Purpose

Worship 8 Day 2 The Why: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

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

The Questions

1) Verse 20 tells us this passage is part of a prayer. Who is represented by the personal pronouns used in the prayer?

2) What is the significance of the connecting phrase “so that”, which is used four times in this passage?

3) What is the importance of demonstrating unity and love as disciples of Jesus Christ? (verses 23-24)

John 17:20-24

20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. 24 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.”

Original Intent

1) Verse 20 tells us this passage is part of a prayer. Who is represented by the personal pronouns used in the prayer?
Why do we worship? We worship because we have been made one with the Father and Son. The Why question is answered in this prayer by determining the Who. Verse 1 says, “Jesus spoke these things, looked up to heaven, and said, ‘Father …” The Son of God was praying to His Father. Prayer was a habit for Him. (Luke 5:16) The prayers Jesus prayed give us insight into who He is. They speak to us about His nature, His heart, and His purpose while He walked on earth. His prayers also instruct us in our own prayer lives. In Matthew 6:9-13, the author records Jesus teaching His followers how to pray. Here in John 17 we see Jesus following the very pattern He taught. Jesus starts His prayer with “Father”, and as He prays, He acknowledges the Father’s authority, kingdom, and purpose. (verses 1-5) He then begins to pray for those closest to Him, His disciples. He prays for provision and protection for them, asking the Father to give them what they need and remind them of His teachings. Jesus prays for His disciples to be protected from the enemy and the world’s evil system. (verses 6-19) As He comes to the close of His prayer, He begins praying for all believers. He wants those who believe (John 3:16-18) in Him, including those of us in the present age, to be unified. We see verses 20-21 involve the Son (I) who is praying to the Father (You) on behalf of the disciples of Jesus (these), all other believers present and future (they), AND everyone in the world who will come to believe in Him one day.

2) What is the significance of the connecting phrase “so that”, which is used four times in this passage?
Why do we worship? We worship “so that” Jesus is known and glorified by all people. In these five verses, the Christian Standard Bible translators used the phrase “so that” in all but one verse. Jesus prayed for four results: 1) that the world would believe, 2) that His disciples would be unified as He was with the Father, 3) that His disciples would recognize that His unity with the Father was also attainable for them, and 4) that all would see the glory of Jesus. (verses 21-24) The prayer of Jesus reveals His heart for everyone in the world. John, the author of the book with the same name, had walked with Jesus. He writes about the time Jesus met a man named Nicodemus and explained to him how he could enter God’s eternal kingdom. Jesus explained to the man about heavenly things and told him about the Father’s love. He shared with him that the reason He had come to earth was to give everyone spiritual life that never ends. (John 3:1-21) This is the gospel message John wanted his readers to know was on the heart of Jesus. Pastor Greg Gilbert explains that the gospel is “simply telling the good news about Jesus! It’s a message from God saying, ‘Good news! Here is how you can be saved from judgment!’” In his gospel and his letters, the apostle John’s purpose was to reveal Jesus’ purpose in coming. He had followed Jesus closely and had heard Him teach, and very likely had heard Him pray many times in this way. (John 20:31, 1 John 5:13)

3) What is the importance of demonstrating unity and love as disciples of Jesus Christ? (verses 23-24)
Why do we worship? We worship because the Father has chosen to love us and to show the world His love through our unity with Him and one another. Jesus connected His relationship with His Father and His followers, as well as the relationship they had with one another, to the gospel message. Jesus prayed that the oneness of His followers would lead to His glory being revealed and received. In perfect unity, the Father and the Son loved people and desired them to spend eternity with God. Jesus prayed that those who were His disciples would be the vessels in which His love and grace would be carried to the world. God’s desire to have a relationship with humankind never changed. Through Adam and Eve’s choice to rebel against God, we are all equally guilty of this rebellion; our sin breaks the relationship with God. The good news is, that in Jesus, we are offered reconciliation back to God because of His perfect sacrifice on our behalf. (Romans 5:12-16) Jesus’ heart was bound to the unified purpose of our triune (three Persons, yet one God) God. Before the world was created, love existed between the Father and the Son through the Spirit. (verse 24) The apostle Peter referred to the work of the three Persons in the Godhead in his greeting in one of his letters to the believers. (1 Peter 1:1-2) As God set His affection on people from before the foundation of the world, Jesus’ death has given us access to the Father. The Spirit reveals to our hearts who Jesus is and how to be reconciled to God. The unity of our three-person God is important in understanding the depth of Jesus’ prayer and of our worship of God. (Resource on our three-in-One God: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-reasons-trinity/ )

Everyday Application

1) Verse 20 tells us this passage is part of a prayer. Who is represented by the personal pronouns used in the prayer?
If He had one, Jesus would have quite the prayer journal! This prayer is a beautiful picture of the Son of God pouring out His heart to His Father on behalf of everyone He created. The whole world from every generation is on His list. God desires worshippers, and the prayer in John 17 covers past (verses 1-5), present (verses 6-18) and future (verses 20-26) believers and seekers. This thought is mind-blowing! Jesus’ prayer for those who would seek Him was answered before, during, and after He prayed on this occasion. At Jesus’ birth, the Father was answering His Son’s prayer as the wise men from the east searched for the One they had read about.  (Matthew 2:1-10) As Jesus was praying for all His disciples, He knew a time would come when the disciple Peter would need those prayers on his behalf. (verses 14-15) With Peter’s denial, it appears that Jesus’ prayer did not work, but the Bible tells us Peter’s faith grew, and he became bold for Jesus. (Luke 22:31-32, Luke 24:11-12, Acts 2:14) We don’t know how the Father will answer the prayers of the Son on our behalf, but we can trust that He will, just as He has!

2) What is the significance of the connecting phrase “so that”, which is used four times in this passage?
Jesus gave up more than we can comprehend when He came to earth in human form. (Philippians 2:6-8) Though it’s hard to understand, we know He also never disconnected from the Father’s will and purpose for Him. Jesus’ motives, revealed by the English connecting words “so that …”, were all about God’s glory. It is from this vantage point we can rightly consider our present circumstances and are prompted to pray with the same motives. Jesus could pray knowing the past, present, and future of those for whom He prayed. We understand He not only knows what the future holds, He controls the future. The calm certainty of Jesus reveals His heart and unity with His Father. He sees from a perspective that encompasses all time and yet is outside of time. Humans do not have this capacity. We are not all-knowing, but we do have the Spirit of God Who helps us pray with discernment and wisdom and understanding. (Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12) As we seek to worship the Lord with our lives, our prayers are shaped by what He prayed for us. It serves as an example of what to pray for ourselves and others. Ultimately, our deepest longings cry out for God’s glory. He alone is worthy of worship.

3) What is the importance of demonstrating unity and love as disciples of Jesus Christ? (verses 23-24)
The text in John 17 contains the last public prayer of Jesus before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Considering the two other prayers He prayed as He came to the end of His life on earth, we can discern the heart of Jesus. His one desire was for there to be worshippers. He prayed for this here, and later He would pray for God’s glory even if it meant the weight of the world would be placed on Him through His death. (Luke 22:39-42) As He was on the cross, Jesus prayed on behalf of those who crucified Him. His heart was filled with compassion even as it broke over the sins of the world. (Luke 23:32-34) This is the kind of love Jesus wants for all those who follow Him. We desire unity as believers because we understand it as essential to God’s purpose being fulfilled. Once we have come to Him in faith, we are then to unite with other believers in one goal: the worship of God. “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more.” (John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad)

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Fervent Day 14 Strength Training: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Strength Training!

The Questions

1) What does a life surrendered to Christ look like? (verse 1, 6-21)

2) What does it mean for believers to not be conformed to this age? (verse 2)

3) What does it mean to not repay evil for evil? (verses 17-18)

Romans 12:1-21

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Original Intent

1) What does a life surrendered to Christ look like? (verse 1, 6-21)
After spending the majority of his letter to the Romans expounding on the incredible richness available to us through Christ for this life and the next, Paul turns our attention to practically living out our everyday lives from this perspective. His short answer is that we, collectively as a whole body of believers, are to present ourselves as a singular living sacrifice together, set apart as holy to Him. The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were now rendered obsolete by Jesus’ sacrifice for us, but what every believer can still give is the holy offering of our lives as acts of worship and obedience. Paul urges all believers to present the whole of our lives to God for His holy work. Hebrews 13:15-16 helps us understand the believer’s sacrifice is marked by continuous praise, doing good in love, and sharing what we have. These “living sacrifices” are pleasing to God. Romans 11:33-36 is a beautiful poetic picture of the cry of the adoring heart as it offers thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. This passage speaks of the depth of the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God. His ways and decisions are far beyond the mind of man, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory Forever!” (Romans 11:36) Paul’s outburst of song was to heartily remind the believers in Rome that, if they were truly surrendered to Christ,  having a transformational change in their lives owing only to God, then the overflow would burst forth in worship of both their tongue and their lives. This was no superficial shift, but a very real whole-heart adjustment, and the result was a deep, stirring desire to worship the Only One Worthy of such complete adoration. The sacrifice of life was demonstrated by serving with the whole self, ready to do His will moment by moment with a heart of adoration. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. A transformed heart results in a worship so deep and radical it overflows as continual “living sacrifices” to the God who rescued us and made us new!

2) What does it mean for believers to not be conformed to this age? (verse 2)
Paul used imagery that would quickly connect with his audience as he wrote of God’s heart call to not be “conformed” to this age. His Greek word usage for conform gave the idea of making a copy or following a pattern and passing it along. In contrast, however, the Greek for “transform” means entirely new, not manufactured on our own power, but to quite literally become something altogether different. Paul wanted his readers to immediately understand the significant difference between self-induced patterning and radical transformative metamorphosis because of Jesus! Paul was a list-maker (maybe you are too!), and in his letters he listed several examples of worldly patterns including “sexual immorality, moral impurity, outbursts of anger, drunkenness, envy, and anything similar.” (Galatians 5:19-21) The temptation to sin is strong; there is hardly an end to the list of things the lover of Jesus should shun. Because we have been transformed, utterly made new, our hearts and lives are meant to be expressed not for self, but for Christ! Everything should be done for God’s glory! (1 Corinthians 10:31) Transformation is not a matter of impulse, on again and off again, rather it is continuous as we submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Paul’s intentional wording reminds us this transformation is not done of ourselves, instead we “are being transformed…from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) As believers, we are not, however, passive in this transformation process, it is our duty is to cooperate fully, allowing the Spirit to do His work in our hearts and lives.  Conforming to this world chooses to worship ourselves instead of the Lord. Live with a heart ready to humbly offer surrender in worship, ready to be transformed by the Spirit of God as you lean in to His wisdom! (Proverbs 2:1-5) 

3) What does it mean to not repay evil for evil? (verses 17-18)
Here, Paul reiterates the principle of non-retaliation for the Christian that Jesus taught. (Matthew 5:38-48) Verse 17 reads, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.” Paul didn’t want the recipients of his letter to be left wondering what it looked like to follow Christ in everyday life on this side of eternity. Romans 12 answers that question. Revenge feels natural and all-important in the moment of anger, or in looking back after being poorly treated, but Paul declares we must resist this human, fleshly instinct, instead surrendering to the Spirit’s work. By His power in us, we can actively refuse to pay back evil to another who has done evil toward us. This is true whether the person who hurts us is a believer or not. Rather than emotionally react, Paul tells us to be thoughtful when evil is done to us. He suggests we see that moment of lusting after retaliation to be an opportunity to instead demonstrate Christ’s love He extends freely to all people. “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.” (verses 19-20) After all, we cannot display Christ’s love and forgiveness until we have the opportunity to forgive someone! When we do, we are making a powerful statement about the kind of love Jesus lavishly gives. Acting with intentional goodness toward our enemies is far more effective in showing them God’s heart than attempting petty revenge. Together, let’s refuse to sink to evil’s level of repayment, instead leaving justice to God!                                                                      

Everyday Application

1) What does a life surrendered to Christ look like? (verse 1, 6-21)

We live in a day when finding authenticity is a challenge. From imitation crab to faux nails to Instagram filters, we work hard to have the appearance of the “real thing”. While this condition is commonplace in our world, it is a tragedy when it comes to a believer’s life. If we are brutally honest with ourselves, “Imitation Christianity” is something all believers are tempted with on various levels. It’s easier to live our everyday lives without considering our call to be “living sacrifices” to our God. Imitation Christians can be difficult to spot as they can appear on the outside like a genuine believer. Church attendance, generous giving, a good neighbor, and even serving in church are all marks of genuine believers, but they are easily copied by going through the motions. What is impossible to imitate, however, is a transformed heart of worship! Are we true believers or only imitating? To help us understand what it looks like in everyday life to be an authentic “living sacrifice”, Paul lays out several characteristics each anchored firmly in a heart attitude of sacrificial worship to God. “Let love be without hypocrisy.” (verse 9) Only authentic love, flowing from the heart of God Himself, can genuinely be without hypocrisy. Real love is a matter of the heart, not the face. Masking your real feelings and intentions with superficial niceties is a charade none can sustain before others, and certainly we cannot deceive the Lord God. “Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. ” (verses 9-10) Hearts truly transformed by Jesus and indwelt by the Holy Spirit will neither be passive nor indifferent about evil. Rather, they will be repulsed by it, despising what harms others and dishonors God. In place of harsh, self-righteous judgement, the worshipful heart will cling steadfastly to what is good, humbly believing the best and choosing to honor others over themselves. May we each evaluate our hearts before the Lord, asking Him to convict us regarding true sacrifices of worship that honor Him. Let’s bless others graciously and be honoring with our words, choosing to live every day from the overflow of worship!

 

2) What does it mean for believers to not be conformed to this age? (verse 2)

Conforming is so easy! It requires little effort or thought to follow the pattern provided by those around us. Just do what everyone else is doing! While following the well-traveled road can provide a sense of safety, comfort, and belonging, the Christ-follower has been made new that we may live with a full abundance the world does not understand. As you consider your heart desires, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are following a worldly pattern. Ask Him for conviction and repentance! Ask the Spirit to encourage you where you are choosing to live in full surrender to His work of transformation in you. Guard and celebrate these areas! Identifying worldly patterns is nearly impossible without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who brings conviction in order to shift our hearts, not to condemn or shame us. Whether you feel drawn away by wanting a bigger or better house, car, or lifestyle, remember that every believer is called to fight against the pull of the world’s pattern for life. While these feel appealing, they are temporary and can lure our hearts away from worshipping the Only One Worthy of our life’s sacrifice of worship. Only Jesus will satisfy. Purposefully fight against following the pattern by steady surrender to the Holy Spirit in your everyday life. Dare to break free from pattern-following, Ladies! Follow the Good Shepherd of our hearts for the most abundant life possible! Resist the tempting urge to focus on the physical and fleeting delights of this world, setting your heart on things of Christ (Colossians 3:2), determining to be renewed in our minds (verse 2), and ready for action in this transformation process! Rebel against the power of darkness and the schemes of the world. Be a nonconformist, a rebel with a cause for Christ!

3) What does it mean to not repay evil for evil? (verses 17-18)

God spoke through Paul to pen the difficult words, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” While we may find it easy, or at least, easier to live peaceably with our friends, the Lord leaves no wiggle room for exception cases. He commands us to “live at peace with everyone.” While Christians need not look far before we find someone with whom we disagree, whether believer or not, God calls us to live peaceably with them. Honor. Love. Respect. Kindness. Gentleness. These should characterize our engagement with, well, everyone. Lost souls without Jesus do not come to Him because a Christian condemned their outward choices, but rather, because they showed the rich, selfless love of the Savior in everyday life circumstances. As believers, there are certainly times to call out our brothers and sisters who are choosing sinful, destructive life patterns, but even this is to be hemmed in love, seeking their peaceful reconciliation with God. Paul’s timely message reminds us of 3 keys to living peaceably with everyone: 1) Retaliation does not belong to us, only to God. In the end, no human being has the right to judge, only the God of all justice can do this. 2) Treating one another with kindness results in lasting change. Vengeance brings discord and piles on hurt, but kindness motivates repentant hearts and fosters deep relationships, which allow space for authentic conversations. 3) Evil can never be conquered by evil. Hatred, if met with more hatred, only results in its increase. If we stoop to revenge, then we ourselves have been overcome by evil. Booker T Washington stated, “I shall not allow any man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” Mark Twain adds, “The only safe and sure way to destroy your enemy is to make him your friend.”

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Fervent Day 12 Suffering Of One: Digging Deeper

Leave a 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 Suffering Of One!

The Questions

1) What principles of prayer does Paul demonstrate in these few verses?

2) What is the purpose behind Paul’s prayer request to be rescued? (verse 31)

3) What is the purpose of Paul’s benediction? (verse 33)

Romans 15:30-33

30 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.

33 May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

Original Intent

1) What principles of prayer does Paul demonstrate in these few verses?
Paul modeled many wonderful things in following Jesus, but fervency in prayer ranks foremost; it was his heartbeat. Everything about his regular life, from tentmaker, to traveler, to speaker, student, and teacher, was simply an overflow of his private prayer life. Prayer wasn’t something Paul did for show, it was his lifeblood. Of all principles we can take from Paul’s model, consistent and intimate time with the Lord personally is by far the most significant and impactful. Paul demonstrated for us the unity of prayer not only with the Lord, but as a gift to share within the Body. He makes his appeal not to an organization or a business partner or even to a friend, but to his brothers and sisters. He appealed to his siblings. There is an understanding of common, mutual ownership and a right to ask each other to stand in the gap for one another. This request for prayer wasn’t a formality, a checkbox, or just the “Christian thing to do”, this was an urgent need and it was treated with fervency. Prayer wasn’t the last resort, it was the hard work Paul knew was precisely necessary for the task at hand. Paul connected his appeal with the word “striving”, intentionally asked his family to earnestly strive and work hard with relentless fervency in prayer regarding his specific requests. Paul was confident the Lord would hear and answer his prayer, but he also knew the Lord wanted to shape the believers’ hearts to learn dependency on Him and grow their love for the lost as they persistently prayed together. Prayer is not simply a powerful tool for Kingdom work on earth, but it’s also the same method by which the Savior crafts our hearts and opens our eyes to see Him and know Him.

2) What is the purpose behind Paul’s prayer request to be rescued? (verse 31)
“…strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf.” (verse 30) When you hear the words “on my behalf” you probably aren’t thinking the person speaking is actually referring to the benefit of someone else. If you weren’t slowing down and watching closely, his next words might continue to convince you Paul wants nothing more than to get out of his suffering. He was being heavily persecuted for preaching Jesus and his life was constantly in danger. (Acts 21:27-36) Instead of wanting to be free for freedom’s sake, Paul asked, “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, and that, by God’s will, I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.” (verses 31-32) Yes, Paul prayed for rescue, but the why is the true focal point of this passage, and it’s beautiful to behold! His plea for rescue hinged on the oneness of the Body of Christ and his service to the Church. His first goal was for believers around him to be strengthened in their faith, “that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”. His “ministry” here actually refers to a financial collection taken up for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, and he wanted to securely deliver it to them and assure them of his partnership in the gospel with them. His second reason is equally as beautiful, “(that) I may come to you with joy and be refreshed together with you.” Like beloved family members who have long been separated from one another, he ached to be with his brothers and sisters in Rome so they could together be refreshed and encouraged by their mutual love for each other.

3) What is the purpose of Paul’s benediction? (verse 33)
No words are counted as insignificant within Scripture (Matthew 24:35, Revelation 22:18-19) because they were all breathed out by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16) The God who uniquely crafted insects and atoms is not random with the words He has preserved in Scripture. He wastes nothing and as we linger with His words, asking the Spirit to bring them to life within us, we understand Him more clearly. With that, I encourage you never to gloss over “boring” things like introductions, lineages, or benedictions! Following this fervent request for his brothers and sisters to join him in the work of prayer, Paul again reflects the depth of his intimacy with the Lord as he pens a beautiful benediction. “May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.” (verse 33) Paul is evidencing the depth of his understanding of this God who welcomes all prayer requests, listens to them all, and answers according to His perfect love and our faith. (Philippians 4:6) His confidence in God’s faithfulness is breathtaking. In essence, Paul concludes with the confident assertion that God will provide His divine peace upon the beloved children He has adopted, regardless of the struggle or the circumstance or the outcome of their fervent prayer. (Romans 8:15-17) His peace will come, His peace will hem them in on all sides, both to all of them collectively as a unified Body as well as individually, meeting each specific need for peace. His peace is unfathomable, while also a beautiful benefit of being welcomed into the family of God called Church. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Everyday Application

1) What principles of prayer does Paul demonstrate in these few verses?
How often the words fall quickly from my lips or fly from my fingers in a text or email, “I will pray for you”, but then lay there, dead almost as soon as they were birthed for lack of follow through. This is not God’s heart for prayer! Neither does it reflect the fellowship and unity He desires to be shared among the Body of Believers called Church. He calls us to fervently ask our faith siblings to strive earnestly alongside us as we seek to make Jesus known in our spheres of influence, and then reciprocate by fervently interceding for our faith family spread across the globe as they share Christ. This is the call of fervent prayer, it is the work we are called to as followers of Jesus, having the privilege of being called His children. Sister, and know that this word holds an even more precious meaning to me as I type this, may I ask you the same questions I’m asking myself? Are you ready to step into fervency? Are you ready to get serious about this work of fervent prayer on behalf of our family strung across the world, not in random, but strategically by the God who loves us and wants others to know and experience His love? It’s time for me to stop living as if prayer is a Christian nicety. I need to invest, truly with intentionality, in knowing my Savior through prayer, asking Him to teach me by His Spirit what it really is both to intercede and to ask for intercession with faith-filled confidence and specificity. Paul’s model shouldn’t be glossed over, instead, let’s join in with fervency!

2) What is the purpose behind Paul’s prayer request to be rescued? (verse 31)
Recently, my husband and I were on a date discussing areas of growth and stretching in marriage. His words caught me off guard, “I think the next few months will be about me and you really learning what I want.” The look on my face surely expressed my confusion as I managed to ask, “What is it you feel I am missing in knowing you?” “Well, mostly, that I just want you to talk to me, to share honestly with me, and hold me accountable to when I’m not honoring you.” Again, I was confused, but for different reasons. His explanation of me wanting to know him actually translated to him wanting to know me. Ladies, my husband has taught me much about Jesus in our nearly 2 decades of life together, but this recent understanding paired with this specific Scripture study has given a fresh perspective on oneness and unity within the Church. Oneness comes first; everything will be ill-fitted unless unity is primary and others’ interests are ahead of our own. “For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” (Romans 12:3) This foundation of genuine, tenderhearted unity, bathed in humility, should be the directive for our prayers and our face-to-face interactions with all believers. Perhaps the reason many of our prayers lack the answers we seek is precisely because our motives have run amok in the sands of self-focus and comfortability. Pray fervently, Sisters, pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer, ask for prayer if you are suffering, but ask the Spirit to reveal and root out any motives that reflect a heart of selfish ambition. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3) 

3) What is the purpose of Paul’s benediction? (verse 33)
Promised peace and confidence in waiting for it, despite the contents of our everyday lives, may at first seem ridiculous to even consider. But, wait. Suppose the Lord was carrying around peace and confidence with Him everywhere you are, waiting to give them, but you never sat down with Him to really pray in all honesty and gut-wrenching transparency. He’s there. His peace is waiting. But the access route may be different than what you’ve been trying, because most of us don’t first consider a joyful heart and thankfulness to be the pathway to peace. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (…) Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7, emphasis mine) Or maybe, you’ve felt too self-successful to even need divine peace right now. Explore your self-sufficiency, is there room for humility there to sit with the God of the Universe? Do you ache for peace inside the suffering? Take up the invitation to sit with the Lord, open His word, and ask the Spirit to bring you deep wells of joy in Him. Are you awash with delight in the gracious gift of God’s peace? Revel in this depth, and learn to sit longer with Jesus. Paul knew Jesus deeply and personally, as a result he could confidently know beyond all doubt that the peace of God was near and accessible, and he blessed his audience with this Spirit-led benediction. Consider who you can bless by praying a benediction of God’s peace over them!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Fervent Day 5 Character Counts

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 3:16-21
Acts 9:1-26
Psalm 111:1-10

Fervent, Day 5

I have been blessed with amazing parents. The Lord has used them and their examples to shape me in innumerable ways throughout my life.

Sitting down to prepare for this study helped me see another such way they impacted me.

Recently, a friend of mine had unexpected car trouble and needed a ride. As it was the middle of a work day, I could not leave to help. However, I knew my parents might be available. I texted them and quickly got a response they could come to the rescue.

In this scenario, I confidently knew if my parents were not in the middle of another commitment, they would be willing to help. Over the years, they’ve shown their hearts are to serve and demonstrate the love of the Lord in tangible ways.
This pattern enabled me to ask with humble expectation. 

Just as I had confidence to ask my parents for help, Paul had confidence to pray according to the proven character of the Lord. His rich history with the Father enabled him to pray with faith and fervency.

That history began when Paul, formerly known as Saul, hunted those who loved Christ. His first encounters with the Lord involved witnessing the faith of those he persecuted. How must Saul have been impacted by the faithfulness of the Lord shown to someone literally suffering for believing in Him?

The road to Damascus encounter shifted Paul’s world, and he became as those he’d once hunted. His knowledge of the law became a foundation for freedom as he learned to walk with the Truth. The fervency with which Saul once attacked Christians became the fervency with which Paul sought to spread the Gospel.

Paul did not lead an easy life. He experienced great persecution throughout his missionary journeys. Beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonments are only a few of his documented trials. I have no doubt Paul’s understanding of the Lord’s character carried him through every struggle. Because Paul boldly walked with the Lord in his private life, he was able to carry that boldness into his public life. The God he knew first in intimate prayer, was the God he depended on in persecution and trial. Prayer was the undercurrent weaving both together with integrity. Paul captured his encounters, both public and private, in writing so we have powerful examples of perseverance, humility, and faithfulness.

While I haven’t experienced the degree of challenges Paul did, the Lord has revealed His character to me by faithfully walking me through every season of my life. For instance, I waited for my husband for decades (for the record, I did not start counting at birth!). I relied heavily on the Lord and Scripture throughout those years. I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13-14), that He would never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5-6), and many other promises in the Word. He poured into me sustaining contentment because I knew He is faithful.

Ironically, but probably not surprisingly, the arrival of my husband presented new and intense opportunities to lean heavily on the Lord’s character and deepen my prayer life. We married as the pandemic shut down the world, and I stepped into an overwhelming whirlwind of change.

In the midst of a season when almost all of my identity markers have shifted, I have rooted myself in who the Lord says I am and trusted He would remain true to His character, bringing to pass what He desired in me. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

I am deeply thankful for the answered prayer of my husband and all the growth my marriage has already evoked in me. I am even more appreciative that, as my world tumbles into a new normal, the Lord faithfully remains the same. Knowing I can call on Him and will surely find Him enables me to pray with confidence and purpose.

Trust His character and pray with confidence. He is faithful!

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Questions 2 Day 13 More Than A Bargain

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 55:1-13
Hebrews 11:1-40
John 15:1-17
Philippians 4:4-9

Questions 2, Day 13

I prayed for a husband for years.

I waited.

And waited.

I waited as my friends fell in love. I celebrated at their wedding receptions, rejoiced over baby announcements, and clicked ‘like’ as baby bump pictures chronicled pregnancies. The pictures then shifted to first steps, first days of school, and so many other milestones . . . while I continued to wait.

In the midst of the moments of rejoicing, heartache existed, too. Even as I prayed for my husband, I watched other marriages fall apart. Parents or children were lost through the finality of death. Other relationships persevered through challenging circumstances, and growth took place as time marched on.

As I waited, I continued to ask for my husband in the Lord’s timing. Sometimes, I succeeded in asking with a healthy mindset, motivation, and heart posture, while other times, I failed miserably. Regardless, the Lord remained faithful, and I learned how true surrender to the Lord’s plan improved both my prayer life and my everyday life.

The Lord invites questions, but I have discovered a fine line between asking and attempting to strike a deal. Here are a few key lessons I am grateful the Lord has taught me through the years.

1. It’s about the Giver rather than the gift.
During the season of waiting, the more I focused on my desire for my husband and bargained with the Lord, the more I lacked peace.

With the valuable gift of hindsight, I can see how the Lord acted, for my benefit, to lovingly deny my pleading requests. What I wanted most was a husband; what God wanted most was my heart’s full attention and surrender. When I sought Him, the Giver (rather than pleading for my gift), He graciously supplied peace with His quiet “not yet.”

My sadness and tears were consistently met with the Lord’s tenderness. (Psalm 56:8) He taught me to trust His heart over mine as He held me close. There in the ache of waiting, I fell more in love with the Lord as He shaped my heart and lifted my gaze to my true Gift, the Giver Himself!

Whatever you’re tempted to bargain for, God’s desire is for you to know HE is your full satisfaction and delight!
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17)

2. Ask with wisdom.
Assessing our heart posture and motives are critical when we bring our requests to our Father, who loves to give generously. Though an often-painful process, it teaches us to seek wisdom as we pray. When asking for my future spouse, my self-assessments revealed I pleaded most intensely when loneliness seemed strongest.

I would love to say I consistently asked with a surrendered heart, but that would be untrue. Instead, I sometimes let my emotions rule my prayers, thinking I could evoke the response I wanted from the Lord. But prayer is not a business transaction, and these prayers lacked a willingness to submit to God’s wisdom.

When emotion and fear take the lead, they send us blindly stumbling off the path of God’s Wisdom.
Therefore, let us begin our prayers by first seeking wisdom.
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

3. Receive with grace.
The Lord is faithful. I do not always understand His ways, but I do know He has a plan and purpose far better than mine. His answer may be no, it may be wait, and sometimes it is even yes. Whatever the response, receiving His answer with grace has consistently proven to be in my best interest.   

Waiting is not easy. Surrendering to wisdom is not easy. Yet both are necessary to receive the sweetness of His fullness.

Whatever you’re praying for, set your heart on loving Him more than the answer you’re after. He is the better.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of His strength.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Nearly a year into my marriage, I can already see how the Lord’s choice for me is far better than any storyline I had written in my mind over the years of waiting.

Attempting to strike a deal with the Lord accomplishes little more than robbing our peace and diffusing our joy. We can’t use religious language or even Scripture to outfox Him, manipulate Him, entrap Him, or buy Him off.

When we’re nakedly honest, we realize our prayers of
“If You would just . . . then I PROMISE I will . . .”
are wild, heartbroken efforts to offer anything to appease a God we feel is stingy.  We simply have no power to hold the Lord hostage.

When we willfully grasp the truths that He needs nothing from us and loves to give us good gifts, our bargaining position evaporates.

Let’s fix our gaze upon His tender, Father’s heart for His beloved child. Let’s bring Him our desperation, our loneliness, and our fear. Let’s admit, “If You don’t . . . I am afraid . . .” and allow Him to fill the void of our inability with His faithfulness, provision, power, and love.

I encourage you (and myself!) to continue to be satisfied with the Giver over the gift, to embrace His wisdom, and to trust His grace at work in our lives while we wait for Him.

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Questions 2 Day 6 You Do You

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Questions 2, Day 6

“You Do You!”

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

Just, you do you.

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

We are not our own.
We are slaves.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Questions 2 Day 2 Let’s Party: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Let’s Party!

The Questions

1) Who is speaking in this passage and why would they test themselves with pleasure? (verse 1)

2) What is significant about the author’s pleasures he chose to indulge in? (verses 3-8)

3) What was the author’s conclusion of pursuing pleasure? (verses 9-11)

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2 I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind the pull of wine on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly, until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

4 I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. 11 When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Original Intent

1) Who is speaking in this passage and why would they test themselves with pleasure? (verse 1)
Often, the beginning of a biblical book provides us with its place in the timeline of history, which is extremely important to correctly understanding it in its cultural setting, as well as stating the author’s name along with, generally, some idea of their career or place in society. Ecclesiastes 1:1 does not disappoint and reveals this book contains “The words of the Teacher, son of David, King of Jerusalem.” While David had multiple sons, the fact the author noted himself as “King of Jerusalem” narrows the possible authors down to 1, Solomon. (1 Kings 1:15-30) Solomon, the son of King David, was given the throne on David’s death, but was also given vast wisdom, keen understanding, and riches beyond measure by the Lord. (1 Kings 3:5-14) This gift from God’s wisdom granted Solomon insight into all manner of areas including kingly reign, justice, human relationships, and even scientific exploration that was radically advanced for his day. However, God didn’t give Solomon all wisdom, rather He allowed Solomon’s wisdom to pair with curiosity, which gave him the gift of exploring life in deeper ways. When Solomon “said to (himself), “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good” (verse 1), it comes on the heels of the closing of chapter 1:12-18, where we find Solomon had deeply explored wisdom and understanding to find the purpose and fullest satisfaction of life. Having explored book learning and human interaction and hard work and finding them all “a pursuit of the wind” (verse 17), he turns his attention to pleasure to find the source of lasting satisfaction.

2) What is significant about the author’s pleasures he chose to indulge in? (verses 3-8)
Self-seeking. Every single one of Solomon’s pleasures he chose to envelope himself within hinged upon himself. What could make him happy, or happiest? This was his pursuit, and the list is quite lengthy. Wine and the alluring pull of alcohol, he tried it. (verse 3) Hard work and accomplishment, he invested long hours and much money. (verses 4-5) He tried his hand at civil engineering and architecture. (verse 6) He lived in the lap of luxury to the nth degree, nothing was out of his reach. He wanted for nothing and acquired so many slaves that his every wish was their command. (verses 7-8) The finest entertainment was available at his demand whether it was the arts or sexual fulfillment. (verse 8) Solomon created an environment where he was the center. Not one thing on his lengthy list of impressive wealth accumulations, status, power, and access to pleasure was earmarked for the disposal of anyone but himself. Pleasure, with its attractive power, exclusively tugs one person into its gravitational pull, leaving all others out. Pleasure is about one person, self, and Solomon certainly experienced this reality as he explored the source of true and lasting satisfaction.

3) What was the author’s conclusion of pursuing pleasure? (verses 9-11)
Literally everything was accessible to Solomon as he stated, “I did not refuse myself any pleasure” (verse 10), with the exception of one. Satisfaction. In the end, all of his years of pleasure seeking were summed up by his own words, “When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (verse 11) The only reward was the momentary pleasure his pursuits brought him at that time, but nothing that lasted. “I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.” (verse 10) Permanent pleasure was not compatible with the ever-elusive satisfaction Solomon sought. The king observed everyone around him pursuing pleasure, yet, once he did the same, he walked away with the wise understanding that nothing satisfied for everything was fleeting like “pursuing the wind”. (verse 11)

Everyday Application

1) Who is speaking in this passage and why would they test themselves with pleasure? (verse 1)
One of the most common questions every human heart asks is, “What is my purpose?”. Solomon, even with all of his wisdom, asked the same question and explored many avenues to discover true, lasting happiness and purpose. While he had studied wisdom and book learning and how people live out their lives, he found it all to be repetitive and, in the end, meaningless. What things have you pursued in order to find true satisfaction? Maybe you’ve invested time, energy, and resources, all with the hope of finally being happy and finding a purpose that doesn’t fade away. I know I have, many times in many ways. I’ve spent the majority of my married years placing my identity and focused energy in my kids and in working to manage (err, manipulate, actually) my husband into loving me and responding to me in the way that makes me the happiest and most satisfied. Not only did my attempt to find lasting happiness in my marriage and kids prove to be utterly unsuccessful by my own manipulation, it also was (yes, caught me again, still is) incredibly un-loving. No relationship will ever be able to satisfy me. No amount of pleasure found through any source will have the endurance to sustain my unquenchable desire to be perfectly and continuously happy. Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes to lay out his research and his conclusion was that only in God do we find out greatest delight. Jesus reiterated this truth when He said, “I have come so they may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:10) For me, I’ve found this to be abundantly true as well. Only when I shift my eyes off trying to wring pleasure out of my relationships and onto Jesus, have I found long-lasting and sweetly satisfying delight in both Jesus and my human relationships. Only Jesus offers satisfaction that lasts, truly everything else is meaningless in comparison.

2) What is significant about the author’s pleasures he chose to indulge in? (verses 3-8)
Solomon explored many different types of pleasure. Perhaps some of them are specifically tempting to you, or maybe none of them, but every human being longs to find delight and be satisfied in something. Solomon’s list of delights was lengthy and specific. I wonder what might fill your list if you were to specifically name them. I challenged myself to do this and was surprised at how easy it was to not only create a very specific list, but also how defensive and quick to justify my choices I became as I called them out by name.  A clean house. No wait. A clean house that someone else cleans. My internal voice continued with a decently good justification for this desire, “I actually pretty much deserve someone else to clean my house. I’ve maintained our home for 19 years, without a break. And my husband never seems to jump in and help me anyways. In fact, I need someone to clean for me. Think of all the other things I could do! Like, nap instead of pick up after others. Maybe someone else could cook for me too….” How quickly my focus became myself to the exclusion, and even demeaning of others, as I thought of how to please myself. One self-serving desire led straight to another without any hinderance at all. The whole practice was a little disconcerting, honestly. This pursuit of self-seeking pleasure runs in direct contradiction to the call of Jesus. He says that to follow Him, we must deny ourselves. (Luke 9:23) Just as there isn’t one thing in Solomon’s list that lent itself to sacrifice for another, neither did my list, and I’m guessing your honest list, if given free reign, wouldn’t include others either. Self-seeking pleasure and sacrifice live in constant opposition.

3) What was the author’s conclusion of pursuing pleasure? (verses 9-11)
If you take the challenge to read through the relatively short book of Ecclesiastes, you’ll find King Solomon’s concluding refrain of “nothing to be gained under the sun” repeated often as he studies the intricacies of life, relationships, work, academics, and pursuits of all kinds. The whole book can feel melancholy and a bit dismal, which should be taken to heart by all of us. At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon submitted himself to the wisdom of God, recognizing his own human failings and weaknesses, especially in light of the vast endlessness of the Almighty. (1 Kings 3:7-9) This position, Solomon later wrote, is the beginning of wisdom. True wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7) Wisdom that says only the Lord can bring lasting delight. Solomon was right, there really is nothing new under the sun. If we look at our possessions and our pursuits, and even our relationships, and then cast our eyes to eternity, we should shudder in our shoes. Nothing new under the sun. Everything will fade away except the Word of the Lord. (Isaiah 40:8) What will actually last forever? What is worth giving ourselves for? Jesus. Pursuing Jesus. When we surrender the whole of our everything to Him, and Him alone, He fills us with good things. (Matthew 7:11) Delightful things. Satisfyingly sweet things. Things that won’t entangle our hearts, tempting us to love ourselves more than our Savior as long as we fix our eyes on Christ alone. So, Sister, having studied this wise, ancient king, I’m thinking about the things I can start dethroning from my must-have-pleasure-list so I can give my everything to the Only King worthy of my everything. What about you?

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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Study Tools

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

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

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

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Follow Day 10 Transformed Follower

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 9:1-9, 17-25
Jeremiah 17:9-10
Romans 6:1-11
Acts 3:19-20

Follow, Day 10

Saul is walking along the road to Damascus, on a journey with the goal of persecuting those who follow the teachings of Jesus, claiming they are part of “The Way.”
In this place of unadulterated hatred, Saul has a radical encounter with God.

God speaks, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Saul is completely blinded, asking, “Who are you, Lord?” (Acts 9:4-5)

He is given instruction to head into the city of Damascus. Although physically blind, disoriented, and unsure where this path would lead, he knows the Lord is directing him. Days later, Saul is approached by Ananias, who was sent by God to pray over Saul, to help him “regain [his] sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 9:17-18) His name is changed to Paul, symbolizing the death of his past and the freedom of his future in Christ. He speaks boldly, claiming Jesus is the Messiah.

In Paul’s conversion story, we see a complete transformation from the life he was living before Christ to the life he is living knowing Christ. After salvation and adoption into the family of God, Paul’s purpose is radically altered.  He spends the rest of his days preaching and teaching to the Gentiles of the Jesus he once loathed.

Paul rejects the power of sin over him, living into his new identity with total surrender.
“For I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
(Galatians 2:20)

How many of us live beneath the truth and promise we are utterly new creations if we have truly surrendered to Christ’s transformation?

When we come to face our reflection, we do not often see ourselves as beloved daughters of the Most High God. Instead, we focus on all the areas where we do not measure up, desperately striving to be better.

One of the biggest implications of the truth that we are a new creation is that there is no room for shame in the presence of God. The Lord has redeemed us; all of our past, present, and future sins were fully and finally paid for on the cross by the sinless son of God. Hebrews 10:10 declares, “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.” Not only were our sins forgiven on the cross, but all of the favor and merit of Jesus was placed upon us.

The reality of sin still exists and wreaks destruction in our lives and in our hearts. Yet as believers, we are not identified as sinners; rather, we are given the identity of saints and coheirs with Christ. These two realities can be held in tandem, that we are still inclined to turn our affections to directions other than the Lord, but the sin in our hearts does not have the final word on who we are.

We are instructed to “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) and to keep “our eyes on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2) This is good news and there is freedom here! The Lord pursues us and is constantly welcoming us back to Himself, reminding us of His goodness and grace.

The Lord is gracious to show us our sin and to redirect our attention. I have experienced this process in my own life, year after year. The Lord has faithfully used mentors to beautifully model how to live in the reality that we still sin, yet are called saints and daughters. When I have brought sin struggles to some of the women in my life, they have met me with incredible grace, which I believe reflects the grace of God and has brought much healing to my life.

He has been so near on this journey, constantly refining me in the fire to look more like Jesus. I truly desire to walk in a way that honors Him, but I know even in my weakness He is glorified. (2 Corinthians 12:9) He beckons me to His heart, showing me His plans are higher than my own.

“Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 34:14

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

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Follow Day 1 Trust Through Tears

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Job 1-2
Job 42
John 9:1-7
Romans 8:26-39
Romans 9:14-24

Follow, Day 1

Conventional wisdom says following God is easy when life is going well. We can trust Him when our circumstances seem to confirm God is good.

But what happens when life doesn’t go as we expect?
What happens to our faith in God when our circumstances seem to push back on our idea of the “goodness” of God?
Can we still trust Him?
Can we still follow God in the midst of suffering?

Job and his friends wrestled together with these questions (sometimes well, and sometimes poorly) throughout the Biblical book of Job. Job’s experience can be difficult for us to read; I find myself asking uncomfortable questions.

Why did God allow all of these terrible attacks against Job?
Why did Job lose everything after he had lived a blameless and upright life?
Didn’t Job deserve better treatment from God?

Job and his friends asked these same questions. Job maintained he was innocent of any wrongdoing, while his friends insisted he must have sinned to deserve the suffering to which he was subjected.

While I am often too afraid or embarrassed to ask these questions, Job was not. He asked and asked why he was suffering. He asked his friends to help him see his wrongdoing, but they could not.

Finally, Job was so discouraged by his circumstances that he began questioning God directly.
“I will say to God, ‘Do not declare me guilty! Let me know why you prosecute me. Is it good for you to oppress, to reject the work of your hands and favor the plans of the wicked?”
(Job 10:2-3)

Overwhelmed by his suffering despite his innocence, Job began to question God’s character. He was honest before God about his struggles, and sought to find answers. He never denied God, but he did question His plans.

When life beats us down, and we wonder where God is, it can be tempting to think we have done something wrong to deserve this hardship. We might consider suffering as a “sign” we have gotten off-track, just as Job’s friends believed his suffering to be a punishment for secret sin.

But this is not how God has revealed Himself. In fact, centuries later, Jesus and His disciples have a conversation about this very idea! The disciples see a man born blind and assume his condition is a direct result of someone’s sin. Jesus corrects their thinking, explaining, “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Jesus reveals the man’s blindness was not a punishment for sin, but a tool God was using to declare His glory.

This is where we can get uncomfortable again.
We ask those troubling questions.

Is God unjust?
Does He inflict pain just because He can?

Of course not! Paul addresses these questions in Romans 9.
“What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For He tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.” (Romans 9:14-16)

When Job questioned the purposes and wisdom of God, God Himself came down to speak to him. The Lord answered Job, but with more questions. He revealed to Job his own limitations and ignorance.

God asked Job, “Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself?” (Job 40:8) He asked Job to explain the whole of the universe, from the stars of the sky, to weather patterns, to the behavior of the animals. God did this, not to be cruel or harsh, but to remind Job of the vastness of His knowledge and power.

We have a limited view of the world. We only see, know, and understand a sliver of His plans, but the Lord knows all. He purposes all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), and we can count on this truth.

So, when life is confusing, and doesn’t seem to be going our way, we have a choice. We can choose to question God and wonder if He cares about us. Or we can choose to follow the Lord, trusting His ways are good, even when we can’t see how.

As wise followers of the Lord, we can maintain our devotion to Him even when life seems unfair. God’s vast wisdom is far superior to our own plans.

In the end of the story, Job repented of his self-righteous questioning. Job did not suffer perfectly, but he continued in his faithful pursuit of God’s character, even in his brokenness and despair. Job knew how to follow, because he knew the character of God.

Finally, God not only forgave Job, but also restored to him his fortunes, wealth, and position in his community. While we are not guaranteed a “happy ending” in this life, if we faithfully serve the Lord, we can trust we will receive our reward of eternal life with the Father.

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Follow Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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