Transformation

Champion Day 13 The Unexpected Presence

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Timothy 1:15-16
1 Timothy 2:3-7
Acts 7 
Acts 9:1-21
Isaiah 66:1-2

Champion, Day 13

When we think of Paul the apostle, we might be in awe of his ministry. He traveled throughout the ancient world, teaching, preaching, and planting churches in the name of Christ. Much of his ministry was to Gentiles; he wanted everyone to hear and receive the Gospel of Christ.

Along the way, he endured many hardships. (2 Corinthians 11:24-29) He was imprisoned and placed under house arrest several times. He was beaten and stoned and finally martyred for the cause of Christ. His intense suffering for and dedication to the gospel could elevate him to hero status in our books.

But Paul didn’t start out so passionate for Jesus. He began life as Saul, the son of a tent maker in Tarsus (part of modern-day Turkey). A Roman citizen by birth, he was raised in a Jewish household, but his father’s tents were sought after throughout the known world, so Saul was exposed to and learned how to engage with people from all over the world. This skill set later served him well as a servant to Christ.

He was intelligent enough to earn a coveted spot in religious training with Gamaliel, a learned Hebrew scholar. Through his training, the Law and Torah became Saul’s life. He went on to join the Pharisees, the strictest sect of the religious groups in Jerusalem.

Saul had studied the prophets, but when he encountered word of a slain and resurrected Messiah, his devout practice of the Law and the strict traditions of the faith spiritually blinded him to the reality of Jesus. He joined with other Jewish leaders and Rome, the ruling government, in attempting to put a decisive and violent end to the gospel and followers of Jesus.

He became so vehement in his opposition to Jesus and His followers that when the opportunity arose, he began to hunt down the disciples of Jesus. Saul was instrumental in the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

After proclaiming Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish Messianic prophecy, Stephen was stoned, “[a]nd the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”  (Acts 7:58)

This was a sign of respect and acknowledgment of the leadership of Saul. That incident seemed to fuel the anger and violence in Saul, “[who] was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:3)

At this point in Saul’s story, I think we’d readily agree with his assessment of himself as the worst of sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) There’s nothing good or godly about this villain, we’d mutter as we disgustedly scratch his name off our list of Bible heroes. Champion of the faith? I don’t think so.

And we’d be right.
There was nothing special or heroic in Saul, only a heart bent toward self-righteousness, and the status and power to widely enact his cruelty.

The champion of his story is Someone else entirely.

For then came a trip to Damascus.
“Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 

As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul said.

‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’

Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing.”
(Acts 9:1-8)

It took a literal blindness to open his spiritual eyes to the Truth.

As was custom following a significant life event, Saul changed his name to Paul. His name wasn’t the only thing that changed, though. After his encounter with Jesus, the trajectory of Paul’s life shifted radically.

He’d met his Champion, and with the Spirit of God living and breathing inside of him, nothing would stop him from spreading the very Gospel he once despised . . . not those shipwrecks or beatings or even the threat of death.

In Paul’s story, we find hope for ourselves.

Throughout his letters to early churches, he reminds his listeners where he came from and if he can come to know Christ and be saved, so can they.

“‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

I imagine Paul’s words echoing across the generations to us, beckoning us to meet our Champion, encouraging us no one is beyond the reach of His mercy and grace.

There is much to commend Paul for, and much to learn from him.

Whole libraries could be filled with books written about Paul, both the parts of life that serve as a cautionary tale, and the parts that reflect a dedicated servant of Christ.

For today, we’ll close with this simple invitation, the same Jesus who loved and transformed Paul is reaching out to you. Come, your Champion awaits.

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Build Day 10 Building Restoration

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 8
Romans 3:21-24
John 1:1-18

Build, Day 10

Before Nehemiah began his quest to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, his friend Ezra was on the scene to bring the Israelite community back together after years of exile in Babylon. (Ezra 7) Ezra gathered exiled Israelites from Babylon, uniting them with those already in Jerusalem to bring spiritual restoration as a community to the nation.

As Nehemiah governs God’s people in Jerusalem and works to rebuild the wall, he finds a partner in the spiritual leader, Ezra. When the wall is finally rebuilt, Ezra and Nehemiah join forces to point their people back to God. (Nehemiah 8) What a refreshing view of spiritual and governing leaders coming together for the benefit of their people and the glory of God!

For seven days, Ezra and other spiritual leaders read the Torah and taught its meaning to the people.

And the people began responding.

After years of being unable to hear God’s word and celebrate their religious holidays, the Israelites began repenting. They listened and followed instructions to build the same festival shelters their forefathers had built; they began celebrating God through feasting together, and they began worshiping the Lord with JOY.

Joy was restored.

Can you imagine, after 70 years of slavery and exile, doing anything but grumbling and throwing yourself a pity party? I don’t know about you, but I’d be attending that pity party, table for one!

But this is the power of God’s Holy Word: to build back up what has been torn down, to transform us and restore us to the beautiful, joyful creation He intended us to be.

It’s easy to read this story on the other side, thousands of years later, and quickly pinpoint where the Israelites made mistakes. Yet, we are in need of the same restoration God graciously offered them in their renewed city, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23-24)

Just as the Israelites were exiled from Jerusalem, so in our sin, we were exiled from a relationship with our Creator and Father.

But then God’s Word was made flesh in the form of Jesus, and a whole new era of restoration began. (John 1:1-18) Just as Ezra and Nehemiah made space for the Word of God to be heard, taught, and practiced, Jesus was God’s Word incarnate, dwelling among us, teaching us how to live and turn back to God.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus was the way for restoration.

Now, as we live on the other side of restoration, in relationship with God, we wait for the second coming of Jesus and the restoration of the world as we know it.
Don’t we see it around us?
Don’t we see it in ourselves?
We’re living in “the now and the not yet” of restoration.

So, what do we do as we wait for our final restoration?
Where do we find our joy in the meantime?

We remember the dedication of Ezra and Nehemiah and we turn to God’s Word. We seek it, and we allow others to teach us. We learn and practice what it says. We gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ and we celebrate all God has done.

Here, we find joy.
We find daily renewal and restoration.
We find hope when it seems all is lost, and we feel like we’ve endured 70 years of exile.

Will you join me in continuing to dig into God’s word? (Look at you, doing that right now!)
Will you seek understanding?
Will you do what His Word says?
Will you gather your friends and family to delight in God together?
Will you remember to find Joy?

Because you, my friend, have been Restored.

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

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Training Day 7 Filled With Him: 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!
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The Questions

1) Who is writing this psalm and what type of psalm is this?

2) What does it mean to “meditate on Your precepts”?

3) What does it mean to “not forget Your word”?

Psalm 119:15-16

15 I will meditate on Your precepts
and think about Your ways.
16 I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

Original Intent

1) Who is writing this psalm and what type of psalm is this?
Unlike other books in the Bible, Psalms doesn’t have a single author. Instead, it is composed by different authors and compiled together as a type of hymn book the Israelites used for worship, meditative reflection, and a guidebook for confessing sin. This psalm is not attributed to a particular author, however, it is believed by many to be written by David due to its similar linguistic style and flow to his other psalms. It is written in an acrostic type fashion, utilizing every letter of the Hebrew alphabet to begin the line of each stanza. This psalm is also repetitive in mentioning the Word of God. This repetition, mixed with the acrostic style, would have made for easy memorization which was important since physical copies would have been limited and the psalms were shared orally.

2) What does it mean to “meditate on your precepts”?
Meditation by definition is “to engage in contemplation or reflection” and precepts are “a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action” (Merriam-Webster). The Israelites would not only have read or recited these words, but also would have spent time thinking about them and storing them in their hearts. There was a diligence placed upon the word of God which was commanded of the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and Deuteronomy 11:18. They were familiar with the concept of not simply saying the words but meditating on them and storing them within their hearts, allowing the words to impact the way they lived. The author understands the greatness of the word of God and is reminding the Israelites of this truth through his words.

3) What does it mean to “not forget your word”?
Matthew Henry writes, “When the law is written in the heart, duty becomes a delight. He will never forget what he has learned of the things of God: ‘I will not forget Thy word, not only I will not quite forget it, but I will be mindful of it when I have occasion to use it.’’ Those who meditate in God’s word, and delight in it, are in no great danger of forgetting it.” The psalmist knows this to be true and understands the importance of God’s word. He is making sure the Israelites know the importance of remembering God’s words and storing them in their hearts. He understands that it is only when God’s word is not forgotten that it is useful when it is needed. It is good to remember that the psalmist did not see this as a burden, but as something to be delighted in which is seen in the line immediately before the reminder to not forget.

 

Everyday Application

1) Who is writing this psalm and what type of psalm is this?
While we do not know for certain who wrote this psalm we can clearly see a focus on the word of God throughout it. The writer’s words place a heavy importance on the instructional true words of God; we shouldn’t miss this! It would also make sense that in a chapter so focused on God’s Word, it would be written in a way the Israelites could easily memorize and recall. The lesson for us can be seen in the importance placed on God’s Word and the reminder we should not take for granted access to Scripture or the value of it in our lives. Practical tips for memorization aren’t limited to ancient oral cultures. Pick a passage to memorize this week and make it a habit to practice it each day. Try putting the verses to a simple melody, writing it multiple times in your journal, placing sticky notes throughout your house, or taking a picture of the passage on your phone and using it as your lock screen. The methods for memorizing are many, but the emphasis of meditating on God’s Word is singular in focus. When we give ourselves to this, the rewards are limitless!

2) What does it mean to “meditate on your precepts”?
Just as the Israelites stored the word of God in their hearts so should you and I. When we take time to go beyond merely reading the words in our Bibles to actively, prayerfully think about the words, we discover God’s rich calling on our lives. When we meditate on God’s words, we are taught by His Spirit as He shapes our hearts and lives to look more like Jesus and less like our sinful selves. Remaking our lives from the inside out is something only God’s Spirit can do, and if we rush through Scripture meditation or lack consistency in reading His Word, we are denying ourselves the opportunity to grow up in Christ. (Colossians 1:28-29) When we choose to prayerfully sit under the instruction of God’s Words, checking off a to-do list item isn’t our goal, rather, we want to surrender to the Spirit at work in us through God’s living and active word. (Hebrews 4:12)

3)What does it mean to “not forget your word”?
It’s easy to sit down with our Bibles and simply read the words before us, and then walk away unchanged, forgetting the words we just read. (James 1:23-24) We can then say we spent our time with the Lord for the day. However, we must ask ourselves what fruit is evidenced in our lives as a result of this cursory “reading” of God’s Word. Have we truly allowed the Spirit of God to transform us, allowing His glory to be reflected in us because of His living Word cutting through our sin and defenses? Do the words we read change the way we live? If we are simply reading to read, the likely answer is no. We must store God’s word in our hearts, ponder its truth, and speak with the Author of those words that we might be changed. Practically, this means taking time to memorize Scripture so we remember truth. When we train ourselves in memorization and meditation, the Lord is able to bring to the forefront of our minds the exact words we need in our daily lives. In our regular, everyday need, His words impact our lives by His Spirit and He sustains us through His word. When I memorize His words, I do not forget them, and my life is forever changed by the living word of God. I challenge you, sisters, to store God’s word in your heart.

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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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Training Day 1 In My Name

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 58
Galatians 5:13-14
Philippians 2:1-11

Training, Day 1

I’ve been working out my salvation for years now. (Philippians 2:12)
I have been a follower of Jesus since the fourth grade. I received salvation in that moment and have been slowly transformed by the Holy Spirit for decades since. Praise God for His slow, steady work, even when I am stubborn-headed!

Throughout my journey, I have continuously struggled with legalism. I erroneously believed salvation was by faith, through grace, but held by my good works. In reality, we see over and over in Scripture that salvation is by faith through grace, held by the Holy Spirit as a deposit for our eternal reward. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Unpacking this reality has been transformative in my life.

In Scripture, we see humility is required in this proper understanding of salvation and our good works. (Philippians 2:1-3) Nothing I’m doing is obliging God to love me any more than He already does. In fact, there’s nothing I could do to have Him love me more. Or less. He loves me perfectly and has offered new life through Jesus. (John 3:16-17) It’s not about me, it’s about Him.

So then, why do good works?

“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14)

In Christ, we have so many freedoms. It is comfortable to think freedom means we can focus on ourselves, making our lives better and easier. However, we see here Paul charges us to not just focus on ourselves, but to love and serve others. This is often contradictory to the values of the cultures in which we live. We might experience tension when we choose to put aside our rights and freedoms for the benefit of the Body of Christ.

Lean into these tensions, Sister. The Lord is leading you and I into these spaces. 

Our God was kind to give us examples for what He calls us to do. We see, in Philippians 2:1-11, a call to a task that feels impossible. Let’s look at verses 3-4:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.” 

How in the world could we do this? Serve others in this way? Impossible.

But God, in His kindness, leads by example. He didn’t just call us to this high task, He did it first. Christ in us allows us to love others in this way. Let’s look at verses 5-11 to see our model:

“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In humility, Jesus humbled Himself to the Father’s will, even to death on a cross. God’s name was glorified in that act. “For this reason,” God then highly exalts Jesus and we see His name is the one by which we receive salvation.

Our big takeaway is that to love others, we must serve them. When we submit our desires to a lower position and elevate their needs over ours, we are ultimately giving God the glory.

In my life, I put this into practice by serving my husband in the department of food. We grew up on different continents and have very different comfort foods. I don’t love some of the things he loves and vice versa (although I’m not sure why…what’s not to love about hamburgers?!). I choose to cook what he likes after a rough day to bless him. I cook his foods for our kids, so they grow to love what he loves. When it is my turn to choose the restaurant, I often choose a place I know he prefers, even if it’s not my favorite. I love him. I want him to know that. I want to serve him, so he knows I value him. We are a unit; I pray we can act as one, serving each other and glorifying the name of our God.

Whom could you serve today? Maybe the Lord is calling you to love someone you don’t really like to love. Ask for His grace to step up to the task. Love and serve through His power. Receive His joy, and bring Him glory!

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

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Worship IX Day 2 The Great Experience: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

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

The Questions

1) What does it mean to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”? How is this “true worship”? (verse 1)

2) What is the difference between being conformed and being transformed? (verse 2)

3) Why is it important to understand God’s will; is it even possible? (verse 2)

Romans 12:1-2

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

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”? How is this “true worship”? (verse 1)
It’s important to keep a couple of things in mind as we work our way through this passage. First, the book of Romans is a letter written by the apostle Paul to house churches in Rome. Paul is teaching these new believers how to live out their daily lives following Jesus. In saying, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”, Paul’s meaning is to “worship God with all you’ve got – head to toe”. Worshiping just one God was a relatively new thing for Roman citizens as it was common to worship many gods. (Acts 17:22-23) There are a couple of clues in the first verse that can help us dig a little deeper. The first word is “Therefore” meaning that what follows is referring back to what was already stated. Hint: Anytime you read therefore in Scripture, it should prompt you to read the previous section to pick up the author’s meaning. If we go back a few verses to Romans 11:33-36, we read a short hymn of praise where Paul is reflecting on God’s greatness. He sings in verse 33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”. Paul is leading these readers to think about what they have learned about Jesus and worship Him with their entire lives. It’s also important to remember that “whole life worship” wasn’t a new idea; numerous references in the Old Testament speak of the call to all-consuming worship. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) God designed us to love and worship Him with that we’ve got!

2) What is the difference between being conformed and being transformed? (verse 2)
Let’s look at the original language and its definitions for these two words to help our outstanding. First, “conformed” in Greek is “syschematizo’‘ meaning “to fashion or shape one thing like another”. In this context, Paul chose syschematizo to convey living in such a way as “to be or act like everyone else”. The Greek word for “transformed” is “metamorphoo”, which literally means to “change forms, or undergo a complete change under the power of God in character or conduct”. This leads us right back to the idea of “whole life worship” that Paul is pressing upon his readers. These believers’ lives should look radically different than the everyday lives of Roman citizens who didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Paul wrote a very similar instruction to the church in Ephesus, “take off your former way of life” and “be renewed in the Spirit in your minds”. (Ephesians 4:20-23) Paul is encouraging the early church in Rome to confidently know they are on the right track of following Jesus when their everyday lives didn’t match with non-believers’ lives.

3) Why is it important to understand God’s will; is it even possible? (verse 2)
Once we give our lives to Jesus, we’ve relinquished our desires to Christ. Our lives now exist in Jesus and His will for us. (Colossians 3:3) Abandoning ourselves to Christ requires denial of self and daily surrender to His will above our own. This was just as true and important for the original readers of this letter as it is for us today. Paul urges his readers to give their entire lives including body, mind, and soul, over to God. The Lord intends us to follow Him while holding nothing back but instead fully surrendering our all to Him. Paul calls this “true worship” which means that part of worshiping Jesus is trusting Him with our everything. For the original readers, knowing and understanding God’s will for their lives would have been a new concept. They didn’t grow up hearing or being taught to live by God’s will. They likely worshiped many gods and their worship was primarily centered on offering the right sacrifices to the right god at the right time. Now Paul instructs them to give themselves as an act of worship by surrendering the entirety of their common, everyday moments to the One True God. Worshiping God wholeheartedly naturally positions us to not only be discerning of God’s will for our lives, but also leads us to increasingly desire the Lord’s ways while His Spirit equips us with courage to obey Christ as Lord.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”? How is this “true worship”? (verse 1)
Our application today is much the same as it was for the churches in Rome; we are to be “all in” for Jesus every single day. The same head-to-toe whole life worship is how we, as Jesus followers, are urged to live. There is another word in this verse we should carefully consider as we study the idea of “whole life worship”; sacrifice. We may not be as familiar with this concept today as the Romans were, so let’s return to its original language and meaning. The Greek word for sacrifice is “thusia”, primarily meaning “an offering”. Interestingly, this is the same word used to describe when Jesus “sacrificed” Himself on the cross. This way of life that Paul urges us to choose is one of complete offering, and total surrender of ourselves to Jesus. In a way when we choose to live this way, we are saying “Here is my entire life, Jesus; all my hopes, dreams, desires, successes, failures, and my physical life itself. I’m giving it all to You to do with as you please and direct.” It’s easy to see why Paul calls this “true worship”. Sacrificial living isn’t something we can, or should, do on a whim, for it takes determination, humility, and prayer to be successful. Living “all in” for Jesus will not be easy. Jesus says it Himself in Matthew 7:14, “…difficult is the road that leads to life, few will find it.” But, if we are willing, Jesus will take our meager sacrifice of whole life worship and accomplish His amazing work through us! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2) What is the difference between being conformed and being transformed? (verse 2)
Being conformed and transformed are two completely different ways of living. Let’s go back and take another look at Ephesians 4:20-32 for practical applications on how to live transformed. I love Paul’s wording here, he makes it so easy to understand and I’ve added my own paraphrase as well. “Put away (just get rid of it) lying, don’t give the devil an opportunity, don’t steal, but do honest work, watch your language, encourage and build others up. Let go (I imagine singing “let it go” from Frozen when I read these words!) of anger, bitterness, shouting and slander. Forgive others just like Jesus forgave you.” (my paraphrase) I’ll be honest enough to admit that conforming is much easier many times. Not many people today want to stand out or be different, especially when doing so makes you unpopular and, in some cases, an easy target for ridicule. Living a life transformed by Jesus however, is fueled by a strength that is not from ourselves but from His Spirit living inside us. Jesus says in John 14:18 and 26, “I will not leave you as orphans, I am coming to you” and “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit will be sent to you and will teach you everything in my name.” We are called to live transformed lives, but we are NOT called to do it on our own; we have God’s own Spirit living within us! What new ground will you confidently take in your life as you press against being conformed to the world and transformed by Christ?!

3) Why is it important to understand God’s will; is it even possible? (verse 2)
Understanding God’s will is one of those things we often make harder than God designed. From the very beginning of Genesis in the Bible, we learn that God created man to be dependent on Him. Full of pride, however, mankind chose independence over dependence and we’ve been fighting that same battle over and over again ever since the Garden of Eden. God’s will for each of us is that we live completely surrendered and fully dependent on Him while enjoying Him forever. Remember earlier when we talked about how truly worshipping God means entrusting our entire lives to Him? This means we don’t need to know or understand the details. Yes, I get how hard this is, especially for those of us who like to have a well-thought-out plan with bullet points for tracking and checking stuff off as we finish. Being really honest, I’d also like to have a backup plan, just in case, but this isn’t how God works. He gives us exactly what we need, precisely when we need it. When teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus says, “give us today our daily bread”. (Matthew 6:11) He doesn’t tell us to ask Him for everything we need for next month while showing us where and how to get it. He instructs us to simply ask, then trust Him to provide. Yes, we need to pray and seek God’s will and direction for our lives, but we can’t allow ourselves to get bogged down in needing all the details. Our primary job is to honor Him with whole life worship.

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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!

Digging Deeper Community

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This is Worship IX 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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Pause V Day 3 Generosity

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                           Pause Five, Day 3

Hospitality provides the opportunity to be generous with resources, time and one’s presence. It happens to be one of my spiritual gifts and I thoroughly enjoy exercising it while also delighting in seeing others use this gift. In the second chapter of John we are present at a wedding feast where some generosity is needed because they’d run out of wine.

Unlike today, you couldn’t just run to the store and buy wine.
But Jesus.
He was fully present that day and had vast resources at His disposal as the Lord of All. Would He be generous to help?

Indeed, Jesus was quite generous in not only providing wine, but fine wine. He didn’t advertise what His power was capable of doing, just provided instructions to the waitstaff, who were obedient to do as He instructed.
His generosity saved the day, and wooed others to glimpse God’s glory.

In the same way, He is generous to us as Messiah. He offers us the opportunity to be transformed from condemned in our sin to saved and redeemed into a new life. From powerless in sin and shame to empowered by His Spirit within us to live for Him. What needs we have, He can supply in ways we could never imagine. Jesus is still in the habit of being generous. He still saves the day as a good and generous Savior while pointing our hearts to His glory. Have you allowed His power to work in your life?

Today's Challenge

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down every word of John 2:1-12 today. As you copy, look up a cross reference or two as you come to them (they are the small letters next to certain words in your study Bible or online at www.biblia.com). As you write, think of the incredible gift it is to be invited into God’s presence through His word!

2) Choose one of these options to answer the invitation of going deeper into biblical community!
a) Take a photo of your journal time this week and share it, or share a quote from it.
b) Do a Facebook Live on the GT Community group and share how God has been working in you.
c) Leave a comment here about it.
d) Share something God has been showing you in a comment at the GT Community Group
e) Plan a coffee or lunch date with a friend and share what you’ve been learning and soaking in as you have hit Pause.
f) Write a note of encouragement to a sister who has been through the nitty-gritty of real life with you. Let her know how deeply she has impacted your walk with Christ.
g) For some of us, having a “2am friend” to build biblical community with is a new concept. If that’s you, this is an exciting, fresh place to be! Connect with our Facebook Community, send us an email, reach out to your local church body, seek out a small group and plug in!

3) Memorize John 3:20-21

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John 2:1-12

On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.”

4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked.
“My hour has not yet come.”

5 “Do whatever he tells you,” His mother told the servants.

6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did.

9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.”

11 Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee.
He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

12 After this, He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1. Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 weeks, we will provide you with a simple challenge. Each challenge 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 Five 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 Pause Five!

Nations Day 1 Out Of Darkness

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 2:1-7
1 Peter 2:4-10
Luke 9:23-26

Nations, Day 1

When I consider the transformation we, the people of my village, have undergone, I find reason to thank God again and again. We, who once walked in the futility of our minds, having our understanding darkened, ignorant and separated from God, have received the mercy of God. Indeed, we’ve seen God’s great love toward us. He called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Once we were not a people, but He has made us a people in Christ; a people belonging to Him. Hallelujah! (paraphrase, Ephesians 4:17-18)

Surely, God’s love is not selective, conditional, or judgemental; if it was, who would have chosen and called us to follow Christ? Like His own disciples, we have been called irrespective of our backgrounds; like His own disciples, when confronted with His love, we are also confronted with the depths of our own sinful disqualification. When Peter experienced Christ’s overwhelming love, he exclaimed, “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord!” (Luke 5:8) Yet His call, and His love, remain undaunted.

By the grace of God, the gospel of salvation has penetrated all over our village, and many people are following Jesus Christ. A typical Sunday morning sees villagers of all ages rushing to various worship centres.

Women are at the forefront of God’s move in my community, following in the footsteps of Mary of Magdalene and other heroines of faith in Scripture. Their incredible zeal for the Gospel prompts some to even offer their “widow’s mite,” trusting tomorrow’s provision to God alone.

But there are some cultural issues frustrating the Christian journey among our people, and women are significantly affected. As with most Africans, witchcraft is a monster ravaging our people; every misfortune is attributed to it. Almost every death of a person below 70 years is attributed to witchcraft; likewise, any lingering or chronic illness. Most devastatingly, women and children are most often accused of being witches or secret cult members.

Additionally, many women experience tough times in their marriage as the culture demands a wife owe her in-laws respect and care. Some family members go beyond their boundaries and become a “thorn in the flesh” of the woman. In most cases, the husband is handicapped to protect his wife. Even more challenging to marriages is the issue of childlessness, because marriage without children, to our people, is like an orange tree without fruit.

Poverty also places a significant burden on women, as they are the primary contributors to household income, often through menial work. Drug use adds to the poverty level, as women lose spouses, followed by homes and belongings.

However, amidst those challenges, some women are forging ahead in following Christ. These courageous sisters do not allow hardship to determine their spiritual standing; they are making a lifetime of sacrifices for the sake of Jesus. They daily live out the words of Jesus: “If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Surely, following Jesus Christ requires self-denial, and we must not allow hardship or any inconvenience to deter us. We must be willing to sacrifice everything standing between us and Him. It is well-understood that challenges create room for our faith to grow, because the more challenges we face, the more we seek refuge in Christ. As the Scripture says, “Consider it great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3)

Unfortunately, when tough times come, some turn their backs on Him, like the seed that fell on stony places. On Sundays, they rush to church for worship, but in ignorance, turn to others beside Jesus in their suffering. To worsen their situation, they usually fall into the hands of fake pastors, who exploit the women’s pain for monetary gain.

As someone who is passionate for the gospel, my heart bleeds when I hear the perils my fellow countrywomen pass through. The biggest need I see is for a deep knowledge of God’s Word, which will only happen through sound teaching. My appeal to the global Church is to join me in prayer for God to open doors to enable us organise more teachings, and to add labourers for the work. Pray also that God will create in their hearts a strong desire for His Word, and also bless the work of their hands.

I am thankful to God for the Church in the nations, joined and knitted together in Christ despite physical distance; therefore, we share in the pain and joy of one another. How marvellous and glorious it will be when we see eachother face-to-face at the throne of Jesus!

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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 Nations 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 Nations!

Word Day 13 Chosen, Appointed, Loved, Persecuted

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 15:9-25
Luke 7:17-30
John 17:13-26
Isaiah 42:1-9

Word, Day 13

The heady scent of roasted lamb mingled with melting wax as the disciples gathered around the low table with Jesus for another Passover feast. Though familiar, something entirely other stirred as Jesus prayed, broke bread, and passed the cup.

They ate, He served them, then, in sweet intimacy, Jesus prayed words of life over His brothers, these chosen ones…

You did not choose me, but I chose you. (John 15:16)

Chosen
When I was eight, a recurring nightmare haunted me for 3 consecutive nights. In vivid detail, I watched a gunman murder me, but then, after multiple nights, I saw Jesus stand in the gap, dying the death intended for me. Jesus chose me to be His. He invited me to believe that, though my sin separated me from the holiness of God, He still chose to rescue me and pay for my sin.

Scripture is bursting with biographies of those God has chosen for Himself. He delights in transforming the ordinary and broken, the shame-filled and forgotten, into lives brimming with hope and purpose.

Abraham, who waited decades for God’s promise to be fulfilled, was chosen.
Isaiah, the most well-known prophet to Israel, was chosen.
Mary, the mother who carried the very Son of God, was chosen.

Each was called out, away from the life they’d once lived, awakened to a new existence and ushered in by the delightful choice of the God who longs for all to call Him Father.

I appointed you to go and produce fruit. (John 15:16)

Appointed
Those who sit with me in conversation long enough to hear my heart know I’ve repeated, “I just want my life to matter.” Maybe it’s that I’m racking up the birthdays, or because my oldest is leaving home. The scenes of my life keep shifting and I wonder over and over, “Does this matter?”

The same love that motivated the heart of God to choose me, also appointed me, and all who accept His invitation. He smiles with pleasure as He intentionally floods each chosen life with purposed appointing. He appointed me to school my kids, gather women to study Scripture, make yummy meals (and some that set off the smoke alarm), and walk alongside my husband.

Here’s the incredibly beautiful thing about being appointed by God. It’s as variegated as African dresses and yet as uniformly connected as the constant elements of our universe.
Your appointment looks different from mine.

Zacchaeus was appointed to give away his possessions.
Levi was appointed to invite his friends to dinner, so he could introduce them to Jesus.
John was appointed to preach a message of repentance in the wilderness.

All who answer God’s calling of being chosen are lovingly appointed to bear fruit for His kingdom. Every fruit, regardless of shape or color, is seeded with love.

This is what I command you: Love one another. (John 15:17)

Loved
We’d been married for seven years and were tanking fast. My husband was pursuing his dream of seminary, and I was fighting demons from my abusive past. In the midst of my self-hatred and spurning of God, my husband announced he was leaving seminary to fight for me. He said he had no plans to return; that I was more important. What manner of love didn’t expect my perfection, but just loved?

No disciple of Jesus escapes His mighty call to allow love to color every aspect of life. Pouring the cereal, changing the diaper, shopping for groceries, arguing with your spouse, listening to a friend, going to church, making coffee.
All of it has been designed as an act of worship, of love.

When Jesus overturned tables, pleading others to know the heart of God, He loved.
When Paul surrendered his position to become an itinerant preacher, he loved.
When Lydia opened her home to missionaries, she loved.

Every one of Christ’s disciples were chosen and appointed to lead lives of lavish love.

If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18)

Persecuted
It’s not popular, this dying to self. Strange, isn’t it, that true, authentic, in-the-dirt-with-you love also carries the risk of ridicule. When we stand for the unjustly treated, when we invest in friendships with those of a different skin color, when we invite the trans-gender to dinner, when we sit at the bar with the promiscuous and hear their story, mainstream Christianity pulls back their religious garments in “righteous” outrage.

To follow Jesus is to fling wide the door of persecution, and understand that being chosen, appointed, and loved, means that suffering is worth it.

The faithful eleven who sat around Jesus that Passover night would all be persecuted for their faith. As they championed the kingdom work of spreading the news that God chooses, appoints, and loves, they would feel the knife of persecution.

But none felt it as deeply as Christ Himself.
All who follow Jesus with their whole lives are each chosen, appointed, loved, and persecuted, because Jesus was first.

This (Jesus) is my servant; I (God the Father) strengthen Him,
this is my chosen one; I delight (love) in Him. (Isaiah 42:1)
I will appoint You to be a covenant for the people. (Isaiah 42:6)
He (Jesus) was pierced (persecuted) because of our (humanity’s) rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5)

Sister, you, are chosen by the Christ who sacrificed Himself for you.
The God who crafted the color of your eyes has appointed you for good kingdom work.
The Jesus who sat at the Passover feast, sits with you now in the middle of your mess to say you are loved.
This same God knows that following Him results in persecution because it isn’t popular to love like Him. But He promises to fill you with His Spirit, strengthen you, and sing over you, “Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

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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 Word Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Word Day 8 It Is I Am

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 6:16-21
Exodus 3:11-15
Isaiah 26:3-4
John 1:1-5
John 10:27-30

Word, Day 8

I can only imagine the disciples’ terror as the “high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.” (John 6:18)

When they set sail, the lake was calm, but in the darkness, far from shore, they were suddenly caught in a ferocious storm. As they battled against the wind and waves, they must have been in a desperate state. Perhaps they wondered if they would survive.

Have you ever been caught in a storm?

I’m fortunate to never have an experience like the disciples of being out in a boat in such a fierce storm, but I can certainly identify with their fear.

We all experience storms in life through challenges, disappointment, and suffering when life feels out of control just as it did for the disciples. We, too, can feel like we’re battered by the waves and desperately straining to find a way through the chaos back onto solid ground.

At moments like these, it’s very easy for circumstance and fear to overwhelm us.

Into the midst of the disciples’ fear and panic came a figure walking on water. I imagine this sight only deepened their terror until they heard the comforting call of a familiar voice, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (John 6:20)

The storm still raged as waves continued rolling, but Jesus invited His disciples into a space without fear. The tumultuous seas had not calmed, but Christ was present.

The Greek words translated “It is I,” in John 6:20 are “ego eimi,” which literally means, “I am.”

I am.
Don’t be afraid.

These words are reminiscent of Moses’ encounter recorded in the Old Testament. While he wasn’t caught in a physical storm, he was catapulted into a similar state of overwhelming fear. When God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, calling him away from his comforts to lead the Israelites to freedom from slavery in Egypt, Moses’ first response was, “I can’t.”  (Exodus 4:13)

He felt inadequate. (Exodus 3:11)
He was not skilled at speaking. (Exodus 4:10)
Surely, no one would listen to him. (Exodus 4:1)
Who was he to take on this momentous task? (Exodus 3:11)

The reassurance God spoke to him was not to encourage Moses that he really had all the skills required within him to pull it off. Instead, the Lord God simply promised, “I will certainly be with you.” (Exodus 3:12)

Still unsure, Moses asked for God’s name; on whose authority could Moses point to when coming up against the rulers of Egypt. To which, “God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”” (Exodus 3:14)

I AM – two very small words with an incredibly powerful meaning.

I love the explanation provided by Compelling Truth:

“With this statement, God declared that He is self-existent, eternal, self-sufficient, self-directed, and unchanging. But this statement also declared that He is present.”

This truth was exactly what Moses needed to give him the courage to approach Pharaoh. This Name was precisely what the disciples needed in their boat on a stormy sea.
The storm didn’t need to cease, their faith needed an anchor in the all-powerful Name of the Great I Am.

For every storm we face, this truth remains for us, meeting us exactly where we are to provide precisely what we need, His presence.

If we have put our trust in Jesus, then the almighty, eternal God who created the universe, and holds all power over darkness is with us. We are secure in Him and nothing can snatch us from His hand. (John 10:28)

The more we get to know God and grasp this truth, the more we are changed.
Our circumstances may remain the same, but we are transformed.

Only a few short years after that night on the lake, the disciples displayed amazing courage and boldness in speaking out for Jesus. They were even willing to face death rather than renounce their faith in “I AM” or stop telling others of His mighty rescue of their souls. By this time, they had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion as He took on the punishment each of us rightfully deserves because of our sin. They had seen Christ breathe His last, be buried, and then prove Death powerless as He was resurrected from the grave.

Because they knew Him more,
they trusted Him more.

They were willing to surrender their lives if required;
they knew He was worth it.

What about us?
Will we allow ourselves to be transformed as we come to know Him more?

We may not have a choice about our circumstances, but we do have a choice about where we place our trust.

Isaiah reminds us of the peace that’s possible if we can lift our eyes from our circumstances to gaze on God:

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!” (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Whatever challenges you’re facing, big or small, whether you’re caught in a storm like the disciples or facing a daunting task like Moses, may you know God is with you, and may you quiet yourself to hear Him speak:

“It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

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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 Word 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 Word!