that are caught in frustration. We love to buy into the deception that we can make these better by either ignoring them or manipulating circumstances around to move us forward. God’s word prompts a different response, prayer. (Ephesians 6:18) Just as Peter was empty and struggling until the Spirit of God filled him, take your empty and frustrating places to the Lord in prayerful surrender. Read His word as you pray, asking Him to make you new and bring hope to your spaces of “almost, but not yet.”

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Galatians 2:20-21 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.


Prayer Journal
Oh Lord, our God, You are greater than we could ever imagine. You are everything we need for life and flourishing. I confess I often lose sight of Your goodness in my times of questioning. Just like Peter, I have a limited view of Your plan. I struggle to see how the great cost to follow You is worth every sacrifice. I forget the power that the Holy Spirit brings into my life, empowering me to trust and to obey. Thank You for Your steadfast love and its newness every morning. Thank You for stooping down and meeting me where I am, and for showing me the goodness of Your ways. I know, despite my own failings, I can find rest for my soul for “[Your] yoke is easy, and [Your] burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30) I ask for mercy as I, and the sisters joining with me in prayer, go about our daily lives. May we see Your power on display as You answer prayers and bring healing to the brokenness in our lives. I ask for comfort and strength as we take small steps of steadfast obedience to Your call on our lives. 

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Nations Day 12 The Daily Pressing: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Daily Pressing!

The Questions

1) Why did Mark mention Passover in this passage? (verse 1)

2) What is the significance of Jesus visiting the house of Simon the Leper? (verse 3)

3) Why did the woman pour her expensive perfume on Jesus’ head? (verse 3)

4) Why did Jesus say, “the poor you will always have with you”? (verse 7)

Mark 14:1-11

1It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a cunning way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2“Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

While he was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper as he was reclining at the table a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head. 4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.

6 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thing for me. 7 You always have the poor with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body in advance for burial. 9 Truly I tell you wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he started looking for a good opportunity to betray him.

Original Intent

1) Why did Mark mention Passover in this passage? (verse 1)
Jesus stopped by Bethany (about two miles outside of Jerusalem) on His way to celebrate Passover. Passover is the annual celebration of God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Passover refers to when the Angel of Death “passed over” the homes of Israelites (and Egyptians) who put the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts according to God’s instructions to Moses. Egyptians (and Israelites) who did not obey God’s instructions experienced the death of their firstborn. Even as God gave the instructions for the Passover in Exodus 12, He commanded His people to commemorate their deliverance every year. “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.” (Exodus 12:14)

2) What is the significance of Jesus visiting the house of Simon the Leper? (verse 3)
Simon lived in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem and the hometown of his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The Gospel writer’s decision to include the description of Simon as “The Leper” is significant. Today, leprosy refers to a specific disease called Hanson’s disease affecting both skin and nerves, but during biblical times, leprosy was a generic name for any skin disease. When God gave the Law to Moses after the Israelites left Egypt, there were specific instructions for interacting with people with skin diseases like leprosy. Leviticus 13 explains how the priest examined people with skin diseases and isolated them for seven days. If the disease did not go away, they were excluded from the community to protect the people. “The person who has a case of serious skin disease is to have his clothes torn and his hair hanging loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ He will remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45-46) Lepers were isolated from family and friends by their disease and were considered unclean. Coming in contact with a leprous person resulted in them also being declared “unclean”. Since Simon was healed, he was no longer unclean, and he could safely host people.

3) Why did the woman pour her expensive perfume on Jesus’ head? (verse 3)
John 12:1-8 explains this was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Mary had a heart that desired to worship Jesus. Her gift was an extravagant display of devotion to Jesus. Pure nard in alabaster was exceptionally valuable. Nard comes from the Himalayan mountains in India, Nepal, and China; transporting it to Bethany would require a long, arduous journey from Asia to the Middle East. This gift was worth three hundred denarii, which was about a year’s income (minus the days not worked for the Sabbath and holidays) since a denarius was the equivalent of a day’s wages. Some commentaries explained that this alabaster jar of pure nard was probably Mary’s dowry. When a woman got married, her dowry was her security in case she was divorced. Mary desired to give her best. Jesus explained to the disciples that Mary’s gift was a noble thing. The Greek word translated as “noble” is defined as “good that inspires others.” Even to this day, we celebrate Mary’s precious gift. Jesus prophesied that “she has kept it for the day of My burial.” (John 12:7) People used burial spices and perfumes to mask the smell of a decaying body. Jesus knew that going to Jerusalem was His death sentence. He would soon be attacked like the obedient servant in Isaiah 50:6, and He would be led like a lamb to the slaughter as prophesied in Isaiah 53:7.

4) Why did Jesus say, “the poor you will always have with you”? (verse 7)
When Rabbis and teachers of the Law taught concepts, they often quoted parts of Scriptures because they knew their students would fill in the rest of the passage. When Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you,” He was quoting Deuteronomy 15:11, “For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.’” He was urging His followers to give generously to the poor even as He was warning them of His upcoming death. At various times, Jesus specifically told His disciples He would suffer and die. “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him, and kill Him, and He will rise after three days.” (Mark 10:33-34)

Everyday Application

1) Why did Mark mention Passover in this passage? (verse 1)
Passover was a celebration of deliverance. Many Jewish people were eagerly praying for a Messiah to deliver them from Roman occupation. Here’s how David Guzik explains this, “The time is significant, because there was at Passover not only a great expectation of the Messiah, but Jerusalem was also crowded with these Messiah-expecting multitudes. Since Passover remembered a time when God raised up a great deliverer and freed Israel from foreign oppression, it was a time of great patriotic and Messianic anticipation. The Romans were on guard and ready for any hint of revolt.” The people in Jerusalem were eagerly looking for a military savior, but Jesus had come as a Lamb whose blood was to be shed for the forgiveness of sins. 1 Corinthians 5:7 calls Jesus “our Passover lamb.” John 1:29 proclaims that “Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Just as the blood of the Passover lamb protected the people from death, Jesus’ blood frees us from the penalty we deserve because of our sins. (Revelation 1:5)

2) What is the significance of Jesus visiting the house of Simon the Leper? (verse 3)
Fear of contamination did not keep Jesus from reaching out to people who were considered unclean. There are multiple mentions in the Bible of Jesus healing people with leprosy. Mark 1:40-45 tells how Jesus healed a man with leprosy in Galilee. When Jesus touched him, “immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” Luke 17:11-17 also tells the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. In both Mark’s and Luke’s accounts, Jesus told the healed men to present themselves to the priest according to the requirements in Leviticus. After the priest examined the men, he would declare them clean and fit to assemble with the rest of the community. Jesus is our healer. Sickness and suffering (both mental and physical) can isolate us from community. We may feel unclean or unworthy of God’s love and grace, yet Jesus wants to heal us so our lives will be a testimony to His grace and healing power, just like Simon. Though Simon was still called “the Leper,” his life had been radically transformed by Jesus’ healing power. His sickness no longer isolated him, and he was able to host Jesus and all the disciples at his house. Like a leper, we can cry out to Jesus, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:2) He uses healing to declare His victory in our lives, setting us free so we can bless others!

3) Why did the woman pour her expensive perfume on Jesus’ head? (verse 3)
Mary likely gave her most precious possession when she anointed Jesus’ head. Her act of devotion inspires us to give wholeheartedly. Are we giving our best to Jesus and His kingdom, or are we like Judas, who seemed to care about the poor, but only truly cared about himself? When John wrote about Mary anointing Jesus, he explained that Judas’ indignation wasn’t about caring for the poor but about helping himself. Judas “was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.” (John 12:6) Mark writes that some disciples expressed indignation and asked, “Why has this perfume been wasted?” (Mark 14:4) The Greek word translated “wasted” in this passage can also mean “destroyed” and is often used to describe God’s judgment in end-times. “Judas criticized Mary for ‘wasting money,’ but he wasted his entire life!” (Wiersbe) Mary’s extravagant gift and Judas’ petty response challenges all of us. Is our indignation about injustice a cover-up of jealousy and greed because we want more? Are we secretly envious of other people’s ability to give? Do we give only to receive recognition? Do we desire to give generously and not waste what we have been given? The greatest gift we have is our salvation; are we sharing it with others, or are we wasting the opportunities we are given to proclaim it and, in the process, devaluing Christ’s sacrifice? Mary gave the equivalent of an annual salary; would you think someone was a fanatic if they gave that amount to the church or help the poor? Would you wonder if they were wasting their resources? I have realized that if I am starting to answer these questions like Judas, I have lost sight of the value of Jesus and the privilege of giving all I have.

4) Why did Jesus say, “the poor you will always have with you”? (verse 7)
When I first read this quote from Jesus, I felt it was very calloused. It seemed to me like Jesus was telling His disciples not to care about the poor. I didn’t realize it was a direct quote from Deuteronomy that Jesus was using to challenge His followers, and particularly Judas who “claimed” to care for the poor. Jesus was prodding each of them to follow Mary’s example of selfless generosity and “to open your hand willingly to the poor and needy brother in the land.” In Mark 10:21, Jesus challenged a rich young man to “give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven.” Jesus commended Mary because “she has done what she could.” (Mark 14:8) Each of us can learn from Mary’s sacrifice. She blessed Jesus by giving generously and sacrificially. God gives us gifts and resources so we can bless others in the same way. Martyr Jim Elliot wisely said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose.” Like Mary, when we lavishly give all we have to Jesus, He will cultivate generosity in us towards others just as He gave Himself fully for us.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Enough Day 15 Promised Land Restored

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 13
Isaiah 65:17-25
Philippians 2:5-11
Revelation 21:1-8
Revelation 22

Enough, Day 15

A friend made a sign for me reading, “You are enough.” She meant to encourage me not to feel burdened to live up to anyone else’s expectations. It sounds great, but not one of us is enough on our own, least of all me.

“You are enough” sounds easy and available for our immediate gratification.
But let’s not settle for the immediacy of what we can muster up
when what God has promised is glorious.

You see, God is love. He is worthy. He is Lord.
God is enough.

Any hope we have should be placed in Him, not ourselves. He alone can satisfy our every desire, heal every broken place, give us victory, and gather us to live with Him forever. Only He can fulfill every promise.

I know I’ve made some lofty statements here. But friends, they aren’t mine. They are God’s, breathed into the hearts and minds of men, and penned on the pages of the Bible. (2 Timothy 3:16) Shall we explore a little?

God is love.
1 Corinthians 13 gives us a picture of biblical love, explaining love is patient. Furthermore, 2 Peter 3: 9 tells us God is patiently waiting to fulfill His remaining promises, so more people may repent and join Him in heaven. Y’all, it’s been over 2000 years since Jesus came. Patient? Check.

We also see love is kind and not self-seeking. During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, taught thousands, raised the dead, forgave sins and most importantly, died on the cross to conquer sin and death! Yet, He didn’t go around announcing His miracles and acts of kindness. In fact, He usually instructed people not to speak of their interactions. (Luke 8:56 and Matthew 8:4)

1 Corinthians 13:6 says love rejoices in truth. In the New Testament, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth” over 70 times!

Clearly, God is love.

God is worthy.
There are many verses I could point to, but I’ve settled on two. First is John 1:1-5, where we learn:

  •     God is eternal
  •     Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit created everything.
  •     Jesus is the light of men and cannot be overcome by darkness

Then, there’s Revelation 5. Verse 12 gives us a glimpse of the throne room of heaven when the Lamb (Jesus) takes the scroll, thousands upon thousands of angels, the living creatures, and the elders will loudly say, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

In verse 13, we see “every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth on the
sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

I can’t add anything to this. Quite simply and wonderfully, He is worthy!

Jesus is Lord.
God could have saved us from our sin and from death any way He wanted; He chose to send His Son, Jesus, to die for us on the cross.

Because Jesus was obedient to do the Father’s will,
“God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth —
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

And when we reach the end times, written on the robe and thigh of Jesus will be His name “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” (Revelation 19:16)

Speaking of the end times, did you realize they bring fulfillment of an early promise God made to Abraham? God promised Abraham would be the father of many nations, but He also promised actual land. However, because God’s perspective is eternal, there is an even greater land we’ve been promised! Revelation 21:1-8 tells us of the “land” where God will dwell for the rest of eternity with “those written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

In this New Heaven and New Earth, we find:

Gather us to live with Him forever? Check.
Abraham never saw the extent of the land he was promised, but his offspring did. Now we can wait expectantly with the hope of God’s eternal Promised Land.

Friends, I hope you feel the same longing as Abraham. While we wait on the God who is enough, let’s get to know Him better. Let’s share Him with others, so they, too, will be in the Lamb’s book of life.

This world we live in is hard, but it’s not our real home. Can we agree to live in anticipation of the glorious day when everything is restored and we are eternally and blamelessly in the presence of our holy God? Let it be so.

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Reveal Day 3 Heartache’s Hope

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 147
Hosea 11:1-8
Isaiah 60:1-7
Isaiah 61:1-4
John 3:14-21

Reveal, Day 3

This will be a tough Christmas for me and my family.
We lost my uncle in February.
My sister, only 48 years old, went to be with Jesus on Easter morning due to Covid-19.
My grandmother is entering hospice care.
Tears come unbidden as I write. 

It’s been an incredibly traumatizing year and for the first time since my dad died twenty years ago, I can physically feel my heart ache. It’s like part of me is missing. Do you know that feeling? I don’t like it, but it’s here to stay for a while.

I anticipate that as Christmas arrives, this ache will be worse. It was my sister’s favorite holiday. Elaborate decorating . . . many gifts lavishly wrapped . . . all born of a genuine love of giving and sharing, especially during Christmas. She was like a bright star in December. I know my holiday, my world, will be a bit dimmer without her.

As I write about heartache, I think about the Israelites. I cannot imagine the pressing ache of waiting, generation after generation, for a promised Savior who would crush the enemy underneath His feet. (Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20) I have a hard time waiting 17 days for something, so 1700 years seems unimaginable.

They endured so much during those 1700 years. They were exiled several times because they just couldn’t follow God with all their hearts. After one exile, when they returned and were trying to rebuild, rich Israelites took advantage of poor neighbors. They were so ruthless, they accepted their kinsmen’s daughters as payment for taxes! (Nehemiah 5:5)

They should have worked together to help rebuild, not just their city, but also their relationship with God. Instead, they tried to soothe their heartache with money and power over the weak and poor.

And you know what?
Their actions broke God’s heart.
Just read Hosea 11:1-8 again.

Can you feel the hurt and heartache of God? But God is merciful and loving. As He always does, He gave them a way to return to Him, to be His people again:

“If [. . .] my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”
(2 Chronicles 7:14)

God knows we can only be whole through Him, so He has provided an eternal road back to Him, even when we break His heart.

When the 1700 years was up, God delivered His promise.
But His promise wasn’t just for Israel.
It was for us, too.

Jesus came to “bring good news to the poor [. . .] heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Isaiah 61:1-2)

This promise from hundreds of years earlier was for Jews and Gentiles alike, which includes us. Jesus came to free us from looking to anything or anyone else for freedom and healing because He “is the way, the truth and the life.” Just like the Israelites, we can get caught up longing for something better, instead of looking to the One Who is better.

Let’s face it, living in this world is hard. There is no living without heartbreak and heartache. Sure, it points to the brokenness of the world. But it also points to our own insufficiency: we cannot heal ourselves.

We try, though. We shop, eat all the comfort food, drink, use drugs, isolate, or even deny our pain, but none of these will bring light to our darkness. Similarly, not one idol, power play, or act of rebellion brought light to the Israelites’ darkness. Instead, Jesus came, died, and rose to free us from sin and death. (John 3:16-17) And that’s not even the full picture!

If we look to Isaiah 60, we see God’s full promise to the nation of Israel, and to us. Israel will no longer live in darkness. Jesus will reign there and the glory of God will shine so brightly, darkness will be cast out. Forever. He will draw in other nations, who will find the light they’ve been searching for everywhere else. What a wonderful picture!

Even better, we don’t need to wait for eternity to experience the light and healing of Immanuel, God With Us. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Further, if you have accepted Christ, the light of the Holy Spirit lives within you.

Sisters, let us connect with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us be radiant and rejoice in Jesus, the light of the world. (Isaiah 60:5)
Until He returns, let us look to Him for our comfort, healing and light.

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