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The GT Weekend! ~ Follow 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) Nehemiah was coasting along in life with a good job, popularity, and respect in the kingdom, but God’s call on his life changed everything. How did it begin? Lesley showed us on Monday that Nehemiah’s journey in following God began with his heartbreak over his people’s dire situation. Social justice is bubbling up all over the world lately with people on all sides of various issues. Racism, life in the womb, minority groups, politics, sex trafficking, and much more are each providing us opportunity for our hearts to break with the compassion of God. Have you considered how these social issues are offering much more than the chance for you to either voice your opinion or tuck quietly away? For Nehemiah, God used a social justice opportunity to take Nehemiah deeper in his walk with God and stretch him in leading God’s people. Ask God to open your eyes to the injustices happening around you, your neighborhood, your city, and your part of the world. Even seemingly small things like having honest conversations, listening well, or showing genuine compassion to those with different views than you can be the beginnings of following God into your next steps!

2) Surrender in following God rarely, if ever, happens in our timeframe. Rather, it’s over time, and small instances of simple surrender, that we learn the discipline of full life submission to the Savior. No one wakes up one morning and decides to be mature in their walk with God; steadfastness in following is built one step of faith at a time over a lifetime. True surrender is always accompanied with a heart of humility that bends to Jesus before ourselves, loving Him most. In what scenarios in your everyday life do you most easily find yourself elevating self over someone else? For me, I love control. Whether it’s the flow of my household, how I spend my time, my vision for our family, or even the way I fold my towels, I am quick to push my ideals over anyone else’s. Humility is hard fought on the battleground of my heart, and it always begins with a willingness to surrender. Write a gut honest prayer to the Lord about your own wrestling match with humility and surrender, then ask the Lord to remind you, moment by moment, that surrender is worth it.

3) Yesterday, Parker profoundly shared, “When we come to face our reflection, we do not often see ourselves as beloved daughters of the Most High God.” Each of us wake up in the morning for one more day ahead of us. Whatever fills our days or how it looks in our current season of life, it meets us again on repeat when we pull back the covers and step into the shower. Passing by the mirror on our way into the day, what is your common heart response? If you aren’t sure, make a mental note to linger tomorrow. Do you see a woman worthy of descriptors such as captivating, beloved, chosen, delighted, dignity, and strength? The Lord God does. Whether you have surrendered the whole of yourself to Him or are pushing the boundaries of real faith in Jesus, the Lord God views you as worth the price He paid with His life to offer you total freedom from sin and salvation for eternity. He sees beauty. As Paul crossed from death to life on the day when he finally met the Lord face to face, so the same Jesus waits to meet with us, face to face. Deliberately choose this weekend to reframe your reflection and see what the Lord God sees in your mirror!

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

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Prayer Journal
Oh Father God, Your way is beautiful. Your precepts are pure and true. Your law brings delight and joy to my heart, my steps, and my relationships. In You is life and only in following You am I found free to dance in endless delight. Jesus, I praise You that True Abundant Life is discovered without end in You! To find You, and know You in deeper ways, always results in fullness. Oh Yahweh, joy of my desire, to dwell with You forever, to understand You, to gaze upon Your beauty, to walk in the ways You have carved, this is joy. Beckon my heart back to You.

Worship Through Community

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

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

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship VII Day 4 The Wonderful Cross: 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 Wonderful Cross!

The Questions

1) Who is Isaiah describing in these verses and what event is he foretelling?

2) Why is there a comparison to a sheep in verse 7?

3) What is the beautiful promise made in verse 11?

Isaiah 53

Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a young plant
and like a root out of dry ground.
He didn’t have an impressive form
or majesty that we should look at him,
no appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.
He was like someone people turned away from;
he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,
and he carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
6 We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment,
and who considered his fate?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
but he was with a rich man at his death,
because he had done no violence
and had not spoken deceitfully.

10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.
When you make him a guilt offering,
he will see his seed, he will prolong his days,
and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
11 After his anguish,
he will see light and be satisfied.
By his knowledge,
my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will carry their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will give him the many as a portion,
and he will receive the mighty as spoil,
because he willingly submitted to death,
and was counted among the rebels;
yet he bore the sin of many
and interceded for the rebels.

Original Intent

1) Who is Isaiah describing in these verses and what event is he foretelling?
It is important to note this section of Scripture actually begins in Isaiah 52:13-15 and continues in Isaiah 53. Isaiah, through divine inspiration from God’s Holy Spirit, provides an incredible picture of the promised Savior, Jesus Christ. Isaiah paints a picture unlike anywhere else in Scripture of what Christ would endure as He took upon the sins of the world in all of His innocence. These verses describe the mission Jesus came to accomplish in dying sinless in order to offer rescue to sinners.

2) Why is there a comparison to a sheep in verse 7?

The reference to a sheep, or lamb, would have been a familiar one for Isaiah’s Israelite audience. From the first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God has required the shedding of innocent blood for atonement. Genesis 3:21 describes how God made garments of skins to clothe Adam and Eve. He sacrificed the first animal and innocent blood was shed, as He made clothing to cover their shame. Later, God called Abraham to sacrifice His son, Isaac, and at the last moment God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. (Genesis 22) During the plagues in Egypt, the final plague required an innocent lamb’s blood to be shed. This blood was to be painted on the doorposts, allowing the angel of death to pass over their homes sparing the life of the eldest son. (Exodus 11-12) During the days of the temple, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, and presented blood from an animal sacrifice to atone for the sins of the Israelites, a practice established in Leviticus 16:11-14. Isaiah uses language familiar to his audience to tell of a day coming when animal sacrifices would no longer be needed. There would be a day when the perfect, final sacrifice would come in the form of the promised Messiah. He would take the place of the innocent animal sacrifice; He would be led to slaughter for all sins.

3) What is the beautiful promise made in verse 11?
These verses are filled with an incredible promise. The Israelites likely didn’t grasp the entirety of this promise as they lived centuries before its fulfillment. However, Isaiah tells of a time that would indeed come when the promised Messiah would fulfill what God had put into action in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:15) Isaiah tells of a coming time when Jesus would take the sins of  the world upon Himself and exchange them for glorious salvation and restoration for His people through the work only He could accomplish. Isaiah tells of the Suffering Servant who would “justify many” (verse 11); this is the hope-filled promise Isaiah describes! Through Isaiah, God promises that one day, animal sacrifice would no longer be necessary because the final price would be paid in full. At that time, all who choose to accept His sacrifice would finally be justified before the Holy God because their sin would be paid for in Jesus.

Everyday Application

1) Who is Isaiah describing in these verses and what event is he foretelling?

Isaiah, hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, describes Jesus for us with vivid imagery of all He would endure as He took my sins and yours to the cross where He would die in our place. Because of our sin, we deserve death and eternal separation from God. We are utterly incapable of becoming righteous on our own; our sin is too great, so we are stuck in eternal death. But Jesus, in magnificent love, took the punishment we deserved and offers us His righteousness in place of our sin, if we are willing to trust Him. None of us are deserving of this gift! God chose to lay all our guilt for all of our sin on Jesus as He went to the cross for us. (Isaiah 53:6) Isaiah’s words in these verses lead us to a new understanding of exactly what Jesus did for you, me, our neighbor across the street and across the world, all those years ago. As we read Isaiah’s God-inspired prophecy, we can sense the anguish Christ lovingly chose to endure for all of us so we might be in right relationship with Him.

2) Why is there a comparison to a sheep in verse 7?
Atonement for sin has always required bloodshed. Since Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden, God has required innocent blood for those sins, but He has also faithfully provided a way for sin to be atoned. Even the Old Testament sacrificial system of bloodshed from an innocent animal was given by God as a grace gift. During Passover in Egypt, God provided lamb’s blood to spare lives, painting a clear picture of His provision that would one day come as Jesus poured out His blood in exchange for our eternal souls. We have the privilege of living on the other side of Isaiah’s prophecy foretelling a coming Messiah because Jesus has already fulfilled this promise. We are no longer called to sacrifice an animal to present as atonement for our sins. Jesus became flesh and offered Himself as the perfect Lamb who sacrificed Himself for all sins of all people on the cross. He willingly went to the cross of suffering although He was innocent. We have been given the opportunity to receive the gift of salvation because of the incredible sacrifice of Jesus’ life as He became the final, perfect sacrifice to atone for all sins. (1 John 2:2)

 

3) What is the beautiful promise made in verse 11?
“This verse tells of the enormous family of believers who will become righteous, not by their own works, but by the Messiah’s great work on the cross”. (NLT Study Bible) There is nothing you or I can do to be justified and become righteous on our own, but Christ willingly carried our iniquities to the cross, taking our punishment and, in return, providing us with His righteousness and forgiveness. He did what we could never do on our own account and permanently intercedes for us. This means, in Jesus, every one of our sins, past, present, and future, has already been paid for in full by the perfectly innocent Lamb of God! What an incredibly beautiful promise! When we choose to accept the gift of forgiveness and salvation offered to us in Christ, we agree to turn from our sin and are fully washed by the blood of Christ, becoming a new creation and part of the family of God forever!

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Calling Day 2 Into Inheritance: 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 Into Inheritance!

The Questions

1) What important truths do we miss if we rush through the greeting of the writer? (verses 1-2)

2) What significance does the theme of “blessing” in verse 3 have on the rest of the passage?

3) In the context of this whole letter to the church at Ephesus, why does Paul begin chapter 1 by repeating the phrase “in Him” so often?

4) How is the Holy Spirit a down payment of our inheritance as saints? (verses 13-14)

Ephesians 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time – to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Original Intent

1) What important truths do we miss if we rush through the greeting of the writer? (verses 1-2) Rebecca writes in yesterday’s Journey Study regarding Paul’s introduction, “in just the first 14 verses, we, the Church, every saved-from-sin-rescued-from-death believer, are hereby declared…”
What a wonderful word description and declaration for the Church! In his greeting, Paul identifies three important aspects of this letter: 1) he identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ by God’s will; 2) he identifies the Ephesian recipients (both Jew & Gentile, 2:11-13) as the saints of Jesus Christ; 3) he identifies that his message is from God. This declaration of identity is then fully enlarged in the following verses. We do not skim the greeting because its significance is essential to our understanding of the remaining verses. Once we know the writer (Paul), the audience (Christian Jews & Gentiles in Ephesus), the message (grace & peace), and the original author (God), we can appreciate Paul’s enthusiasm in the following verses. As blessed saints, we are showered with grace and peace from God. For those who are in Christ, this grace and peace is lavished on us through endless blessings from the One and Only God of blessing.

2) What significance does the theme of “blessing” in verse 3 have on the rest of the passage?
Simply stated, it is everything. The word “blessing” is a translation of the Greek word eulogy, and it means “to speak well of.” All these verses (3-14) are focused on Paul’s charge to the Church to bless the Father. We declare God blessed by praising Him “with worshipping love.” (HCG Moule, A Commentary on Ephesians) It is essential to note that this passage comprises one long sentence in Greek. (enduringword.com) It appears that Paul is writing from such an overwhelmed condition that he hardly takes a breath between thoughts. It is as if Paul breaks out in a song of praise that he does not quite know how to end! When he considers all the spiritual blessings he has received from God, he cannot contain his worship. Pastor John Piper helps us understand what Paul is expressing, “When God blesses men they are helped and strengthened and made better off than they were before; but when men bless God He is not helped or strengthened or made better off. Rather, it is an exclamation and expression of gratitude and admiration.” The faithful saints of God, including Paul, bless Him by recognizing His glory and goodness which were demonstrated in the way He has blessed the believer with every spiritual blessing. Wow!

3) In the context of this whole letter to the church at Ephesus, why does Paul begin chapter 1 by repeating the phrase “in Him” so often?
Every believer has available to him or her certain, eternal spiritual resources. All those who are in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are on the receiving end of God’s blessings.  What does Paul mean when he writes we have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.”? (verse 3) It has been expressed like this, “Contrary to some beliefs, [blessings] are not some mysterious power or cosmic connection reserved for a select few. They are the key benefits of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.” (Primary Source Unavailable) Although some Bible translations (NIV, ESV) leave out the two expressions from the original Greek  (“in him” and “into him” in verses 5 and 10), likely because they appear unnecessarily repetitive, I agree with New Testament Professor Kenneth Berding, “Union with Christ (‘in-Christ-ness’) is crucial to Paul’s thought and is repeatedly snuck in by Paul. Union with Christ can be viewed as a web that extends into the rest of Paul’s theology and holds it together. Perhaps Paul isn’t simply being redundant. It could be he is being intentionally repetitive, even in-your-face repetitive, because the idea of being united with Christ is so significant to him.” (The Good Book blog, Talbot School of Theology)
(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

4) How is the Holy Spirit a down payment of our inheritance as saints? (verses 13-14)
Of all the spiritual blessings listed in the previous verses, perhaps the blessing of the Holy Spirit is the one that best ties them all together. When we become the daughters of God through Christ, He places His stamp of ownership on us, promising us a never-ending guarantee of salvation. Union with Christ means: We are chosen (verse 4), we are adopted (verse 5), we are accepted (verse 6), we are redeemed (verse 7), and we are forgiven (verse 8). It also means we gain wisdom (verse 9) and a guaranteed inheritance (verse 11). God reveals the genuineness of the believer’s relationship with Him as the Holy Spirit testifies through our lives when they look more and more like Christ. This guarantee, this assurance, acts as “the down payment of our inheritance.” It is God who holds us fast. It is our union with Jesus Christ the Son, by the power of His Holy Spirit, that we are kept safe until the day Jesus returns for us and brings us into His eternal kingdom. This is all done to the praise, and for the glory, of God. We return full circle to verse 3, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Everyday Application

1) What important truths do we miss if we rush through the greeting of the writer? (verses 1-2) “Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice],To the saints (God’s people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (AMP (amplified) Version) Oh, friend, do you see the good news Paul was greeting the church at Ephesus with? As a chosen representative of the Messiah, by God’s choosing and for God’s purposes, he proclaimed grace and peace to them and upon them. It is this ‘grace and peace’ that is always available to all the people of God who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:27-30) It is this ‘grace and peace’ that brings spiritual blessings too numerous to count and too wonderful to fathom!
“Grace and peace, oh how can this be?
Let songs of gratefulness ever rise, never cease.
Loved by God and called as a saint, my heart is satisfied in the riches of Christ.
Oh, what an amazing mystery that Your grace has come to me!” (Grace &Peace by Sovereign Grace Worship)

2) What significance does the theme of “blessing” in verse 3 have on the rest of the passage?
If you follow any sort of social media, most likely you have seen it: Hashtag “blessed.” (#blessed) Though I have never personally used the hashtag sentiment, I would be less than honest if I did not admit my own tendency to equate the good things in my life as being a reward for my good works. It is way too tempting these days to post pictures of parties, or décor, or gatherings, or vacations as a way of picturing my blessings for all to see. After all, I really AM #blessed. Dear sister, testifying of our blessings is certainly not the problem. Paul was so overwhelmed by his blessings he created the longest run-on sentence in the New Testament. James reminds us that every good thing the believer has is indeed a blessing from God. (James 1:17) The problem lies with confusing the spiritual with the material. Too often, we allow our perspective to be hindered by the obstacle of discontentment. It simply does not matter if we are rich or poor, healthy or sick, powerful or weak by the world’s standards. Paul reminds us we are all #BLESSED in Jesus!

3) In the context of this whole letter to the church at Ephesus, why does Paul begin chapter 1 by repeating the phrase “in Him” so often?
John Stott says, “The expressions ‘in Christ,’ ‘in the Lord,’ and ‘in Him’ occur 164 times in the letters of Paul alone. To be ‘in Christ’ does not mean to be inside Christ, as tools are in a box or our clothes in a closet, but to be organically united to Christ, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree. It is this personal relationship with Christ that is the distinctive mark of His authentic followers. What distinguishes the true followers of Jesus from false pretenders is neither their creed, nor their code of ethics, nor their ceremonies, nor their culture, but Christ. What is often mistakenly called ‘Christianity’ is, in essence, neither a religion nor a system, but a person, Jesus of Nazareth.”
In Christ, we are blessed with “every blessing”. We have them all within our reach. Read through these verses again as a prayer, and thank God for blessing you beyond what you could ever ask or imagine. Close your prayer in intercession (praying for others) and doxology (praising God for His blessings). (Ephesians 3:14-21)

4) How is the Holy Spirit a down payment of our inheritance as saints? (verses 13-14)
The Greek word for “down payment” is used only in the New Testament in regards to the Holy Spirit. He is our only down payment of coming glory; nothing else is provided or needed. (biblehub.com) The saints of God have an assurance that there will come a time when we will take possession of our full inheritance. John Calvin wrote, “We do not have the full enjoyment of it at present. Seeing that the Holy Spirit reigns in our hearts, we have something for which to give praise even in the midst of all our temptations. [So] we should rejoice, mourn, grieve, give thanks, be content, wait.” (Ephesians Sermon, 1558—59). When we fully grasp in our hearts the inheritance that awaits us, we are better able to sincerely give God praise even during trials. No matter what you are facing, friend, I believe Paul would remind you we have God’s guarantee of eternal glory, through His Holy Spirit that dwells with us. The God who validates our relationship with Him by His own Spirit, will absolutely keep us until the big reveal. That will be the day He testifies of our redemption and takes final and forever possession of His inheritance – US! (Romans 8:16 1 John 3:1-3)

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Calling Day 1 Into Inheritance

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 1:1-14
Haggai 1:1-11
Revelation 21:1-5

Calling, Day 1

“We will not neglect the house of our God!”
(Nehemiah 10:39, emphasis mine)

“Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. (Exodus 36:1-2, emphasis mine)

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ.
(Romans 12:4-5)

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Because of My House that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. (Haggai 1:9)

The Lord has always carefully guarded, and given clear instruction for,
His dwelling place among His people.

In the Old Testament, chapter after chapter overflow with specificities on not only building the tabernacle, but also regarding its operation and management.

God’s heartbeat is, and always has been,
to be in deep relationship with His people.
Thus, He placed high priority upon
the place where He would meet with them. 

Moses’ original site of communion with God, the Tent of Meeting, gave way to the moveable Tabernacle where God dwelt in the Holy of Holies. This was eventually replaced by Solomon’s temple in the holy city of Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70AD.

Over time, as Jews multiplied and spread, synagogues became the gathering places for worshipping and studying the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament). In fact, the Greek word for “assembly” is “synagogue”!

Finally, after Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within everyone who trusts in the Lord for their eternal salvation.
The new tabernacle was the very heart of every believer!

Whether it was the Tent of Meeting,
the Tabernacle in the wilderness,
the temple in Jerusalem,
a synagogue in the ancient Roman world,
or your local Bible-teaching church,
each of these represent something precious to the heart of God,
a meeting place with His people. 

Just as God protected and cherished those dwelling places in the Old Testament, so does He lavishly love and care for how the Church, local and global, lives out its calling to advance the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians is like the handbook for church life, detailing out our identity, our mission, and our calling. Before you check out because you aren’t on staff at a church, or maybe only attend on occasion, sink into this truth:

Every believer is the Church.

Please, as fellow member of this beautiful Body called Church, I plead with you to read every word of Ephesians with us as we study.
Our words are meaningless without His.
Our studies merely point to His truth.
So, if you’ve made it this far without reading His Words Before Ours, please back up and read today’s selection from Ephesians 1:1-14!

As you read, drink it slowly, deliciously; let the message wash over you, bringing renewal.
These are the words of the Lord God for His precious Bride, the Church.
These words are for us as His Beloved, the place where He dwells!

Because, here’s the ravishing secret, we are His inheritance and He is ours!! 

I’m giddy with excitement every time I consider this glorious reality!
Come! Look!

To the saints…
Grace & peace to you, (Read: washing over you and embracing you on all sides)
from God our FATHER (how wondrous!)
and Christ Jesus our SAVIOR (breathtaking love!).
(Ephesians 1:1-2)

And just like that, we are ushered into a book of radical love and steadfast truth with a warm embrace.

In the first 14 verses, we, the Church,
every saved-from-sin-rescued-from-death believer, are hereby declared…

Blessed
With every spiritual blessing available in the infinite heavenly riches of Christ.
(verse 3)

Chosen
Set apart from before the beginning of time to be blameless and holy before the Lord.
(verse 4)

Adopted
With every right and every inheritance given to us, not based on our works, but solely because He lovingly chose to love us.
(verses 5-6)

Lavishly Covered
With His limitless gifts of redemption, forgiveness, and grace.
(verses 7-8)

Unified With God
Having been invited to understand the rich mysteries of how God has planned for our salvation and welcomed us, the Church, into the great gift of unity between ourselves and the godhead.
(verses 9-10)

Heirs
We are the recipients of this profoundly rich inheritance.
(verses 11-12)

Sealed
On hearing the freedom offered in Christ, having trusted Him as our only Savior and Lord, God poured His Spirit into our hearts, remaking our DNA to be like His own. Here is the proof of our salvation! The God who safeguards our souls by His Spirit until one, indescribable day, when our inheritance is seen with naked eyes and we behold the glory that is
God dwelling with us FACE TO FACE!
(verses 13-14)

Church!!
How wondrous is the love the Father has lavished upon us!
May our tongues never cease to praise Him for calling us into this inheritance!

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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 Calling 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 Calling!

Pause IV Day 9 No Sin Unseen

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Pause IV, Day 9

Today’s reading in Habakkuk sounds strange to our ears and can be difficult to follow, understand, and make sense of in today’s culture, which is why it’s imperative to first read it through the lens of then-current-day culture.

Go ahead and read verses 6-14 to gain an initial footing in the passage!

As we’ve already studied, Israel was rebellious against God. As consequence, the Lord was using the wicked Chaldeans (or Babylonians) to overtake Israel, taking them into captivity in Babylon. Habakkuk struggled with this consequence of using an evil nation to overtake God’s people who were supposed to be set apart as His holy and chosen people.

In today’s passage, God addresses this tension as He speaks in detail about the sinfulness of the Chaldeans. Their sin was not hidden from God any more so than Israel’s sin, and their day of experiencing the righteous justice of God would also come.

In verse 5, “He” is the arrogant one we read about in yesterday’s Journey. His appetite to fuel himself and his own pride is insatiable; this person is always thinking about more of himself and his own pleasure and desires while also justifying himself to be in the right.

Still sitting in arrogance and a resistance to God’s promised word that consequence would come, the arrogant one feels confident in himself. He believes God would surely never punish him because he feels justified in self-righteousness before God. From this position of self-security, he arrogantly “looks down” upon the evil Babylonian Empire.

From his place of pride, the self-righteous one feels he can securely mock the Chaldeans/Babylonians because he judges himself as far superior to them; surely, God would never judge him. (verse 6) These arrogant ones in Israel are “they” in verse 6.

To help you have greater understanding in reading verses 6-14, you can replace “him” and “you” with “Chaldeans” or “Babylonians Empire”.

The Chaldeans were a wicked people, violent, dishonest, and murderous. Even the stone walls cried out, testifying against their atrocities. (verse 11) Their greatest sin, however, was just as evil as Israel’s. Arrogance and pride were rooted deep in their hearts, as they thumbed their nose at God, “(Babylon) place(s) his nest on high.” (verse 9) Like the very first inhabitants of Babylon (Genesis 11:4), this nation was still reaching for equal status with God, high and lofty above all others.

Babylon’s sin. Israel’s sin. My sin, and yours, are all on equal footing. When we seek our ways over God’s we usurp His authority and crown ourselves as our own little god.
This is the arrogance that brought on Israel’s captivity, Babylon’s ruin, and our own eternal death and separation from God.

The word of the Lord closes out today’s reading with a powerful reminder of the Only True God. Just as water fills the seas, so the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory! (verse 14) One Lord of all. One just King. His glory supersedes all things.

Today's Invitation

1) Be a scribe and copy the precious words of Scripture down word for word. Make space in your journal to write down Habakkuk 2:6-14. As you copy, lookup 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 radiate Jesus’ love to others as you hold tightly to the anchoring truth of the eternal confidence we have only through Christ!

  1. a) Pitch in to do something extra at church. Whether it’s helping with cleanup, opening doors, trimming weeds, or offering to help in a child’s classroom, step up to loving deeper by serving in a new way.
                b) A note of genuine kindness and specific encouragement goes a long way in showing love and support to your pastor. Consider sending your pastor(s) an email or card!
                c) Check out some local ministries in your area and make plans to serve with them for an afternoon. Maybe it’s organizing school donations, serving soup, or stuffing backpacks for kids. Even better, get some friends to join you!
                d) Prayer walking is a simple way to begin shifting the eyes of your heart to truly see others. Walk around your neighborhood, some city streets, the aisles of your grocery store, or intentionally sit at a local coffee shop and pray, pray, pray. Pray for the people around you, pray for hearts to turn towards Jesus, pray for your own heart to be ready to share the full gospel if given the chance. Don’t worry about seeing results, that’s God’s job!
                e) Strike up a conversation with a random stranger. It may move to spiritual topics, it may not, but showing love to those outside our immediate circles always begins with a simple conversation. “What have you been doing today?” “Do you live nearby?” “Where do you go to church?” “What are your favorite local restaurants?” “What a cute handbag! Where did you get it?” These open-ended questions work well!

3) Share the exciting, bold ways you are living out your eternal confidence today with the rest of the GT Community! Our Facebook community page is always open! Or snap a photo and tag us on Instagram @gracefully_truthful

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Habakkuk 2:6-14

Won’t all of these take up a taunt against him,
with mockery and riddles about him?
They will say,
“Woe to him who amasses what is not his—
how much longer?—
and loads himself with goods taken in pledge.”
7 Won’t your creditors suddenly arise,
and those who disturb you wake up?
Then you will become spoil for them.
8 Since you have plundered many nations,
all the peoples who remain will plunder you—
because of human bloodshed
and violence against lands, cities,
and all who live in them.

9 Woe to him who dishonestly makes
wealth for his house
to place his nest on high,
to escape the grasp of disaster!
10 You have planned shame for your house
by wiping out many peoples
and sinning against your own self.
11 For the stones will cry out from the wall,
and the rafters will answer them
from the woodwork.

12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed
and founds a town with injustice!
13 Is it not from the Lord of Armies
that the peoples labor only to fuel the fire
and countries exhaust themselves for nothing?
14 For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory,
as the water covers the sea.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 3 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 Week IV 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 IV!

Redeemed Day 14 Paid In Full: 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 Paid In Full!

The Questions

1) What is meant by “kinsman redeemer”? (Ruth 4:1-3)

2) Were women truly considered commodities to be bought? (Ruth 4:5-6)

3) Why is the genealogy at the end of Ruth so important? (Ruth 4:18-22)

Ruth 4

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So, Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So, they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”

7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, 12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

Original Intent

1) What is meant by “kinsman redeemer”? (Ruth 4:1-3)
Naomi and Ruth were in a bit of a predicament. They moved back to Naomi’s town, but with no money, and no place to live, as her deceased husband had sold their land before fleeing due to the famine, they were destitute. Naomi knew of a redeemer, some translations say, “kinsman redeemer”, which means a near relative who is in a position of stepping in to “redeem” her current situation. (Ruth 2:20) In the original language, the root word for redeemer is ‘ga al’, meaning “to redeem, or buy back”. The Lord had designed the role of kinsman redeemer as means of protecting a woman and her family, or sometimes giving provision for a slave. (Exodus 21:8) Outside of Ruth and Naomi’s story, there are several other instances of kinsman redeemers in the Old Testament. Job also knew he had a kinsmen redeemer, however, he wasn’t referring to a human redeemer to save him from his circumstances. Rather, by God’s all-knowing Spirit, Job pointed forward to a coming Messiah who would offer redemption for all peoples. (Job 19:25) The prophet Isaiah confirms Job’s words hundreds of years later in Isaiah 43:14, “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…”. Regardless of the reference in Scripture, the role of the redeemer always carries the idea of “buying back as a gift of grace”, meant to elevate the status of the one being redeemed.

2) Were women truly considered commodities to be bought? (Ruth 4:5-6)
From reading Ruth’s story, it may seem like women had little worth and they truly were commodities for sale, which is largely true. The ancient eastern culture was patriarchal, meaning men held sole power and authority. Whether it was over a nation, a large city, the synagogue, or a home, the voice of a man was the only voice that mattered. Women were allotted the role of homemaking, and even more critically important, childbearing, especially bearing a son who would carry on the male lineage. The father selected a suitable husband for his daughter and, when it came to slaves, women were sold at a lower price. In Ruth’s case, the true prize in the near relative’s view, was foremost Elimelech’s land, and secondary, Ruth. When we read Ruth’s story, we must put on these cultural glasses so we can properly see how God’s perspective of women was vastly different. He elevated women to be equal with men in importance and value. He esteemed women so highly He ensured their inclusion, by name, in the lineage of Jesus, God’s Son. Even the concept of “kinsman redeemer” was put in place by God in order to elevate and safeguard women in a patriarchal society. These laws were given by the Lord in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. (Deuteronomy 25:5-6 and Leviticus 25:23-28) The relative who was first in line to carry out the duties of kinsman redeemer, didn’t want Ruth; he was only interested in the land. When he discovered that Ruth came along with it, he turned down his duty because it would jeopardize his inheritance. This could have meant he was married with other children or it could be another reason entirely. Thankfully, Boaz stepped in and was willing to pay the price for Ruth.  Throughout the book of Ruth, we see Boaz elevating Ruth; He didn’t view women as simply a commodity, but as people worthy of honor and respect.

3) Why is the genealogy at the end of Ruth so important? (Ruth 4:18-22)
In Old Testament times, family lineage was an important piece of Jewish and Hebrew culture. Who you came from, who your people married, and how far back you could trace Jewish bloodlines carried significant importance. Extreme value, and whole identities, stemmed from one’s heritage. The ideal lineage could be traced all the way back to the fathers of the faith, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In fact, this supreme importance of clear lineage is why the Samaritans were such outcasts in Jesus’ day as Jews had intermarried with Samaritans, creating a mixed race. Great care was taken to ensure people with distasteful lifestyle choices or poor reputations were avoided, even cut off from Israel, as to be certain of a “clean bloodline”.  For this same reason, women were rarely, if ever, included in a genealogical listing; they were viewed as non-entities and were typically ignored. God, however, radically upends these ideas by including both women and persons of ill-repute in His human family tree! The genealogy at the end of Ruth is a small snippet of the full one found in the New Testament, preserved in both Luke and Matthew. Luke takes the genealogy found in Ruth 4 and begins with Jesus Christ working backwards until arriving at the first man made in God’s image, Adam. It is important to note that some of this family tree was foretold by prophets thousands of years before Jesus was born.  Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would come from the family lineage of Jesse. (Isaiah 11:1-2)

Everyday Application

1) What is meant by “kinsman redeemer”? (Ruth 4:1-3)
Your life doesn’t need to be destroyed and your children tragically killed like Job, or be impoverished like Ruth and Naomi, to be in need of a kinsman redeemer. Just being you is qualifier enough! We are all broken, whether we like to admit it or not.  We need rescuing! Maybe you’ve had a friend jump start your car, or maybe you’ve received a warning instead of a speeding ticket, or perhaps your “rescue” was not being marked late for work or class.  These everyday rescues are common graces the Lord kindly gives, but our greatest need for rescue runs much deeper to the core of our nature as human beings. We are, each of us, tragically cut off from a relationship with the God of the Universe because of our sin. This sin earns us the penalty of eternal death, forever separating us from God, from love, from life, and from forgiveness. (Romans 6:23) Our need for this kind of rescue is found only the pure, holy God who willingly sacrificed Himself on our behalf that we might be restored. With His blood, Jesus redeems those who trust in Him; He “buys us back” from the kingdom of Sin and Death. (Ephesians 1:7) He “redeems our life from the grave” that we might enjoy His lavish “love and mercy”. (Psalm 103:4) This Jesus is the same Redeemer the prophets foretold would come in the Old Testament and He is the same Redeemer Paul wrote about to the churches in Corinth and Galatia. (1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 4:5) Jesus is our Eternal Redeemer, adopting us as God’s sons and daughters if we turn to Him in faith, repent of our sin, and surrender our lives to Him. (Ephesians 1:5)

2) Were women truly considered commodities to be bought? (Ruth 4:5-6)
Just as the Lord God placed value on women in the Old Testament in many ways, including the law of the kinsman redeemer, so did Jesus exemplify this same valuing of women when during His earthly ministry. Rather than viewing women as a commodity to be bought, sold, or traded, He esteemed women. In John 4 Jesus went out of His way to travel to Samaria, intentionally stopping at a Samaritan well at midday where He met a woman who was an outcast.  His chat with her set in motion a revival in a city with mixed races who were considered pariah by traditional Jews! Following her encounter with Jesus, Mary Magdalene traveled with the disciples, serving where needed in Jesus’ earthly ministry. (Luke 8:1-3) Talk about a coveted position! Additionally, she was one of the last to leave the scene of Christ’s crucifixion (John 19:25, Luke 23:49) and the first to see Jesus resurrected in the garden (John 20:15-16)! Jesus was also friends with Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha. He even protected Mary’s position of sitting at His feet to learn from Him as His student, a position traditionally only permitted for males. (Luke 10:39-43) Jesus shepherded these sisters, both reprimanding them and loving them deeply. (Luke 10:38-42, Luke 11:17-33)  Be assured that, to Christ, you are not simply a commodity! You are so valued that Christ your Redeemer purchased you with the greatest price. The Savior shed His blood so you might have eternal life with Him! In Christ, there is no sliding scale of value between male and female. (Galatians 3:28)

3) Why is the genealogy at the end of Ruth so important? (Ruth 4:18-22)
Matthew’s record of Jesus’ lineage hides nothing, boldly listing women and people with tarnished character. Because we’ve first put on the necessary “cultural glasses”, we are encouraged and pleasantly surprised to realize how much value God places on women, despite the cultural norms. Ruth, a non-Jew, is listed as well as Tamar, who was manipulated and abused (Matthew 1:3), and Rahab, a Gentile prostitute (Matthew 1:5). Have you ever been shamed or taken advantage of?  Perhaps you’ve dabbled in promiscuity or adultery. By including these women, God was declaring that no one is too far gone to be esteemed and valued for His kingdom work! Guess who Rahab gave birth to? Boaz! The women listed in Jesus’ genealogy were broken, used, and carried deep shame, and most weren’t even Jews! But, they turned to Jehovah, the One True God, and HE redeemed them, using each of their stories in radical ways. Because God is gracious and loving, He saw fit to redeem them and give them a place of honor. God loves you with the same grace and love! He knows where you have been, the shame you carry, and He knows the good kingdom work He has for you in the future if you surrender to Him. He paid the highest price for you, and because of this, we can each call on His name and repent for our past, seeking forgiveness for our sin and freedom from our shame. Jesus doesn’t see us as beyond repair. Be encouraged by these seeming random names at the end of Ruth’s story, they shout of God’s inclusive love and value! God wants you to know you beloved and chosen!

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Catch up with Paid In Full!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
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Our Current Study Theme!

This is Redeemed Week Three!
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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 :-))

Memorize It!

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Redeemed Day 11 The Waiting Game

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ruth 3:1-18
Deuteronomy 25:5-10
Philippians 4:6-7

Redeemed, Day 11

Fear, anxiety, anger, sadness. These words describe the current emotions of many Americans. As I write, the world is experiencing a pandemic that has taken thousands of lives and impacted countless others.

Uncertainty pervades our country right now. Some are worried about contracting the virus or losing a loved one who is already medically compromised, while others are overwhelmed with financial concerns as their jobs are impacted. Businesses have closed and we have been instructed to “shelter-in-place” and to practice “social distancing” to try to stop the virus from spreading too quickly.

We have been given an end date for our stay at home order, and then watched as the date was extended. Disagreements abound as some are concerned about opening businesses too quickly, jeopardizing safety, while others are concerned about the effects of a broken economy.

Couples are postponing weddings. Graduations have been pushed back or moved online. Medical and dental procedures have been put on hold, and funerals are limited.

When will it be safe to go out? What will happen in the days to come? When will we be able to go back to the life we knew as normal? What are we to do in our uncertainty? How do we handle the waiting?

In the book of Ruth, we are introduced to two women who also faced uncertain times. As we’ve learned, Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, were both widows. Upon their return to Bethlehem, Ruth couldn’t have known what the future held for her. But she trusted and respected Naomi, complying with Naomi’s suggestions for provision.

Naomi was aware of a kinsman-redeemer, a man named Boaz.  A kinsman redeemer was a close family member who agreed to marry a widow, providing financially for her and carrying on the family name.

Naomi gave instructions to Ruth, to approach Boaz as kinsman redeemer and trust his noble character would move him to treat Ruth with honor.

Just as Ruth had a redeemer in Boaz, we, too, have a Redeemer.
His name is Jesus.

Since sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, we all are broken.
We experience pain, loss, and disappointment.
We cause the same and continue the cycle of brokenness.
Ultimately, we are separated from the Father by our sin.

We need someone who will meet us in our need, just as Boaz did Ruth, and redeem us, protecting our future. Jesus willingly came to earth, in the form of a man while fully God, to do just that. 

He experienced pain, scorn, shame and rejection. And then, He went to the cross, to put to death sin and shame on our behalf. To pay our innumerable debts, once and for all.

He chose us. He chose to love us enough to buy our freedom and our security for eternity.  He longs for us to come to Him, leaving behind our sin and shame and following Him as we journey on this earth. He knows there will be pain, but He promises to never leave or forsake us while we finish our days here before He welcomes us into eternity with Him!

What are you waiting for today? Is it a job or a promotion? Or maybe a husband? A child? Are you awaiting test results from a physician? Are you praying fervently for a family member to come to Jesus or to return from their wandering? Are you waiting to see the loved one you’ve been separated from during this time of uncertainty?

Paul admonishes us in Philippians to not be anxious for the future, but to pray and give our concerns to God with thanksgiving, allowing His peace to guard our hearts in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is near. In the waiting, He is near. Wait with hope, remembering He who calls us remains faithful to His promise that He will never leave us. Though our prayers may not always be answered the way we want or expect, we can trust that God is good, and one day we will see Him and realize He is the One we were waiting for all along!

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

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Redeemed 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 Redeemed!

Questions Day 7 To Save Or To Condemn?: 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 To Save Or To Condemn?!

The Questions

1) What teaching was too hard to accept and why was it offensive to those following Jesus? (verses 60-61)

2) What poignant question does Jesus ask in response to the disciples’ saying the teaching was too hard? (verses 62)

3) What is significantly important in the exchange between Jesus and Peter in verses 66-69?

John 6:60-71

Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”

61 Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were complaining about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”

66 From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray him.

Original Intent

1) What teaching was too hard to accept and why was it offensive to those following Jesus? (verses 60-61)
The author of this book, John, wrote to a largely Jewish audience with the intention of proving that the Messiah of the Old Testament was indeed Jesus Christ who walked among them and whom they had all physically seen and encountered. Backing up a few verses in John’s record (John 6:35-49, Jesus is making the connection for His Jewish-following-audience between Himself and the Old Testament account of manna coming from Heaven. (Exodus 16:3-4) Manna was given to the Jews as they wandered in the desert after being freed from Egyptian slavery. They had no food and cried out to God; He responded with giving them “bread from Heaven” to sustain them for the duration of their 40-year desert wanderings.  Now, Jesus was telling them that, in the same way, unless they took Jesus inside them spiritually, they would die spiritually just as the Jews would have died physically. Jesus was equating Himself to manna, but in a much more eternally significant way. “I am the Bread of Life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35) As you can imagine, this teaching was an entirely foreign concept to Jewish ears. In the passage about Jesus being the Bread of Life, it was clear to the original audience Jesus was claiming to be the long-awaited promised Messiah. Jesus was claiming to be God! To which, the Jews pushed against claiming they only saw Him as a man, the son of Joseph the carpenter. (John 6:42) This disruption of their worldview was simply too much to take in, so they became defensive, argumentative, territorial, and ultimately, chose to walk away from Jesus, His teachings, and the eternal life He offered. (John 6:66)

2) What poignant question does Jesus ask in response to the disciples’ saying the teaching was too hard? (verses 62)
After asking if those who were questioning Jesus were offended by His teaching, Jesus asks an interesting follow-up question, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?”. (verse 62) It’s important to note that Jesus was not offended that those following Him were offended. Rather, He invited them deeper into further investigation. Jesus accepted them exactly where they were at in their journey of exploring His claims as God, the promised Messiah. He did not return their offense with anger, annoyance, or by walking away in a huffy show of pretense. Instead, He asked an honest question. In essence, Jesus asked, what would it take for you to believe? Then, Jesus takes the conversation a little deeper, by giving an explanation for their own wrestling, doubts, and questions. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (verse 63) The reason they struggled with Jesus’ teachings is because they only were analyzing and sifting them through the help of their fleshly-oriented faculties.  Jesus said only the Spirit of God can open our eyes to see real life. The flesh is no help at all!  We need the Spirit of God to help us interpret the things of God!

3) What is significantly important in the exchange between Jesus and Peter in verses 66-69?
Jesus made it clear to all who were following Him that it was impossible for anyone to come to Jesus, meaning have eternal life, if that entrance was not first granted by God the Father. (verse 65) This is a similar thought to Jesus saying, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) as well as John’s words, “we love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) As human beings born with a sin-nature, we will never, on our own, choose to love and follow Jesus, only God can initiate that relationship. Jesus stated in verse 70, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve, yet one of you is a devil.” Reading this verse about Judas’ coming choice to reject Jesus is significant when we also read Jesus’ question to the disciples in light of the other followers deserting Him in verse 67, “You don’t want to go away, too, do you?”. God the Father had granted for all of them to come to Him. In John 17:12, Jesus is speaking directly to God the Father saying of His disciples, “While I was with them, I kept them in Your name, which You have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction (Judas).”  Still, Judas rejected. Still, the other followers walked away.

Everyday Application

1) What teaching was too hard to accept and why was it offensive to those following Jesus? (verses 60-61)
Just as there were teachings that were too hard for real, everyday, honest, hard-working, good people to accept in Jesus’ day, so it is for us in the 21st century.  These Jews who pushed against Jesus, God in the flesh who stood right in front of them, were not ragamuffins of society, nor were they malicious thieves or murderers. These were religious people. In our day, these would be our neighbors, the people we trust with our kids, the people may go to church with us and sing praises to God alongside. These are the people who have well-kept lawns, give generously, and speak kindly when we interact with them. No outside appearance, however, actually matters in the end when our breaths cease on earth and eternity for our souls begins. According to Jesus, the only thing that matters is whether we have taken the whole of Jesus into who we are, surrendering everything to Him. The people Jesus was engaging with had followed Jesus for a while. Maybe they were intrigued, maybe they enjoyed His teachings and thought He was wise. Eventually though, their questioning hearts made them face the reality that there were certain beliefs they refused to give up. To them, Jesus could not possibly be God, regardless of His evidence, His word, His power, His authority, and eventually, His resurrection from the dead. What teachings of Jesus offend you? Are you willing to let that offense be present, wrestle through it, and embrace truth? Or, will you walk away?

2) What poignant question does Jesus ask in response to the disciples’ saying the teaching was too hard? (verses 62)
Does it encourage you to know God isn’t offended by your questions?! Such freedom is given to explore and ask and engage with God Himself as you encounter real, honest questions about God and faith and what it means to trust Him. What questions are most pressing for you about God? In what ways do you wrestle with believing God at His word as described in Scripture? Are you willing to take Jesus up on His invitation and continue exploring? If so, are you also willing to accept the whole of the Bible as true? What evidence do you need to be convinced that Jesus is exactly who He says He is? As you study Scripture and seek insight from others who have studied and walked with God, be aware of Jesus’ insight that only the Spirit of God can open our eyes to the things of God. Pray as you read, asking Him to teach your heart and give you understanding.

3) What is significantly important in the exchange between Jesus and Peter in verses 66-69?
God the Father knew Judas would reject Him, betray His Son, Jesus, and would walk away from forgiveness, choosing to end his own life drowning in shame. But He still granted Judas the opportunity of life. This is radical love!! As Jesus walked the earth, teaching and healing and engaging in conversations, He knew full well who would come to Him and follow Him in surrender, and who would walk away and reject Him. But He still engaged and taught and loved and invited even these. Again, we see the incredible patience and love of God as He does not walk away offended by our unbelief, our doubts, or our questions. He still calls and invites and engages. If you have surrendered and given Him your whole heart and life, know that decision is final. When you surrendered, you gave up your rights to have the final say on your eternity. Jesus holds that now, and you cannot do anything to take yourself out of His hand. (John 10:27-28) You are His. You are safe forever! Do not underestimate God’s pursuant love for you! At the same time, do not be deceived into thinking you can be rescued from death and eternal separation from God by remaining indifferent towards Him and His offer of salvation. We must all make a choice to follow or walk away, there is no middle ground.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with To Save Or To Condemn?!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Shielded Day 4 Unmasking The Real Enemy: 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 Unmasking The Real Enemy!

The Questions

1) Why does the author call the readers to humble themselves (verse 6)?

2) What does it mean that the devil is “prowling around”?

3) How are we to encourage our hearts to resist sin and remain faithful amid suffering and evil?

1 Peter 5:6-9

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

Original Intent

1) Why does the author call the readers to humble themselves (verse 6)?
The apostle Peter was writing to the Jewish people dispersed throughout Gentile lands. (1 Peter 1:1) In chapter 5 we find the central reason Peter had for writing the letter. In verse 12 he says he wrote, “in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God.” The exhortation he gives in verse 12 is a repeated thought from verse 9: “Stand firm” in it, which is the grace of God. As Bible students, we note the “therefore” in verse 6 and should be careful to connect what is being said before this verse and connect it correctly to this verse. We humble ourselves “because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (verse 5)  By recognizing God’s sovereignty in our salvation and our sanctification (the process being made holy), we understand that everything we have is because of God’s grace, which is unmerited favor. Peter had learned it was better to humble himself before God than to be humbled by God. (Matthew 26:31-35, 69-74) There will be a day of reward. Maybe in this life, but definitely in the next. (James 4:6-10, James 1:9-12)

2) What does it mean that the devil is “prowling around”?
The prophet Isaiah revealed that Satan, who is the devil, was created by God, but turned against His authority (Isaiah 14:12-15) in search of his own. The New Testament tells us that at the present time, Satan leads the kingdom of evil (Matthew 25:41). His power exists not only in the spiritual realm (Hell), but he’s also been allowed by God to roam the earth and wreak havoc until the appointed day when God will destroy him and his demons forever. (Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 20:7-9) Until that happens, Peter warned the believers the devil was not to be underestimated. The devil’s power is limited, but he is attempting to steal, kill and destroy as many people as he can. (John 10:10) Even though he’s described as a lion, his ways are often subtle and cunning. In John 10, Jesus described Himself in comparison to the religious leaders. Jesus, the Good Shepherd came to bring life. The enemy of life uses even those who claim to be of God to carry people away from the grace of God by telling them their morality (their works) can save them.

3) How are we to encourage our hearts to resist sin and remain faithful amid suffering and evil?
We are challenged through Peter’s letter to resist the enemy’s schemes and stand firm in our faith because we have a family of Christians around the world who are experiencing hardship, temptation, and trials like we are. Peter reminded the believers that though it may not seem like it, there were many who followed God faithfully and endured suffering. In Hebrews 12:1, the author writes something similar to Peter as he addressed the oppressed believers, reminding them of those who’d gone before them in faith, “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us.” Paul told the Corinthians it was important to remain humble, resist temptation, and remember it wasn’t uncommon to face hardship as a believer. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13) We also do this by meeting together with one another and encouraging one another in obedience and faithfulness. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

Everyday Application

1) Why does the author call the readers to humble themselves (verse 6)?
One of my favorite passage of Scripture is found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In chapter 2, we learn about the humility of the perfect Son of God, who “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.” Paul goes on to say that the humble Christ was exalted by God to the highest place. (Philippians 2:9-11) Humbling ourselves is not simply thinking less of ourselves. Rather, it’s moment by moment thinking of ourselves less and thinking of God most. Often, God opens doors to us as a reward of our humble obedience to Him and to following His call in our lives. We may even find ourselves in exalted positions with platforms and big opportunities to speak for Him. Along with this, we need to prepare ourselves that this will possibly lead to and demand much more humility as we depend on His grace to sustain us as serve Him.

2) What does it mean that the devil is “prowling around”?
God has granted Satan some power in this world, though he is most certainly on God’s leash.  In fact, his power does not control the grave even now. Even if Satan thought he had won when Judas betrayed Jesus, it was God who was in control to bring life to all of us! John Piper said, “God uses demons to undo the design of the father of demons. God uses Satan to defeat the purposes of Satan. The death of Jesus disarmed Satan in his warfare against God’s people. It stripped him of his one damning weapon: unforgiven sin. When Satan entered Judas, he signed his own death warrant with the blood of Jesus.” (Hebrews 2:14-16) The devil is prowling, yes. The devil has some power, yes. BUT death has NO power for the soul surrendered to Jesus! That’s why we can approach the throne of grace boldly (Hebrews 4:14-16) and cast all of our cares on God.

3) How are we to encourage our hearts to resist sin and remain faithful amid suffering and evil?
We can cheerfully cease from endorsing ourselves because we have the assurance from God that He will exalt us, when the time is right. I can’t think of a better way to remind ourselves that Satan’s days are short-lived than the testimony of faithful saints who have endured in the fight against the devil’s schemes. Several years ago, the words to this well-known hymn was slightly modernized by Brian Doerksen who had studied the history and possible meaning in the day it was written. I believe it communicates well what Luther was proclaiming:

A mighty fortress is our God, a stronghold never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe conspires to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with bitter hate,
On earth is not his equal.

If we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
unless God’s man is on our side –  the man of God’s own choosing.
You ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
The Lord of Hosts, His name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;
God’s Word shall overthrow him.

That Word above all earthly powers is evermore abiding.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Jesus with us siding.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
the body they may kill, God’s truth is with us still
His kingdom is forever.

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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