Restored

Sketched IX Day 13 Costly Surrender

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 5:22-42
Luke 5:1-11
Matthew 14:22-33
Luke 14:25-35
John 21:15-19

Sketched IX, Day 13

Suppose the world authority orders you, on threat of death, not to talk about Jesus; what would you do? Most believers in Jesus would answer, “I would rather obey God than men” (Acts 5:29) . . . while we’re in our comfort zone. But would our answer be the same when the reality of suffering dawns on us?

The Lord told us clearly we would be hated for His name’s sake; following Him may cost our lives. (Matthew 10:22) His words are becoming reality for us now as the Jewish authority (the Sanhedrin) does not want us to preach Jesus. Despite doing everything possible to stop the spread of the news of Jesus’ resurrection, they found us preaching and people responding with believing in Him. Every day, large numbers of believers are added to the Church. (Acts 2:47)

We have been arrested and strictly warned never to preach in His name again. Our lives are on the line because of the gospel of Christ. Amidst the Sanhedrin’s threats, I told them, without hesitation, we will not obey their command and thereby defy God’s own.

Does it sound risky?
Yes!
But my relationship with Jesus has gone beyond following my will.
My will no longer counts; His will be done.
I must live for Jesus and preach His gospel of salvation while I am in this body. My journey with Him has reached a point of no return; come what may.

I decided this after undergoing a process of life transformation during my walk with Christ. After encountering Him at Lake Gennesaret, I discovered life at its best is only found in Christ. I would rather go through any kind of storm with Him than a storm-free life without Him.

Perhaps you think being with Jesus physically made following easy for me. Not at all; I stumbled and faltered as I faced painful and challenging situations. Yet, I pressed on with His help.

Let me share some of my story, so you can be encouraged and persevere!

Initially, when I started the journey, I was excited seeing Jesus performing different miracles. Not only that, we (His disciples) also healed and cast out demons in His name. Another exciting moment was at the Mount of Transfiguration, where I saw His glory when Moses and Elijah appeared to Him. In addition, He told me He would give me the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 16:19) Wow, I thought I had become a giant of faith.

But one night my faith was tested, and I discovered I was not the giant I imagined. We were in a boat at midnight, tossed by a great wind; we saw Jesus walking on water. We thought it was a ghost, but He assured us not to be afraid, that it was He. So, I asked Him to command me to come to Him. He did. At once, I stepped out onto the water and started walking, thinking of myself as the giant of the faith, Peter. Suddenly the wind became furious; fear gripped me, and I started sinking. I cried to Jesus for help and He saved me. The Lord rebuked me for doubting. I saw myself as a failure, but was comforted because Jesus did not abandon me.

When we celebrated the Passover together, He told us He would be arrested and killed, and we would all desert Him. I declared I would NEVER desert Him; I would go with Him to the point of death.  But reality dawned on me when Jesus was arrested: I found myself denying knowing my Lord for fear of my peers.

When I realized the devastating choice I’d made, I wept bitterly for mercy. Following His resurrection, Jesus graciously restored me. In my sober moment, I recalled what the Lord told us one day, regarding following Him. He said,

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes and even his own life–he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27)

“If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

“Yes, I understand,” I told myself; I must let go of my life by surrendering it absolutely to Christ. And after His resurrection, at our final meeting with Him, I accepted wholeheartedly His mandate.

Hearing my story, do you understand my assertion?
It’s not enough to say we would obey God while in our comfort zones?
His will must be paramount to the cost of our lives, for true surrender is worth the cost.

Take courage, Believers!
The journey of following Jesus is not by our might nor by our power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6)! Whatever you pass through, be assured He will be there with you (Isaiah 43:2). He promises to never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5).

Because He is worthy.
Our surrender, though costly, is worth it. 

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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 Sketched IX Week Three! 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 Sketched IX!

Enough Day 4 Promised Land Lost: 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 Promised Land Lost!

The Questions

1) Why did the Israelites rebel so frequently against God? (verse 43)

2) Why did God continue to rescue and forgive His wayward people? (verse 10)

3) Why did God allow Moses and Phineas to intervene in His punishment of the people? (verse 23 and verse 30)

Psalm 106:1-48

Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
2 Who can declare the Lord’s mighty acts
or proclaim all the praise due him?
3 How happy are those who uphold justice,
who practice righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, Lord,
when you show favor to your people.
Come to me with your salvation
5 so that I may enjoy the prosperity
of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your nation,
and boast about your heritage.

6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned;
we have done wrong and have acted wickedly.
7 Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp
the significance of your wondrous works
or remember your many acts of faithful love;
instead, they rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
to make his power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the power of the adversary;
he redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
11 Water covered their foes;
not one of them remained.
12 Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works
and would not wait for his counsel.
14 They were seized with craving in the wilderness
and tested God in the desert.
15 He gave them what they asked for,
but sent a wasting disease among them.

16 In the camp they were envious of Moses
and of Aaron, the Lord’s holy one.
17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it covered the assembly of Abiram.
18 Fire blazed throughout their assembly;
flames consumed the wicked.

19 At Horeb they made a calf
and worshiped the cast metal image.
20 They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating ox.
21 They forgot God their Savior,
who did great things in Egypt,
22 wondrous works in the land of Ham,
awe-inspiring acts at the Red Sea.
23 So he said he would have destroyed them—
if Moses his chosen one
had not stood before him in the breach
to turn his wrath away from destroying them.

24 They despised the pleasant land
and did not believe his promise.
25 They grumbled in their tents
and did not listen to the Lord.
26 So he raised his hand against them with an oath
that he would make them fall in the desert
27 and would disperse their descendants
among the nations,
scattering them throughout the lands.

28 They aligned themselves with Baal of Peor
and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.
29 They angered the Lord with their deeds,
and a plague broke out against them.
30 But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stopped.
31 It was credited to him as righteousness
throughout all generations to come.

32 They angered the Lord at the Waters of Meribah,
and Moses suffered because of them,
33 for they embittered his spirit,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples
as the Lord had commanded them
35 but mingled with the nations
and adopted their ways.
36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38 They shed innocent blood—
the blood of their sons and daughters
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
so the land became polluted with blood.
39 They defiled themselves by their actions
and prostituted themselves by their deeds.

40 Therefore the Lord’s anger burned against his people,
and he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 He handed them over to the nations;
those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were subdued under their power.
43 He rescued them many times,
but they continued to rebel deliberately
and were beaten down by their iniquity.

44 When he heard their cry,
he took note of their distress,
45 remembered his covenant with them,
and relented according to the abundance
of his faithful love.
46 He caused them to be pitied
before all their captors.

47 Save us, Lord our God,
and gather us from the nations,
so that we may give thanks to your holy name
and rejoice in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Hallelujah!

Original Intent

1) Why did the Israelites rebel so frequently against God? (verse 43)
We learn in Psalm 106:43 that God rescued the Israelites “many times, but they continued to rebel deliberately and were beaten down by their iniquity.” Throughout their history, Israel had a pattern of sin and rebellion, followed by captivity, then redemption and rescue by God. Why did they continuously put themselves in harm’s way by disobeying God and forsaking His commands? Author Matthew Henry explains, “the way of sin is down-hill: . . . One sin led to many more, and brought the judgments of God on them.”  Instead of obeying God, the Israelites chose to either ignore His warnings or blatantly rebel against Him. The Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament states, “God’s counsel was to make Israel free and glorious, but they leaned upon themselves, following their own intentions . . . wherefore they perished in their sins.” The Scriptures warn us against choosing our own way over God’s in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” Likewise, Proverbs 3:5 encourages, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” Still, Israel repeatedly trusted her own understanding over the counsel of the Lord. As a result, they repeatedly reaped negative consequences for their sin. Christians today face the same choice Israel did in the Old Testament. Will we trust in God and obey His commands or go our own way? Because He is the same today as He was to Israel, God allows us to face the consequences of our sin, and He also extends mercy to rescue us. My prayer is that we turn to Him for redemption every time we falter.

2) Why did God continue to rescue and forgive His wayward people? (verse 10)
Psalm 106 references Israel’s repeated rebellion against God. They grumbled and complained (Psalm 106:25), ignored God (Psalm 106:13), worshipped idols (Psalm 106:19), followed after sinful nations (Psalm 106:35), and even sacrificed their children to demons (Psalm 106:37). Repeatedly, God rescued and forgave them with incredible mercy! They suffered punishment, but God’s mercy always delivered them. Why would a just and righteous God continue to forgive such a rebellious people? Psalm 106:8 declares, “He saved them for His name’s sake, to make His power known.” Charles Spurgeon asserts, “The Lord very jealously guards His own name and honour. It shall never be said of Him that He cannot or will not save His people, or that He cannot abate the haughtiness of His defiant foes. This respect unto his own honour ever leads Him to deeds of mercy.” God saves to glorify His name and demonstrate His power. He also saved them because He had made a covenant with His people. “When he heard their cry, he took note of their distress, remembered his covenant with them, and relented according to the abundance of his faithful love.” (verses 44-45) Albert Barnes says God “had made gracious promises to the patriarchs; He had promised to be the God of their posterity; He had His own great purposes to accomplish through their nation in the distant future; and on these accounts, He came and blessed them.” His great love motivated Him to provide rescue. The author of this Psalm marveled at the goodness of the Lord by exclaiming, “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.  Who can declare the Lord’s mighty acts or proclaim all the praise due Him?”. (Psalm 106:1-2) We can rejoice along with the psalmist that God’s love and mercy endure even unto today!

3) Why did God allow Moses and Phineas to intervene in His punishment of the people? (verse 23 and verse 30)
In Psalm 106:15 God sent a disease because the people tested Him. In verses 16-18, the people sinned again and were punished by the earth opening up to devour them and a fire that consumed them. Sometimes, though, God was swayed by the pleas of the righteous.  Verse 23 describes how God intended to pour out His wrath on the people, but Moses intervened and God relented. Another time, God sent a plague because of their sin, but Phineas intervened and the plague was removed. (verse 30) God intentionally allowed the prayers and actions of these righteous men to move Him to mercy. Author Charles Spurgeon argues, “Mighty as was the sin of Israel to provoke vengeance, prayer was mightier in turning it away.” Even when Israel’s sin set holy consequences in motion, there was still power in calling on God to save. Author John Gill suggests Moses was a type of Christ, “As Moses was a mediator between God and the people of Israel, so is Christ between God and his people.” John Gill also asserts that Phineas was a type of Christ “who, by doing righteousness, by the atoning sacrifice of himself, and by his intercession, has appeased the wrath of God. . .”  The salvation foreshadowed by Moses and Phineas would come to the world through Christ Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom for all so our sins would be forgiven and we would have direct relationship to the Father. (John 14:6) God used Moses and Phineas to demonstrate to us the importance of intercessory prayer while also pointing our hearts toward the One who would take our sins’ punishment for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), presenting us blameless to Father God if we surrender to Him.

Everyday Application

1) Why did the Israelites rebel so frequently against God? (verse 43)
Years ago a family with five boys showed up at our children’s church. They quickly gained a reputation for their creative ability to defy classroom rules and procedures. Even decades later, I whisper their last name to my husband, one of their teachers, to watch his facial expression! Our teachers redirected, gave warnings, provided think time, connected with parents, and, inevitably, followed through with consequences for unacceptable behavior. Each week the boys arrived with good intentions for following rules, yet, each week they received some kind of consequence. The Israelites in the Old Testament were similar to our lively group of boys; they started out intending to follow God, but frequently got off track. Psalm 106 summarizes Israel’s history as they escaped captivity in Egypt, wandered in the desert, entered Canaan, and endured oppression by their enemies. Every time they disobeyed God, they faced consequences, then repented and cried out to God, who rescued them. It’s not just the Israelites, or rambunctious little boys, who choose to disobey God in favor of their own selfish ways, this is the way of all humans. We know what to do, but we can’t do it for long in our own strength. (Romans 7:18) We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us obey God and refuse sin, we simply cannot do this without Him! Romans 8:12-13 tells those who have trusted Jesus for salvation, “we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” God graciously comes to our rescue when we fall, but He also gives us the Holy Spirit to equip us to follow Him!

2) Why did God continue to rescue and forgive His wayward people? (verse 10)
It is easy to read if Israel’s repeated sin pattern in Psalm 106 and conclude their rebellion was extraordinary. God led them out of slavery in Egypt and on a journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, yet despite His faithfulness, they rebelled and disobeyed. Time after time, God blessed and rescued them, and after a brief season of repentance and piety, they passionately returned to their sin. If our own “wilderness years” deeds and thoughts were all recorded, however, the failures of Israel may seem similar to our own. I know I’ve complained about my circumstances to the Lord right in the midst of answered prayers and an outpouring of blessings. It’s so easy to focus on discomfort and selfish desires and miss the miracles God is doing. There was a time my mother was sick in the hospital for nearly 2 years. I concentrated on the longevity of her illness and the hardships on our family, nearly ignoring how God saved her from death at least twice and answered our prayers for improvement on a near daily basis. My eyes were on the Promised Land of her recovery, but I was ignoring all the blessings of the journey. We are blessed that God does not give up on us when we complain or disobey. He pours out His mercy and saves us for the sake of His name. My prayer is to recognize His provision in my everyday rhythms and accept His grace and forgiveness when I go astray.

3) Why did God allow Moses and Phineas to intervene in His punishment of the people? (verse 23 and verse 30)
For many children, there is no greater advocate than a grandparent. When I was about to get in trouble with my parents at my grandparent’s home, I always knew that running to my “Papaw” would work in my favor. I generally deserved whatever punishment my parents doled out, but my grandpa could get my sentence repealed or reduced, or, if not, he would do something that would make me forget my troubles. I always felt so important and cared for (and relieved!) when Papaw would step in and save the day. Moses and Phineas provided this type of intervention for the Israelites when God was prepared to punish them for their sin and disobedience. Psalm 106:23 tells us God would have destroyed the Israelites if Moses hadn’t pleaded for them. Author John Butler describes Phinehas, “the grandson of Aaron, who made a gallant stand for holiness in a time of degradation to stop the judgment of God upon the people. It is an outstanding example of service.” This encourages me to pray for people when all hope seems lost or when I despair for their lives or their souls. The intercession of Moses and Phineas instructs me to pray for those who are choosing sin over obedience to God or who seem stuck in destructive behaviors. When righteous people pray, God promises that those prayers have a powerful effect. (James 5:16) We are blessed that God hears those prayers for mercy and honors them; pray on! (2 Chronicles 30:9)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
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Catch up with Promised Land Lost!

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

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This is Enough Week One!
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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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The GT Weekend ~Ten Week 2

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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) Feelings of disappointment and ‘never enough’ can easily seep into our relationship with our earthly parents. Maybe they are, or were, difficult to please. Maybe you never really felt understood, or perhaps there were so many layers of conflict and communication barriers it was difficult to deeply connect. Maybe your parent has passed and you are left with loss, or perhaps even regret. Relationships are messy and complicated, even healthy ones! Even if you enjoy a rich, close connection with your parent, expectations and feelings of being “boxed in” to a previous role, can feel stifling and awkward. While it can seem natural to place these human failings and struggles onto our relationship with God, He is altogether other. Performance demands have no place. Shame is bound up. Love is unleashed in brilliant colors never before experienced! Where have you placed God in the same category as your parents? Take that to Him and ask Him to reveal His Father heart of love to you in new, vibrant ways!

2) Rebekah shared transparently on Wednesday on how easy it is to fall into the trap of working hard to earn God’s favor. We want Him to smile on us. We want His protection, His blessing, and His favor, so we will work to do things to please Him. There is simply nothing we can do to make ourselves more winsome to God! He hand-crafted us to mirror His own image. He already delights over us, and He cannot possible love us deeper than He already does. Because He is infinitely good, kind, faithful, and true, He adamantly will not love us less. Here’s the kicker, this extravagant love of God is not limited to you or me, unbeliever or church-goer. The Lord views each and every life with the same lavish love, utterly regardless of who we are or what we have done. Who is in your life that you have been hard-hearted towards or stingy with your love? Ask the Lord to shift your perspective, instead seeing them as highly valued and adored as a fellow bearer of God’s own image. How can you begin loving them more like Jesus this week?

3) Cheated. Even saying the word riles our hearts and we begin feeling the need to take up arms against someone who wronged our right or privilege. Take cheating within the context of marriage and the hurt sinks deep very quickly. Maybe you’ve experienced what it is to walk through being cheated on, or maybe you’ve been the cheater. Circumstances are complicated, reasons and justifications abound as quickly as the hurt does, and the trail back to where the distrust began is long and usually involves more than one party in the relationship. God didn’t design us for heartbreak. His perfect intention was for us to find delight in another and sink deep into trust as both people love the other unconditionally. Maybe you find your eyeballs rolling into your head at this point because this description feels so unlikely. Remember the heart of this specific commandment is to point towards a God who will absolutely never be unfaithful and will also always love us unconditionally. Focus on investing in the only relationship that will not leave you hungry for more. What can you do to develop your relationship with God more deeply?

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 2 Peter 1:3-4 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

Prayer Journal
Father God, I love this passage of Your Word and the truths You speak of here. You have given everything I need for life and godliness simply by leaning deeper and deeper into knowing You! You are unfathomable accessible. Lord, I truly could sit and ponder this extravagant love for the rest of my days and never have plumbed its depths. Your glory and goodness have been made known to me in every moment; You are waiting to be embraced and known more fully by me. Every breath I take is an invitation to know You better! Oh Lord, how distracted I become by focusing on the fleeting things and passions I can see with my eyes or feel in my heart! I will quickly shift my gaze off of You for lesser loves. Yet, Your truth revealed here speaks wonderfully that I do not need to fall prey to these desires to chase the lesser. In You alone is my fullness found. Keep my heart here next to Yours, remind me how sweet Your truth and love are to my soul!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Redeemed Day 3 The Lord Is Against Me

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 1:6-14
Joel 2:18-32
Romans 5:6-11

Redeemed, Day 3

No access to food.
Out of work.
Uprooted from home.
Three family deaths.

In a post-COVID-19 world, these descriptions are more easily relatable for all of us.
As we watched our entire globe shut down from a virus we couldn’t stop, stealing away commonplace freedoms, our jobs, our toilet paper (!!), and threatening the lives of those we love most, our world was upended. The life we’d enjoyed before phrases like “shelter-at-home”, “quarantine”, and “shortage” became everyday idioms seemed to quickly fade away and we wondered when, or if, “normal” would ever return.

For those who lost precious loved ones, nothing would ever be the same.

Ache.
Loss.
Broken.
Empty.
Bitter.

These words filled the pages of Naomi’s story.
Her tagline had become, “My life is too bitter for others to share.” (Ruth 1:13)
She was alone, and had resigned herself to seek out her existence in the lowest position possible of loss and defeat.

“The Lord Is Against Me!” her heart screamed.

One day, Naomi would dandle grandbabies on her knee. (Ruth 4:16)
One day, hope would shine brilliantly where her tears now flowed without end.
One day, Naomi would witness the unimaginable happen before her eyes as her daughter-in-law remarried and restoration was reborn. (Ruth 4:10-13)
One day, Naomi’s great-great grandson would be King David, the man after God’s own heart, through whose line would one day come the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:5-6)
One day, happiness would dance in all the places where brokenness now resided. (Ruth 4:17)

But for now, all her heart could feel was empty, bitter, and broken.
Though she frequently repeated what she felt to be true to others, “the Lord is against me”, it wasn’t true.

The Lord God hadn’t left her.
He was, and always had been, infinitely closer than she imagined. (Isaiah 41:9-10)

The Lord God saw every loss she’d experienced.
And He carried her tears in His own bottle. (Psalm 56:8-9)

The Lord God had not glossed over her emptiness with the callous heart of an all-powerful Being.
He was intent on her restoration and her filling. (Joel 2:25-27)

Despite the true reality of the Lord’s ceaseless presence, His purposeful call on her life, and His tender-loving compassion as He carried and guided her,
all Naomi could voice was, “The Lord Is Against Me.”

Oh my heart, I am right there with you, Naomi!
It’s so much easier to allow the immense weight of feelings and circumstance wrap around us like a heavy knitted blanket, than to shirk the comforter, pick up the armor of God, and sink our fingers into the tightly woven rope of God’s truth.

With gritted teeth and streaming tears, we CAN cry aloud….
You ARE near to the brokenhearted, God! (Psalm 34:18)
You DO see my painful circumstances! (2 Chronicles 16:9)
You are NOT oblivious to the widespread devastation I feel in my heart (Psalm139:1-5)
You have wiped my tears before, and I KNOW You will do it again. (Psalm 56:8-9)
You are a God of FULLNESS. (Ephesians 3:19)
You are LOVE! (1 John 4:16)
You hold all HOPE, and You, You cannot lie. (Titus 1:2)

So, here, in the shadows of my heart’s jagged edges, I will choose to cling to truth over deception. I will lift a tongue to praise You, one slow word at a time. As tears continue to streak my face, I will repeat, “You are my God, and there is no other!” (1 Chronicles 17:20)

We stand generations far removed, and deeply benefited, from Naomi’s story, easily tracing the handiwork of the Lord over her remarkable life. We can quickly point out the flag of redemption wildly waving amidst the rubble of her seeming defeat.

But Naomi could not.
And God still walked beside her.

Sister, friend, ME, hello!
How deeply the Lord God loves the journey of walking with us!

He is not repulsed by our lack of faith, our bitter tears, our slowly plodding feet, or the misnomers with which we title our stories. He smiles, holds out His hand, wipes our tears, and invites us to take just one more step. “Trust Me.”

The Almighty is not offended at our painful, angry jabs back at Him, nor is He threatened by our dismal decision to wrap ourselves in emotion rather than truth.

But He does want to move us forward,
into truth,
into fullness,
and into redemption.

As we move forward with Him, He faithfully provides in the most unlikely ways, at the most unlikely times, but that is just like the Lord our God to take our impossible and draw out God’s glory! (Matthew 19:26)

As Naomi, bitter, hurt, angry, and grieving, determined to return to her homeland because “she had heard the Lord had paid attention to His people’s need by providing them food” (Ruth 1:6), the Lord provided by giving Naomi the gift of Ruth.

Ruth would be a physical reminder to Naomi that God had not abandoned her.
Ruth would live out loyalty and love that mirrored God’s heart to her.
Ruth would wrap her arms around Naomi’s, weep with Naomi, and walk every step beside her, loving Naomi as God loved her.

And herein we see the beauty of the Lord’s provision to us in the middle of our gutsy, rash decree that “The Lord Is Against Me.”

No, Sister, He isn’t.
He never has been.

When we pushed the Lord away angrily, He drew near and sacrificed Himself for us, spilling His blood and providing the payment for a debt to Death we owed, but could never pay. He provided then, and He provides for us now. (Romans 5:6-11)

Hope.
Forgiveness.
Renewal.
Redemption.
Give Him your pen, Sister; let Him finish your story.

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Questions Day 2 In The Presence Of Sin: 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 In The Presence Of Sin!

The Questions

1) The author includes four “there is no one” phrases in this passage. Why does the author draw attention to humanity’s shared sinful state?

2) Why does the author include a list of body parts in verses 13-18?

3) How can we better understand what it means to have a “fear of God” (verse 18) from this passage of Scripture?

Romans 3:10-18

As it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Original Intent

1) The author includes four “there is no one” phrases in this passage. Why does the author draw attention to humanity’s shared sinful state?
Before we dive into this passage, we need to set the stage. Paul is the author of Romans, and he addresses this letter to believers in Rome, the economic, political, social, religious, and cultural center of the most powerful empire in the Western world. Like many new Christian churches, the Roman church included both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews). Due to the religious, cultural, and political divides between these two groups, Paul recognized there was growing tension between Jews who rigorously upheld Old Testament teachings (i.e., the law) and Gentiles who thought the Jewish law was obsolete. Paul then sought to bridge the gap between these theological positions by articulating this truth: the law establishes all of humanity’s natural sinful state and points us to our need for a Savior, who is Jesus Christ. In this passage from Romans, Paul seeks to unite Jew to Gentiles by alluding to readings from the wisdom literature, which include Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes. For example, the expression “there is no one” is used in Psalm 14:3, “All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.” The writer of Ecclesiastes 7:20 also uses this phrase, “There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.” Yet, the verses from the Old Testament do not provide a permanent source of redemption for our depravity. Paul’s letter in Romans reminds his original audience that good behavior and the law cannot save us, but our perfect, righteous savior Jesus Christ can.

2) Why does the author include a list of body parts in verses 13-18?
Paul does not mince his words here. If you are familiar with the Old Testament, you might find some verses oddly familiar. Like verse 13, the writer of Psalm 5:9 observes, “For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues.” Paul also draws on the same imagery of Psalm 140:3, “They make their tongues as sharp as a snake’s bite; viper’s venom is under their lips.” Do you see a trend here? Once again, he pulls from passages in the Old Testament to point Gentile believers to the whole story of Scripture and to demonstrate the corrupting nature of sin. He also references Psalm 10:7 in verse 14, Isaiah 59:7-8 in verse 17, and Psalm 36:1 in verse 18. Additionally, Paul ties this list of body parts to negative words and images; “open grave,” “deceive,” “venom,” “shed blood,” and “ruin and wretchedness” paint a terrifying portrait of humanity. In other words, sin leads to death, and apart from Jesus Christ, there is no escape.

3) How can we better understand what it means to have a “fear of God” (verse 18) from this passage of Scripture?
The “fear of God” would have been a familiar phrase for much of Paul’s audience. For example, the Old Testament writers described the most faithful and wise as having a fear of God (Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9). These writers do not define fear as a type of dread or phobia but as, “more the feeling of reverent regard for…God, tempered with awe and fear of the punishment of disobedience.” As the Psalmist writes, “For the LORD is great and is highly praised; he is feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:4). After all, He is a “great and awesome God” (Deuteronomy 7:21), “A great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2), and none are like Him (Jeremiah 10:7). In the broader context of Scripture, to not fear God is foolish and impious. Paul’s statement, “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (verse 18) means we are prone to forget our primary purpose is to worship our indescribable God. In our natural, sinful state, we go down a path of ruin rather than a “path of peace”. (verse 17) The only right way to peace is through the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), who restores peace between wayward humanity and God.

Everyday Application

1) The author includes four “there is no one” phrases in this passage. Why does the author draw attention to humanity’s shared sinful state?
Our church today is not very different from the first-century Roman church. We often applaud external behavior modification over considering the posture of an individual’s heart. Have we not seen many a social media influencer praising their self-righteousness one minute only to find themselves caught in an ethical scandal the next? However, we were never supposed to put our salvation hope in a Christian leader. Instead, Paul points his readers to the extravagant grace found in the Gospel for “all who believe”, “But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:21-24) As Paul makes clear, every person, whether rich or poor, black or white, man or woman, are united in their need for a Savior. Unlike the celebrity in your Instagram feed, Jesus Christ died a death he did not deserve so you might live and have eternal life. (John 3:16) Paul’s letter then speaks very much to our moment as it did to those early believers two thousand years ago.

2) Why does the author include a list of body parts in verses 13-18?
Death is not something we like to dwell on. In today’s culture, self-lauded experts encourage us to eat right, exercise, and, if needed, visit the plastic surgeon for a little “nip-tuck” to look our best well into old age. But here is the universal truth, despite how well you eat, how much you exercise, and how wrinkle-free your skin is, you will die. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us of this fact, “No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death…”. (Ecclesiastes 8:8) From the moment in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve committed the first sin, death entered the world. Not only does sin alter our physical bodies, but it also leads to spiritual death because we now cannot enjoy eternal life with God. The writers of Scripture also make clear that we cannot resolve the death problem on our own (Isaiah 24:1-6; Matthew 19:16-22; Romans 8:5-11, Romans 8:18-25; Hebrews 9:22). Even Paul admits this situation seems hopeless when he writes, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”. (Romans 7:24) But in the very next verse, Paul rejoices, because our hope is in our perfect savior, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:25). The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever”. (Hebrews 7:26-28) This high priest whom this writer speaks of so highly? He is none other than Jesus Christ.

3) How can we better understand what it means to have a “fear of God” (verse 18) from this passage of Scripture?
Fear can be a good thing. When teaching my three-year-old son the ways of the world, I have taught him the stovetop is hot, to look both ways before crossing the street, and not to talk to strangers. I am trying to ingrain in his little mind that a healthy dose of fear can prevent unnecessary pain, suffering, and, in some cases, death. While Christians should not live in a constant state of fear, the Old Testament writers, and Paul, demonstrate how the fear of God is a gift. Paul writes that we should not only “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), but also that we should “cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God”. (2 Corinthians 7:11) When we rightly respect and worship God, we are more likely to live a lifestyle of confession and repentance. Ultimately, Jesus modeled how to we are to fear God. He demonstrated genuine love and reverence by laying down His life for humanity’s sin so we might enjoy eternal life, not death.

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Catch up with In The Presence Of Sin!

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!
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Our Current Study Theme!

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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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Esther Day 6 The Price Of Obedience

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 11:18-28
Esther 3:1-6
Luke 14:25-34
Romans 6:15-23
James 4:4-17

Esther, Day 6

I sat at the small table with my journal open as I closed my eyes and breathed in the unusually quiet moment. Gently, He pressed into my spirit.

Ask her for forgiveness.

The name He whispered rang between my ears, and my mind stuttered. Umm…WHAT? Did I hear You correctly? That can’t be right…I haven’t done anything wrong! For what, Lord? 

Does it matter? The question resonated in His still, quiet way.

I took a breath and squared my shoulders. No, it doesn’t. I will do it. I will obey. But Lord…it might help the conversation go a little more smoothly if I know what caused the rift I’m restoring. What am I supposed to say when she asks what I am asking her to forgive…and I come up empty? What will she think then? Am I supposed to tell her I don’t know? I hate to break it to You, but that might not go so well. 

Restore the relationship. His voice was a little firmer this time.

Okay. 

Now.

Have you ever found yourself in that place, Love? On the receiving end of a divine directive leaving you knee deep in questions…and neck deep in confusion? The longer I walk with the Lord, the more convinced I become that the God Who loves to converse with us chooses to speak to us in a way that sparks all those questions.

He could give us a vision to shake our perception of reality and inspire immediate obedience without a single question. He could speak audibly, shaking Heaven and earth. He could speak through a burning bush, or write on the wall of our living room, or send an angel to deliver a message.

But, it fills His Father-heart to draw us into deeper intimacy through dialogue with Him. As we seek to understand His work and His voice, we find ourselves pressing fervently into a more intimate relationship, eager to hear Him and know Him.

Obedience is a theme the Lord has been speaking to me about for most of my adult life, but over the past few months He has been putting an even finer point on the difference between obedience and submission.

As a strong-willed child, obedience never came naturally. I remember questioning practically every thing my parents directed. I remember wishing I were more agreeable like some of my siblings. I even remember being disgusted with myself for the way I often responded. The internal battle I wrestled on a daily basis was great.
I wanted to simply obey and be agreeable, but something in me needed to know the why, and the how, and if I could possibly do it differently.
To my parents’ ever-loving-chagrin, I tested every boundary.

My strong-willed child-self didn’t fully understand what the Lord has been teaching me about obedience and submission: Obedience is the choice to intentionally bend our will in response to our Father’s directive. Submission is the heart posture He cultivates within us when we choose to make Him our highest priority.

Love, did you know it is possible to obey without submitting? We can obey with trudging feet and a disgruntled countenance. We can obey with pride. We can obey with anger. We can obey with comparison, and envy, and a spirit of competition.

But when we obey out of our flesh, we are forsaking the relationship.
We are missing revelation and grasping religion instead. 

I don’t know what went through Mordecai’s mind when King Ahaseurus decreed all should bow to Haman, but he did know just what meant to disobey the king’s order.
Mordecai knew who he was, and Whose he was.

He was one of God’s chosen people; he knew he’d been set apart. Because his identity was wholly found in God, this intimate, experiential knowledge bolstered his bravery in the face of what should have been certain death. Others in the king’s court reported Mordecai’s bold refusal, reporting him to Haman. It stands to reason that Mordecai was most likely ostracized as soon as other officials at the King’s Gate realized he would not compromise his faith to please the king.

Mordecai could have joined the ranks of all those who face persecution and death for their faith. He didn’t know what the future would hold. Still, Mordecai chose to obey his God. He chose to forsake his pride, his status, his social acceptance, his name, even his very life.

Do you know what I don’t picture when I read the account of Mordecai refusing to bow to Haman? I don’t picture a man choosing to obey reluctantly. I don’t picture a man hiding behind curtains, or disguising his face. He wasn’t grumbling or complaining that he was being forced to do something he didn’t really feel comfortable doing.

Mordecai submitted. 

His heart posture was willing. He was in right relationship with the Lord, unencumbered by pride, or self-interest, or self-preservation. It wasn’t about him, at all. Not really.

And because Mordecai’s heart posture was one of submission, the Lord’s plan to preserve His chosen people was fulfilled through Esther.

Sister, what is our good Father highlighting to you today? Where is He stirring your heart? Have you been going through the motions of obedience, but your heart posture has not been right before the Lord? Where are you holding on to your own designs, rather than leaning in to what Your Creator has planned?

We all have areas where we need the Lord to reveal direction.
Spend some time with Him today, and ask Him to speak to you.
He longs to share His heart with you!

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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 Esther 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 Esther!

Pause 3 Day 6 Most Excellent Way

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Pause 3, Day 6

All the rules. Over 600 of them.
All the punishment that must be enacted because of infractions on those rules.
All the bloodshed required for forgiveness of sin.

But all pointed forward.

In the Old Testament, God set up a covenant with Israel to clearly mark out what holiness looked like, and what failing that holiness also looked like.
Spoiler alert: everyone failed.

So, sacrifices were required and bloodshed was required in order to pay for the crime against a holy God.
Sin had a price, that price was death.

In order to spare Israel so they all didn’t end up dying for their sin within days, God allowed animals to be sacrificed in place of people. For hundreds of years, the system continued.
Sin, and sacrifice for that sin, was the rhythm for all Jewish people.

The fact that they were indeed sinners in need of a blood sacrifice to atone for their sin was a blatantly known fact.
Every Jew was keenly aware of three things:
1) they were in a covenant relationship with God
2) they constantly failed to keep their end of the covenant
3) God was rich in mercy to allow another’s blood to cover their own payment

And this is where we often misstep in our culture today.
We like to forget we are sinners.

It’s just a white lie.
She will never know I was talking about her behind her back.
Who doesn’t think he’s hot, so what if I think about him when I’m with my husband?
Girl, I had every right to be rude!
Sisters, we are experts at justifying our sin.

No matter how long we’ve walked with Jesus or if we’ve never actually crossed the line of faith, we are still experts at covering up our sin, categorizing it as anything else but sin.

So, here we are stuck in sin, just like ancient Israel.

The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant.

A new covenant, where one sacrifice would atone for all sin, across all time.
Sin still has a price, and it’s still death.

But Christ Jesus, God the Son, took that punishment Himself.
No more animal sacrifice were needed because He, being fully God and fully man, which meant He lived our life for us in all the righteousness of God, took our rightly deserved punishment as He poured out His innocent blood.

This is the blood of the new covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sin.

The old way of forgiveness swallowed up by the most excellent covenant where sin is atoned for by perfect righteousness.

Sisters, this covenant is for our everyday living!
When we surrender to Jesus, we enter into this covenant, paid for by Christ!
Walk forward in forgiveness!

Today's Invitation

1) Read Hebrews 7:26-8:13 and answer these 3 questions in your journal:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today.

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Hebrews 7:26-8:13

For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.

8:1 Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. 6 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8 But finding fault with his people, he says:
See, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
9 not like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in my covenant.
10 For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,
and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least to the greatest of them.
12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins.

13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Pause 3 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 Pause 3!

Sketched VI Day 12 Marsha: 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 Marsha!

The Questions

1) Why did the Law of Moses command the stoning of an adulterer?

2) Why didn’t Jesus condemn the adulterous woman?

3) How is it possible to “go and sin no more?”

John 7:53-8:11

53 Then each one went to his house. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.

3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5 In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, Lord,” she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

Original Intent

1) Why did the Law of Moses command the stoning of an adulterer?
In Leviticus 20:10, we read the penalty for adultery in Jewish law: “If a man commits adultery with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.”  Modern readers might wonder why the penalty for adultery was so severe.  David Guzik suggests “this was because of the exceedingly great social consequences of this sin. God commanded the ultimate penalty to discourage it.”  In John 8:4-5, when Jewish leaders drag an adulterous woman in front of Jesus to be condemned for her sins, they are actually more interested in trapping Jesus than seeking justice. The Law is their proverbial playground because they know it backwards and forwards and every nuance in between. In prideful arrogance, they wanted to trap Jesus so they could prove He was not who He claimed to be. They wanted to either make Jesus call for her stoning and contradict His teachings about love and mercy, or call for her to be set free and contradict the law. They cared nothing for the woman or her scenario; they simply were using her for their own benefit. Author David Guzik notes, the “rules for evidence in capital cases were extremely strict. The actual act had to be observed by multiple witnesses who agreed exactly in their testimony. As a practical matter, virtually no one was executed for adultery, since this was a relatively private sin.”  Jesus knew their intentions and used their tactics against them.  According to author James Montgomery Boice, proving adultery “would be almost impossible were the situation not a setup.” So most likely the leaders did not have the appropriate evidence or had arranged a setup to entrap the woman in order to state, “This woman was caught in the act of adultery.” (verse 4) Jesus told the leaders, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her”. (John 8:7)  Jesus knew none of them would remain to condemn her.

2) Why didn’t Jesus condemn the adulterous woman?
Under Jewish laws (Leviticus 20) most sexual sins were punishable by death.  Since the law is clear, the accusers of the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11 expected Jesus to condemn her before everyone.  But He didn’t.  According to author James Merritt, “The reason Jesus did not condemn the woman in this story is because he was about to go to the cross and be condemned Himself for this woman.” As author Jon Bloom explains, “Jesus was the only one in the crowd that day who could, in perfect righteousness, require the woman’s death. And he was the only one who could, in perfect righteousness, pardon her. Mercy triumphed over judgment for her at great cost to Jesus.”  Jesus did not come to condemn us, but to rescue us.  John 3:17 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” We have this amazing gift that, even though we stand before Jesus guilty of sin, He does not condemn us.  Instead, He takes our blame on Himself.  Jon Bloom suggests that “Every one of us, in a sense, is that woman. Our horrible sins — our shameful lusts, destructive tongues, murderous hatred, corrupting greed, covetous pride — stand exposed before God as starkly as in that temple courtyard. Our condemnation is deserved.  And yet, Christian, Jesus speaks these stunning words to you: Neither do I condemn you.  Why? Because he has been condemned in your place. ALL your guilt has been removed. No stone of God’s righteous wrath will crush you because Jesus was crushed for your iniquities.”  It is our joy to accept this gift and share it with everyone we encounter!

3) How is it possible to “go and sin no more?”
When those accusing the adulterous woman were confronted with their own sin, they dropped their stones and left her at the feet of Jesus. (John 8:9)  Jesus did not condemn her either, but told her to “go and sin no more”. (John 8:10)  Author Michelle Van Loon points out, “His stunning grace changed everything and gave her just what she needed in order to walk in His ways. Jesus was asking her to do more than avoid sinning. He was asking her to live out the mercy she’d received. He was asking her to forgive—and keep on forgiving—as she’d been forgiven. The only way she could leave her life of sin was by pardoning the man with whom she’d been accused of having the affair, her accusers, and herself.”  Author William Barclay concurs: “Here was no easy forgiveness; here was a challenge which pointed a sinner to heights of goodness of which she had never dreamed. Jesus confronts the bad life with the challenge of the good.”  In this passage Jesus releases the woman to move forward in freedom with the ability to choose a different kind of life from the one she had been living.

Everyday Application

1) Why did the Law of Moses command the stoning of an adulterer?
I probably should have been a doctor if my illegible handwriting is any indication.  My third grade teacher even told my parents I would probably never have good handwriting.  When my aunt heard that, she worked with me on my handwriting homework, and my teacher was duly impressed with my improvement. Alas, I did not ultimately develop good penmanship. I had no interest in putting in the amount of work required.  One perfect worksheet took me hours to complete. Doing that on a daily basis would be unsustainable.  I think I would have the same exasperated attitude toward obeying all the rules in the Bible if I had to do it without the grace of God.  The Israelites certainly would have agreed with me.  There are 613 commandments in the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Israelites had a difficult time keeping them.  The penalties for disobedience could be severe, like death in the case of sexual immorality. (Leviticus 20)  Even so, the Israelites rebelled, and they suffered for their refusal to obey God. (Amos 3:2)  God knew we needed a Savior, so He sent Jesus to fulfill the law for us (Matthew 5:17) and save us from our sins, a job we could never do on our own.  I am overjoyed that I don’t have to try so hard to do the impossible.  Jesus took my punishment so I can stand blameless before God.  His love, and the power of the Holy Spirit in my life, help me obey His commandments and give me grace when I fail.  I don’t have to be perfect because I am washed by the blood of the Lamb! (1 Peter 1:18-19)

2) Why didn’t Jesus condemn the adulterous woman?
You can’t spend much time on social media without learning a little something about condemnation.  Rant about inconsistent sizing in women’s clothing lines and be condemned as spoiled and privileged.  Post a picture of yourself cheering on your favorite sports team and be shamed for not showing more enthusiasm for things that really matter, like animal shelters or feeding the homeless.  It has happened to all of us, and all of us have done it to others.  We read a headline, form an opinion, and pile on in the comments with our two cents.  How strange it seems to us when someone offers to take on the condemnation of another.  We are used to laying blame, not accepting blame for something we did not do.  But this is what Jesus did for us!  The Bible tells us in Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” This is because Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross, dying so we might live free from the weight of sin and the consequence of spiritual death. (Romans 8:3)  Jesus was perfect and sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21), so He became the propitiation for our sins.  He took our place; the condemnation we deserved He bore for us so we could be reconciled to God the Father.  He did not condemn the adulterous woman in John 8, though she was guilty and deserved her punishment, because He came to save her from that sin.  He came to save us from our sin as well, and present us blameless to His Father. (Colossians 1:22)  If you are a Christian, freshly embrace the fact that you are free in Christ!  If you have never known that freedom from condemnation, call on Jesus today and accept His gift of grace and forgiveness!

3) How is it possible to “go and sin no more?”
Jesus has redeemed me and does not condemn me, just like this woman. (Romans 8:1)  But that does not give me permission to continue sinning.  Pastor Greg Laurie notes that God wants us to “leave our lifestyle of sin. It doesn’t mean we have to be perfect, because no one is. It doesn’t mean we need to be sinless. But it should mean we will sin less.” There are many Scriptures we can use to help guide us as we listen to the Spirit inside of us teaching us how to “sin less.”  One such verse is Galatians 5:16, “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Author David Platt suggests we can walk by the Spirit if we “listen to the Spirit’s Word, discern His will, and follow His guidance.”   Platt also asserts that “Christians must decide to walk by the Spirit continually, and at the same time the Spirit is at work to create new appetites and give new power to resist the flesh and to please God.”  Another helpful verse is Luke 9:23, “Then He said to them all, If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Reverend Billy Graham explains how this means “to put to death their own plans and desires, and then turn their lives over to Him and do His will every day.”  It is not easy to “go and sin no more,” but it is possible with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the leading of God as He makes us new!

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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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The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched IV Week 2

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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) With parents who divorced when she was only 6, but still raised in believing households, Cassidy was eventually faced with a difficult realization. She believed God had abandoned her when she needed Him most. Sure, she believed He loved her, but there was certainly no possible way He could have been with her during her most painful moments, she felt so deeply abandoned. Eventually, through studying God’s word for herself, seeking wise counsel, and learning to transparently live in biblical community, Cassidy traded in the heavy, hurtful lies she’d been believing for truth grounded in Scripture. Where have your own wounds left you holding onto lies that Scripture refutes? Have you held up your beliefs lately to the light of His Word and examined them against solid truth?

2) With vulnerable transparency, Danielle shared on Wednesday of her struggle to always perform and achieve perfect success, while also never missing out on an opportunity to party, drink, and smoke. Keeping up with two polar opposite lifestyles, however, found her wrapped in shame and guilty secrets. Surely, God despised her, she thought, and she pushed away from church and faith. God’s relentless pursuit of Danielle’s heart eventually caught up to her as she gave birth and she realized with sudden awareness how much she wanted her son to know Christ. God used the small life of her infant son to bring Danielle back to God’s heart. What small things can you see along your own journey that have arrested your attention for God’s purposes? Take time to write down a few of those pivotal markers, then write out a praise to the Lord for the ways He has lovingly pursued you!

3) Denise hit rock bottom with her marriage unraveling on all sides while welcoming the precious life of her daughter, and later her son. In her words, she “couldn’t do it (her) own anymore”. Where have you voiced a similar sentiment? Contrarily, where are you actively working to keep up the hard work and figure this out on your own strength? Whether you’ve crossed the line of faith or not, we are all tempted to do it on our own. It’s when we, like Denise, realize we just cannot do it, that we are in the sweetest place to benefit from the tenderness of Jesus as His love finally catches up to us and we surrender to His gracious forgiveness of every single time we walked away. Spend some time writing down where you’ve pushed hard to do it on your own in the past, and ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of where you might still be doing it now.

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 John 8:12 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Prayer Journal
Oh Lord, how m-a-n-y times am I convinced that I can survive on my own. I attempt to create my own “light” in my life, building my own kind of success. How quickly I am willing to trade the delicacies of your life-giving light for the foolishness of my own pride. Lord, I confess, that often, I’m too wrapped up in myself to even realize my broken appetite for Self and Sin. Please, Lord, un-blind my eyes. Help me to see the Treasure of Your Light and to pursue You above all else. Thank you for being my Rescuing Savior, always pursuing me with Love!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

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