Relationship

Sketched X Day 4 Shepherd Boy: 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 Shepherd Boy!

The Questions

1) Who is Jacob and what is his significance in the big picture of the Bible’s story? (verses 1-4)

2) Were dreams common in the lives of people in the Old Testament? (verses 5-11)

3) Why did Joseph’s brothers despise him enough to plot against him? (verses 12-20)

Genesis 37:1-19

Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 2 These are the family records of Jacob.

At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought a bad report about them to their father.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a long-sleeved robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

5 Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 “Are you really going to reign over us?” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

12 His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. 13 Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”

“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.

14 Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

15 A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”

17 “They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18 They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!”

Original Intent

1) Who is Jacob and what is his significance in the big picture of the Bible’s story? (verses 1-4)
Since the Bible is one big story written by God, it’s wise to place its characters within the context of the whole Bible. Verse 1, which places Jacob in Canaan, is connected to the preceding narrative as a conclusion to the early Jacob story we read in Genesis 25-36. (netbible.org) When Jacob’s mother was pregnant with him and his twin brother, Esau, God told her there were “two nations” in her womb who would eventually be at war. (Genesis 25:23) Esau’s family records are preserved in Genesis 36 and Jacob’s family story is recorded in Genesis 37 as stated in verse 2. Isaac and Rebecca seemingly did not take the prophecy seriously enough regarding their sons being at odds as Jacob and Esau grew up with their parents playing favorites. (Genesis 25:27-28) This devastating favoritism crept into the next generation (verse 3) resulting in unintended consequences for Jacob’s beloved son, Joseph. It was no secret who the favorite was, and Joseph’s bad report of his brothers’ deplorable actions didn’t help matters. The brothers were despicable characters, and through no fault of his own, Joseph was rejected by them. Receiving special treatment from his father caused such great resentment among them that they want Joseph out of the picture. Verse 4 tells us they treated Joseph with the worst possible treatment: hatred. This Hebrew word is used interchangeably with our English word “unloved’ in Genesis 29:31 and 33. We hear unloved and may dismiss it inconsequentially until we understand it is the complete antithesis of God Himself. Of the 149 times “שָׂנֵא” is used in the Old Testament, the vast majority of instances occur when God speaks of sin. The Sovereign Almighty hates sin. And Joseph’s brothers hated him. The one their father deemed most important was the one they held in contempt.

2) Were dreams common in the lives of people in the Old Testament? (verses 5-11)
The Old Testament teaches that Joseph was not the only dreamer in the history of God’s people. God often used dreams and visions (waking dreams as in Numbers 24:2-4) to communicate with His people. Check out the testimonies of dreams and visions in Genesis 15:1, Genesis 20:1-7, 1 Samuel 3:11, and Judges 7:13-14! Even Joseph’s own father, Jacob, received a message from God through a dream in Genesis 28:10-17. Dreams seem to have been frequent enough that their absence was noticed. (1 Samuel 3:1) It’s important to recognize that Joseph’s dreams were revelations from God and would eventually come to pass, but neither his brothers nor his father grasped their significance. I doubt even Joseph fully comprehended them until he witnessed their unfolding as God orchestrated the events. (Genesis 42:5-6) The passage seems to indicate, though, that Joseph realized there was something important enough in those dreams that he should share them. Scripture gives no indication that Joseph was attempting to brag about his dreams, although we could conclude it wasn’t his most discerning approach to interaction with his brothers! (verse 8) Even so, as the brothers grew more resentful of Joseph, Jacob possibly recalled his own dream as he pondered the words of his son. (verse 11) Though we aren’t told, perhaps he had finally learned to keep his strong feelings about Joseph to himself. Sadly, it was much too late for that recognition. He had driven a wedge so deep among the brothers it would change the course of their family history. Humanly speaking, of course, for God holds the final word of every story! (Genesis 50:19-20)

3) Why did Joseph’s brothers despise him enough to plot against him? (verses 12-20)
The cards appear to be stacked against Joseph from the beginning of his life. While the causes of the brothers’ hatred for Joseph are detailed plainly in Genesis 37, they do not begin to uncover the troubled background of this family. His older brothers always knew their father loved his mother Rachel more than their mothers. (Genesis 29:28-30) Though the text doesn’t say it explicitly, the brothers were likely aware that Jacob chose to protect Rachel and Joseph above all when confronted with a potentially dangerous encounter with his estranged brother. (Genesis 33:1-2) The implication in these passages from chapters 29 and 33 give us great insight into their strong feelings toward Joseph. Even if Joseph had never shared his dreams or worn his special coat, their hatred had been growing for years. It wasn’t uncommon in those days for a younger brother to check on his older brothers and give a status report to their father. The Bible tells us that a young shepherd boy named David was sent by his father to check on his brothers and report back. (1 Samuel 17:17-20) But for Joseph, this was seen as more reason for his brothers to despise him. They knew he would give a bad report again. So, without pause, they immediately plotted against him when they saw him coming toward them. They had so much bitterness toward their younger brother, they even devised a plan to lie to their father about murdering him. (Genesis 37:20) Vivid coats and vivid dreams had put them over the edge of reason. They had no mercy left in their wicked hearts. “Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”, they said mockingly. (verse 20) Little did they know that what they intended for evil in Joseph’s life, God would use to save a nation. (Genesis 50:15-21)

Everyday Application

1) Who is Jacob and what is his significance in the big picture of the Bible’s story? (verses 1-4)
Friend, have you been the casualty of favoritism in your family? It can be a painful experience causing years of hurt and lasting insecurity. One sad part of this story is the lesson unlearned. How could Jacob not have recognized the damage favoritism would cause? He’d lived it! He had feared for his own life at one point, knowing the emotional distance there was between his brother and himself all those years ago. He surely remembered how all the problems were centered around his parents playing favorites. Thankfully, the stories of Isaac and Jacob don’t end with them or the failures of their parents. Jacob had a son who chose to walk a better path. Even though Joseph’s story is filled with people who wished evil upon him, he trusted in his God. Like our Savior, Joseph chose mercy and forgiveness. (Genesis 50:15-21, Luke 23:32-43) The bigger story is that we are all somewhat like Joseph’s brothers by choosing to sin against our Creator God. But oh, Sister, know this, there is a Redeemer! Jesus, God’s own Son “proved His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 Once accepting this lavish love for ourselves, we are equipped by God’s Spirit to extend love to others. While it’s easy to fall into hatred and wield the weapon of contempt, God’s love arms us with His goodness and kindness instead. Love well, Sisters, and leave hatred for sin and its destructive ways.

2) Were dreams common in the lives of people in the Old Testament? (verses 5-11)
As long as there have been humans, God has been working while they sleep. (Genesis 2:21, Psalm 42:8) There are several accounts in the Bible of dreamers. Some dreams were surprising and exciting like the one Gideon overheard in Judges 7:13-15. Some were disturbing dreams like King Nebuchadnezzar’s in Daniel 2:1-3. The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament (Daniel 7) and the apostle John (Revelation) in the New Testament both had visions given by God about the future and the last days. The Bible mentions several other visions and dreams throughout its pages. Dreams were a way God revealed Himself to His people in special times, but there were serious cautions for those who claimed to have prophetic dreams. The Old Testament Law declared that if a prophet proclaimed a dream to people and then called them to worship another god, he was to be put to death even if the dream came true. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5) God has already told us that He alone is to be worshipped. Any dream that violates this foundational truth is not from Him which is why we study Scripture so we can confidently know what is true. God has revealed Himself to us through His promises found in His Word. He has told us we have everything we need to know in His word. (2 Peter 1:3-4) I love that God works for us even when we don’t know it, and I’m thankful to know that whatever He’s doing is good for me. Sister, He’s singing and praying over you even now! Rejoice and be glad! (Zephaniah 3:14-17, Romans 8:24-28)

3) Why did Joseph’s brothers despise him enough to plot against him? (verses 12-20)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote the famous words in a poem, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” (Sonnet 43, Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806–1861) We read in Genesis that Jacob loved Joseph more than all his brothers, and the brothers despised Joseph for the favoritism shown him. It seems they spent their days counting the ways they hated him. On the better days, they ignored him. On the worst day, they sold him.
But God! Sweet friend, I don’t know if you feel rejected or despised by someone you care about. It may be that you have experienced years of pain because of someone else’s bitterness and resentment, not caused by anything you’ve done. I encourage you not to lose hope. The psalmist reminds us to cry out to God with our pain … AND our hope! “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me? Consider me and answer, Lord my God. Restore brightness to my eyes; otherwise, I will sleep in death. My enemy will say, ‘I have triumphed over him’, and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in Your faithful love; my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance. I will sing to the Lord because He has treated me generously!” (Psalm 13) Bring your honesty to the Lord for He will carry and sustain you in the midst of your hardship just as He did for Joseph!

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

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 Sketched X 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.

Whole Day 12 Whole Story Messengers: 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 Whole Story Messengers!

The Questions

1) Who is considered a “brother” in this passage? Is it referring to Christians, the person next to you, or a biological brother? (verse 21)

2) Are believers ever permitted to stop forgiving someone or put them in their place? (verse 22)

3) Must believers forgive from the heart if the other person is not repentant? (verse 35)

Matthew 18:21-35

21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”

22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.

23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’

29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”

Original Intent

1) Who is considered a “brother” in this passage? Is it referring to Christians, the person next to you, or a biological brother? (verse 21)
The Book of Matthew, and the other Gospel books of Mark, Luke, and John, closely follow Jesus’ active ministry years from beginning to end. Jesus expends a lot of energy throughout His ministry emphasizing the importance of repentance and recognition of Him as Lord and Savior in order to be reconciled to God. Jesus describes one of the marks of a genuine, reconciled relationship with God as being how lovingly we engage in relationships with others. Though Scripture has much to say about loving and reaching out to those who don’t know God, these verses in Matthew 18 reference those already in Christ’s kingdom (Christians). Chapter 18 begins with Jesus’ disciples asking, “[W]ho is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”. (verse 1) This information provides us the contextual setting for Christ’s words in verses 21-35 which describe another aspect of what it looks like to be “greatest” in His kingdom. In fact, the whole of chapter 18 paints a picture of who is “greatest” according to God. As Jesus addressed the heart-posture of His followers, He spoke of attributes like childlike humility and tender care for individuals within Jesus’ flock, the Church. These characteristics reflect God’s unending forgiveness toward other believers as God has covered the believer’s sins with the blood of Jesus. It is this combination of forgiveness and patient endurance Jesus calls Christians to live out among each other in order to remain reconciled to one another. This love distinguishes His disciples from the world (John 13:35) and demonstrates to the world God’s offering of forgiveness for those who repent and follow Him.

2) Are believers ever permitted to stop forgiving someone or put them in their place? (verse 22)
The Enduring Word commentary notes the traditional “holy” response from Jewish Pharisees was to forgive an offender three times. Knowing Jesus is gracious and compassionate, Peter extended that number to an extraordinary “seven times”. Jesus’ response, however, revealed His endless heart of divine love as He instructed Peter to forgive an offender more times than he could count by saying “seventy times seven”. (verse 22) Prior to this conversation, Jesus outlined explicit teaching for His gentle, loving approach to correcting and restoring a brother or sister who has sinned against another believer. Of greater importance even than the crucially important loving correction within the Church, Jesus focused on the vast forgiveness of God that ought to be reflected by His people. In verses 23-27, Jesus described a servant who owed the king ten-thousand talents. A commentary from the Working Preacher explains this would equal about 150 years’ worth of income. A nearly incomprehensible amount! The first servant had incurred a debt that was impossible to repay. Lavishly, the king did not provide any ultimatums to earn forgiveness, rather, the king was compassionately moved by the servant’s imploring and freely cancelled the debt. The king took the financial hit himself, wiping clean the record of debt just as Christ does for us as the substitutionary atonement offered between us and the King of the World. Christ took the hit of death and separation from the Father for our sin. Then, He made the offer of a cleanly wiped slate to all who trust Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Tragically, the servant left the king’s presence and demonstrated a total lack of mercy toward another servant who had incurred a lesser debt. His selfish greed reflected his lack of genuine sorrow or understanding of the grand forgiveness bestowed on him.

3) Must believers forgive from the heart if the other person is not repentant? (verse 35)
As previously noted, the verses prior to this passage discuss a plan of correction when one believer has sinned against another. This discussion prompts Peter to ask his question of forgiveness. As we read the dialogue, Jesus’ response centers around His disciples loving one another. He is not explicit in this parable on the part of whether each servant was truly repentant. Instead, He focuses on the one in position to forgive or withhold forgiveness. Earlier in Matthew, Jesus taught His disciples how to pray by modeling what has now become well-known as the Lord’s prayer. (Matthew 6:9-14) When stepping back to scan the whole text, it is interesting that Christ pauses to reiterate forgiveness before shifting to the topic of fasting. The Lord’s prayer ties our request for personal forgiveness to our willingness to forgive others. (Matthew 6:12) Christ re-emphasizes forgiveness again in the verses following His model prayer. (Matthew 6:14-15) When studying an overview of Bible verses on forgiveness, I do not find direction or allowance to withhold forgiveness from one another until someone repents, but I do see plenty of calls for repentance before the LORD GOD Himself and for Christians to live peaceably with one another as far as they are able. (Romans 12:18) As I chew through these hard teachings of God’s love displayed through forgiveness, I see hope for the struggling and pained in this parable. In the end, the King returns to settle grievances and dole out justice. May we not find joy in another’s suffering of judgment, but comfort in the Lord’s righteousness and coming justice! (Romans 12:19)

Everyday Application

1) Who is considered a “brother” in this passage? Is it referring to Christians, the person next to you, or a biological brother? (verse 21)
Undoubtedly, we’ve all experienced hurt from others in life. Some hurts are small while others are so painful we would be well-served to navigate them with Christian counseling. When preparing to live overseas as missionaries, it’s often said the hardest people to love are those within God’s church. Hmmm, say that again?! The church is supposed to be the safest, easiest place to love others! In the context of self-sacrificing, generous, forgiving love, everyone will experience God’s love in action, which overflows into living peaceably. God teaches us how to love one another in His Word. God promises His Spirit is actively working in us to complete His work in us. (Philippians 1:6) God promises to use our perseverance in trial to lead us into deeper maturity as His sons and daughters. (James 1:4) When a Christian repents of sinning against God and is reconciled to Him through forgiveness and the blood of Christ, that person is not immediately made perfect and neither am I. Some of my own past thoughts and habits are not yet realized as to sin to me; I have more growing to finish. Or, if they are, self-control of them has not yet been worked out to the point of eliminating that sin. What has God most used to convict and free me from my sin over the years? The perseverance and patience of my Christian brothers and sisters. Their grace towards me and readiness to forgive me has played a crucial role. Authentic, loving believers who listen well and exhibit gentleness when I confess my sin spurs me on to follow Jesus more closely. While God’s church may, at times, be quite unbecoming, God is at work bringing us to completion through continued repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. May this love call the lost to Jesus!

2) Are believers ever permitted to stop forgiving someone or put them in their place? (verse 22)
My oldest child persistently uses unkind words toward his siblings and parents for attention. This child also happens to have a processing disability, including complex emotions. We take hours of time to converse again and again about how words hurt people. On occasion, he connects that if he wants something (a toy or reconnection) he can hug me with an apology of mumbled and jumbled words. At times, the apology is forced through a rehearsal. Frequently, perhaps within the hour, he will use hurtful words again. Does he actually understand and mean his apology? Do I continue forgiving him and encourage my other children to do so as well? How weary we feel at bedtime! This example might seem simple to forgive as you consider he was born with a disability, but are we really much different in our own deficits of understanding the ways of the Lord? Doesn’t a Christian spend their lives learning the depths of what Christ means for us to live out His joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-26) We often respond based on a level of understanding that makes sense to us. Jesus prods us ever further to love like Him. R.C. Sproul wrote a helpful article noting that Scripture never commands us to forgive one who is unrepentant, but we do have the freedom to still offer forgiveness just as Jesus asked God to forgive those who nailed him on the cross. Scripture DOES command us to rebuke one another with the readiness to forgive and reconcile for even the same repeated offense. (Luke 17:3-4) We lack the ability to fix a fellow sinner who is, perhaps, wearing us down with their offenses, but we also have the never-ending call to be ready with reconciliation in the strength of the Lord.

3) Must believers forgive from the heart if the other person is not repentant? (verse 35)
Several years ago a devastating story was reported of a pastor who went to the gym and returned to find his home a crime scene and his wife murdered. Days later, the pastor publicly claimed he’d forgiven the murderer. This response perplexed me. Why and how could he say these things? Surely the Bible doesn’t call him to forgive these strangers who had shown no sign of repentance. The Enduring Word Bible Commentary provides helpful insights. First, there is a distinction between forgiveness, which is one-sided, and reconciliation, which requires two parties to participate in both repentance and forgiveness. Secondly, we are one sinner striving in relation with another sinner. As such, true forgiveness is only possible as an overflow from our relationship with the Lord. Only He, the divine God who perfectly loves and forgives, is capable of cultivating His forgiveness in us. (Luke 7:47) This is a different relationship than a sinner being fully forgiven by a holy God. We are not in a position of righteousness, but rather one who also needs the covering of Jesus’ forgiveness through His sacrificial blood. God is holy; He is the One most grieved by evil, even our smallest sins. Graciously, the LORD is also the most ready to forgive when a broken heart is burdened by their offense against the righteous LORD and harmed others. The LORD is also He who will one day carry out complete justice. This pastor, in his deep grief, knew that in order to live without bitterness, his heart must be always ready to forgive. (Ephesians 4:31-32) He had long leaned into the Spirit of God who had faithfully taught him to forgive. This man took his own sin seriously and he confidently trusted that His King would one day make all things right. (Psalm 94)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Whole Story Messengers!

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 Whole 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.

Champion Day 12 Just An Ordinary Girl: 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 Just An Ordinary Girl!

The Questions

1) Why was Mary “deeply troubled” by the appearance and greeting of the angel? (verses 28-29)

2) What do we learn about Mary by digging into this overwhelming news she received? (verses 30-33)

3) What reminder did the angel give Mary about the God she served? (verses 35-38)

Luke 1:28-38

[The virgin’s name was Mary.] 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Original Intent

1) Why was Mary “deeply troubled” by the appearance and greeting of the angel? (verses 28-29)
This passage of Scripture parallels the verses immediately preceding it. The similarities are evidenced by Luke, a detailed author and physician (Colossians 4:14), who arranged the passages with intention. We read that Gabriel is the angel who announced the birth of John and Jesus. While there is no exact term in Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic to denote the relationship of cousin, we know John and Jesus were related through their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth. A close reading of these heavenly initiated birth announcements reveals the distinct significance of those being born. It’s interesting to note that in the preceding passage regarding the coming birth of John the Baptist, the father was the main figure, but in these verses Luke spotlights the mother. What occurred with John’s birth was unlikely and shocking. For Elizabeth to conceive at such an old age was not typical. But the news the angel was about to give Mary … now THAT was impossible! We are told in verse 26 that the angel’s news to Mary occurred in Nazareth. I have visited this area in Israel. The guide we had was quick to point out how unremarkable the city was in its day. Which is exactly why it was remarkable to Mary that she was being visited by an angelic being. She was just an ordinary girl in an ordinary town. We tend to underestimate angelic appearances in Scripture as if they happened all the time. Though we read in a very brief span of verses in the gospels about several appearances (Zechariah in Luke 1:5-12 , Joseph in Matthew 1:20 , and the shepherds in Luke 2:8-11), it’s important to note there was always fear involved! Mary knew this appearance and greeting meant something extremely out of the ordinary was happening. As a result, she was “deeply troubled.”

2) What do we learn about Mary by digging into this overwhelming news she received? (verses 30-33)
Can you imagine this news that was shared through an angel? God had chosen a young girl from nowhere to be the mother of the Messiah. Although there’s no real proof, most Christian historians suppose that she was around 15-16 years of age when the angel appeared to Mary. Who really was this one who had “found favor with God.” (verse 30) Incredibly, the Scriptures introduce us to “her” in Genesis during man’s fall after creation. Though not explicit, when the Bible is read as one big story it is apparent from Genesis 3:15 that the mother of Christ was in the heart of God from the beginning. There would be a birth of One who would crush the serpent. Bible scholars tell us that the audience of Genesis would have understood the serpent as representing the spiritual forces of evil. (Genesis 3 Net notes) We also find “her” at the end of the Scriptures in the final chapter of the world before everything in creation is remade. Revelation 12:1-5 seems to confirm for us that the “woman clothed with the sun … and a crown of twelve stars” represents that the promised Messiah would come from Israel. Luke traces Mary’s lineage through Israel’s patriarchs as he names David and Jacob. Her son would assume the title Son of David and be the royal “branch” from David’s family. (Isaiah 11:1-2).Though many virgins may have known God’s favor, and some may have descended from King David’s line, and still others could possibly have a reason to return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23), none but Mary would also have needed to be in Bethlehem with her fiancé at the appointed time of Messiah’s birth. (Micah 5:2-5) It was all part of the sovereign planning of the God worthy of Mary’s worship. (Luke 1:46-55)

3) What reminder did the angel give Mary about the God she served? (verses 35-38)
The angel assured Mary that this news was not to cause her fear. Instead, everything that would happen was from the hand and heart of God. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (verse 35) Bible commentators tell us there were three stages to Jewish weddings/marriage. Engagement was the first stage. It was a formal agreement made by the fathers prior to the betrothal and marriage. When a couple reached the second stage of betrothal, they were under the obligations of faithfulness. Not viewed as simply a casual promise, divorce would have been required to break the commitment. (enduringword.com) Mary knew the ramifications of the news she was being told, and though her motives aren’t revealed, I’m prone to agree with commentator David Guzik that “she asked the same question Zechariah asked (Luke 1:18), but his question was asked in skeptical unbelief, and her question was asked in wonder-filled faith.” Later in the passage, her response demonstrates her humility and faith in God’s plan. Some Bibles label verses 46-55 the “Song of Mary,” although the original text does not indicate that she was singing. Whether she danced around and sang it to the top of her lungs or bowed and quietly whispered it under her breath, the posture revealed in her words demonstrated a heart of awe and trust in her God. Through the angel, God assured Mary that “nothing is impossible with God.” And she believed Him. “May it happen to me as you have said.” (verses 37-38)

Everyday Application

1) Why was Mary “deeply troubled” by the appearance and greeting of the angel? (verses 28-29)
I have a confession: I believe in women’s intuition. I don’t have biblical evidence to back it up, but I do have years of experience as a woman! Since there are no Bible condemnations against it, I will continue holding this belief.  So, sister, what would you think if an angel showed up in your room? Before a word was spoken, most of us would begin to create scenarios of what must be next. We would certainly wonder what kind of news would prompt a visit from a heavenly being. When I read the story as if it’s the first time, I am relieved when the angel quickly seeks to make it better. It’s like a surprise phone call you receive. You answer with great hesitation, even trepidation, wondering what provoked the call. Then the person on the other end of the line begins with “don’t worry, it’s nothing bad.” Whew! But Mary’s visitor wasn’t a surprise appearance of a far-away relative. This was an angel standing in front of her. Though the words he spoke were of comfort and joy, you can imagine her shock and confusion as she processed this interruption. I wonder if she began to rehearse the Scriptures about a promised Messiah. Was this appearance related to the coming One? I’m so thankful that the woman chosen to be the mother of Jesus, God in flesh, was just a normal woman responding with usual confusion. She was not all-knowing, but she was all-trusting! Her fear did not cause her to flee. I want to be that kind of ordinary girl. One who waits and believes God for the rest of the story!

2) What do we learn about Mary by digging into this overwhelming news she received? (verses 30-33)
There are different beliefs related to the person of Mary. Nowhere in Scripture does it tell us she was chosen because she was more holy. Though there are certain misunderstandings about her that appear to have their root in tradition rather than Scripture, there is also the tendency by some to dismiss the extraordinary purpose of Mary being chosen to birth the Son of God. The phrase highly favored comes from a single Greek word meaning “much grace.” Mary was a recipient of God’s grace. (bibletools.org) While she was certainly a godly woman, we must not miss the reality that God uses ordinary people for His glory. Mary was a humble servant, willing to do God’s will. When Jesus was older, she attended a wedding with Him. (John 2:1-10) It appears Mary knew the wedding party well enough to be concerned that they faced potential embarrassment. John records her comment to Jesus in John 2:3. She was trying to involve Him in finding a solution. I believe Mary knew what others didn’t. She trusted that Jesus could do something for them. As a recipient of God’s undeserved favor and grace, Luke 2 tells us a couple times that Mary “pondered things”. Since the day the angel announced the big news, Mary’s life would never be the same. And that, my sweet Sister, is good news for us! We, too, are offered the opportunity to receive the gift of Jesus. God promises the believer salvation and peace. “They will live securely for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.” (Micah 5:4)

3) What reminder did the angel give Mary about the God she served? (verses 35-38)
Mary is exhorting us from thousands of years away to believe the God who chose her. Her example of humble obedience calls out to us. Yes, she was ordinary. Like us, she wondered. Like us, she pondered. Like us, she grieved. But she also worshipped! She was faithful to the God who had sent His message to her through an angel one day. She believed it when the angel told her nothing was impossible with God. Now, let’s fast forward to the cross where we find Mary with Jesus’ friend, John, as they watch Jesus die. (John 19:25) Sister, she is still there waiting, loving, and watching closely. When we find her at the tomb, we realize that for thirty years or so she’s been walking the earth as the mother of God. Now here she is again, aware that angels are standing before her. She must receive and believe another message of hope. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but he has risen!” (Luke 24:5) Can you imagine, my friend, the depth of her emotion?! She has grieved as never before. She’s completely exhausted from watching her son die. Do you think the words of Simeon have rung in her ears? (Luke 2:35) Did she recall the angel’s words so long ago and muster a little hope that another miracle could happen? Oh sister, do you believe God can work through you, an ordinary girl? He can! Nothing … nothing …. nothing … is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37) Lean in close, friend. He is near.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Just An Ordinary Girl!

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 Champion 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.

Worship X Day 6 Just Be Still And Know Already

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 54
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 5:38-48
Psalm 50
Psalm 51

Worship X, Day 6

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door

Jonny Diaz’s song BREATHE filled my head as I began working on this Journey Study, part of a series on Worship. The prompt I was given begins, “The call to be still and know our God…”

Should we read all of Psalm 46, we would promptly be reminded, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, emphasis mine)

If there was ever anyone who desperately needed God as a refuge, it was David, the Hebrew shepherd-boy-anointed-king whose subsequent military victories incited the jealousy of the current king, Saul.

As David penned the words in Psalm 54, our passage for today’s study, he was hiding in an epic game of hide and seek from Saul, who sought to kill him. Hence, David cries out, “God, save me by Your name[!]” (Psalm 54:1)

And, true to Psalm 46:1, God answered David’s desperate plea. David’s life was spared and he declared, “God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.” (Psalm 54:4)

As we read this story, we might think David has the right to defend himself and KILL Saul. In 1 Samuel 24, David has the chance to do just that; instead, David spares Saul.

If we look closer at Psalm 54, we better understand David’s uncanny grace for the man who wanted him dead.
David writes, “He [God] will repay my adversaries for their evil.” (Psalm 54:5)

Maybe a song of Moses came to David’s mind as he hid.

In Deuteronomy 32, as the Israelites FINALLY prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses reviewed their journey in the form of a song, his lyrics deep and poignant.

“Vengeance belongs to Me [God]; I will repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)

So David leaves justice in God’s hands.

I’m more familiar with the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans in chapter 12, where Paul repeats Moses’s words. Paul also quotes from Proverbs 25:21-22, where Solomon advised, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink[.]”

Jesus Himself taught this “new” way of living.
“You have heard it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you[.]” (Matthew 5:43-44)

In our wait for fulfilled promises or our search for justice, we can easily get caught up in the chaos. We shout and FIGHT, demanding justice – as WE see fit – be served, right now.

Anyone else’s voice a little hoarse?
Anybody else’s thumbs a little overworked from typing out comments on social media?
Anyone else’s relationships been a little (or a lot) strained?

Maybe we should take a different approach.
Ya know, like Psalm 46 tells us.
“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

What if we viewed justice the same way as David?
The God David served is the same God we serve today.
We are assured in Scripture that God does NOT change, EVER.

(Numbers 23:19, Psalm 90:1-2; Isaiah 40:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)

He is forever gracious, compassionate, merciful, and JUST.

Always. (Hebrews 13:8)

If David could offer a sacrifice of praise in response to all God had done, so can we.
Indeed, Paul urges us to do so at the beginning of Romans 12.

In David’s time, God had outlined very specific sacrifices and offerings the Israelites were to make. Additionally, a person could make a FREEWILL OFFERING, voluntarily presenting a sacrifice that was above and beyond what was expected.

Thankfully, we no longer need to make sacrifices for our sins. Jesus died – in our place – for all sin, for all time. Then, He rose again, conquering death and declaring ultimate victory for everyone who believes in Him. He longs for people’s HEARTS, to be in close relationship with us.

We reflect our relationship with God, and HIS character, in the way we treat others . . . especially the ones who aren’t so easy to love.

We make a freewill offering when we don’t complain because the neighbor’s dog poops in our yard. Instead, we write a friendly note and put fresh cookies in their mailbox.

We offer ourselves as a living sacrifice when we don’t blast someone on social media because they voted differently than us. Rather, we invite them over to watch the Super Bowl – because everyone loves chips and salsa.

In the midst of our messy, busy, noisy lives may we quiet our hearts.
May we allow space for our souls to respond to the God who created us and constantly cares for
When injustice consumes the world around us, may we look to our God of justice.
In the stillness, may we see Him, hear Him, and KNOW Him.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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 Worship X Week Two! 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 Worship X!

The GT Weekend! ~ Eden Week 3

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) As a parent, I am quite used to the blame game. “She did it. No, she did it!” Or the variations complete with excuses like, she made me mad, it was an accident, or I don’t know why, I just did it. On Monday, Lori walked us through all the excuses and blame-shifting used in the Garden of Eden, all without once admitting to their sin! This is not what I ever wanted as a parent and neither did God. What He wanted, and still wants, is for us to own our sin and confess it, like David did in Psalm 51. Why? Because this is the pathway to forgiveness and a restored relationship with God. Thankfully, Jesus has given us an opportunity, by His sacrifice, for a perfect relationship with God in heaven. Write out a prayer of confession modeled after Psalm 51. Read Eden’s Sacrifice and then write out a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for the redemption Jesus purchased.

2) Sometimes when we study the Bible, it’s just as important to consider what it doesn’t say. Being curious about what isn’t written can sharpen our understanding of what God does say in His Word! This is true about Adam and Eve, the Garden scene, and the two trees set before them by God. Both the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life were beautiful and luscious, but Adam and Eve were drawn to more knowledge instead of more life. Because of Satan’s temptation, they believed God was holding out on them; they believed He was stingy. While they could have sought life, they lusted after more of everything else when they already had rich abundance with the Lord. In similar fashion, the Lord told His people, Israel, “See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways…”. (Deuteronomy 30:15-16) We choose life by choosing a relationship with God, Adam and Eve already were literally walking with God in the Garden, but they were lured away, chose sin, then sin marred everything else from then on. Pray for the Lord to give you eyes to see where He is inviting you to walk with Him. Hint: it’s all the time! When we do, peace is abundant and delight is full!

3) I’m good at solving mysteries, but once in a while, I run across a book that is written so expertly, even my best guesses are dead wrong. Our final study in Journey Into Eden shows us how the Bible is one of those books where you would never guess the ending. Where the first story in Genesis, the Garden of Eden, ends with a curse, the last book, Revelation, ends by highlighting the cure for sin and victory over death and Satan. The blood of Jesus is the cure that saves us all.  So, what happens in Revelation? Jesus returns and we are restored to full fellowship with God. Glory! Journal ways you can live today with this glorious end in mind. The Demo Day Journey Study might help us. Choose some verses highlighted throughout Friday’s Journey and write them on note cards to use as reminders of the goodness of God and our final victory in Jesus!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Romans 5:19-21 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer Journal
Lord, You knew from the beginning we would mess up, that I would mess up, and sin against You. And You already had a plan in mind. Thank You for a love so great I cannot fathom it! The sacrifice Jesus made for my sins is unimaginable, but yet it is imaginable. It is real. It is done. It is finished. The sin debt of humanity, started back in Eden and increased by my sins, has been paid in full by the blood of Jesus. It brings me to tears. But, Lord, may my tears water ground that is fertile for Your kingdom. Let them mean something for those who need to know You, but don’t yet trust You. May they move me to tell the world who You are and why they need Your love, sacrifice, and redemption. Let it be so, Lord!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Eden Day 12 The Blame Game: 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 The Blame Game!

The Questions

1) Why are Adam and Eve hiding? Do they actually believe they can hide from God? (verse 8)
2) What did God ask, “Where are you?” if He already knew the answer? (verse 9)
3) Once God “found” Adam and Eve, were there consequences for their sin and hiding?

Genesis 3:8-10

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

Original Intent

1) Why are Adam and Eve hiding? Do they actually believe they can hide from God? (verse 8)
When God created Adam, He placed him in the Garden of Eden to “work it and watch over it.” (Genesis 2:15) God gave him the entire garden but told him, “You are free to eat of any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) The Lord knew Adam needed a “suitable partner” for himself, someone like him, so God created Eve. (Genesis 2:18) They were both designed to live in the perfect place God had created, but they needed to obey the one command God had given. However, Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent and disobeyed God’s command. (Genesis 3:1-6) Immediately, they had knowledge of good and evil and became aware they were naked; in flustered panic and shame, they covered themselves in fig leaves. (Genesis 3:7) Adam and Eve were fully aware of their guilt and disobedience and when they heard God and their natural response was to hide in their shame. They thought they could cover up with leaves and hide from the all-knowing God, but as we read further, we discover they couldn’t really hide.

2) What did God ask, “Where are you?” if He already knew the answer? (verse 9)
God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were in the Garden. His question isn’t about looking for them but rather the relationship between them. God’s intention was to have a relationship with those He had created in His image. (Genesis 1:26-27) This moment is the moment where mankind’s relationship with God was broken. God, in all His perfection, desired a relationship, but their choice damaged that perfect intimacy. God calls out to them, and in that moment, Adam and Eve must admit their sin and face the God who lovingly created them. After answering and coming out of hiding, God asks them to admit their wrong. (Genesis 3:11) This is the beginning of their consequences, but before those were enacted, they needed to admit to their sin.

3) Once God “found” Adam and Eve, were there consequences for their sin and hiding?
God did not seek Adam and Eve with the intention of letting them off the hook. God is a holy God and, because of His justice, was obligated to respond as such. In order for their relationship to have any chance of restoration, they must first admit their sin (Genesis 3:11-13) followed by facing the fall out of their rebellion. As the narrative of Genesis continues, God lays out the consequences of sin for each sinner. (Genesis 3:14-24) God began with the instigator, Satan, for his role in the deception of Adam and Eve. Then Adam and Eve are both given individual consequences. Ultimately, Adam and Eve were forced out of the Garden of Eden and access to the Tree of Life was revoked. This meant they would eventually face physical death, along with spiritual death, as consequences for their sin. God used the skin of an animal to clothe Adam and Eve, this was the first sacrifice of an animal and is a direct result of sin. Blood must be shed to cover sin. While this was the first instance of bloodshed, it wasn’t the last. The Old Testament provides several references to bloodshed to pay for sin like Genesis 8:20-21, Exodus 29:10-14, Leviticus 1, Leviticus 17:11, and Numbers 6:14 to name a few. All of these point forward in God’s redemption plan to the final bloodshed of Jesus, who paid the ultimate price for sin on the cross, where He would bear the punishment for us all. God promised this redemption would come, even as He gave the first consequence to Satan in Genesis 3:15. One (Jesus) would come who would crush Satan’s head, defeating death and sin forever. The rest of the story begins unfolding from this moment in the Garden to be fulfilled in Matthew 26-28 (also found in Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, and John 18-19).

Everyday Application

1) Why are Adam and Eve hiding? Do they actually believe they can hide from God? (verse 8)
Adam and Eve attempted to hide their sin and cover their shame from God when they heard Him coming. We read this and may think them foolish for even considering they could even try this tactic. We know God is all-knowing and, from our perspective, we also know they would never be successful in their clandestine escape. However, how often do you and I make the same attempt? God is still the same all-knowing God from the Garden of Eden, but when we make sinful choices and are ashamed of our thoughts or actions, we make the same attempt to hide our sin and our thoughts from God just like Adam and Eve. In reality, we will never be any more successful than they were. God still knows all, and we are incapable of hiding.

2) What did God ask, “Where are you?” if He already knew the answer? (verse 9)
God knows the sins we commit before we ever admit them. Much like He did with Adam and Eve, He invites us to come to Him (where are you?) and confess what we have done. Forgiveness cannot be received without admittance of the sin committed. Unless we face our God, we can never enjoy the sweetness of restoration. You and I are blessed to live on the other side of the cross, a process God began in the Garden of Eden as He intentionally set in motion His plan to redeem His creation and offer forgiveness and restoration to every sinner. If we live in hiding and denial we will never experience the freedom found only in Christ who gave His life to pay the price for our sin and bring us back to Himself.

3) Once God “found” Adam and Eve, were there consequences for their sin and hiding?
Adam and Eve chose sin and could not escape the consequences for their rejection of God, but we are also affected today as we continue reaping the fallout of their sin which infected us all. We are each born sinful and continue sinning, bringing separation between us and God. (Romans 3:23) Remembering that God is just, all sin carries a price tag of offense against a Holy God and the debt must be paid. (Romans 6:23) This price is death and the payment requires bloodshed. (Hebrews 9:22) Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “To us life is cheap and death familiar, but Adam recognised death as the punishment of sin. Death was to early man a sign of God’s anger. And he had to learn that sin could be covered not by a bunch of leaves snatched from a bush as he passed by and that would grow again next year, but only by pain and blood. From the first sin to the last, the track of the sinner is marked with blood.” The good news is God began His plan of redemption for us from the deadly clutches of sin in the very beginning of Genesis and came to fulfillment in Jesus. Christ shed His perfect blood as payment for our sin and when we personally choose to accept His sacrifice, His blood covers us our own personal sin. When we accept Him in total surrender of ourselves, we receive forgiveness for every sin, past, present, and future, and our relationship with the Holy God is restored forever. This is such good news!

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

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 Eden 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.

The GT Weekend! ~ Sacrifice Week 2

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Have you ever felt unqualified or unworthy to do something? Monday’s Journey relays just such a time in Abraham’s life. Can you imagine entering a blood covenant with Almighty God? Abraham questioned his ability to hold up his end of the deal. But he had nothing to fear because God already knew he wouldn’t be able to. God alone walked the blood path, swearing by Himself, both parts of the covenant. How can we relate to this? Someone else also fulfilled a blood covenant on our behalf. His name? Jesus. He shed His blood on the cross at Calvary to pay our price of redemption once and for all. We can never repay either of these sacrifices, nor does God expect it of us. Read through some of the Hallel journeys. Pray about how these truths make you feel. Record your praises to the Lord for His sacrifice. Who can you tell about this sacrificial blood covenant that offers us eternity with the same God who walked the blood path of the Abrahamic Covenant? Go, share and celebrate our great God!

2) Single. For some reason this word has taken on negative connotations over the years. To be single is undesirable. To have a single job is not wise because we need a side hustle. To eat a single serving size of something is unnecessarily depriving ourselves. On and on the negativity goes, but Sarah showed us that being singly devoted in love to the Lord is desirable. To place Him first is wise and beneficial. Abraham demonstrated this kind of single devotion by his willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the promised child from whom nations would come. How could he do this? It flowed from the relationship he had developed with God over the years. In this relationship, God had taken first place in Abraham’s life, which made obedience a no-brainer. Journal some ways you can develop a deeper relationship with the Lord. Ask the Lord to direct you in relationship building with Him. For help training yourself in this area, check out the Training Journey Theme. Which of the areas in Training would most help you deepen your relationship with God?

3) Friday’s Journey took us to Mount Sinai where Moses first encountered I AM. Here, he received his calling to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, but Mount Sinai was also the place where, after being rescued from slavery, the Israelites rejected God and worshiped a golden calf in His place. How could they, right?! But don’t we do the same? Reflect on things you spend more time on than God. What about those things that have a more significant role in your life than God? List those idols. How can you remove those idols from your life? Reflect on how Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our slavery to sin. Pray for the Lord to help you live focused on HIs sacrifice and its significance to your life, both temporal and eternal. Visit the Journey Theme, Kneel for a deeper dive into the type of fervent prayer necessary to live fully for the Lord.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Hebrews 6:13-20 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself:  I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.  And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because He has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Prayer Journal
Lord thank You for the way You love me. I frequently wonder why You love me so lavishly. I’m so unworthy of such a pure and complete love. Yet, despite my unworthiness, You still sent Jesus to make the greatest sacrifice in the name of love. This sacrifice guarantees I will spend eternity in heaven with You. Lord, I confess I don’t always live like I’m redeemed by the blood of Jesus, by Your love for me. I have idols, and I am ashamed I still choose to love them. Please empower me to tear down the high places in my heart, destroy my idols and devote myself to You and You alone. Lord, You are worthy of this! I trust You to help me remove everything that takes up space in my heart that belongs to You. I cannot wait to live solely for You Lord!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sacrifice Day 1 Eden’s Sacrifice

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 2
Genesis 3
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 18:1-12

Sacrifice, Day 1

Sovereign.

The supreme or highest in power, superior to all others. 

Scripture often portrays God as the One who rules over all things. His most common proper name, Yahweh, is regularly translated Lord in English, and found thousands of times in the Bible. So, to discuss the sovereignty of God is to discuss His lordship.

When we consider the Biblical concept of divine sovereignty or lordship, the components of God’s control, authority, and presence stand out (John Frame, The Doctrine of God). God is absolutely sovereign. The Bible starts with God, “In the beginning, God [. . .]” (Genesis 1:1) There could be no glorious gospel of Jesus bearing our sins, without the glorious sovereignty of God.

In His sovereignty, God foresaw Adam and Eve’s sin.
He created them anyway, in His own image, to bring glory to Himself.
Just as humankind’s choice to pursue self over God was foreknown by God, Jesus’ crucifixion, and resulting atonement for our sin, was foreordained by God as well.
The crucifixion of Christ is the greatest sacrifice of the greatest love in the history of the world. (John 15:13)

God’s glory is displayed in the way He chose to create humanity, including allowing for our sinful nature. God weaves the allowable reality of sin with His perfect plan and uses it all for good.

Hundreds of years before Jesus would walk the the earth, the prophet Isaiah revealed how He would endure the cross for the joy of restored relationship with His creation.

“When you make [Jesus] a guilt offering,
[. . . ]the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
After His anguish, He will see light and be satisfied.” (Isaiah 53:10-11)

The ultimate exhibition of God’s glory was at the cross, where His justice and mercy met.
As I ponder the weight of sin, I am looking at my own life. Just in the past forty-eight hours, I chose to put my wants over submission to my spouse; I usurped his God-given place as head of our family. In another situation, I am struggling with harboring unforgiveness in my heart against a sister in Christ. I know this is not pleasing to God.

I am not alone in these battles against sin.
Scripture reveals how the pattern of sin established in Eden pervades every single life.

“In this way, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Yet in His sovereignty, God decided the story wouldn’t end in a world lost to sin.
Instead, He wrote sacrifice into the story of His creation.
In Eden, as Adam and Eve stood awash in shame before their Creator God,
He made the very first sacrifice.

“The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and He clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)

One of His own wonderful creatures was sacrificed to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness.
And so sacrifice became a major theme of the salvation story, showing up throughout the Bible’s narrative, both in the Old Testament (Leviticus 1, for example) and New Testament.

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

We understand Christ’s death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice, and as recipients of such lavish love, we are compelled to emulate Him in our everyday lives. God desires us to be living sacrifices.

“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.” (Romans 12:1)

A biblical sacrifice pleases God.
It is sacrifice of self, with a heart of surrender to God’s ways, that prioritizes the advancement of God’s kingdom, welcoming God’s purpose over our own wants or plans.
It is life, lived in conjunction with God’s will.

Today, we have taken a brief look at sacrifice from its origin in Eden, to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, to our own living sacrifices of true worship to our sovereign, glorious, loving God. My hope is we come away with a deeper gratitude for, and devotion to our God, who overcame the power of sin and death by sacrificing Himself for His beloved!

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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 Sacrifice 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 Sacrifice!

The GT Weekend! ~ Wilderness Week 1

Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) We began our Journey Into Wilderness with an easily forgotten Old Testament wanderer, Cain. Perhaps you’ve never read his story, or maybe you only think of him as the murderer who jealously killed his own brother. Maybe, like me, you’ve never considered how your wilderness may have reflections of Cain’s wanderings. Remembering that every story in the whole of Scripture is meant to point toward the grander narrative of the Lord Jesus’ rescue for sinners and His magnificent love for them, how can you see God’s gracious love toward both Cain and Abel? (read their full story in Genesis 4) We may want to excuse ourselves from the wrecking shame and damage of sin, by claiming we’ve never done “that”, where “that” is our “unthinkable deed”. In doing this, however, we easily gloss over our other sins. None of us can be excused from the deadly price tag of sin. All sin breaks relationship, no matter how large or small. As you reflect on Cain’s story this weekend, ask the Lord to convict you of sin. Then take the next step and bravely confess that sin to another fellow believer and ask them to hold you accountable in not choosing that sin.

2) On Wednesday, Paula provided us with comparison between our lives and embroidery work. The backside is a seeming disarray of crisscrossed, zig-zagging threads jumbled, cut, and tied in a ridiculous maze. Only when flipping over the final product can we make out the lovely scene produced by the apparent tangling of threads. What scenes of your life feel, or have felt, chaotic, mismatched, and meaningless? As you reflect on these, what emotions are the strongest? Put names to them and think about the pains involved in those scenarios. Considering Job’s losses in the areas of health, friendships, wealth, respect, and family, which ones most closely connect with your story? Job’s pain ran deeper than he ever anticipated, as evidenced by his desire for death and his wish to have never been born. Still, he refused to curse God, and insisted the Lord was sovereign and good. What truths will you adamantly cling to as you re-frame your wilderness season? Are these truths reliable? How do you know? Spend time in this weekend reading Job 38-42 and glean stabilizing truths!

3) “If I become a Christian, my life should be easy, successful, and enjoyable.” This is an easy misconception to fall into, but we only need to briefly read Scripture to understand that belief system isn’t supported by biblical teaching. If Christ Jesus, as God the Son, entered the Wilderness, was persecuted, threatened, disowned, mocked, ridiculed, and torturously killed, why would His followers expect to be treated royally with a life of ease? Why would anyone decide to commit their lives to following this kind of Savior? Have you asked yourself this question? Amazingly, our reasons for why we follow are layered into Jesus’ wilderness experience. He holds all authority. Though He took on human flesh, and chose humanity, He still retained His deity. At any point during His wilderness Jesus could have ended Satan’s attacks and sent him packing. But He didn’t. He chose suffering again and again, so He could be our personal Savior. The God who holds all authority also loves with empathetic compassion having lived humanity like us, but was without sin, unlike us. In incredible love, He did what we could not accomplish on our own, and He holds out this gift freely for all. Yes, following this Savior is worth everything.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Job 23:10-12 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold. My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands from His lips; I have treasured the words from His mouth more than my daily food.

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus, I am a mess. My heart loves myself. My circumstances are a swirling mess of puzzle pieces. I get lost in alternating waves of doubt and trust for You. My faith is weak. This pressing on all sides wears me thin. Still, in all of this, Your Word says I am known. My ways are known by You. My brokenness, my weariness, my doubts, fears, and desperate places as I wander this wilderness are all known by You. Lord, my God, my only Hope in life or death, You promise to bring me forth through all of this as pure gold. Lord, what a breathtaking wonder! What an astounding, attentive, loving Sovereign! My Jesus, remind me of this truth when I’m tempted to only fix my attention on my surroundings. You are worthy of my constant praise! May my heart learn to worship and trust You alone in this process of refinement!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music