Humility

Fervent Day 13 Strength Training

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:1-21
Ephesians 3:1-21
1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Fervent, Day 13

They say some things are taught while others are caught.

I’m not exactly sure who “they” are, but I couldn’t agree more.

In reading Paul’s letters, I find in the midst of teaching so many truths, Paul exudes much to be caught. His words are not always explicitly cut up for us to ingest quickly and easily, but are implicitly intended to be chewed upon and stirred up in our hearts.

Paul wrote to the church and challenged them to actually be the Church. Today, his words challenge us to be the Church. Paul is the biblical equivalent of a spiritual personal trainer. In order to be a personal trainer, one must have a passion and love for physical fitness that extends past the practical knowledge of exercise.

Paul’s passion and love for the Lord and the gospel are evident throughout his letters. I challenge you to open just one of his letters and not find references to the gospel. Paul knew his why (introducing every possible person to Christ), and it became the foundation upon which all of Paul’s efforts were built.

Paul pleads for God to strengthen His Church, but at the same time, we, as the Church are not called to passive inaction. Like an athlete, Christ’s Body is urged to grow up in Christ by strength training disciplines and put in hard work to build strong muscle. This is Paul’s strength-training prayer for every believer and every local body of believers.

While we do have a role to play in practicing daily submission to the Holy Spirit, this strengthening cannot happen apart from Christ. The Spirit functioning in our lives enables the strengthening, just as He is the motivation for it. John 15 declares we can do nothing apart from Christ, and abiding in Him is vital by staying in close consistent connection with Him. Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God. Praying, worshipping, and fasting are a few spiritual disciplines that help us grow stronger in our faith journey with Christ.

So what are some of the strengthening elements we can “catch” from Paul’s words, beyond his direct teaching? Think of these as the components of a workout a trainer might emphasize, demonstrate, encourage, or adjust in order for the exercise itself to be more effective.

In the three portions of Scripture listed at the beginning of this study, multiple concepts stood out to me, but I’ll only focus on a few. The Holy Spirit may highlight other topics as you read; this is the beauty of the Word being living and active! (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Before His Word can be active in you, it must first be read. If you missed it, I urge you to go back and Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 12:1-21
Ephesians 3:1-21
1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Humility is the proper form needed to carry the weight of sharing the Gospel. Paul understood the rich truth of the Good News was for both Jews and Gentiles. Therefore, he approached everyone around him with a confident humility, explaining that while he had credibility to teach the Truth, he would not wield it like a weapon against them, instead he held it out in love. Paul’s posture lent credibility towards the Savior who had lovingly rescued him!

Boldness is the determined intensity with which Paul proclaimed the gift of the Gospel. When exercising, I can tell the difference in the effectiveness of my workout when I boldly take on the movements, rather than simply going through the motions. Paul spoke up and did not hesitate to share with any and all who would listen. How often do I fail to obey the nudge of the Holy Spirit to speak up? May I be a bolder person for His glory.

Perseverance is the endurance needed to take the Gospel all the places the Lord calls us to go. While this will look different for every person, all of us will have our perseverance tested at some point. The call to be a Christian will be too much, too out of our comfort zones, too counter-cultural, too costly, too overwhelming, and a myriad of other realities.

Similarly, Paul could have listed a variety of trials that might have caused him to stop his Gospel mission. It’s too painful after another flogging. It’s too scary after surviving a shipwreck. It’s too humiliating to surrender the prestige of his former life.

He could have said all of these things, but instead he stepped into a personal trainer role and urged us to keep going.
Press through the pain.
Press through the rejection.
Press through the costs incurred to invite another soul to experience heaven with us.

My dear sisters, we can do hard things with the Spirit of the Living God at work within us!  Christ will carry us through, and He will train our hands for battle. (Psalm 144:1-2)
Let’s put in the work to allow the Lord to strengthen us, to teach us how to be the Church, and to catch Paul’s passion. May we be proven answers to Paul’s prayers.

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Questions 2 Day 7 You Do You: 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 You Do You!

The Questions

1) Is the personification of Wisdom as a woman significant to the passage? (verses 20-21)

2) To whom does Wisdom speak and why must she loudly cry out? (verses 21-24)

3) What warning does Wisdom give to those in the downward spiral toward apostasy? (verses 28-32)

Proverbs 1:20-33

20 Wisdom calls out in the street; she makes her voice heard in the public squares. 21 She cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates: 22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? 23 If you respond to my warning, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words. 24 Since I called out and you refused, extended my hand and no one paid attention, 25 since you neglected all my counsel and did not accept my correction, 26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when trouble and stress overcome you. 28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will search for me, but won’t find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord, 30 were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, 31 they will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. 32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.

Original Intent

1) Is the personification of Wisdom as a woman significant to the passage? (verses 20-21)
The majority of Proverbs is authored by King Solomon, the son of King David, who admirably asked the Lord for wisdom to lead his kingdom rather than asking for personal fame, wealth, or power. (2 Chronicles 1:1-12) As God often does, He rewarded the king’s request by giving him more than he sought. It was Solomon’s wisdom that brought him much recognition, wealth, and success. He penned many words of wisdom that were not recorded in Scripture but were known throughout the world. (1 Kings 4:29-34) We are not told specifically why Proverbs personifies the quality of wisdom as a woman. The Hebrew word for wisdom is the feminine noun hakmot, leading some scholars to believe that Wisdom personified would naturally be translated “she.” It is difficult to know whether the feminine grammar structure of the word itself influenced his choice or not. What is obvious is that wisdom was so important to Solomon that he intentionally utilized the literary device of personification to elevate it to human form. In personifying wisdom, he communicated the value of wisdom through a vivid illustration. Although I usually encourage digging into the context of a verse or passage, the book of Proverbs is one of a few unique books in Scripture which provides very little context. It is made up of independent, often witty, observations from its author about how the world operates, and offers practical and prudent solutions for life issues. “The word ‘proverb’ means ‘to be like,’ thus Proverbs is a book of comparisons between common, concrete images and life’s most profound truths.” (bible-studys.org) Personifying Wisdom captivates the reader and intensifies the wise instructions and important warnings from Solomon.

2) To whom does Wisdom speak and why must she loudly cry out? (verses 21-24)
Solomon reminds his son of the enticement and secrecy of sin (verses 10-11) and instructs him to instead heed the voice of Wisdom (verse 21) above the noise. Wisdom has nothing to hide as she cries out “at the entrance of the city gates.” She is calling those who love their ignorance to pay attention to her, but they are content to continue in foolish ways rather than do the hard work required to gain knowledge. If we were looking down on the crowd, we would see chaos and disorder. Solomon has observed the battle that raged between Wisdom and her mockers as he ruled his kingdom. He has seen the devastation foolishness creates (verses 27-28) and wants his son to pay attention to the threat. “The greatest tragedy is that there’s so much noise that people can’t hear the things they really need to hear. God is trying to get through to them with the voice of wisdom, but all they hear are the confused communications clutter, foolish voices that lead them farther away from the truth.” (Warren Wiersbe biblegateway.com)

3) What warning does Wisdom give to those in the downward spiral toward apostasy? (verses 28-32)
Apostasy is defined by Merriam-Webster as “1: an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith 2: abandonment of a previous loyalty. (merriam-webster.com) It is clear from the passage that people have a choice about which way they will go. Their chaotic lives are, to a great extent, the consequence of their intentional decision to refuse Wisdom’s call. It is not fate that has brought about this foolishness. The mockers enjoyed their condition and rejected Wisdom’s counsel and correction as she calls them to fear the Lord. (verses 29-30) The apostle Paul tells us in the New Testament that God will give the wicked what they desire. (Romans 1:24-25) It is important to note that those who hated knowledge received the “fruit of their way … and their own schemes”. (verse 31) Wisdom is not laughing (verse 26) at the fool’s calamity as some hard-hearted scoffer who does not sympathize with human misery. Wisdom is not the mocker! We once again see the comparison Proverbs often uses. Laughter reveals the absurdity of choosing an unwise way of living that leads to destruction rather than receiving the security that Wisdom offers, which leads to life. (verse 33)

Everyday Application

1) Is the personification of Wisdom as a woman significant to the passage? (verses 20-21)
Solomon is painting a picture for his son. Throughout Proverbs, Solomon warns his son of the two kinds of women, the virtuous kind and the wicked, seductive kind. This ‘woman’ (Wisdom) is the feminine personification of godly wisdom. Solomon, the man of wisdom, offers his son what had become so valuable to him through God’s provision. Solomon understood the value and significance of a woman. Painting wisdom as a woman would likely be compelling to the young man, not necessarily in a sexual way but in a tender and nurturing way. (Proverbs 1:8-9) In portraying wisdom as an elegant lady, Solomon sets the scene for his instruction to his son. Lady Wisdom provides a better choice for us too. She provides the pathway to a better life. Friend, putting ourselves in the center of our world will not bring us peace. The fruit of the righteous person is demonstrated by our desire for and pursuit of wisdom. She calls out to us, “Seek wisdom and let your gentleness and humility be known to all!”. (James 3:13-18)

2) To whom does Wisdom speak and why must she loudly cry out? (verses 21-24)
As I write this study, many are reflecting on the year 2020. It seemed to be a year of confusion and chaos, but Wisdom shouts to us above the chaos. She calls the righteous to hear and heed her instruction and warnings. Make no mistake, it is the Lord Who is behind her voice! Until we exchange our identity for Christ’s, we limit our lives to the brokenness of the world. This exchange happens through our surrendering ourselves to God and receiving His forgiveness and righteousness.  (1 John 2:28-3:3) Sister, our identity with Christ encompasses all the abundance of being a beloved daughter of God.  In Christ we have been given all wisdom! Solomon chose wisdom and became rich. When we choose Christ, we also become rich. Wisdom is calling out through the person of Jesus Christ, “I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3)

3) What warning does Wisdom give to those in the downward spiral toward apostasy? (verses 28-32)
Whether we decide to accept or reject the knowledge of God, our choice determines our future. Choosing the path of self-centered living only leads to destruction. We may be the smartest woman in our circle. We may be the most confident. We may believe the lie of our adversary (1 Peter 5:6-8) that tells us exalting ourselves is the way to happiness. Yet, the wisest man who ever lived would urge us to resist this way of thinking. Although being confident, smart, and powerful are not evil in themselves, they are not the source of contentment and tranquility, my sweet sister. “But whoever listens to me will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.” (verse 33) What a beautiful description of the peace that comes from listening to Wisdom. Humbling ourselves before the Lord is the beginning of a life of abundance and satisfaction. (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) As we look to the future, dread will not be a part of our vocabulary. And as we seek wisdom, we receive all the rest of the promises that are ours as we hide ourselves in God through our Savior Jesus Christ. (Colossians 3:3)

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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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Questions 2 Day 6 You Do You

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:1-10
Proverbs 1:20-33
Romans 6:20-23

Questions 2, Day 6

“You Do You!”

The message is full of promise and electric excitement, isn’t it?!
It sounds pretty amazing!
The popular catchphrase is full of empowerment to let each individual be exactly whoever and whatever she wants to be with no questions asked.
No one else’s standards.
No one else’s rule.
No one else’s expectation.

Just, you do you.

While we nod along in agreement, feeling the thrill of personal power, we don’t even recognize the thickly woven rope tossed casually around us.

We are not our own.
We are slaves.

Makers of our own destinies.
Rulers of our own kingdoms.
You Do You, Boo.

Take that bite, Eve.
God didn’t really say you couldn’t eat from that tree, right? (Genesis 3:1)

Abraham, you’ve waited long enough on God.
Don’t you think He wants you to take some control? Sleep with your wife’s servant and produce your own heir. Do it your way, Abraham. (Genesis 16:1-2)

Build your tower, ancient Babylonians.
Be who you want to be.
Do what you want. (Genesis 11:4)

The enemy’s seductive whisper lingers over every syllable, “You do you.”

Satan’s goal hasn’t changed since the beginning of time, and his tactics haven’t, either. While he slyly entices us to “follow our hearts,” we end up being led away to demise. But there is another voice in the streets. Wisdom lifts her head and shouts aloud,
“‘Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!’
To him who lacks sense, she says,
‘Come, eat my bread
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave inexperience behind you, and you will live;
Pursue the way of understanding.’” (Proverbs 9:4-6)

In the face of Satan’s seduction, the Lord’s wisdom resounds,
“The one who trusts in himself is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.” (Proverbs 28:26)

Of course it’s exciting to toss around “you be you”! Who doesn’t want to be their own god? Self-worship is exceedingly provocative. Toss it under a masquerade of knowing yourself and pursuing your dreams, and no one will ever consider your feet are ensnared in the worship of one, yourself.

Is each person uniquely crafted with special gifts, passions, and heady dreams?
Yes! On Purpose!
These are a gift from the Maker, intended to be enjoyed and lived out to the fullest.

The difference is surrender.
The blade of surrender cuts through the thick cords of slavery tightening around us, like a warm table knife sinking through soft butter.

We are not our own.
We are bought at a price.

Esther, oh Queen, why risk your life and your position for a motley band of exiles?
You have it all, fame and beauty and safety.

But the voice of the Lord beckoned to her heart,
“You were born for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)
And Queen Esther changed the course of history by not following her way.
She walked away from self-worship.
She embraced self-sacrifice.

Mary, sweet and tender, this cost is too much! Give in to your fear, for who could carry the Son of God? Who will believe you, Mary? They will kill you!

But the angel of the Lord emboldened her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30)
And humble Mary changed the course of history by not following her way.
She walked away from self-worship.
She embraced self-sacrifice.

Self-sacrifice isn’t nearly as trendy, but it is the way of the Lord.
Why?

Because His is the chosen path of sacrifice.
The King of Glory humbled Himself in total surrender to give His life in exchange for ours.
Then He calls us to do the same.

The Almighty God is not a deity centered around the motto “you do you.” If He were, you and I would have no hope in this life or the next. We would die in our sin and our self-worship with the rope of slavery bound around us like a noose.

As the God of the Universe, humbled into human form, hung dying for the sins we have committed, not the least of which is elevating ourselves to the position of god in our hearts, the way was made for our release from sin.
His righteousness in exchange for our sinfulness.

Surrender
Bought at a price.
The price of Christ’s precious blood. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Sister, fully embrace who you are.
Introvert?
Extrovert?
Prefer tea over coffee or crowds to quiet solace?
Be assured your gifts and your passions have been handcrafted by the Lord who loves you; He placed them beautifully inside you.
He intended you to live these out in complete surrender
and with all wisdom as you follow Jesus.

Be you, Sister.
Walk inside the life of the Christ, who gave His life for you.
And find it to the fullest!

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.
So glorify God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

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Follow Day 15 Lydia, Spaghetti, and Waffles

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 16:6-15, 40
Romans 12:1-21
Mark 8:34-38

Follow, Day 15

Men’s brains work like waffles; women’s work like spaghetti.

Have you heard this analogy? While I’ve never read the book in which it’s presented, I am very aware of the concept. Men are able to compartmentalize their thinking (waffles), whereas women have several thoughts moving at once that may be under, over, in-between, wrapped around, tied in knots, etc (spaghetti).

For example, when my husband asks what I’m thinking, I need to follow one specific noodle in my mind to figure out how it connected with what we were originally talking about. In other scenarios, I will bring up a topic from a previous conversation and he will acknowledge he hasn’t considered it since because he “tucked that thought in its waffle square.”

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure if my brain truly existed in the “waffle-sphere,” things would end badly. I’d tuck something away safely in a square and promptly forget about it forever. Or I would ineffectively label my squares and end up with a massive, jumbled laundry pile of sorts, one with random thoughts falling away like errant socks rolling down the sides and disappearing (is this where all the missing socks go?).

The more I imagined life with a waffle-mind, my thankfulness for how the Lord wired my brain grew. With these thoughts, I began writing this Journey Study and was surprised to encounter an entirely new and challenging perspective on our dear sister in the Bible, Lydia.

Lydia’s story graces only a few verses in Scripture, but a great deal about her can be inferred from those lines. If you already read the Acts passages at the start of this study, excellent! If not, take a minute to read now. (Acts 16:6-15, 40)

Paul encountered Lydia outside the city gates of Philippi, yet Lydia was introduced as being from the city of Thyatira. Looking at the map of Paul’s missionary journeys in the back of my Bible, I discovered Thyatira and Phillippi are not neighboring towns; Lydia was a traveler. 

Additionally, she was a seller of purple cloth, for which Thyatira was famous. Note the verse does not say she was married to a seller of purple cloth; no, Lydia was a business woman, defying social norms by actively working.

She is also described as God-fearing. Paul found Lydia and other women gathered in prayer outside of the city gates. These women were humble and determined enough to step outside the boundaries of the city (most definitely the physical ones, but perhaps the societal, economic, and emotional boundaries as well) in order to seek the Lord. Lydia’s presence was intentional as she denied her own convenient comfort. (Mark 8:34)

After Lydia is introduced, we are immediately told what she was doing: listening. Because she was actively engaged with Paul’s words, “the Lord opened her heart to respond.” (Acts 16:14) If I were to envision this scenario occurring today, it might look like a woman intentionally moving to a place where she can encounter the Lord. For me, that would mean leaving my phone in the other room, having my journal and a pen ready to write thoughts to and from the Lord, and time enough to be still and truly listen.

Lydia followed through on the Lord’s nudge to respond. Holding nothing back from the Lord, she and her household were baptized. Then, she served as hostess to Paul and his traveling companions on multiple occasions. She demonstrated hospitality, generosity, humility, focus, and faithfulness. (Romans 12:6)

Now, in a perfect example of my brain’s spaghetti-like wiring, let’s jump back to how Lydia’s example showed me two ways in which I am asking the Lord to help my “spaghetti-ness.” First, like Lydia, I’m learning I must carve out time to be with the Lord and listen. The compartments of church and my personal time with Him cannot be replaced by other things. Failing to prioritize those will be detrimental to myself and those the Lord is entrusting to me.

Second, I do compartmentalize some areas that I shouldn’t. The phrase “separation between church and state” is not a biblical concept, yet it aptly describes a pattern of distinct boundaries between Jesus and the rest of my life. Rather than existing in separate compartments, what I learn in church and during my quiet times MUST bleed over into the other facets of my life. I must blend my heart for the Lord with my work environment and ethic, my home life, and my time in community. This does not mean I have a “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker on my cubicle, but it does mean that I live to be a light to those around me. 

Lydia took all she had and used it for the glory of the Lord.
As a result, her entire household met Jesus.

Paul and his companions were blessed, ministered to, and energized for their journeys.
The kingdom gained a hard-working evangelist with a broad sphere of influence.

Beloved, as we consider our lives, where might God be calling us to use what He’s already given us for His glory?

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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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Reveal Day 7 Filling The Empty: 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 Filling The Empty!

The Questions

1) Who is the Word? (verse 1)

2) In what way did the Word “come to His own”? (verses 10-11)

3) What does it mean that “He has revealed Him?” (verse 18)

John 1:1-13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

Original Intent

1) Who is the Word? (verse 1)
John didn’t write about the Word so as to invoke a mystery, he wrote to make one truth abundantly clear. Jesus IS God. Not a god. Not a good man. Not a great prophet. Jesus is God; the very fullness of God dwelled in Him. (Colossians 1:19) If it is true about God, John writes, it is also true of the Word. The total equality of power, authority, will, and sovereignty is made abundantly clear right from the start of John’s gospel. A gospel record which, by the way, focuses every story on the unequivocal identity of Jesus Christ as God. Are we absolutely certain the Word is indeed Jesus Christ? Without a single hint of doubt! John says the Word carried life within Him (verse 4), a life described as the “light of the word” (verse 9), of whom, John (the Baptist) was a forerunner testifying of this coming Light. (verses 7-8) John describes the Word as coming to His own, and His own did not receive Him. (verse 12) Making his point more clear, John adds that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (verse 14) Beyond all imaginings, the Word, who is God, now put on human skin! The fullness of God wrapped in frail flesh and bone, coming as a helpless baby born to a virgin girl. Fully God, and fully man, this Word did not come in secret to a few select people, but He was widely-known and countless people testified of Him, including John who wrote this gospel a mere 60 years after Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This allowed for plenty of time for readers of his gospel to interview and cross reference with other witnesses who had walked with Jesus to verify all John testified of this Word made flesh. (verses 14-15) To remove all potential remaining doubt as to the identity of the Word, God in the flesh, John writes, “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—He has revealed Him.” (verses 17-18)

2) In what way did the Word “come to His own”? (verses 10-11)
John wrote his gospel so that all would understand that Jesus is indeed God, but more so, that they would believe in His Name so they could experience adoption as children of God. (verse 12) It’s only when we put our full trust on who John describes Jesus as (fully God, fully human) and on everything Jesus taught we can become a child of God. This is the “receiving” John wrote of in verse 12. John said Jesus “was in the world, and the world was created through Him, and yet the world did not recognize Him.” (verse 10) Every tree, flower, smile, gentle breeze, human bone, and intricate eyeball screams of a loving Creator God who is infinitely wise and infinitely interested in His creation, yet the One who crafted every fingerprint, wasn’t recognized as He came and dwelt among His people. Though He clothed Himself in human skin and hair, moved in miraculous ways only God could, healed broken bodies, and fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy about Himself, they still chose unbelief. He “came to His own, but His own did not receive Him.” (verse 11) Even as far back in the Old Testament as the moment the first sin was acknowledged by humans before God, He promised One who would come to crush the head of Satan, forever ending death and suffering. (Genesis 3:15) Throughout all of history since that moment, the Lord God has crafted events and prophetic messages to point to the coming of His promised Messiah. Finally, as Jesus was born, and God was present in the flesh with His people, the Jews rejected Him. (Acts 2:22-23)

3) What does it mean that “He has revealed Him?” (verse 18)
By looking at these words alone, the pronouns become nonsensical, which is why it is always critically important to study Scripture by reading a whole passage, not just a single soundbite. We must first understand the message in its original setting before we can make any application to our lives today. (for more on this, see “Why Do We Dig Deeper?”) Verse 18 says in full, “No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side—He has revealed Him.” While there were occurrences of people seeing some of God’s glory as He allowed it (Exodus 33:18-19), Scripture teaches no one can see God and live. (Exodus 33:20) He is perfectly holy, and we are utterly sinful. There is no possible way for sin to stand in His presence. “Lord, if you kept an account of iniquities, Lord, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3) The only way we could possibly “see” God was for Him to come to us in human form. John was careful with his words to express to us, “…The one and only Son, who is Himself God, and is at the Father’s side…” No one can tell us who God is like, except God Himself. There is only One authority able to accurately convey the fullness of Who He Is. God Himself. At the time of John’s writing, Jesus had already ascended back to Heaven and taken His place at the right hand of the Father. Note that John was again careful to make a distinction by saying Jesus was at the right hand of the Father. Both of them, along with the Holy Spirit, are fully God together. They are triune; 3 equally divine beings in 1 God. Finally, we come to the phrase, “He has revealed Him”. Now that we have slowed down for proper understanding, it is clear Jesus, fully God, came in human form, to make the unseen God seen and knowable. What incredible humility and love!

Everyday Application

1) Who is the Word? (verse 1)
I could sit with just these few verses of Scripture for the rest of my life and never unpack their fullness; they are so rich! That being said, the very first verse, only consisting of 17 words, leaves absolutely zero wiggle room about the identity of the Word. These last 4 words of sentence one set the bedrock foundation for e v e r y t h i n g else we read in John. What four words you ask? “…the Word was God.” Ladies, this is the biggest mic drop in history, and John wanted to make sure his readers didn’t even move onto a second sentence before understanding that this “Word” not only was “with” God from the very beginning of Creation, He Is God. Everything that could be said about God, can also be said of the Word. It can be hard to identify, much less tear down, our own false beliefs we have about who Jesus is as the fullness of God. I was blessed to be raised in a home where the truth that Jesus was God was taught over and over, but even so, I held a number of false beliefs about God when I left my family of origin. It took my marriage careening towards divorce, suffering depression, and surviving my suicide plans, before I was willing to finally, level the tower of my long-held beliefs. What I thought was true, just wasn’t adding up in real life. Too many questions didn’t have answers, and I needed answers. I decided to read the Bible for myself, forcing myself to remove the thick lenses of my past, and study God’s Word for what it really said. God was faithful to teach me Who He really was, and, praise God, He has continued to show me over and over who He is, and always will be!

2) In what ways did the Word “come to His own”? (verses 10-11)
This is the single greatest tragedy known to mankind. That we would choose to reject the very Author of Life, deciding instead to clench our fists around ourselves, our own arbitrary measure of “good enough”, or our own twisted perception of who God is and what He is like, this tragedy will result in our eternal separation from Him. We will be utterly lost in unending darkness, forever suffering without the good, kind, forgiving God, who is Himself Light and Love. (Matthew 7:21-23) Amid swirling conversations and social debates on who this Jesus really was because He spoke and acted like He had the power of God, but looked like an ordinary man, Jesus asked this question to His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”. (Matthew 16:15) Peter rightly answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Who do you say Jesus is? Is He the Messiah, the Christ, the promised One from the beginning of time? Is He exactly who John, and rest of Scripture, declare Him to be as God Himself? Jesus followed up Peter’s response with this affirmation, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 16:17) If you aren’t convinced Jesus is precisely who He claimed, ask the Father to reveal it to your heart. Be certain you know Who you are believing in!  

3) What does it mean that “He has revealed Him?” (verse 18)
It would be easy for us, sitting at the tail end of 2020, to say with a bit of a scoff, “It was easy to see God when Jesus was doing miracles right in front of them.” While true, we don’t have the benefit of walking beside Jesus, watching Him sweat under a hot Judean sun, or laugh out loud when the disciples poked fun at each other. Neither can we stand beside Him in awe as He brought life from a previously dead person or straightened a once-crooked leg. Though it may not seem like it, because our culture has a love affair with instant gratification and visual experiences, Jesus said it was better for Him to leave earth. (John 16:7) “If I go, I will send Him to you.” Once Jesus left, the Holy Spirit could come, indwelling every person who fully places their trust in Jesus, the Christ, the only Holy God. Jesus couldn’t be everywhere with every person at the same time in the limits of His physical body, but through the Holy Spirit, (who is also fully God!), every believer has direct access to God at all times. He isn’t a finnicky God, deciding to leave us when we misbehave, He stays inside to forever mark us as His. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Christ Jesus died for us, the ungodly, so His righteousness could be imputed (or directly replacing our old, sinful identity) on us. (Romans 5:6-11) As the Spirit lives within hearts that believe in Jesus as the One True God, He continues revealing more about God to us through His Word. Only God can reveal God.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Filling The Empty!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Worship VII Day 14 One Day: 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 One Day!

The Questions

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?

2) What are the causes of our worship?

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?

Romans 5:6-11

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Original Intent

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?
The original word for worship in Greek is proskyneō. It means submission to a higher authority, often accompanied with a bowing to the ground. The image given to demonstrate this kind of submission is a dog licking his master’s hand in a token of reverence and adoration. This is a picture of whole-hearted devotion and loyalty. Worship, at its heart, is humble submission, which is why Paul writes in Romans 12:1 that we, as Christ’s Body, are to offer ourselves together as a living sacrifice. Paul says, “This is our true worship”. Worship is a lifestyle characterized by a giving of self in whole-hearted surrender and whole-minded submission to the goodness and greatness of God. It isn’t only something felt or acknowledged, but something lived through attitudes of our heart and sacrifices of ourselves and our resources in everyday life. Paul’s words in Romans 5 speak specifically of God’s magnificent grace towards us in offering Himself as the ransom for our sin-wrecked souls. He concludes in verse 11 by stating, “we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”. Paul exhorts his audience, and clearly models for them, that true worship is anchored in reverent humility to God for the vast love He has lavished upon us, sinners that we are!

2) What are the causes of our worship?
In the Romans 5 passage we discover how worship is rooted in awareness of what we have been given and how we have been loved. 1 John 4:19 says we love because He first loved us. In like fashion, we worship because we have experienced God’s goodness. In Psalm 150 we are reminded to praise Him for His deeds (what He has done), the greatest of these being our salvation and restoration to relationship with Him (Romans 5:10). The “hymn book of the Jews” (Psalms) is replete with specific reasons to worship the God in whom alone is found salvation. (Romans 5:11) Psalm 115:1 instructs our hearts to praise God for His steadfast love and faithfulness while Psalm 103 recounts “His benefits” including forgiveness, rescue, and redemption. Psalm 100:1-5 says we praise Him for making us and Ephesians 1:3 says we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing because of Christ, and therefore we bless God. Worship wasn’t something that began after Jesus died to rescue our souls, neither is it something Jewish people did in the Old Testament when circumstances were wonderful. Regardless of feelings or situation, there are always reasons to worship because we need not look any farther than God and His character to discover a reason to worship Him!

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?
We are talking about worship being a lifestyle of humility and honor toward God. In 1 Samuel 15:22, God says (through Samuel) “to obey is better than sacrifice.” To worship God is a sacrifice, but it is best carried out through obedience. God’s Word is filled with examples of His people choosing to worship in faith and obedience, which then resulted in God showing favor and victory. (2 Chronicles 20:22) Worship brought physical victory in battle to Israel. Their decision to worship out of obedience removed themselves as an idol in their hearts and gave room for God to move in the way He had willed. Scripture teaches us to give thanks to the LORD with all our heart. (Psalm 9:1) When we are truly thankful, our hearts are engaged. Worshipping God brings us to a place of full engagement with Him. God invites us to lift our eyes over the things of this earth and focus on the place where He sits at the right hand of God; here, our real life is hidden. (Colossians 3:2) Because Paul’s life modeled consistent, humble worship, the Lord worked through His life in incredible ways. Paul recognized his life was nothing compared to knowing and experiencing God. (Philippians 3:8-9)

Everyday Application

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?
God created us to live out worship in everyday lives, but we often are tempted to worship anything but the Only One Worthy of worship. As we come to understand worship as humble surrender and loyal submission to the Lord, amazingly, we see a connection of humility to God Himself, the sole worthy object of our worship. Though God had every right to never lower Himself, He did exactly this by coming to earth in human form to become our Reconciler and Salvation. (Romans 5:8-11, Philippians 2:6-8) Our great God is a humble God! When He calls Himself the Helper of Israel (the word “ezer” in Hebrew refers to Helper and the name of God JEHOVAH ‘EZER emphasizes it). These terms reflect the heart of God as He calls Himself one who concerns Himself to stoop down. (Psalm 113:4-6) As we worship, we stoop in response to how the Savior God has already bent for us. Worship, at its heart, is grateful submission. It’s a bowing and acknowledgement that someone is greater and worthier than ourselves. Yet, we serve and love a God who stoops to bless us; Who came to a cruel cross to die for us; Who takes on a lowly life for us. God is lofty, yet He tells us His way of greatness is not one that holds Lordship high over others’ heads (Matthew 20:25-28), but instead stoops to bless us. (John 13:3-5) Worship is both a response and a fully engaged bending as we answer the One who bent for us and continues to bend humbly for us out of love.

2) What are the causes of our worship?
Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19) As we practice living our everyday lives rooted and grounded in love, we become motivated to love God responsively. This creates a heart of true worship. As we fix our minds on what is good, true, noble, and praiseworthy, our minds are lifted to remember the goodness of God and genuine worship overflows. (Philippians 4:8) As we consider His character and His names (which reflect His character) we are drawn to recall the truth of who He is. This creates a mind of worship. As we humble ourselves in the sight of God, surrendering self to the Savior, we receive the will to worship. Here in this sacred space, we truly begin loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Matthew 22:37) This is the picture of lifestyle worship, wholly engaged with our Creator, Redeemer, and Lover of Our Soul.

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?
We know God wants us to take on a heart of obedient worship that consistently permeates our everyday lives. What does this look like? In Micah 6:8 He says, “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” This is a picture of lived-out worship. Even though we will have trials in life, He will use them to shape us. Along the way, He calls us to worship Him through the storms, as this anchors our hearts in truth despite changing circumstance and feelings. This is how He develops our dependence and strengthens our endurance in faith as He reinforces our hope. In Romans 5:3-4 Paul writes, “…we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Worship gives us perspective in every circumstance, the capacity to be joyful in the face of affliction, and the means to be filled with strength when we are at our weakest. Like a faithful dog leans on his master, giving his life in devotion, we can give our lives to God. He takes that sacrifice and multiplies it for our good. We cannot out-give God. Our life of sacrificial worship always fills us more than any other thing we seek on earth. When we offer true worship, we lift our eyes and gain perspective.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with One Day!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Pause IV Day 3 Coming Justice

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Pause IV, Day 3

Contrary to what Habakkuk felt, the Lord God did indeed see every single violent act, every rebellious exploitation, and every painful fallout from yet another sinful decision. He saw, and He cared. He cared enough to cut to the heart of the issue, Israel’s idolatry.

They had long since traded walking in sweet communion with the Lord for continuing down a pathway of setting up themselves as their own god. They lusted in their hearts for everything under the sun. They traded worshipping the Creator God for mere things He had lovingly created. Worshipping things instead of God feels nicer for a while. It gives us a sense of control, and oh how we love that!

But the Lord knew Israel would ruin themselves as long as they worshipped themselves.
So, after decade upon decade of their hardened rebellion, and watching the heartbreak of people like Habakkuk, He chose, at just the right time in history, to send His justice. He wanted to break Israel’s prideful trust in themselves, so they could properly worship the only One deserving worship, Yahweh.

Make no mistake, God sent a just punishment to Israel, because He loved her.

The army who would carry out His justice was another nation hell-bent on rebelling against God. Their atrocities against the Lord’s holiness, made even Israel look good in comparison. But, to God, there is no sliding scale for sin. The gossiping tongue, the hateful thought, and the vile murderer are all equally guilty of marring the standard of holiness. God would use an evil nation to bring just punishment upon His chosen nation because He loved her and wanted her heart to return to Him.

Grab your Bible, a journal and pen,
and open your heart to bask in the presence of the Almighty!

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down every word of Habakkuk 1:9-11 today. As you copy, lookup a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, consider the heart position of both the Chaldeans and Israelis. Both had hearts that snubbed the Lord of All, trusting themselves and their ways over Yahweh. Ask the Holy Spirit to humble your heart as you pour over His Words.

2) Choose one of these options to live boldly with authentic honesty in biblical community. As we grow deeper in God’s Word, the Lord designed us to share and grow with others walking alongside us.
            a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
            b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
            c) Leave a comment here about it.
            d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group 
            e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
            f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
            g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in! 

Join the GT Community on Facebook!

Habakkuk 1:5-11

5 Look at the nations and observe—
be utterly astounded!
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe
when you hear about it.
6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,
that bitter, impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
7 They are fierce and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards
and more fierce than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces are set in determination.
They gather prisoners like sand.
10 They mock kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture it.
11 Then they sweep by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty; their strength is their god.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge 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 One!
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 IV!

Sketched VIII Day 9 Naaman: 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 Naaman!

The Questions

1) Why was Naaman so angry when Elisha sent a messenger telling him to wash himself in the Jordan River? (verse 11)

2) Was Elisha afraid to see or touch Naaman before he was cured? If not, why did he send a messenger instead of going himself? (verse 10)

3) Was Naaman surprised that washing in the Jordan River actually worked?

4) In verse 18 it appears Naaman is asking for forgiveness in advance to the sin of bowing to another god. What does Elisha’s response “go in peace” mean?

2 Kings 5:1-27

Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but he had a skin disease. 2 Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.” 4 So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read:

When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.

7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.” 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” 14 So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean. 15 Then Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel. Therefore, please accept a gift from your servant.” 16 But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, in whose presence I stand, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to accept it, but he refused. 17 Naaman responded, “If not, please let your servant be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will no longer offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the Lord. 18 However, in a particular matter may the Lord pardon your servant: When my master, the king of Aram, goes into the temple of Rimmon to bow in worship while he is leaning on my arm, and I have to bow in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 So he said to him, “Go in peace.” After Naaman had traveled a short distance from Elisha, 20 Gehazi, the attendant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “My master has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting from him what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, “Is everything all right?” 22 Gehazi said, “It’s all right. My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them seventy-five pounds of silver and two sets of clothing.’ ” 23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept one hundred fifty pounds.” He urged Gehazi and then packed one hundred fifty pounds of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. Naaman gave them to two of his attendants who carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from them and deposited them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they left. 25 Gehazi came and stood by his master. “Where did you go, Gehazi?” Elisha asked him. He replied, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.” 26 “And my heart didn’t go when the man got down from his chariot to meet you,” Elisha said. “Is this a time to accept silver and clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, flocks and herds, and male and female slaves? 27 Therefore, Naaman’s skin disease will cling to you and your descendants forever.” So Gehazi went out from his presence diseased, resembling snow.

Original Intent

1) Why was Naaman so angry when Elisha sent a messenger telling him to wash himself in the Jordan River? (verse 11)
Naaman’s anger is fueled by his pride. He expected, and wanted, more than to be told to go and wash himself in the Jordan River. The fact that Elisha wasn’t even the one delivering the message made the insult to his price much worse. Naaman was humiliated not only because he needed to ask for help, but also because he had traveled quite a distance and brought many expensive gifts as payment. Naaman was a great man in his country. Verse 1 notes how he was the commander of the Arminian army and was “highly regarded” by the King of Aram. Quite frankly, he was familiar with receiving the best and, therefore, expected to be treated in a similar fashion by everyone he met. Naaman was looking for a great story to tell upon his return to Aram, not simply that he bathed himself in the filthy Jordan River. He felt foolish, mocked, and demeaned by the order to wash in the river. He was a great man, after all. Surely, if it were that simple to be cured of this disease, he could have washed in one of his country’s rivers, which clearly were superior to the Jordan, which was known for being dirty.

2) Was Elisha afraid to see or touch Naaman before he was cured? If not, why did he send a messenger instead of going himself? (verse 10)
No. It’s a simple answer, but it is the truth. Elisha knew it was not him providing this cure, but God. The cure was God’s and the means by which God chose to heal was His alone. By choosing to send a messenger, there would be no mistake the healing was in fact God and not a man who had cured Naaman.

3) Was Naaman surprised that washing in the Jordan River actually worked?
We know from Scripture it was Naaman’s servants who confronted him about not even attempting to wash in the Jordan, and we already know he was expecting better treatment. I would even venture to guess he went back to the Jordan begrudgingly, expecting nothing.  So, yes he was undoubtedly surprised when he came up clean and healed. This is where we can see Naaman’s eyes truly being opened; his heart is humbled before the all-powerful God as his skin was made whole. Naaman was not only cured from leprosy, but also from his pride, which is worse by far.

4) In verse 18 it appears Naaman is asking for forgiveness in advance to the sin of bowing to another god. What does Elisha’s response “go in peace” mean?
This is a tough question to answer. Honestly, I almost changed the question because I’m not at all sure I can accurately and fairly answer. But that would have been taking the easy way out. If we want to really learn, sometimes we have to dig deep and try hard. So, I will share what I learned from my research and you can draw your own conclusions. It appears that Naaman is convicted in his own heart and mind that it would be wrong to bow to Rimmon now, something he knows he will be asked to do in his occupation with his king. The Pulpit Commentary says it best, “Naaman knows refusing to bow may cost him his life; it will certainly cost him his court favor. For such a sacrifice he is not prepared. Yet his conscience tells him that he will be acting wrongly. He therefore expresses a hope, or a prayer, that his fault, for a fault he feels that it will be, may be forgiven him.” It is safe to say God is the One doing that convicting in Naaman! Secondly, Elisha doesn’t really answer the question, instead he simply says by God’s Spirit, “go in peace”. Elisha is a prophet, he knows and understands how God works, and is trusting Him to continue the work he has started in Naaman. We don’t know from this specific Scripture what becomes of Naaman when he returns to Aram. We, like Elisha, have only to trust that God did the work He began.

Everyday Application

1) Why was Naaman so angry when Elisha sent a messenger telling him to wash himself in the Jordan River? (verse 11)
So many people avoid reading and studying the Old Testament because it can be difficult to understand at times. While that is true, it is also rich and full in lessons and modern day applications. In this case, it all comes down to pride. We, much like our friend Naaman, often expect God, and others, to do certain things for us simply because of who we are, the position we hold, or the things we have done. It is so easy for us to become angry when things don’t go exactly as we expect. Five years ago, my husband was laid off from his employer of 28 years. This was a devastating blow that drastically changed our lives, much like the disease of leprosy had affected Naaman. We prayed and assumed God would provide another job quickly and easily. A job much like the one he had, comfortable pay, good benefits, etc.. Boy howdy were we wrong! What happened instead? Little by little, God broke down, and destroyed, our pride. He showed us time after time that we were to depend on Him and Him alone. While we continue to pray and wait for restoration, God continues to show us He is working, and He is always faithful. God has not, nor will He ever, work in the way we expect. He is God and we are not. We deserve nothing, yet He has given us everything! Like Naaman, there will be times when life deals us a devastating blow and we will be faced with a choice. Do we lay down our pride and ask for help, taking a risk to follow God’s instructions, which may seem foolish? Or, do we remain stuck in our pride, acting as our own god?

2) Was Elisha afraid to see or touch Naaman before he was cured? If not, why did he send a messenger instead of going himself? (verse 10)
The everyday application answer to this question depends on which person you identify with most in this story. Are you “Naaman”, in need of help and healing or “Elisha”, a man or woman of God, trying their best to live a life for God, or are you simply the “messenger” tasked with delivering instruction. I want to start with those of us who might identify most with Elisha. We are women trying our best to follow God and live our lives in a way that points to Him. We must not be afraid to help those who come to us for help. While we may not fear physically touching another person, we may fear getting involved, or not having the right answers, or not being smart enough, strong enough, whatever enough. We cannot let fear stop us from doing what God directs! The reality is, our world and community are full of “Naamans” trying to get up enough courage to ask for help. We must be ready when they come. To my “Naaman” friends, please come and ask an “Elisha” for help. Believers are ready and willing to take you to our Savior who is more than enough for whatever you bring. Lastly, to those of us who may feel like we are simply “messengers” in a story, don’t undersell your worth or your role. Just like the story in 2 Kings, there would be no healing without the message of instruction being delivered. So, go ahead and deliver the message, follow the Lord’s leading through His Spirit, trust your relationship with Him, and point the way to someone who can help. Who knows, it might be as simple as introducing someone new to this website or inviting them to church. You may very well be the messenger who brings someone to the feet of Jesus!

3) Was Naaman surprised that washing in the Jordan River actually worked?
Sometimes we ignore or rush past simple solutions because, like Naaman, we are looking for the “great God story” to share with our friends and family. What we truly need is to have the childlike faith Jesus speaks of in Matthew 18:3. ““Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.””
We need to look past what we want or expect, and simply do what God is asking. Let me take you back to the story I shared about my husband’s job. Five year later, we are still surviving on less income than we ever thought imaginable. God continues to provide for every single one of our needs and we continue to pray and wait on His timing and His restoration. So, yes, I can honestly say from very personal experience I am surprised how God really works in the ways He does.

4) In verse 18 it appears Naaman is asking for forgiveness in advance to the sin of bowing to another god. What does Elisha’s response “go in peace” mean?
Let’s be honest here, don’t we all do this?! It’s a bit different for us today, since Jesus did come and die to pay for our sins. But the truth is, we are no better when we make the choice to knowingly sin, because we know we are already forgiven. Some of you may be thinking, “Ok, but I’m not bowing down to another god, so is it really that bad?” Yes!  All sin is equally sinful to God as it goes against His holiness. I would contend that we all bow down to “other gods” more often than we’d like to admit. The gods we bow down today may look different, the god of money, sports, success, appearance, etc., but they are gods nonetheless. Just as in Naaman’s case, the conviction that comes from the Lord is the first step towards real and lasting change. Every single one of us is on a journey. God will lead us and convict us in different ways and different times. We may even ask a fellow believer if they think it’s ok, or if we will be forgiven. When it comes down to it, no one but God can convict or forgive. I’m not saying we shouldn’t ask our brothers and sisters for help or guidance. They can be a huge help by praying for us, and with us, leading us to God, the only One who can truly forgive our sins. Our responsibility is to trust and follow as God leads, stepping out in faith and obedience.

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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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Ten Day 11 The Deceit Of Not Enough

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 6:25-34
Psalm 27:1-5
1 Peter 5:5-7
Genesis 3:1-6
Exodus 20:15

Ten, Day 11

“What’s in your hand?”, my mom asked as we walked out of the convenience store. I slowly unwrapped my seven-year-old fingers from the small pack of Now and Later candy I had stolen. The pit in my stomach told me I was in trouble and it was only going to get worse.

“You have to take it back and apologize.” My mom held my hand and led me back into the store. We walked up to the counter and I stared at the pickled pig’s feet in the jar on the counter.

“My daughter has something she would like to tell you,” Mom explained to the clerk. I stretched my hand out and dropped the candy on the counter.

“I’m sorry I took these without paying for them.”
I couldn’t make eye contact, I was so embarrassed. Immediately, I headed for the door.

Once we left, my mom explained I had broken one of the Ten Commandments. Stealing was on the same list as murder. I learned a valuable lesson and cemented an aversion both to pickled pig’s feet and stealing that has stuck with me to this day.

I have since realized my desire to take what isn’t mine goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. When the serpent convinced Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were stealing from God.

One of Satan’s most deceptive strategies involves providing a short-term solution giving us something we want or need, but ultimately keeping us from God’s best. 

Though Eve lacked for nothing, Satan enticed her with the forbidden fruit. Just like Adam and Eve, we can be easily convinced God is holding out and we need to meet our own wants or needs.

For many people, our choice to cut corners and take what isn’t ours comes from
a fear God won’t give us what we want,
a sense of entitlement (we deserve what we are taking),
or just plain impatience.

Each of these motivations are based on pride.

Pride means elevating our needs and desires over God and other people.

When we act out of fear, we are choosing to listen to pride’s whispered lie we know more than God and can do a better job providing than He can.

A sense of entitlement elevates our needs and desires over the owner’s rights. Pride tells us our desires are THE MOST important. As Proverbs 16:19 reminds us, “Better to be of lowly spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud.”

Impatience is often rooted in pride and fear, as well. Our pride falsely elevates our ability to know the future, and imposes a man-made deadline on the Creator of the Universe’s capacity to meet our needs. Rather than focusing on God’s unlimited resources and ability, we become focused on our scarce resources and opportunities.

Fear is a weapon Satan often uses to lead us away from God’s best. The best way to fight back is by studying and memorizing Bible verses. God’s Word is a double-edged sword we can use to defeat Satan’s attacks. Dwelling on Scripture builds our faith; faith provides a shield against the fiery arrows Satan uses against us.

At an early age, my mom helped me learn to use this verse to combat fear.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
(2 Timothy 1:7)

This promise breaks through the fear of unmet needs.

“And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

When the future looms ahead, murky in uncertainty, let’s remember:

“Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

“The Lord is my light and my salvation
whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?” (Psalm 27:1)

When pride begins to puff our chests and cloud our vision,
let’s pursue humility with His Word:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

“When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)

Whether we’re tempted to pocket a stolen piece of candy, or steal our future from the hands of our loving Father, we’ve seen how God’s command to refrain from stealing addresses the true condition of our hearts.

And when we struggle with fear of scarcity, impatience, or pride, we can counteract Satan’s assaults with Scripture. When fear strikes, we can ask God to lead us to His truth from Scripture to counteract the lies. Let’s turn our focus to our Heavenly Father as we trust in His deep love, His unbounded resources, and His faithful provision.

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