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Another Day 14 Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle: Digging Deeper

March 23, 2023 by Natalie Smith Leave a Comment

Another Day 14 Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle: Digging Deeper

Natalie Smith

March 23, 2023

Adoring,Affectionate,Beloved,Comfort,Know,Life,Love

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

This DD Connects With "Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 139:1-7

1 LORD, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD.
5 You have encircled me;
you have placed your hand on me.
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty;
I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why is it important to recognize the depths of God’s knowledge of me? (verses 1-4)

These verses were written by King David of the Old Testament. There is a deep relational tone in its lines like an intimate You-and-me connection between God and David. From the human perspective, there is such a great emphasis on being deeply known it takes the old phrase, “you know me better than I know myself” to a whole new level of literality.

God, literally, is aware of our thoughts before we have processed them ourselves. He not only knows what they will be, but he “understands” them (verse 2) and “knows all about it” (verse 4). He sees our heart attitudes and complex emotions before we have formulated or even recognized them ourselves.

To be known and understood to this depth can be beautiful, healing, and comforting or quite the contrast. Do we know the ONE who knows us so well? The answer to this ties closely with either the beauty or terror that may arise in our hearts.

Secondly, but actually more importantly, is the YOU emphasis of these verses which shifts the focus on WHOM King and psalmist David is speaking about. David points the eyes of hearts unmistakably upon the LORD, Creator of all things. (Genesis 1-2)

Theologians use the big words of omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnipresent (present in all places) to describe the LORD who is utterly outside our understanding. In my mind, these words help me focus on God’s rule, reign, and personhood as high and above all other authorities as the king He is.

These truths are meant to radically shape our perspective on God, but we must not forget Scripture also teaches this same LORD is intimate, close, and personal. He is intentional in His relationship with each of us as evidenced by His active searching of our inmost being. (verse 1) The LORD God keeps watch over all we do because He cares intimately, with perfect love, for His creation. (Matthew 6:33)

The Everyday Application

1) Why is it important to recognize the depths of God’s knowledge of me? (verses 1-4)

The Enduring Word Commentary notes that having an All-Powerful Being know your deepest thoughts and every move would either be fearfully uncomfortable or wondrously comforting. If you learn someone unknown seems to know everything about you, it would leave us feeling unsettled and fearful. Who is this person? What is their intent?

Conversely, consider a child in the presence of their parent; she roams free, safe, and happily within their given boundaries as their needs are anticipated and satisfied by their parent. If a parent disappears, a young child will desperately search for their parent as the source of their stability and sustenance.

Perhaps you’ve experienced the rest and refreshment found in the presence of a friend with whom we share everything freely because we know our worst selves are safe in their love. This type of close relationship often stirs up gratitude, security, and great joy.

It was this beauty David wrote in Psalm 139 as he reflected on the Lord who had remained steadfast and faithful all the days of his life. From his youth, David learned to trust the Lord as he fought off lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-37) and was stirred to worship the One who knew him best and loved him most. (Psalm 84:10-12)

May we grow in deeply knowing the One who knows us so well! For the Lord is near to those who draw close to Him through repentance of our sins. (James 4:8-10) What intimacy awaits those who feel lonely, fearful, and depressed when they come to the Lord to confess their sin and enjoy the pleasure of relationship with Him because of His forgiveness and mercy! What sweet connection awaits if only we would pour ourselves over His Scripture and meditate on His character day and night that we might deeply know Him! (Joshua 1:8)

The Original Intent

2) What does it mean for the Lord to have encircled someone? (verse 5)

As the original Hebrew phrasing is not a clear, direct translation to English, different translators have used differing English phrases for the Hebrew term translated “encircling me” in the CSB (Christian Standard Bible).

The ESV (English Standard Version) translates the Hebrew as “hem me in, behind and before” and New King James uses “hedged me in.” Studying different translations can provide us with a wider understanding as we study God’s Word.

According to Bibleref.com, David is using words to paint a picture of God setting up a boundary of protection around what is precious to Him. While God created all people with intentionality (verse 6), Scripture provides several examples of God securing the righteous, meaning those who trustingly look to Him with the steps of their daily lives. (Psalm 7:9-11)

When reading the book of Job, we find great sadness brought upon him by Satan, but it was never beyond God’s orders of allowance. Through every suffering, not even Satan could move beyond the boundaries of protection placed on Job by the Lord God. (Job 1:12)

The Everyday Application

2) What does it mean for the Lord to have encircled someone? (verse 5)

I sat mulling over a friend’s child who is having unusual health symptoms. Google searches can quickly pull up anything from mild to life-threatening causes. When some of these mild causes are ruled out, it’s easy to let panic of the scary causes arise in the heart. Every night my daughter fears a “bad guy” breaking into our house.

Though I encourage her that the Lord guards us and we can take our fears to Him, the questions linger. What if this sweet child is really sick? What if someone breaks into our house? What if our fears become real? How do I trust the Lord if it seems this “encirclement” of protection has been penetrated?

I cannot say I know how to live faithfully in these situations, but I can know the Sovereign God has proven Himself loving without fail. When I remember that Scripture teaches the hard reality that the wages of my sin equates to death (Romans 6:23), my perspective is re-oriented.

I rightly earn death and destruction because of my choice to sin. Every day, every relationship, every gift evidences a good, kind, merciful God bestowing gifts I don’t deserve! (James 1:17) The greatest evidence of His vast love is His offer of complete forgiveness for every sin, because He paid the price of death in full for us with His own life. (Romans 3:23-24)

Repentance from sin and trust in His mercy provides access to this fullness, even in the face of suffering. God does allow suffering, but nothing passes through His hedge of encirclement without Him using it “to bring good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) May our hearts be tethered close to the Lord that when suffering comes, we are anchored to the One who rules over the storm. (John 16:33)

The Original Intent

3) How does the Lord’s omniscience and omnipresence help me to love others? (verses 6-7)

Only a God who is, “too wondrous” and higher than we can understand is truly worth our time, energy, and worship. Too often we look to limited power – ourselves or other people – to fix our problems.

David’s life is full of situations bigger than him, both figuratively and quite literally (i.e. Goliath versus teenage boy with a slingshot). Still, David found rest repeatedly in knowing a God who is all powerful and yet always intimately near. (Psalm 62) Even as David is being chased by King Saul, he does not draw his sword against the Lord’s anointed, but rests in God’s all-knowing purposes. (1 Samuel 24:5-7)

David reminds himself in the depths of fear and struggle that nothing escapes the Lord’s eye, even that of “Sheol” or the grave. (verse 8) He had no need to take matters into his own hand, or bring about his own sense of justice because he trusted the God who held him steady and safe; David had chosen to deeply know the Lord God. He was free to act in accordance with God’s commands and rest in the Lord’s hands.

Consider the Lord’s words to the one who trusts Him, “Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.” (Psalm 91:14-15)

The Everyday Application

3) How does the Lord’s omniscience and omnipresence help me to love others? (verses 6-7)

Confidence is, “the state of feeling certain of something.” Having confidence in our abilities is a good thing. It’s important to develop skills and know our limits. Yet, who provided our bodies, minds, and abilities? Who can handle that which we know is too great or heavy for us? Even in my strong points, things go wrong and I slip; who will catch me then? Scripture reminds us the Lord upholds us all our striving. (Isaiah 41:10)

David, author of many psalms and shepherd boy, knew this well. He took great concern for the people of Israel as they cowered before the threats of giant Goliath. Though he was concerned for his people, he was further concerned that enemies would defy the Lord in threatening the Lord’s people. (1 Samuel 17:26)

When we read David’s brave testimonies, it may initially sound as though he is confident in himself, “Whenever a lion or a bear came…I went after it, struck it down…” But in the end, David clarifies, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

David practiced trusting the Lord as he fought off wild animals, shepherded sheep, and composed songs. The more he trusted, the braver he became in the strength and surety of the Lord. When he stood against Goliath, His confidence was in the Lord’s omniscience and holy purposes because he had practiced trusting His ways.

Only in this resting place of confidence in the Lord was David able to fight for others and treat those against him with patience and grace. Like David, I need to trade my fears and desire to control for the steadfast faithfulness of having full confidence in the Lord.

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forgiven,free,known,loved,Safe,secure,Welcomed
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We cannot authentically love what we do not deeply know.

I was enamored with my husband from Day 1. But it wasn’t until over two decades had passed and we walked dark pathways that I had an inkling of what love meant.

I was head over heels in love with my firstborn the moment I saw those 2 pink lines on the pregnancy test. But my love for her multiplied with every day I spent with her, knowing her, arguing with her, and learning from her.

Love grew strong, fierce, and authentic in the days, years, and decades of learning to know.

Intimate familiarity changes everything. Misconceptions flee, doubts dissolve, and the brilliance of authentic love shoots through like daybreak when we commit to deeply know another.
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Posted in: Adoring, Affectionate, Beloved, Comfort, Know, Life, Love Tagged: forgiven, free, known, loved, Safe, secure, Welcomed

Another Day 13 Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle

March 22, 2023 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

Another Day 13 Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle

Rebecca Adams

March 22, 2023

gentle,Grace,Humility,Love,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Isaiah 46:1-5
Psalm 139:1-7
Revelation 3:19-21
Matthew 11:25-30

We cannot authentically love what we do not deeply know.

I was enamored with my husband from Day 1.
But it wasn’t until over two decades had passed and we walked dark pathways that I had an inkling of what love meant.

I was head over heels in love with my firstborn the moment I saw those 2 pink lines on the pregnancy test.
But my love for her multiplied with every day I spent with her, knowing her, arguing with her, and learning from her.

Love grew strong, fierce, and authentic in the days, years, and decades of learning to know.

Intimate familiarity changes everything.
Misconceptions flee, doubts dissolve, and the brilliance of authentic love shoots through like daybreak when we commit to deeply know another.

Who is this God who has called us to live together in the humble fabric of gentle love, seeking the other’s good, and partnering with them for peace and unity? (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28)

He is precisely who He has called us to be as we love One Another as brothers and sisters in the family He calls His Bride, the Church.

He is constantly humble toward us. (Philippians 2:7)
Perpetually extending us peace. (Colossians 3:15)
Continuously
seeing the unseen. (Matthew 9:36)
Ceaselessly
helping the helpless. (Psalm 116:6)
Patiently
hemming us within His love on all sides. (Psalm 139:5)
Modeling
submission to the law of Love. (John 13:34)
Steadfastly
convicting us with kindness. (Romans 2:4)
Endlessly lowering Himself to bear our burdens.
(Psalm 68:19)

He desires us.
He wants us.
Not just to be “His”, another “child” in His family to do His purpose,
but to both know Him and be lovingly known.

Is there anything as precious as being deeply known and authentically loved?

When the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of His own heart posture toward us,
He chose the words “gentle” and “lowly”.

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30, ESV)

He spoke these words while describing what it means to know the Almighty God,
whom Christ perfectly represented.
To know Christ, is to know God Himself.
(Hebrews 1:3)

Hundreds of years before Jesus spoke these words, King David penned his understanding of the great I AM as the God who “day after day… bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19)

Daily.
Bears.
OUR.
Burdens.

Can we just say that again?

On the DAILY, sisters.
Love Himself,
who reigns in the heavenlies,
holds all power,
possesses all wisdom,
and is present in all places
stoops low to DAILY lift our burdens.

Forever the gentle and lowly of heart lowers Himself to shoulder-level with us only to rise and carry the weight upon Himself.

The weight of our hard things, our broken things, our wounded things, and infinitely greater, this is the God who stooped to the cross, naked and shamed, to bear the weight of the sin of the world. (1 John 2:2)

Do you see those precious words that next cross Jesus’ lips following His nondescript characterization of His heart?
“My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Not only does He carry our burden for us, and our sin for eternity if we will entrust our wretchedness to Him, but He gives life in return! In His humility, He teaches us to shoulder up next to Him, the wholly divine God, that we might learn His easy rhythms of life.

As several of our authors have noted in this Journey theme, it’s impossible for us to live out these One Another commands if we have not first submitted to the Spirit of God living inside of us. This is holy work; it’s His work, and we cannot muster or manufacture it ourselves.
But neither…
Can we live out these richly beautiful, life-giving commands if we do not intimately know the heart of the God in whom they perfectly abide.

We cannot authentically love what we do not deeply know.

Consider the Lord’s own words through His prophet Isaiah to His beloved people.
Come, know Him!

“Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. (false gods)
[…] The images [they] carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
The gods cower; they crouch together;
they (false gods) are not able to rescue the burden,[…] “Listen to Me (true God),
[…You] who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
I will be the same until your old age,
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and rescue you.”
(Isaiah 46:1-4)

If you do not know the Lord as a gentle and lowly, burden-bearing God, then come on into His heart. Feast with Him, see His smile, hear His laughter, and confidently grow in authentically loving this God for being precisely who He claims to be in the pages of His Word.

To know Him, is to love Him!
And the proof of our love is made manifest when we stoop low with humble gentleness to lovingly carry another’s burdens just as Christ has done, and is doing right now, for us!

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May we grow in deeply knowing the One who knows us so well! For the Lord is near to those who draw close to Him through repentance of our sins. (James 4:8-10)

What intimacy awaits those who feel lonely, fearful, and depressed when they come to the Lord to confess their sin and enjoy the pleasure of relationship with Him because of His forgiveness and mercy!

What sweet connection awaits if only we would pour ourselves over His Scripture and meditate on His character day and night that we might deeply know Him! (Joshua 1:8)
Dig Deeper!

Can We Pray With You?

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

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March 6 - March 24, 2023 - Journey Theme #115

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Posted in: gentle, Grace, Humility, Love, Relationship Tagged: burden, church, family, humble, kind, service, tender

Another Day 9 Wrapped Up In Love: Digging Deeper

March 16, 2023 by Dr. Leslie Umstattd Leave a Comment

Another Day 9 Wrapped Up In Love: Digging Deeper

Dr. Leslie Umstattd

March 16, 2023

Affectionate,Christ,church,Clothed,Lord,Love

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

This DD Connects With "Wrapped Up In Love"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back.

31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Who is the speaker and the listener in this passage? (verse 27)

Throughout this passage we see the pronoun “he”, which signals the necessity of going back earlier in the chapter to find the initial reference to “he” and properly identify him.

We need to search backwards to Luke 6:9 where Jesus’ name is used. Luke, as the writer of this book, is providing a written record of Jesus’ teaching. The audience’s identity can be found a few verses later in Luke 6:17, where Luke records, “After coming down with them, He (Jesus) stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great number of people from all of Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.” (emphasis mine)

The crowds traveled the countryside from city and farmland and all walks of life to hear Jesus teach, see His miracles, and be healed by Him. (Luke 6:18-19) 

The Everyday Application

1) Who is the speaker and the listener in this passage? (verse 27)

Luke records for us this interaction between Jesus and a large group of followers that included His disciples. This group had gathered specifically to hear Jesus’ teaching but also to receive healing. Luke 6:19 tells us “power was coming out from Him and healing them all.”

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, which is recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament, Jesus leads, teaches, loves, heals, disciples, and rebukes. People flocked to hear Him because His message of love and freedom was radically different from the self-righteous burden the Pharisees placed on them. (Matthew 23:1-5)

Over two thousand years later, people still flock to know the identity of this Jesus. Why are you drawn to Him? Are you seeking something from Him like many in the crowd, or are you seeking Him?  

The Original Intent

2) What six commands are given by Jesus in this passage? (verses 27-29)

The first two commands are given by Jesus in verse 27, “love your enemies” and “do what is good to those who hate you”. Jesus continues teaching with two more commands in verse 28, “bless those who curse you” and “pray for those who mistreat you”. The last two commands come in verse 29, “if anyone hits you, offer the other cheek” and “if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt.”

In these particular teachings, Jesus focuses on what it looks like in real life for His followers to show true love to the people who are hard to love. Jesus pointedly calls out the ones in our lives who are ungrateful, the easily offended, those who have taken advantage of offered kindness, and even more blunt, those who hate us and could be categorized as enemies.

Jesus’ command to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves has no fine print exclusions (Matthew 22:37-39), rather He provides clarity on how to obey such a command.

The Everyday Application

2) What six commands are given by Jesus in this passage? (verses 27-29)
On a deeper level, Jesus commands those listening to go beyond just doing the checklist of right and wrong. He pushes His hearers deeper, further into self-evaluation of not simply the action but the heart behind the action.

It’s one thing to be kind to a stranger, but an entire heart shift and empowerment by the Holy Spirit within you is required to love your enemy and do kind acts to those who hate you.

In Matthew 5:43-45, we see a similar teaching moment by Jesus where He instructs His audience to go beyond loving their neighbor to loving their enemy. He calls His followers to take radical action by praying for those who harm and persecute them. Jesus desires us as His children to follow in His footsteps and extend love and prayer to those who are different from us and walk a different life path.

The Original Intent

3) Why does Jesus use the comparative analogy phrase, “even sinners do that” three times in this passage? (verses 32-34)

In this context Jesus’ teaching moves beyond the simple outward appearance of righteousness, cutting to the heart of our motives and laying all “pseudo love” appearances out in the open. 

The religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, had taken the Law of God and added many man-made laws for the people to follow. They taught that following their law was the only way to God. Following the law as a checklist of do’s and don’ts, simply the doing of right and wrong, became their center of worship rather than adoring the one true God with hearts and lives of true worship. (Matthew 23)

Jesus wants His listeners to realize that following God is an issue of the heart as much as it is the actions flowing from a heart of love. Actions can give the appearance of righteousness, but when there is no heart transformation by the Holy Spirit, these actions are empty, and the person is missing the mark and far from God. (Matthew 15:8-20) Jesus wants His listeners to understand that following Him requires going beyond just loving the loveable; following Him means loving the unlovable, giving without desire for return, and doing good even to those who are not necessarily good. 

The Everyday Application

3) Why does Jesus use the comparative analogy phrase, “even sinners do that” three times in this passage? (verses 32-34)

Being a good person who does good things does not mean you have a relationship with Jesus. There are a lot of people who give to charity, provide resources to help others, and will even loan out money without interest, but they do not know Jesus. Actions can give an appearance of a heart transformation, but Jesus is asking for more.

He calls us to live as those under the law of freedom and show mercy because mercy was shown to you. (James 2:8-12) We have freedom in Christ to love well and He has equipped us to be able to love well by placing the Holy Spirit inside of all persons who choose to trust Christ as their Savior and repent of their sins.

Although our old sin-nature may desire to only love those who are loveable, Christ transforms us into a new people who bear the fruit of His Spirit through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to all of God’s creation. (Galatians 5:22-26)

The Original Intent

4) What model does Jesus give us to follow and what is its reward? (verses 35-36)

The model Jesus provided His audience was evidenced in His own presence as God incarnate. The holy, righteous God came to earth and humbly put on flesh in order to show us what kind of God He is. In this, He demonstrated lavish mercy and graciousness, even to those who are ungrateful and spiteful in return.

In the same way, Christ calls us to follow His example by being gracious and merciful in the midst of the ungrateful and evil persons in our lives. In verse 35, Jesus says to love and do good without expecting anything in return. In verse 36, Jesus tells His listeners to be merciful just as your Father is merciful.

The reward is being children of the Most High and honoring God with everything you do. We confidently know we belong to Him as His daughters when we regularly love others genuinely and authentically through the power of His Spirit working inside of us. There is no greater reward than being called His own!

The Everyday Application

4) What model does Jesus give us to follow and what is its reward? (verses 35-36)

Jesus is our model of how to love those who are hard to love, even those who hate us, and as His followers, we are to be imitators of Him in everything we do. (Philippians 2:5-11) Jesus gives us very specific examples throughout His ministry of how we should love.

In Mark 2:13-17, He called a tax collector to follow Him and then He ate at his house with other tax collectors and sinners. (Mark 2:15) This doesn’t seem odd for us, but in Jesus’ day tax collectors were hated by the Jewish people because they worked for Rome and charged more than required in order to pad their own pockets. Jesus, being a Jewish man, culturally speaking should have hated tax collectors, yet He shared a meal and fellowshipped with not just one tax collector but a host of tax collectors and other “sinners”. The Pharisees of the day thought themselves too religious and questioned Jesus’ and His actions. (Mark 2:16) Why would Jesus do this? Jesus answered the Pharisees in verse 17, “I didn’t come to call the righteous but the sinner.”

Have dinner with your atheist neighbor. Invite your friend to coffee who has been vocal on Facebook about her political beliefs that are different from yours. Have a conversation with that family member who is hard to love. Pray diligently for that one who frustrates or hurts you. Our model was Christ laying down His life for all people, and our reward when following Him is the power to love as He loved, and an eternity spent with Him. (John 3:14-20)

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Another Day 8
Journey Study

We must not underestimate the importance of this love in our testimony of faith. Jesus said, “By this [love] everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Love distinguishes us from others. Love marks us as Jesus’ followers. Love is our uniform and Christ-followers.

Just like the church in Corinth in the first century, we struggle to love one another the way Jesus commanded and modeled, because let’s be honest, some people are difficult to love. (Not you, of course.) And, often our culture (and even our churches) seem to value being right above being loving.
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Posted in: Affectionate, Christ, church, Clothed, Lord, Love Tagged: action, choose, love, real life

Another Day 8 Wrapped Up In Love

March 15, 2023 by Christine Wood 1 Comment

Another Day 8 Wrapped Up In Love

Christine Wood

March 15, 2023

Called,Captivating,church,Love

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 13
John 15:12–17
Luke 6:27–36
Deuteronomy 6:4–19

“Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”

Jesus was being challenged by an expert in the Law, a Pharisee. This religious leader had devoted his life to learning, following, and teaching the Law God gave to Moses; the Law was a set of instructions enabling sinful people to live in relationship with a Holy God.

Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22:35–40)

Jesus summed up the entirety of the Law and the Prophets with one simple word: love.
Love God and love one another. 
That’s it. 
Everything else falls under the umbrella of love. 

“[F]or the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)

This isn’t the first or the last time Jesus taught on the importance of loving one another. At the last supper, after Jesus had finished washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus provided important final instructions.

“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” (John 13:34)

Jesus doesn’t describe how to love one another. He doesn’t give us a list of things to do and say. He simply tells us to follow His example: as I have loved you.

Approximately 20 years later, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth. It seems they were having difficulty putting Jesus’ command to love into practice. Paul described what it meant to be a part of the body of Christ, how to use our spiritual gifts to help one another, and what loving one another looks like in everyday life.

Paul detailed specifically how to love one another. While 1 Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings and used to depict the love between a husband and wife, the chapter is actually written about the church and describes how we, as Christian brothers and sisters, should act towards one another.

Paul tells us what love is (patient, kind, rejoices in truth, always believes, hopes and endures) and what love isn’t (envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, self-seeking, angry, keeping a record of wrongs). (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) It is a detailed and challenging explanation of what it means for us to love one another.

We must not underestimate the importance of this love in our testimony of faith. Jesus said, “By this [love] everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
Love distinguishes us from others.
Love marks us as Jesus’ followers.
Love is our uniform and Christ-followers.

Just like the church in Corinth in the first century, we struggle to love one another the way Jesus commanded and modeled, because let’s be honest, some people are difficult to love. (Not you, of course.) And, often our culture (and even our churches) seem to value being right above being loving.

I don’t know whether it is because of the prevalence of social media, the 24-hour news cycle, or the challenging global circumstances, but it feels like every little issue the world faces has become a wall to divide us or a soapbox to stand on. We feel obligated to ‘cancel’ anyone we disagree with. We stand on moral high ground and either passionately protest or quietly withdraw to protect ourselves from all the evil people on the other side of the dividing line. We are at war, and the weapon of choice is hate.

Jesus teaches us to “Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27–28)

Pause and read that verse again.

The command to love one another is not reserved for people who are easy to love, such as those who share our worldview and belief system.
It’s not just for people like us.

Jesus didn’t put any qualifiers on who can be saved when they put their trust in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. Everyone qualifies for repentance and forgiveness, even the thief on the cross. Jesus loves all. Jesus died for all. And we are commanded to love all.

One of my favorite prayers is the one Paul prayed for the church in 1 Thessalonians 3:12.

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone[.]”

The only way we can come close to following Jesus’ command to love one another is by prayerfully asking God to increase our love until it overflows. 

May Christ’s love run through us into our family dinners, workstations, and hair salons. 

May His love overflow into the school pick-up line, the grocery check-out, and after-church conversations. 

May His love be abundant in our Facebook shares, our email replies, and our Instagram comments. 

May the world see Christ’s love in us as we engage those of different faiths, different political views, different backgrounds and opinions.

May Jesus’ love overflow to our enemies through us.
May we put on His love like a uniform distinguishing us as disciples of Jesus.

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Have dinner with your neighbor who is an atheist. Invite your friend to coffee who has been vocal on Facebook about her political beliefs that are different from yours. Have a conversation with that family member who is hard to love. Our model was Christ laying down His life for all people, and our reward when following Him is power to love as he loved and an eternity spent with him. (John 3:14-20)
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Posted in: Called, Captivating, church, Love Tagged: family, love, real life, serve

Another Day 3 Willing Responsibility

March 8, 2023 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Another Day 3 Willing Responsibility

Merry Ohler

March 8, 2023

Deep,Family,Genuine,Humility,Love

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:12-17
Ephesians 2:14-22
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 133

When two horses are harnessed together, they share the load. They “bear with” each other. If one stops or pulls away, they won’t get far. Rather than using their time, energy, and force to move the load forward, they’ll exhaust themselves pulling in opposition. This image may help us understand Gospel preacher Paul’s letter to the house churches in Colossae: 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
(Colossians 3:12-14, emphasis mine)

The believers at Colossae were not so different from your local church body or mine. They believed in Jesus Christ, had turned from their sin, and were doing their best to follow Him.

The Colossians were imperfect humans, just like us. They had emotions, feelings, and thoughts. The believers at Colossae had histories, both shared and unique. They had distinct cultural and family customs. They likely had specific ideas about politics, medicine, family culture, and hundreds of other minutiae. 

All those differences would have created a wide margin for disunity, wouldn’t they? 

Add a heaping dose of false teaching to the mix, and it’s easy to imagine a firestorm of discord smoldering within a fellowship. Circumstances were ripe for believers straining against one another, each pulling away from the brothers and sisters with whom she disagrees.

In my experience, it’s far easier to walk in Christ’s grace toward unbelievers, but to believers? Woo. That’s a whole different matter. 

But, Lord, they know better! They know You, so why should I have to put up with this? 
Would a little smiting be too much to ask? 
Okay, so I’m exaggerating, but I bet you know just what I mean.

The temptation to be self-righteous is strong and sneakily subtle, isn’t it? Every believer’s background and personal perspective may differ, but we all need to be reminded of Christ’s Gospel: we were all unbelievers once, marked for death by our sins. We are saved only by God’s mercy and grace. 

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy – through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
(Titus 3:3-5)

This life in Christ is not for the faint of heart. 

Just as Paul exhorted the Colossians, we are also called to “put on” our life in Christ as we “bear with one another”. We are called to walk as Christ’s ambassadors to unbelievers, yes, but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20, Galatians 6:10) Clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace and thankfulness, we are called into deep, family-like community with other believers. 

We are utterly incapable of fulfilling this call in our own strength,
but we are now in Christ if we have repented of our sins and accepted His gift of salvation and forgiveness!
Thank God! (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Through Him, we are able to respond in obedience. 

While Paul exhorted the Colossians to live in peace, he didn’t advocate an absence of God-honoring challenge in believing relationships. In fact, he discipled the Colossians on how to sharpen and teach one another.

Paul directed every believer to “let the word of Christ dwell richly among you[.]” (Colossians 3:16) Paul called them up and out, directing them to choose to live soaked in the teachings of Christ. Paul explained only by living with an emphasis on Christ’s word would they be able to follow His instruction: to admonish, or teach and rebuke, one another in all wisdom.

Paul instructed the Colossians to allow the word of Christ to transform their lives. 

To be a willing participant in the fellowship of believers. 
To choose to live a life of willing responsibility and accountability. 

Paul called the Colossian church, and us, to choose community life, to hold ourselves accountable to Christ’s word by leaning into wise vulnerability, and to lovingly point one another to the authority of His word.

There’s a subtle nuance here we must grasp. 
It is transformational. 

Jesus doesn’t force us to open our lives and hearts to others within the body. In the same way He will never force any person to put their faith and trust in Him, He will never force anyone into a life of mutual submission to other believers. 

When we try to hold accountable, correct, or rebuke others without being teachable or honest about our own struggles, our relationships are imbalanced. This quickly leads to self-righteous hypocrisy while wounding other believers. We disobey Christ’s command to love one another; instead of sowing love, we are actively sowing seeds of discord and dissension.

Conversely, if we vulnerably allow other trusted believers to see, know, and disciple us to Christ’s way, but we are unwilling to invest in them in return, we still miss the mark. Instead of a holy, mutual willing responsibility to bear one another’s burdens, we instead become constant, self-centered receivers in relationships.

Neither picture lines up with God’s design.
Both indicate a required adjustment in our hearts and minds.

Christ will never force us to live in this kind of radically vulnerable, give-and-receive relationship within His body, but He does invite, enable, and empower us, if we’re willing! He will make His word dwell in us richly and transform us to live in willing responsibility to Him and one another by the power of His Holy Spirit!

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burdens,family,humble,load,shared
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There is no shortage of issues believers disagree over; from denomination to denomination, yes, but also from one believer to the next. It’s easy to talk about essential beliefs, but many times we are quick to distance ourselves from believers whose nonessential beliefs do not match our own.

Paul’s words in Colossians are for us today, too. We are called to “put on” the clothing of life in Christ.
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Posted in: Deep, Family, Genuine, Humility, Love Tagged: burdens, family, humble, load, shared

Pause VI Day 5 Family Life

January 6, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 5 Family Life

Melodye Reeves

January 6, 2023

Comfort,Family,Joy,Love

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 2:1-4

1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

Read More Of His Words

In addition to walking through suffering with a joyful, hopeful attitude, the Philippians needed to walk as a family in unity and steadfastness.

Have you heard someone say, “If you care about me at all, then …”? This way of requesting something assumes there is already affection in place. What we are really saying is “since you care about me, you’ll at least do this.”
Paul presumed the Philippians had a desire to care well for each other. Based on his belief about them, he introduces four aspects of family life to motivate their affection toward one another.

“If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy…” (Philippians 2:1)

Since these are facets of salvation, it is through valuing them in our everyday lives that we will naturally be drawn to live in unity with fellow believers and love them in Christ. When we fully recognize how much Christ has done for us and understand the depth of His love, our pride and selfishness shrink away. Those who bask in the love of Christ aren’t consumed with position or recognition. We are willing to take a humble place and serve others, motivated by God’s love and grace. (1 Peter 4:8-10)

Learning to be others-focused, not self-focused, is a long, growing process as we surrender to the Spirit’s work in us as we study truth from Scripture. When we are communally intent on one purpose, we move ahead as partners and teammates toward a goal. If we’re choosing to put others first, we won’t have space to be proud or seek power. It’s hard to be self-important when we’re genuinely considering others as more important.

Do you remember the beginning of Paul’s letter?
He expressed his reason for his deep gratitude for them.

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now (…) indeed it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace (…)”    (Philippians 1:3-7)

As you read his words today, gauge your willing partnership with other believers in Christ. What is currently shaping your attitude toward them? Is there anyone specific the Lord is bringing to mind? Pray over them and that relationship! What is your general and specific posture toward those in the family of God?

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read through Philippians 2:1-4 out loud today twice. Slowly. Linger over that verse (or verses) that stick out to you, slowing and listening as God’s Spirit speaks to your heart! Choose 1 or 2 to write out on notecards and post them around your house – then post a picture of your reminder cards on Instagram or on our Facebook Community Page. Add it to your memory verses from this week.

2) We are so excited to share our Spotify playlist for Pause VI Week One! We created it as we prayed over *you*. Put this playlist on repeat this weekend and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause 6!

3) Continue to memorize Philippians 1:20-21. If you can, add your additional verse(s) from today.

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Day 4

Living as Christ meant Paul’s life was centered on Christ. Even when he recognized his own weakness and humanity, Paul turned to Christ’s perfection and salvation. (Romans 7:18-25) Even in prison, Paul drank deeply from the well of Christ’s love. He did not view his suffering as a liability, Paul realized it was a gift of grace. His suffering indicated he was becoming more and more like Christ.
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Posted in: Comfort, Family, Joy, Love Tagged: family, kindness, love, mercy

Pause VI Day 2 Fruitfulness Of Partnership

January 3, 2023 by Melodye Reeves Leave a Comment

Pause VI Day 2 Fruitfulness Of Partnership

Melodye Reeves

January 3, 2023

Heart,Joy,Love,Pause

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 1:7-11

Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Read More Of His Words

All fruit springs from some sort of seed. Without that seed, fruit would be impossible. Once planted and properly cared for, the seed matures into fruit.

“Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you …” (Philippians 1:7)

At the beginning of his letter to the believers at Philippi, Paul rehearses the evidence (fruit) he’d seen of gospel grace (seed) that had been planted in their hearts and lives. Paul’s deep affection and appreciation for them is seen by the joy he expresses that is in his heart as he thought about them. His feelings were not misplaced. They were typical feelings that anyone would have toward partners who have demonstrated such loyalty and faithfulness.

“… because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:7)

Can you sense his heart’s overflowing thankfulness? What a beautiful phrase: partners with me in grace. That’s the most wonderful kind of partnership, isn’t it? I hope you have some partners in grace that walk alongside you in the gospel. We all need those who are with us in this journey of life. Scripture has included many instructions regarding our partnership with “one another.” We are to love, serve, honor, be devoted, encourage, pray for, and live in harmony with each other.

“For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8)

The beauty of this kind of partnership is we can partner in grace even from a distance. Paul’s friends did this by living out their faith where they were. Just knowing they were in Philippi serving God and loving others encouraged and strengthened Paul from afar. He missed his friends deeply. He felt the sting and weight of the distance, but he also knew he was not alone in the shared gospel work. He had people in Philippi who were bearing fruit from the seed of the gospel that had been planted.

Paul and his partners found nourishment from the very same tree.

John 15:1-8 tells us Jesus is the source of good fruit; all who are in Jesus are partnered with Him by His grace.

Today's Pause Challenge

1)  Pull out your Bible and read the prayer in Philippians 1:9-11 fully through 3 times. 

2)  Each time, write down everything that pops out at you, noting Paul’s deepest desire, especially for those in Philippi.

3) 
Pay special attention to what is not mentioned. Consider what this may mean about what’s most important to pray for other.

4) Think about five people you care deeply about (a believer who is family or friend). Write their names in your journal. Pray these verses fervently for them.

Tags :
care,compassion,Fruitful,heart,love
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March 29, 2023
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Sanctified Saint

Do you consider yourself a saint? Some people who think they are shouldn’t be so sure, and others who think they aren’t should reconsider!
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Posted in: Heart, Joy, Love, Pause Tagged: care, compassion, Fruitful, heart, love

Sketched X Day 15 Coming Home

July 29, 2022 by Lesley Crawford 9 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 46:1-7
Genesis 46:28-47:12
Genesis 50
Romans 8:28
Revelation 21:3-4

Sketched X, Day 15

It was a day I thought I’d never see . . .

As I lay at the bottom of the well expecting to die;
as I came to grips with my new life of servitude in Egypt;
as I sat in jail, imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit;
even as I knew success as governor of Egypt:
I never thought I would see my father again.

But, to my delight, after I finally revealed my identity to my brothers, Pharaoh told me to send them to get my father and the rest of the family. He offered them the best of the land of Egypt as their home. I could hardly wait to be reunited with my father at last.

I’ll never forget the moment I saw him. It was overwhelming. Both of us wept as we embraced one another, neither of us wanting to let go. So many years had passed, but the love between us had endured. He had believed me to be dead, and I had been unsure whether he was still alive. The pain brought by the years apart was eclipsed in an instant at the joy of being together again.

My father told me how God had spoken to him on the road to Egypt:

“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.” (Genesis 46:3-4)

It reassured me that in the mess of our family’s complicated story, God was sovereign. He had gone before us, He was with us, and He had a good plan for us. We had seen God’s faithfulness.

There were many happy times together in Egypt in the years that followed. My brothers worked as shepherds, and I successfully led Egypt through the remaining years of famine. Our family grew and flourished.

It sounds like this should be the end of the story, the part where “they all lived happily ever after,” but of course real life doesn’t work out like that. My father was growing old, and all too soon, the time came for him to join his ancestors in death.

We had seventeen years together in Egypt; a blessing I never dared dream possible. My father saw his grandsons and blessed them; his final years were filled with joy and gratitude at having the whole family together once more.

Before he died, my father asked to be buried with his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. He had never forgotten God’s promise all these years, “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back.” (Genesis 46:4)

Although he had prospered during his years in Egypt, Canaan was his home, the land God had promised, and he knew God would be faithful to His word. So, after seeking permission from Pharaoh, my brothers and I set out to lay our father to rest at home.

On our return to Egypt, I was surprised to receive a message from my brothers asking my forgiveness for how they had mistreated me. Didn’t they realise I had forgiven them long ago? Although I had assured them of this even before our father came to Egypt, it seems there was some lingering doubt causing them to speculate that now our father had died, I might decide to take my revenge!

I was overcome with sorrow at how worried they were, at how they must have tormented themselves over the years. Their actions were wrong and caused me great suffering, but, looking back, I see how, even in hardship, God was working for good. He led me to Egypt and put me in a position where I could save the lives of many people.

Through all that happened, God had been with me. How could I hold a grudge? I had known God’s kindness, the kindness  intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4), and I was more than happy to offer that same kindness to my brothers.

I comforted them and promised to care for them and their children, and I think this time they saw my sincerity.

As I look back over my life, I marvel at how God has worked and I’m grateful for how He has brought my brothers and me to this place of peace and flourishing. I trust God will keep His promise to bring my family back to Canaan one day, but I also look beyond Canaan to the day I will be reunited with my father again, forever this time, when we will dwell together with God at the great heavenly homecoming, the true happy ending.

“Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

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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 X 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 X

Posted in: Blessed, Faithfulness, Family, God, Joy, Love Tagged: blessed, faith, family, God, joy, love

Sketched X Day 14 Dinner & Identity: Digging Deeper

July 28, 2022 by Lori Meeks 1 Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Dinner & Identity!

The Questions

1) Why would Jesus wash Judas’ feet even though He knew Judas would soon betray Him? Why not just send him away immediately? (verses 2-3)

2) Why was Peter hesitant to allow Jesus to wash his feet? (verses 6-9)

3) When Jesus talks about following His example, does He intend us to literally wash feet? (verses 12-17)

John 13:1-17

Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. 4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

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

8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.

Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”

10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For he knew who would betray him. This is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.

16 “Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Original Intent

1) Why would Jesus wash Judas’ feet even though He knew Judas would soon betray Him? Why not just send him away immediately? (verses 2-3)
It is impossible for man to fully understand God’s timing. While that seems like a “churchy” answer, this is simply the truth. However, we can draw some insights based on what else we know from Scripture about Jesus, this scene, and the revealed heart of God. The disciples never really understood who Jesus fully was or His plan to redeem mankind until post resurrection, which we see in part as this story unfolds. While they said they believed Jesus was the long-awaited Promised Messiah, they only knew part of the story, and their actions proved their understanding. Jesus, as God incarnate, perfectly represents God as love (1 John 4:16); there is no one God does not love, including Judas. Jesus Himself said, “I have come to serve, not be served.” (Mark 10:45) Every single word and action of Jesus carried deeper meaning and purpose than these twelve men realized. The plan written before the beginning of time needed to play out fully in order for Jesus to beat death and pay the penalty once and for all for ALL sin. Additionally, Jesus knew of Judas’ future betrayal even as He called him to be a disciple. He is God after all, which means He is all knowing. Perhaps the best explanation comes from Jesus who said, “I only do what the Father tells me”. (John 5:19) Jesus was obedient to the Father at every point, which included loving Judas.

2) Why was Peter hesitant to allow Jesus to wash his feet? (verses 6-9)
Peter didn’t understand Jesus’ often shocking actions and words. As a result, his pride often got the best of him and Peter was offended by Jesus. In this passage, Peter thought someone “lower” in rank than Jesus should be washing feet, which would have been culturally appropriate. It was the norm to have slaves do the unsightly task of foot washing, certainly not the Promised Messiah. It’s important to notice that Peter never once said, “Hey Jesus, I got this; why don’t you sit down while I wash your feet.” Peter did not yet understand true servanthood and humility. Offended, he balked at Jesus’ willingness to perform such a menial task. His limited understanding is even more evident by his next words after Jesus tries to gently lead him into understanding. Peter rashly responds, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” (verse 9) In Peter’s mind, he was raising his hand shouting, “I get it Jesus! I’m gonna’ let you wash all of me!” While Peter expressed a willingness to do whatever it took in that moment to be close to Jesus, he still didn’t fully understand what it cost to be a humble servant and do whatever God asked. This is evidenced later in Peter’s story by his anger at Jesus’ arrest and subsequent three denials. 

3) When Jesus talks about following His example, does He intend us to literally wash feet? (verses 12-17)
Yes and no. For the original audience this passage could be taken quite literally, given their culture. It was common practice for a slave to wash your feet when you came into a home, as most travel was by foot. However, there is always a deeper meaning to Jesus’ recorded words. In this scene, Jesus emphasized that His disciples have been called to a lifestyle of humble servitude to others, regardless of who the “others” or the situation. Numerous times, Jesus instructs these twelve men to follow His example in other teachings. He has invested time, energy, and countless hours training them to be His hands and feet. Now the time had come for them to “step up” and humbly serve others by getting low, just as Jesus modeled. In a way, Jesus was saying, “I don’t care how messy, how dirty, how sinful, how different people are; I’m calling you to humbly serve each and every one of them. So that you can then tell them about Me and the salvation I bring.”

Everyday Application

1) Why would Jesus wash Judas’ feet even though He knew Judas would soon betray Him? Why not just send him away immediately? (verses 2-3)
Questioning God’s plans and His timing are an age-old issue. How many of us have said, “I just don’t understand what God is doing” or “I know this is God’s plan, but why is it taking so long?” or “Why wouldn’t God intervene?”. Like the disciples, we suffer from perpetual tunnel vision. We often focus only on what is right in front of us. We miss the big picture because we stubbornly refuse to see God working in hard things. Thank God, Jesus washed Judas’ feet! Consider for a minute if He hadn’t. What would it mean for us? It would mean there would come a point where we have sinned one too many times or our sin was too big to forgive. Jesus washed the feet of a man He knew would betray Him, just like He died for you and me, all the while knowing we too would betray Him. (Romans 5:8) Yes, those are hard words to hear, but each and every time we sin, we are choosing to betray Jesus. More so, sin is sin, from a white lie to murder each sin separates us for eternity from a perfectly loving God. (Romans 3:23) BUT Jesus died for it ALL! (Romans 8:37-39) We don’t need to understand His timing or His purpose, that desire to understand comes from our worldly thinking! We only need to understand, and fully place our faith, on the truth Scripture teaches over and over, Jesus willingly came to save each and every one of us. (1 John 2:2) He chose to be obedient to the Father’s call and submit to death, so that He could pay the penalty for our sin! “See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children!” (1 John 3:1)

2) Why was Peter hesitant to allow Jesus to wash his feet? (verses 6-9)
I love Peter! I am thankful he was so dense at times! His story gives me so much hope for my wayward self! If you’ve done much reading of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) at all you know Peter had a huge pride issue. This interaction over foot washing with Jesus is one of several in which Peter, thinking he had it all figured out, put his foot in his mouth and had to be gently, and sometimes firmly, corrected by his loving Savior. How many times have we done the same thing?! For me, too many to count. We are all guilty of it and some of us (not naming names, but me, Lori!) have a huge struggle with pride. Pride is one of those things that sneaks up on me, even though I know it’s an issue and try to be aware of its luring temptation. It’s deceptive and seems to sneak in under the radar until it gets fed and continues to grow and grow, pulling me deeper into sin and farther from Jesus. Then, just like with Peter, Jesus graciously points out my sin and gently allows me to see and understand its tragic depth. It’s not so much that Peter was hesitant to let Jesus wash his feet, he was hesitant to accept Jesus’ attitude of humility and servanthood and wear it himself. Let’s be honest, it’s hard to live with the same attitude as Jesus in our broken and messed up world, especially when we allow pride to trip us up.

3) When Jesus talks about following His example, does He intend us to literally wash feet? (verses 12-17)
Today’s application hasn’t really changed. We too are called to follow the example of Jesus by being His hands and feet. Hebrews 13:1-2 tells us “Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.” The truth of the matter is people and relationships are messy and hard; being humble requires full reliance on the Spirit of God at work within us. Look at Jesus’ life on earth and how many times He showed up in messy and hard situations to love others! We need not worry about how to love like Him, because it’s not us, but Jesus working in us as long as we are surrendered to Him! Our responsibility is to be willing and obedient to go where He leads, help those He puts in front of us, and even wash the feet of our enemies. (Romans 12:20) I can’t help but think about the passage in Isaiah 6, when the prophet is confronted with God’s holiness and it absolutely wrecks him. Isaiah’s response is exactly what ours should be today as we encounter the radical holy humility of Jesus, “Here am I, send me”. Jesus wasn’t forced to die to save us, He chose to obey His Father, which meant humbling himself to the point of death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) The same is true for us, we aren’t forced to obey God’s call on our lives, but once we are truly confronted with the holiness of God and the depths of our sin, how can we not kneel and say, “Here I am, an absolute wreck, but send me, I’ll willing to go.”

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1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
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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.

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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.

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