Persevere

Shofar Day 5 Dear Believers In Smyrna

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Shofar Day 5 Dear Believers In Smyrna

Gloria Ponman

January 23, 2026

Awake,Fervent,Jesus,Justice,Lord,Persevere,Power

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 2:8–10
Isaiah 44:6-8
James 1:12-15
Matthew 10:26-31
2 Timothy 4:6-8

Self-Revelation
“Thus says the First and the Last, the One who was dead and came to life:” 
(Revelation 2:8)

What a weighty way for Jesus to introduce Himself to the church in Smyrna! He doesn’t begin with comfort or promises; He begins with identity. He is “the First and the Last”—a title belonging to God alone. (Isaiah 44:6) He reminds the Church He holds eternity in His hands. 

Then He adds, “The One who was dead and came to life.” (Revelation 2:8)

This isn’t just a statement of resurrection, it’s an anchor of hope. Jesus has passed through death itself and emerged victorious. For a church facing intense suffering, this self-revelation says, “I know. I’ve been there. Death does not win.”

As women today reading this letter, this opening reminds us: our Savior knows the weight of suffering. When we go through fire, we do not walk alone. The One who faced death—and conquered it—is walking with us. This sets the tone for everything that follows.

Stirring Us Up
“I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” (Revelation 2:9)

Jesus sees. Not just the actions, but the hidden pain, the injustice, the scarcity. He sees the tears we cry in secret, the exhaustion we mask with smiles. And He does not belittle it; He honors it. In a world measuring success by possessions and popularity, Jesus redefines riches: faithfulness, endurance, and unwavering loyalty to Him.

When I think about this, I remember my mother, a true example of faithful endurance. She went through so much in her marriage, yet she never gave up. She stayed. She raised us. She worked tirelessly to provide for us, often carrying the weight of provision alone. My father was present, but my mother bore the burden of holding the family together.

Even when things were tough, she made sure we knew God. She was the priest of our home. Her life was (and still is) one of sacrifice, prayer, and perseverance. Watching her shaped my understanding of what it means to be a woman after God’s heart. Her faithfulness stirred me up to love Jesus more deeply, to hold on when it hurts, and to keep trusting when the way is hard.

Shofar’s Call
“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

The Shofar’s call is a call to fearless faithfulness in the face of suffering. It’s not a call to comfort but to courage. It’s the rallying sound of a King preparing His people for battle, not with weapons of the world, but with unwavering devotion.

To the first hearers in Smyrna, this call would have landed with gravity. Smyrna was a hub of emperor worship. To declare Jesus as Lord was not just unpopular, it was dangerous. The Shofar’s call meant risking reputation, livelihood, even life. But the King was worth it.

This same call echoes today. Be faithful. Don’t fear what’s coming. Even when our suffering doesn’t make sense. Even when the world mocks our faith. Even when darkness seems to win.

Scripture echoes this call elsewhere:

  •     James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who endures trials because, when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
  •     Matthew 10:28 – “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
  •     2 Timothy 4:7-8 – “I have fought the good fight […] There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness[.]”

But what if we’re not strong enough? What if we don’t feel faithful? 

This is where the Gospel meets us.

We cannot heed this call on our own. Our hearts wander. Our courage fails. But Jesus did not. He was faithful to the point of death; death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-11) He rose again, and by His life, we don’t need to earn the crown; we receive it by grace.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

This is the ultimate Shofar call: repent and believe the Gospel. Surrender to the King who faced death and came to life. Let His Spirit empower us to endure, to be faithful, to love Him more than life.

Let us remember the One who sounded the Shofar.
The First and the Last.
The One who died and lives again.

He is worthy of our faithfulness. He is worthy of our suffering. He is worthy of our lives.

Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!

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follow,King,persevere,Revelation,shofar,worship
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In just a few words, the Creator, the One through whom all things were and are and will be, the First and the Last, again showed His incredible love for His people by showing them they were seen in a merciful act of true encouragement.

I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich.
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Slain Day 15 Abdiwelli Ahmed

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Slain Day 15 Abdiwelli Ahmed

Marietta Taylor

May 2, 2025

Alive,Deliver,Fervent,Follow,Hope,Peace,persecution,Persevere

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 12:10-12
Matthew 16:24-27
John 16:5-16
John 3:16-21
Psalm 49:5-9

“I love Jesus more than anything. I have suffered persecution because I believe in Him, I obey Him, and I serve Him. I will not live forever in this world and I want to leave behind a heritage for those who live after me.” (YWAM Associates)

These powerful words depict a life completely surrendered to the One who gave His life for us. Abdiwelli Ahmed spoke these words one year before he was martyred in the streets of Kenya on February 7, 2013. Based on his words, if given the chance to escape death that day, he probably wouldn’t. Why? Because Jesus was everything to him and the fruit from his death was great.

Abdiwelli Ahmed was from Somalia and raised Muslim. “He was taught that Islam was in his blood. But in 1993, while he was in college, he began to question Islam and compare the Quran with the Bible” (MissionsBox); “He found more than 500 errors and contradictions in the Quran.” (The Voice of the Martyrs) So he left college and enrolled in a Biblical university. He converted to Christianity and started to preach the Gospel. 

Abdiwelli said in an interview, “I was persecuted. I was chased away, then I was beaten up. I was chased away from home. All sorts of bad things were done to me. My whole life was in danger.” (MissionsBox) Notably, he “was the first Somalian to have openly declared his faith after conversion to Christianity” (YWAM Associates); soon after, “A crowd of 40 people came to his mother’s house to kill him.” (MissionsBox) In committing to Christ, he lost his home, his family, and any semblance of safety. But he was undeterred. 

He married Helen, herself a Christian. They lived in Nigeria for three years ministering among the Tuareg tribe. Then, his love for his people led him to settle among the Somali population in Garissa, Kenya. 

Even there, he and Helen faced danger. “The threats began again almost immediately. A group of Muslims arrived at the house of Abdiwelli and Helen with gas cans and intentions to burn her.” (MissionsBox) But Helen shared Abdiwelli’s commitment to God. “‘When we were threatened with death,’ Helen said, ‘we prayed together. That gives us peace, because God said He would be with us.’” (MissionsBox; Matthew 28:19-20)

Abdiwelli Ahmed spent twenty years preaching the gospel and sharing Jesus with others; then, his death planted a seed no murderer could keep from growing. “His story is told among Somali Christians in South Africa, certainly in northern Kenya, in East Africa, even in Minnesota here in the United States, in the Somali community there.” (Baptist Press)

Today, Helen continues the ministry. “We should never stop reaching out to the lost and dying world until Christ comes,” she said. “A friend of mine who is afraid to go to the northeast told me to be careful. I told her, ‘If I try saving my life, I will lose it.’”(The Voice of the Martyrs; Matthew 16:24-27)

Abdiwelli and Helen both realized the true meaning of John 3:16.
“For God loved the world in this way:
He gave his one and only Son, so that
everyone who believes in Him
will not perish but have eternal life.”  

With their eyes on eternity,
Abdiwelli and Helen emulated Jesus’ sacrificial love. 

Revelation 12:11 says, “They conquered [the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death.”
Both Abdiwelli and Helen embody this verse. 

We see this echoed in Christ’s own words, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

We may not be called to martyrdom, but we are called to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. For me personally, answering this call has been challenging. Choices I made as a young mom were not popular with my daughters (and sometimes other mothers), but often gave me an opportunity to speak about Jesus. I was mocked for my faith at work, but I stood strong. Eventually I had the honor of praying for several of those same mocking coworkers at their request.

Recently, I desperately wanted to attend an event but felt the Holy Spirit leading me to refrain. A friend, who is not a believer, was surprised I willingly “gave it up.” I replied I was being obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, of which Jesus spoke when He said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

My sacrifices seem small, compared to Abdiwelli’s. But they reveal obedience and trust in the Lord. Even these small moments open the door to sharing the Gospel. Jesus is worth both our small and large acts of obedience and love. After all, He gave His life to atone for our sins and rescue us from the power of sin and death! 

As we devote our lives to following Jesus and spreading the Gospel, let us all live by these words:

“[L]et us lay aside every hindrance and the sin
that so easily ensnares us.
Let us run with endurance the race
that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus,
the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
(Hebrews 12:1-2)

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eternity,hope,persecution,reward
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The sons pen a psalm that cleverly asks a riddle, but this isn’t simply a play on words, it’s a riddle rooted within their own heritage.

The answer has been played out in the days, months, and decades since these men watched God’s judgment exact justice from the rebellious ones, which included their own dad.

Years later, Korah’s sons know the answer to the question they ply because they have witnessed its reality.
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Run Day 15 Run For The Treasure

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Run Day 15 Run For The Treasure

Gloria Ponman

March 21, 2025

Fruitfulness,Persevere,Strength

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 3:7-12
1 John 4:7-11
Leviticus 19:1-18
1 Timothy 6:17-21

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to become caught up in worldly pursuits and forget the true purpose of our existence, which is to serve and walk with God and, from this, love others with His love. In Philippians 3:7-12, the apostle Paul shares profound insights on the value of sacrificing earthly desires for the sake of knowing Christ.

For this purpose, we run forward with all eagerness to the Treasure of Christ!
 
“I also consider everything to be a loss
in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Because of Him I have suffered the loss
of all things.”
(Philippians 3:8)

Sometimes, what the world values as success actually hinders our spiritual growth. As Christ-followers, we are called to evaluate our priorities and willingly release anything that impedes our relationship with Christ as we run toward Him.  (1 Timothy 6:17-21)

God’s Word reminds us that
true fulfillment comes from
aligning our desires with God’s will.

The pursuit of knowing Christ surpasses any possession or achievement. Our ultimate goal should be to deepen our relationship with Him, even if it means sacrificing worldly comforts or ambitions. True purpose and abiding joy are found solely in knowing and serving Christ above all else.

As we seek Christ first, loving Him most,
His love and joy colors everything we do as we run toward Him. (Colossians 3:23-24)

Whether we are making meals, washing clothes, gathering necessities for our families, working diligently in our jobs, or speaking with our neighbors, we have the opportunity to make Christ known just as He has made Himself known to us!

Lest we become distracted into believing the lie that our “good works” earn us a “favorable, right standing” before the Holy God, we must return to truth and cling tightly to it.

Our righteousness comes not
from adhering to rules and regulations,
but from placing our faith in Christ alone.  (Ephesians 2:1-10)

Our identity is found
not from societal standards or personal achievements,
not from how expensive our wardrobe,
not the number of degrees we have acquired,
but by our relationship with God. (Romans 5:1-2)

Trusting in His righteousness
enables us to run confidently in His grace as we
“take hold of what is truly life”! (1 Timothy 6:19)

He is the God who frees us from the shackles of serving self; it is for freedom Christ has set us free through faith so we may run daily in pursuit of Him! (Galatians 5:1) This truth is meant to redefine every aspect of our everyday lives.

“Whoever wants to become great among you
must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first among you
must be your slave;
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
(Matthew 20:26-28)

True intimacy with Christ involves both experiencing the power of His resurrection and sharing in His sufferings. As we embrace both the joys and challenges of following Jesus, the Spirit of God shapes us in greater Christ-likeness. (Romans 8:29)

Our willingness to suffer for His sake deepens our communion with Him and our trust in Him. (Romans 5:3-5) Denying Self is the call of Christ on our lives; sacrifice is His own example! (John 15:18-20, Matthew 16:24)

In facing challenges lately, I’ve been asking God why I’m suffering so much, but Scripture reassures and reminds me of God’s purposes even in my pain. 

I remember when I chose to marry a pastor over someone who worked in a secular setting with a large salary and financial security. My new husband was a young pastor, new to ministry and without regular income; we survived on support from family and friends.

In my desire to serve God and run the race He had set out for me, I sacrificed financial security, societal expectations, personal preferences, and even food! I wanted to serve God as a pastor’s wife, doing ministry together with my husband and touching lives with the Hope of Christ.

Despite the daunting sacrifices I faced as a new wife, God helped me to run with eagerness toward the prize, not of riches, fame, or position, but of Christ Himself. He is my reward just He was for Paul. Like the apostle, I consider everything else as loss compared to knowing Christ and running toward Him as my ultimate Treasure!

No matter the sacrifices we make in this life as we run the race of endurance set before us, all suffering fades in comparison to the glory that awaits us in eternity, for Christ has purchased our unfading victory with His humble surrender to death. (Philippians 2:5-8)

Sisters, let’s press on in our journey of faith, racing to “take hold of what is truly Life” with unwavering devotion and trust in the unfailing love of a Savior who sacrificed for us!

Let us fix our eyes on the ultimate prize of Jesus,
running with eagerness toward Him,
and living in anticipation
of the day we will be reunited with our treasured Savior.
Oh, hallelujah!

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Community,endurance,faith,perseverance,reward,Run
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Saul was persecuting Jesus’ followers (and thereby Jesus Himself) because he believed he was right.

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Run Day 10 Run Free: Digging Deeper

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Run Day 10 Run Free: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

March 14, 2025

Anchored,Faith,Forgiven,Freedom,Hope,Persevere

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 "Run Free"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:12-15

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 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.

14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What should we consistently “put on” as God’s chosen ones (Christ-followers)? (verse 12)

Therefore. What a weighty adverb that is! This English word lends itself to examination by its very meaning: for that reason; consequently; because of that. When reading and studying a verse which begins with the word “therefore,” Bible students should always pause to ask the questions “for what reason?” and “because of what?” Let’s practice that right now.

Since we know “therefore” is a summary word, we will choose not to proceed until we find out what came before verse 12. The apostle Paul, the author of the letter, had just used the imagery of changing one’s clothes (verses 9-10) to illustrate the transformative work of Christ in the life of a believer. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Paul commonly used this imagery to communicate how we should “look” as those who follow Christ. (Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:27) Just as we would redress for an evening out by taking off dirty work clothes and putting on clean clothes, believers in Christ are to put off the old self and put on the new self in several ways. (verses 9-10) As we remove the old stuff associated with our lives before knowing Christ (like sexual sins, idolatry, greed, and slander), we begin to dress ourselves in Christlikeness (like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience). (verse 12)

The Greek word anakainoō in verse 10 refers to an ongoing process of becoming new. We see that it is Christ who is helping us in this change of our spiritual wardrobe. Because God exchanged our old self for a new self through Jesus’ death (Romans 6:6), we depend on Him to help us continually shed our old dirty clothes in exchange for new, clean ones. (Ephesians 2:1-10, Galatians 5:19-21)

The Everyday Application

1) What should we consistently “put on” as God’s chosen ones (Christ-followers)? (verse 12)

Have you ever tried to remove muddy, wet clothing from your body? It’s usually a struggle because the clothes are heavy and awkward. Sometimes we need help to pull them over our head or off our legs and feet. I’ve even found myself stuck in my clothes, halfway off and halfway on! What a mess! As soon as I realize my inability to ever put on fresh, clean clothes with my leg stuck in mucky pants that I can’t pull off, I call for help!

Friend, the wonderful truth about changing our spiritual attire is that Jesus is present to help us. Just as we would change from our stinky, dirty, old clothes, we put off the old self and put on the new self by recognizing what Christ has done for us and remembering we have been made new by Him. (verses 9-10) Sweet Sister, we have the appropriate attire at our disposal as the dearly loved daughters of God!

At the moment of our salvation, we are ‘dressed’ in His righteousness as we come to Him in repentance and dependence. (Isaiah 61:10-11, Revelation 19:6-8) As we progress in our faith in Jesus, the Spirit produces in us the characteristics of Christ. (Galatians 5:22-25, Romans 8:29)

I’m so grateful we have Jesus to help us practically live out the righteousness we possess. We can continually pray for Him to direct our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. We can rely on Him to place within us the desire to obey Him. He provides us strength to remove what doesn’t look like Him and ‘put on’ what most looks like Him. We can daily dress in the power of Christ’s blood-bought righteousness!

The Original Intent

2) Why should we keep on forgiving one another as God’s chosen ones (Christ-followers)? (verse 13)

Paul must have thought ‘putting on’ forgiveness and forbearance were important characteristics of brothers and sisters in Christ. He wrote to the churches in Philippi and Ephesus to remind them of the same thing. (Ephesians 4:1-3, Philippians 2:3-5) Notice he does not simply encourage them to practice these, but instructs them to do so.

As believers, we are to overflow with the love and forgiveness we have received from Christ. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Practicing humility by forgiving others’ offenses toward us is a profound gift to others and ourselves. Compassion and acceptance create space for love in our hearts where resentment can otherwise occur. Paul understood the challenge of developing a peaceful, harmonious coexistence among each other. For God’s people to be a unified family as the body of Christ while on earth (verse 15), a genuine commitment by believers to bear with one another in a spirit of love must occur.

The word for “bear” in the original Greek means “to endure something unpleasant or difficult.” Bearing with one another implies a commitment to faithfully remain with one another despite disagreements and differences. Exhibiting characteristics of love, patience, kindness, self-control and faithfulness are evidence of the Spirit’s work in the life of believers. (Galatians 5:22-26)

Not much else witnesses more to Christ’s work in believers than forgiveness and forbearance in the face of challenging relationships. Jesus spoke of the importance of forgiving one another as a sign of our own forgiveness, “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

The Everyday Application

2) Why should we keep on forgiving one another as God’s chosen ones (Christ-followers)? (verse 13)

Paul may not have had the same tensions we have today with the impact of social media, but he was involved in many challenging relationships. As he faced the daily physical stresses in his personal life, he had to navigate the burdens and the expectations of those in other places. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28) Even Paul was not exempt from needing to practice tolerance and “bearing with one another”. (Acts 15:36-39, Colossians 4:10-11, 2 Timothy 4:11)

Though we aren’t provided with the specifics of Paul’s restored relationships, it’s likely there was forgiveness offered and received as each one became aware of the others’ burdens and trials. I don’t know about you, Sister, but sometimes I tend to think of my own problems as excuses for my unlovely and unkind behavior. Yet, I don’t give that same grace to others.

Giving the gifts of patience and acceptance resonates in a world where so many people are looking for someone to stay in it with them after they have failed. When I think of the steadfast love of God, I realize how the gift of “bearing with one another” and “forgiving one another” (verse 13) is a way to demonstrate His faithful love. Tolerance (ἀνεχόμενοι) in this way uplifts the soul of the one who is desperately searching for someone willing to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)

It helps soothe wounds and calm fears even when the causes of the tension may need to be addressed at some point. Is it easy? No, it isn’t. Is it good for our souls and theirs? Oh, Friend, indeed it is.

The Original Intent

3) What are the three key characteristics (spiritual attire) of God’s chosen ones (Christ-followers)? (verses 14-15)

Paul reminds the Colossian Believers of the three qualities that every Christ-follower should be consistently displaying in their lives: love, peace, and thankfulness. These are the foundational attitudes of those who are in Christ. From these, the others flow out more naturally.

The early church had seen the astounding results of sincere hearts knit together in love, unity, and thankfulness. (Acts 2:46-47) Paul says in verse 14 that “above all” they were to put on love. His encouragement to love was a consistent theme in his letters.

The church at Corinth was experiencing disharmony among the believers because some of them were displaying a mindset of superiority. Paul writes that, of the three Christians virtues he had taught them (faith, hope, and love), the greatest of them all is love for one another. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Genuine love produces a heart that cares for others even when it’s challenging to do so. When love is given and received, unity becomes a natural biproduct. As the new believers (Acts 2:37-41) grew in unity, God was glorified, and the people were spiritually strengthened to serve Him. (Acts 9:31)

Even though many of those who believed in Jesus eventually experienced much suffering and persecution, their unity of heart produced a peace among themselves and with others that flowed from the Spirit’s work. Did you notice how peace WITH God brings the peace OF God that produces peace among one another? (Philippians 4:8-9, 2 Thessalonians 3:16)

After his conversion (Acts 9:1-19), Paul never ceased being thankful for God’s grace, nor did he cease from preaching thankfulness. (Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Love, peace, and thankfulness are the root of unity displayed in the body of Christ.

The Everyday Application

3) What are the three key characteristics (spiritual attire) of God’s chosen ones (Christ-followers)? (verses 14-15)

When I get ready to go somewhere, no one must remind me to put on clothes. The awareness that I need to be wearing clothes when I walk out the door is a default awareness. I don’t tell Alexa to remind me, no phone alarm goes off, and there’s not a star on my calendar to prompt me to dress myself that day. But “putting on” love is a different story!

I need reminders everywhere to don this apparel! One of the ways I remind myself of the need to put on love is to preach the gospel to myself every day. (Romans 4:6-8) I do this by opening the Scriptures and praying them back to God.

Because I have come to believe God’s promises are sure, I call to mind what He has said to me and about me. He has told me He is always near and will provide what I need. (Psalm 37:23-24) If it’s love I need, to receive and give, He’ll support me by providing His presence. His very presence brings love because He IS love! (1 John 4:7-8)

We also take part in this process by remembering what we need to think about as we begin our day. (Philippians 4:8-9) Sister, I bet you can recognize a person who put on love before they left home by the way they interacted with you. There is something contagious about people whose hearts are filled with sincere love and peacefulness.

Praying for sincere love to grow in our hearts toward our brothers and sisters in Christ should be a regular pattern in our prayer lives. Just as Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be “established in love” for one another as they comprehended God’s love for them, we should be continually praying this for ourselves and others. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

My sweet Friend, let’s decide to dress ourselves daily in the likeness of Jesus. And above all, let’s put on LOVE, the 1 Corinthians 13 kind!

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freedom,grace,hope,purpose,rescue
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Run, Day 10
Journey Study

Recently, I saw a meme on social media saying, “You do not need to fit your clothes… they should fit you.”

This resonated with me as a fifty-something. It has been challenging to accept my changing body and look for clothes to fit me, rather than trying to push, pull, and squeeze my body into the shape the fashion industry idealises.

This is true for my physical body, and it is true for my spiritual body, as well.

I spent too many years of my life trying to squeeze my spiritual self into ill-fitting and uncomfortable clothes which the devil convinced me were flattering.
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Run Day 5 Entrusted To Run: Digging Deeper

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Run Day 5 Entrusted To Run: Digging Deeper

Lois Robbins

March 7, 2025

Cross,Meaning,persecution,Persevere,Praise,Security

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 "Entrusted To Run"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 1:27-30

Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation —and this is from God.

29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
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The Original Intent

1) How do believers practically follow the directive to live “worthy of the gospel of Christ”? (verse 27)

“If you won’t do it for me, do it for….”. Perhaps someone has challenged you with these words, or maybe you’ve implored someone else to take action for another’s sake.

This is Paul’s motivation when he commissions the Philippian believers to live “worthy of the gospel”. As followers of Jesus, we no longer live for ourselves, rather, every aspect of our lives is meant to be an offering to God. We live in honor of Him, walking worthy of His sacrifice which brought about our salvation.

Paul urged the Philippian believers to walk together for Jesus in beautiful unity with one spirit and one accord for the sole purpose of sharing the gospel and honoring Jesus in their everyday lives.

Living in a Roman military colony where citizenship for Rome came at a price, the Philippian believers understood Paul’s language of citizenship and the responsibilities connected with that privilege. More than citizens of a Roman colony, Philippian Christ-followers were citizens of the Kingdom in Christ. (verse 27) Paul implored them to conduct themselves as members of that kingdom, worthy of the gospel that had bought their freedom and purchased their eternal citizenship.

Their true identity was citizenship under Christ’s rule, not Caesar’s. It’s as if Paul stated, “You are proudly Roman citizens; so am I! (Acts 22:27-28) BUT, constantly bear in mind, your true citizenship belongs to Christ, so exercise that citizenship in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ!”

Isaiah 61:1-2 foretold how the Messiah (Jesus) would be recognized through the Spirit’s work, and it’s this same Spirit of the Lord who indwells every believer. Living worthy of the gospel looks like living as Jesus did, relying on the Spirit of God at work in us.

The Everyday Application

1) How do believers practically follow the directive to live “worthy of the gospel of Christ”? (verse 27)

Like Jesus, as foretold in Isaiah 61:1-2, we are to bring the good news of the gospel to the afflicted (the lost without Jesus), help the broken, comfort those who mourn, and let every aspect of our lives be marked by Christ. (Colossians 3:17)

An impossible task? Yes! Unless we submit to the power of God through His Spirit, this is an impossible race. Our lives must be under the rule of the Spirit.

When we give our control to the Spirit, He grows the good fruit of Jesus in us. His fruit is genuine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  


Paul, led by the Spirit to bring the gospel to the afflicted, was imprisoned for preaching as he wrote to the believers in Philippi. He wasn’t sure if he would see the Philippian believers before his execution, so he wrote his most encouraging letter preserved in Scripture to them. Paul exhorted them to conduct themselves as citizens of heaven by honoring the gospel, standing firm in the faith, and living fearless by the Spirit. Bold words coming from a man in prison for submitting his life to the rule of the Spirit!
 

The call to follow Jesus is counter cultural both then and now. Christ remains the same, and so does His Spirit, so our call remains the same. (Romans 11:29) All who fully trust Jesus and turn away from sin are entrusted to run the race of this life under the rule of the Spirit of God. As we run on earth, together with believers everywhere, we are to imitate Christ. (Ephesians 5:1-2) 

Unified by His Spirit, believers are an advancing army against Satan, unwavering in our assault on the gates of hell, as we promote God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 6:10) We’ve been entrusted to run well!

The Original Intent

2) Is Paul’s instruction to not be frightened by opponents actually realistic? (verse 28) 

Paul encourages Christians to live with great courage, rather than fear, in the face of great persecution and trials. His own example of sending encouragement while imprisoned was evidence that his urgings were not impossible, but plausible! A few verses prior, Paul declared that his chains actually helped spread the gospel! (Philippians 1:12-13)

The opponents Paul referenced are likely the false teachers and antagonists mentioned in Acts 16 whom Paul had encountered on his travels. (Acts 16:12, Acts 16:22-24) Paul knew the faces of specific antagonists in Philippi, but he knew many more would come regardless of the location. Where Christ was preached, opposition was certain. Paul’s testimony and constant threat of danger was proof of the truth of Jesus’ words, “You will have suffering in this world!” (John 16:33)

Jesus’ warning was immediately followed by the source of Paul’s courage and the reason he could honestly instruct the Philippians to not be frightened by their opponents. “Be courageous! I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33) Those opposed to the message of Christ didn’t get the final word on God’s People. Christ does! And He won!

God’s message of encouragement runs all the way back to the Old Testament, “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; He will not leave you or abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6, emphasis mine) 

God’s steadfast promise of His presence as Victor is meant to comfort and help us amid our struggles. Remember, our eternal home and our real citizenship awaits when our journey is done here on earth. Because our victory is sure, we need have no fear! (Psalm 118:6-7)

The Everyday Application

2) Is Paul’s instruction to not be frightened by opponents actually realistic? (verse 28) 

Christians throughout history have experienced intimidation and oppression from taunts and exclusion to death. Those who read Paul’s words in free countries today should praise the Lord for the relative ease we have in following Jesus. We should use our freedom all the more to make Christ known!

When believers live without fear in the face of threats, it serves as a form of evangelism. (Philippians 1:12-13) Our steadfastness in Christ emphasizes the confidence we have in Jesus, which warns those who reject Christ’s offer of total forgiveness. God’s rescue gives great courage to believers, even when faced with the potential of death.

The steady courage of believers reminds unbelievers of their own uncertain lives. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) During times of anguish and loss, people naturally seek answers to their challenges and relief from their pain. Some, blessedly, turn to God.

Recently, a young mom friend of mine received a diagnosis of breast cancer. Without the hope of Christ, she felt devastated and emotionally numb, but when I asked if she would be interested in a Bible Study, she quickly replied YES!

Now she has the opportunity to hear and receive the gospel! Because I know what it is to suffer with the hope of Jesus, I can extend Christ’s hope to my friend and pray that she will decide to follow Jesus so she too can live fearless.

Yes, dear sister, we can stand fearless and courageous in the face of opposition. Whether it’s the intimidation of sharing our story or facing the loss of life, we can stand secure because Jesus has already rescued us for eternity!

If we suffer reproach and loss for Christ, believers can reckon this as a gift to be used to proclaim Christ! “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) 

The Original Intent

3) What is implied with the word “granted”? Is it a “gift” to both believe and suffer? How is this possible? (verses 29-30)

Possessing, and using, faith to trust in Jesus for rescue from the eternal condemnation of death is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8) Have you considered that suffering for Christ is also a gift?!

Paul writes, “For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” (verse 29, emphasis mine)

The Greek word used for “granted” in our Bibles is “chaizomai”, which means to do someone a kind favor, to graciously and freely give something that isn’t deserved. (Studylight.org)

To suffer for Jesus, according to God’s own Word, is the equivalent of being granted an esteemed privilege; it is an undeserved jewel of a gift! Peter and other disciples were being beaten for sharing Christ, and as they limped away from their scourging, it was recorded, “Then they (the apostles) went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.” (Acts 5:41)

Scripture is full of similar accounts of persecution followed by rejoicing, singing, and more people coming to know Christ. The suffering of the believer is under God’s sovereign control and will always be used to strengthen the Church and spread the gospel! (1 Peter 2:20)

Make no mistake, our suffering is no accident, neither is it God’s punishment, rather, suffering for Jesus is cause for joy for it is a gift. Suffering apart from following Jesus, holds no privilege, BUT suffering for Christ holds incalculable eternal value. (1 Peter 3:14, 17, Matthew 5:11-12)

Christ suffered for us, and His victory over death assigns value to our suffering for Him. What greater honor than suffering for the Savior who suffered for us?! (Romans 8:17, 1 Peter 4:12-16) His value for our suffering redefines how we view suffering!

The Everyday Application

3) What is implied with the word “granted”? Is it a “gift” to both believe and suffer? How is this possible? (verses 29-30)

This passage particularly speaks to the suffering that comes from following Jesus. Maybe you’re mocked for praying in public, attending church, or listening to worship music, or maybe the threats pose a risk to your life or of those you love. While God will use every suffering to bring us close to Him, it is a special privilege to endure suffering for Jesus.

Consider your heart response to encountering suffering for following Jesus. Do you see it as a gift from the Lord? Are we willing to accept the first gift of salvation, but reject the second gift of suffering?

As citizens of heaven, we are living out of a suitcase on earth, so we shouldn’t treat this as the ultimate goal of our lives, working to make it comfortable. As spiritual aliens, this world is not our home; we should EXPECT opposition for living in light of eternity.

When suffering comes, Christ calls us to stand firm, holding to confident faith that knows beyond all doubt that, whatever the outcome, God will be glorified, and others will see Him through our suffering.

“You are the light of the world […] Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Let’s welcome the gift of suffering as we pick up our cross, die to ourselves, and let Jesus live in us! May our embrace of His gift showcase our Master’s great love for others!

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hope,joy,persecution,perseverance,reward,suffering
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Run, Day 5
Journey Study

Our Creator did not abandon us as His creation to fend for ourselves on this race of life.

In fact, we were created for relationship with our Creator, to enjoy an intimate connection with Him. In this relationship, the Lord has promised to shoulder the heavy work of salvation and reconciliation to God on our behalf.

His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
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Run Day 5 Entrusted To Run

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Run Day 5 Entrusted To Run

Sara Cissell

March 7, 2025

Discipleship,Faith,Hope,Persevere,Purpose

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 1:18-2
Hebrews 12:1-2
Matthew 11:28-30
Isaiah 40:31

Lately, through visits to my chiropractor and time spent in physical therapy, I have been learning so much about the amazing ways God designed our bodies. Every time I learn something new, the Lord reminds me He put the same detailed thought into crafting His plans for my life as He did in creating my physical body. 

Our Creator did not abandon us as His creation to fend for ourselves on this race of life. 

In fact, we were created for relationship with our Creator, to enjoy an intimate connection with Him. In this relationship, the Lord has promised to shoulder the heavy work of salvation and reconciliation to God on our behalf. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)

This does not mean, however, that the Lord does all the work. We must learn how to walk with the Lord in healthy, effective ways. 

Kinesiology is the study of the body’s movement. Over the last couple years, I have discovered some of my muscles have stopped working as they should, while others have overcompensated. This has impacted my spine, my nervous system, and, in general, how I complete certain tasks. 

For example, when my two-year-old daughter asks to be picked up, I focus on my stance, inhale as I move to pick her up, and exhale as I lift her. I am learning how to properly bear weight, what muscles I need to strengthen, and how to walk with correct posture. 

This learning has not ended with discovering what my physical body needs, however. In our current Journey Theme, Run, we’ve been unpacking Hebrews 12:1-2, which compares our lives of faith to running a race. As I considered this analogy, the Holy Spirit invited me to consider how running my spiritual race with the Lord may need the same attention as my physical body. 

For example, conflict is something I prefer to avoid. However, I can distinctly remember a time in my life when the Lord led me through a tough season of conflict with a friend. Had the Lord not convicted me to fight for this friendship, I probably wouldn’t have invested as heavily as I did. This would have impacted Kingdom work and cost me a dear friend. The Lord showed me how to fight for His purposes, even when I was tempted to give up. 

In Timothy 1:18-20, Paul challenges Timothy to “fight the good fight.” Spiritually, this includes running with certain stances, action, and endurance. 

So what does this look like? 

Stance: A key element of any stance, whether in a fight or during a run, is mindset. In a spiritual context, we must fix our minds on, and incline our hearts toward, the truth of the Word of the Lord. His Word reveals that (Ephesians 3:7, 1 Timothy 1:18) we are commissioned to steward the grace we’ve been given through Jesus by the Spirit dwelling within us. (2 Corinthians 3:1-6, 1 Peter 4:10-11) As we run the race of following Jesus with the mindset of Great Commission workers, we are reminded to encourage others in their race as well.

Action: A fight cannot be fought and a race cannot be won without action, whether it’s speaking, moving, or making strategic decisions. Action is required to stay the course, to stand for what is right, and to move forward in life. This is certainly true in our spiritual races. In order to “have faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:19), we mustn’t neglect time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word. If we do, we will hinder our ability to take wise action. 

Endurance: Rarely is a fight over in mere seconds (and a run never is!), so our spiritual race is even longer. We are in the fight of our lives FOR OUR ENTIRE LIVES, making endurance in Jesus a requirement in order to avoid a shipwrecked faith. (1 Timothy 1:19) The Lord has promised to bear the weight of His covenantal love with us (1 John 4:19), sustaining us and building our endurance as we walk with Him, submitting to the gracious ease of the yoke He has offered. 

You may still be asking, what does this look like in my daily life? 

Well, for me in my current season of life, this looks like opening my Bible app rather than social media to fill my spare moments and spend intentional time interacting with the Lord. It also means humbling myself before the Lord, asking Him what spiritual muscles need exercise. 

You alone can know what the Lord is asking your daily life to look like in your current circumstances; they key is humbly seeking Him. I encourage you to be in the Word, spend time with the Lord in prayer, ask for more fruit of the Holy Spirit to be evident in your life, and seek to be obedient to what He tells you.

The Lord knows how He created us and how He desires for us to grow and move. The more we spend time with Him, the more we will move as He does.

Run the race, dear sister; fight the fight. He is with you.

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courage,mission,purpose,Run
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Run, Day 5
Digging Deeper

Possessing, and using, faith to trust in Jesus for rescue from the eternal condemnation of death is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8) Have you considered that suffering for Christ is also a gift?!

Paul writes, “For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” (verse 29, emphasis mine)
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March 3 - March 21, 2025 - Journey Theme #137

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Sketched XI, Day 3 Feast In The Famine

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Sketched XI, Day 3 Feast In The Famine

Lesley Crawford

June 21, 2023

Faithfulness,Follow,Persevere,Praise,Promises,Prophecy,Provider

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:1-7
James 5:16-18
Exodus 16:11-18
John 6:32-35

As I stood before King Ahab, proclaiming there would be no rain in the land for the next few years, I may have appeared bold, but inwardly I was trembling. Following Yahweh and seeking to obey Him are not for the faint-hearted. Yet, while I dreaded the king’s response to my message, I knew I must remain faithful.

My name says it all: Elijah, which means “Yahweh is my God.” This was my conviction, and it was how I attempted to live, but, as I said, it was far from easy.

I knew the history of my people, the Israelites. I had heard how Yahweh had led them out of slavery in Egypt to bring them here, to the Promised Land. I can only imagine my ancestors’ hope and optimism as they set foot in this land for the first time, anticipating a bright new start. I wonder what they would think if they could see my people now.

It had certainly not been the hoped-for happy ending. From the very start, my ancestors had struggled to obey Yahweh and there had been ongoing issues with the other tribes in the land. Eventually, the Israelites had demanded a human king, rejecting Yahweh as their Sovereign. It was only their 3rd king, when Israel had split in two. Surely, this was not what Yahweh had intended when He led His people to the land.

A culture of rebellion against Yahweh was all I had ever known, growing up in Tishbe in the northern kingdom of Israel, and yet I had come to believe that Yahweh is God and that, despite the seeming chaos all around, Yahweh is Sovereign. Ahab was the worst in a series of wicked kings, leading the people in worship to Baal, but I knew Yahweh was the true King.

Maybe that was why I had prayed so earnestly for rain to cease in the land. (James 5:17) I truly desired for people to see Yahweh’s power. The few of His followers who remained were fearful and hiding. To most people in the land, it seemed Yahweh was dead, but I knew He was very much alive, and His power was far greater than that of Baal.

Baal was believed to be the sky god who controlled the weather. My pronouncement to Ahab that the rain would stop was really a declaration of Yahweh’s far-greater power. I longed for the king, and all my people, to understand who was really God.

Following my encounter with King Ahab, I have to say I was relieved when Yahweh instructed me to go to the Cherith Ravine to hide. I wanted to get as far from Ahab as possible. Yahweh told me I would drink from the brook and the ravens would feed me. This confused me at first, because I know ravens are unclean animals (Leviticus 11:13-15), but I also know Yahweh’s ways are not always ours, and I knew I had to obey.

As He promised, the ravens have fed me – bread and meat twice a day – and this has continued for many months now. I don’t know how long I will be here, or what will happen next, but I do know Yahweh supplies my needs every day. Even in widespread drought and famine, there has not been a single day when I’ve gone hungry or thirsty.

It has led me to know Yahweh in a deeper way, revealing His personal care for me. I am humbled to think Yahweh, the Almighty God, has sent ravens twice a day to provide just for me. It reminds me of the stories of my ancestors being supplied with manna and quail in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:11-18) I am reassured Yahweh is still the same, and, despite my worries about Ahab and my apprehension about what may lie ahead, it encourages me that Yahweh is enough.

I can truly declare, “Yahweh is MY God!” 

Even as I watch the brook begin to dry up before me, and I sense it may soon be time to move on, I can put my hope in Yahweh. Although the future is uncertain, I trust He is enough, and He will continue to provide for all my needs.

I’m holding onto hope for my people. I know Yahweh will be faithful, one day the Promised One will come, and He will supply everything necessary to meet our needs for all eternity.

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Sketched XI, Day 4
Digging Deeper

As we lean into the Word of God and lean onto Jesus, we find He is indeed bread for our soul. He is the nourishment we require to survive.

As we take Him in, we hunger less and less for the things of this world and the more our appetite increases to enjoy the feast of the Bread of Life.
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June 19 - July 7, 2023 - Journey Theme #120

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Steadfast Day 4 Not In Vain: Digging Deeper

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Steadfast Day 4 Not In Vain: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

March 30, 2023

Faith,Faithfulness,Glory,Kingdom,Obedience,Paul,Persevere

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 "Not In Vain"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 15:8-11

8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.
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The Original Intent

1) What does Paul mean in reflecting that he was spiritually “born at the wrong time”? (verse 8)

Paul did not become an apostle while Jesus ministered on the earth like the other 12 apostles. (Matthew 10:1-4) Paul answered the call of Christ after Jesus’ death, when the resurrected, ascended Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus and chose him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15)

Describing his place as the last apostle called, Paul wrote “Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, He also appeared to me” (verse 8) David Guzik explains how the phrase “born at the wrong time” comes from “the ancient Greek term ektroma meaning, ‘abortion, stillbirth, miscarriage’ – it speaks of an untimely birth with ‘freakish’ associations.”

Paul’s salvation was atypical in comparison to the other leaders who had been hand-picked by Jesus. He did not live and work with Jesus on a daily basis in the same way as the other apostles who learned from Him and had grown in faith while ministering together. (Mark 4:34) Instead, Paul was on a mission to shut down Christianity after the death and resurrection of Jesus before God captivated his attention and changed the direction of his life. (1 Timothy 1:12-14)

Because of this early persecution and late calling, Paul considered his birth as an apostle to have come at the “wrong time.” David Lowery suggests “Paul considered himself abnormally born because he lacked the ‘gestation’ period of having been with Christ during His earthly ministry.” Though Paul didn’t spend three years walking with Jesus physically, he spent three years in Arabia before entering full time ministry to personally learn from the Lord and grow in his newfound faith. (Galatians 1:16-17)

No matter how or when we come to Christ, God has plans for us to know Him and to make Him known to those around us. (Acts 20:24)

The Everyday Application

1) What does Paul mean in reflecting that he was spiritually “born at the wrong time”? (verse 8)

Having come to Jesus late in life, Paul may have felt he missed out on being trained in the same way as the other apostles. I felt something similar as an older first time Mom. I was nearly 30 when my first child was born. I didn’t think my age was that uncommon until the labor room nurse asked why I’d waited so long to have a baby. I noticed the age difference throughout those early years whether on field trips, at ball games, or during dance lessons. Mommies my age were in the minority. I was tempted to feel bad about being a little older, but the joys and demands of motherhood left little time for regret. I had baths to run, lullabies to sing, and stories to read! There was no time for looking back when there was so much living to be done.

The apostle Paul realized this as well. He may have missed out on learning at the feet of Jesus, but he was dramatically chosen to share the story of Jesus with those who would listen. (Acts 22:14-15) Once he knew the truth, he began to learn, grow in his faith, and “immediately” shared the Gospel. (Acts 9:20)

I encourage each of us today to focus on the plans God has laid out for us (Psalm 32:8) without wasting time wishfully comparing our storyline with someone else’s. If the Lord has saved you, He’s not wasting time; He is intentionally using your surrender to point others to Himself and strengthen you in your faith if you continue your willful surrender!

Resist the temptation to linger on regrets over what lies behind (Romans 8:1); press onward to all you have been given in Christ! (Philippians 3:13-14)

The Original Intent

2) Why was God’s grace toward Paul shown to not be in vain? (verse 10)
The Apostle Paul wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of [the other apostles], yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) Paul was saved by God’s grace in an intense fashion, literally apprehended by the power of God on the road to Damascus en route to persecute Christ’s followers. (Acts 9:1-4)

By God’s grace he was shown the redemptive power of Jesus’ sacrifice, and from that moment forward he made it his highest purpose to share the Good News of Jesus and His saving grace. (Galatians 1:23) Still, all of this was not accomplished by Paul’s ability or strength, and he calls our attention directly to his power Source: God’s lavish grace. Paul needed to continually surrender his way to the Lord’s, but he also needed to rely on Christ’s work in and through him instead of his own grit and determination.

God’s grace toward Paul was not in vain because Paul shared God’s love with everyone he came in contact with while fueled by God’s loving grace, even though it often landed him in prison or resulted in persecution. (Acts 16:16-24, Acts 14:19) John Stevenson asserts that Paul “pictures the grace of God as a motivation for service. As he comes to see the wondrous and undeserving goodness that God has bestowed upon him, he is moved to labor even more greatly.”

Paul did not experience God’s grace and keep the Good News to himself; he was inspired to share the freedom and joy he found in Christ that God would be glorified through his willful surrender.

The Everyday Application

2) Why was God’s grace toward Paul shown to not be in vain? (verse 10)
One frustrating thing about teaching is that no matter how much help you provide, you can’t guarantee a child’s success. You can give everything necessary for high achievement, but you cannot force students to accept the help given. A teacher can offer after-school study sessions, provide notes and study aids, give practice tests and identify study partners, but these efforts are all in vain if the student decides to ignore the assistance. It is exasperating as a teacher to expend so much energy and get so little in return.

The Apostle Paul assured the Corinthians that the grace extended to him by His Savior was not given in vain. He wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of [the other apostles], yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (verse 10). God extended incredible grace to Paul, a self-proclaimed “worst sinner” (1 Timothy 1:15), so His redemptive power would be beautifully displayed in Paul’s transformed life; Paul allowed Christ’s lavish grace to radically change everything. He became one of the most faithful Christians of all time, dedicating his life to sharing the Gospel.

Paul allowed God’s grace to empower his life, ensuring His grace was not given in vain. Author Tony Evans asserts, “Without the power of God’s grace working in us, our labor for Him would produce nothing of eternal value. Once you get your eyes on Christ alone for your assurance, your Christian life will soar, not crash.” This was the case for Paul, and so it is for any Christ follower who allows God to work through them to spread the Good News of Jesus’ offer of total forgiveness and new life.

The Original Intent

3) Why doesn’t it matter how the Corinthians came to believe on Jesus? (verse 11)

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he emphasized that the Gospel preached by the other apostles and by himself was one and the same. He wrote, “Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.” (verse 11) Paul pointed out that no matter how the Corinthians came to the saving knowledge of Christ, whether through Paul’s own preaching or through the message of another apostle or follower of Jesus, the important thing was that they heard the Truth and believed in Jesus.

Dr. Thomas Constable explains, “Even though Paul had a different background from the other apostles, he heralded the same message they did. Consequently, his original readers did not need to fear that what they had heard from him was some cultic perversion of the truth. It was the true gospel, and they should continue to believe it.” What mattered to Paul, and what should matter to us, is that the Gospel be shared with everyone, regardless of who shares it. (Matthew 28:19-20)

The importance should be placed on whether it’s the True Gospel and whether we are believing the True Jesus as recorded in Scripture rather than a “Jesus” of our own desires or imaginations. Paul’s goal was that the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection be shared by everyone who hears and accepts the message of Jesus. (Colossians 1:25-29)

May we each fulfill our mission from the Lord with the same focus on Jesus and the same dedication to sharing God’s love as Paul had.

The Everyday Application

3) Why doesn’t it matter how the Corinthians came to believe on Jesus? (verse 11)

Most students have strong feelings about getting a group assignment where everyone does part of the work and gets the same grade as everyone else. Some students want to coast by on the work of their classmates, and those classmates dread doing extra work to make up for the group’s slackers.

One group project I had in high school was to research, write, and perform a historical play that included a dinner scene where we served dishes made from vintage recipes we had compiled. My approach was a factual, academic treatment of the subject matter, but my partners wanted to add some fun, whimsical details. Eventually I agreed, against my better judgment. I was shocked to discover that our teacher loved the facts and recipes I had voted to keep out of the presentation. I learned to be more open to other people’s ideas and that a strong team working together can accomplish much.

The apostle Paul addressed the team effort of evangelism in 1 Corinthians 15:11 when he wrote, “Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.” Paul wanted to assure his readers that the Gospel he preached was the same Gospel preached by the other apostles and had the same effect on those who heard and believed.

It did not matter to Paul who did the work or who got the credit, so long as Christ was proclaimed and converts were made. (2 Corinthians 2:14) Each apostle had a different style and manner of presentation, but they all experienced Jesus and shared His love and His truth with others.

It was the same information, shared in different ways, to the same effect: salvation from sin (Romans 3:23) and freedom from chains. (John 8:36)

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Build Day 8 Building Perseverance

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Build Day 8 Building Perseverance

Sara Cissell

February 23, 2022

Character,Faith,Focus,Jesus,Persevere,Promises,Wisdom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 6:1-7:73
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Romans 5:1-5


 

Ice cream cone in hand, the woman walked to the nearest park bench. As she sat, her dog planted himself in front of her with a laser-sharp focus on the sweet treat.

The woman ate her ice cream at a contented pace and appeared to enjoy watching the activity around her: young families caravanning by with their bikes and strollers, other dog-walkers out for a leisurely stroll, and rambunctious squirrels playing tag amidst the trees.

Her dog, however, paid little attention to his surroundings. The occasional shifting of his ears indicated his awareness, but his focus never strayed more than a moment from the yummy goodness in his owner’s hand. She rewarded his calm patience with the last bite of the cone.

Just like that, the spell was broken. All evidence of the cone licked clean, the dog looked around him, taking in the activity and sniffing his surroundings.

The entire interaction was quite mesmerizing to observe, and served as a prime example of Nehemiah’s focus on building the wall.

Nehemiah possessed a similar focus and determination. He, too, could have become distracted by the efforts of Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and those others opposing the rebuilding of the wall. However, he kept his focus on the Lord and His glory. (Nehemiah 6:1-4)

Such focus required intentionality and a great deal of faith. His enemies sought to cause Nehemiah to give up on completing the wall. They constructed false narratives about Nehemiah planning to declare himself as king. (Nehemiah 6:5-9) If he’d attempted to clear himself of these accusations, Nehemiah’s energy and time invested in the wall would have been derailed.

When he persisted in building, the tactic changed.
False prophets began to warn Nehemiah of those coming to kill him. (Nehemiah 6:10-14) Nehemiah could have hidden in fear and declined his leadership role in order to save himself. However, much like the dog focused on the ice cream cone, Nehemiah kept his eyes and ears trained on the Lord. He listened for the Lord, did not hear the Lord confirming the warnings as true, and proceeded to lead the Israelites in rebuilding the wall.

Nehemiah showed great perseverance throughout his leadership of the rebuilding project. Successful perseverance is predicated on knowing the what and the why of a goal. Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a large-scale what, and the why rested solely on the promises and character of the Lord. Nehemiah’s responses reflected his understanding of these concepts, and displayed a conscious choice to trust the Lord’s faithfulness.

Additionally, Nehemiah did not build the walls alone, and others followed his demonstration of the same faith-filled perseverance. Without all Israelites working together, the rebuilding would have taken longer or may never have even been completed. As the wall took shape, the team then needed to continue persisting in their faith by guarding it effectively.

The Lord’s focus and perseverance are also interwoven deeply throughout the story. He provided Nehemiah with favor, supplies, leadership grace, humility, wisdom, and courage. All of these, in turn, blessed the people whom Nehemiah led and displayed surrender to the Lord’s plan to rebuild the wall.

Evidence of the Lord’s faithfulness didn’t stop there! He prompted Nehemiah to gather the people according to genealogies. These names and numbers, listed in chapter 7, show the ongoing fulfillment of promises the Lord made to Abraham regarding his descendants being more numerous than the sand of the sea. (Genesis 22:17-18) Talk about a long-term example of perseverance!

The Lord’s perseverance and faithfulness continue to endure long past the close of Nehemiah’s story. His faithfulness is displayed today as He is near to each of us, waiting for us to lean into Him and His building plans for our lives. We are invited to persevere with Him as He builds His kingdom in and through us. While the context of our individual needs for His presence to pursue us varies, the foundation for our perseverance is the same: Jesus.

How has the Lord spoken to you in your current scenario? Are there specific verses, promises, or elements of His character you can focus on to empower your obedience?

The Lord has great rewards for our perseverance, rewards which may not be experienced for some time, or even in this lifetime. However, they are coming! (James 1:2-4) We may experience ridicule, misunderstanding, exhaustion, and many other challenges in our journeys, much like Nehemiah. For those who surrender to the Master Builder, Jesus, every trial will be accompanied with the joy of knowing obedience honors the Lord and His work carries an eternal impact.

Dear sisters, the effort and probable pain of perseverance is always worth it when Christ is the laser-focus of our life’s purpose. May we keep our gaze unswervingly on Him.
He sees it all and will reward our faith and trust in Him.

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