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Ready Day 6 Laboring Love

June 7, 2021 by Sarah Afan Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

1Thessalonians 3:1-13
Colossians 1:24-29
Jude 20-25

Ready, Day 6

During my daughter’s first years of university studies, my mind was always with her.  I knew that university lifestyle was quite different from secondary school. I was praying for her almost every day, calling to know how she was doing, and sending her text messages to encourage her.

Two things prompted my actions.

  1. I love her, and wanted her future to be good.
  2. I was afraid lest she fell into a bad company and ruin her life; I didn’t want my labor to be in vain.

I see a similar relationship between the Thessalonian Christians and the apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy, who traveled together to encourage churches. (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Having suffered great opposition, they persevered to preach the gospel to the believers in Thessalonica together. After being forced to leave the city, they were keen to know how the new believers were growing in their faith. Paul’s team made several attempts to visit, but were hindered by Satan (through aggressive persecution). At last, they resorted to sending Timothy to go and encourage the churches on their behalf.

Recalling his labor among them, Paul said,

“We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” (1Thessalonians 2:8)

As a result, Paul’s team was afraid, lest the new believers become weary and give up their faith because of affliction. Therefore, they sent Timothy to “strengthen and encourage” them, so no one would be shaken by afflictions. (1 Thessalonians 3:2)

Wow! That pricks my heart; I ask myself again and again whether I am committed to loving the Church this way. How often do we pray for the Church, especially new believers? What about those who have backslidden? Are we making efforts to restore them back into Christ’s fold? I am afraid that instead of reaching out in empathy and support, sometimes others’ failures become a topic of discussion to us. In our hypocrisy, we talk of it with pleasure, as if to say, “it serves them right.”

There’s a hymn that usually keeps me in check; as I sing, I am reminded of all I owe Jesus:

“Must I go and empty-handed?
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him?
Must I empty-handed go?”

Are we prepared to meet our Savior?
Will our life’s work reflect His heart of passion for each person?
We must return to this first-love question throughout our lives.

Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20) We must not take His command for granted; it calls us to action! The immediate receivers of His command (His disciples) obeyed it.

Now it is our turn.

How committed are we to making disciples?
Do our hearts yearn with love, the way Paul and his team did for the Thessalonian Christians?

His deep care for them compelled Paul to say,

“When I could no longer stand it, I also sent him [Timothy] to find out about your faith.” (1Thessalonians 3:5)

Paul was afraid Satan might have tempted them to abandon their faith, and thus Paul’s labor would have been in vain. I am deeply challenged by the attitude of Paul and his team; overwhelmingly, it is dominated by caring for and nurturing the Thessalonians’ faith. Similarly, our concern must be to prepare the world for the coming of Christ.

When Timothy returned with a positive report about the Thessalonian Christians, Paul describes how the team celebrated with joy:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were encouraged about you through your faith. For now, we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience?” (1Thessalonians 3:7-9)

To Paul and his team, the steadfastness of the faith of the Thessalonian Christians was life; he explained, “Now, we live.” What a passion!

Such celebration is for us, as well!

Jesus describes the incomparable joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7); should there be anything for us to celebrate more than the increase of God’s kingdom?

The report of the Thessalonian Christians further spurs Paul and his team to deep and fervent prayers.

“[A]s we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and complete what is lacking in your faith.” (1Thessalonians 3:10) What a commitment!

Doesn’t this kind of zeal challenge us?
Sisters, it’s time for us, like Paul, to step into Jesus’ commission and commit ourselves to disciple-making. Like Paul and his team, may our hearts burn in prayer “day and night” for those we know are perishing without Jesus.

What joy shall it be, when we see such people repenting and growing strong in their faith! Such great rejoicing will be ours when, at last, Jesus says to us,
“Well done, my faithful servant!”
(Matthew 25:21)

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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 Ready 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 Ready!

Posted in: church, Discipleship, Faith, Faithfulness, Good, Jesus, Joy, Kingdom, Love, Relationship Tagged: affliction, celebration, committed, future, go, Heart Passion, Labor, Laboring, ready, rejoicing, Savior, servant, Yearn

Beloved Day 3 Radical Love of Marriage

November 18, 2020 by Sarah Afan Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Song of Solomon 1:1-11
Song of Solomon 5:2-8
Song of Solomon 8:5-14
Genesis 2:18-25
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Beloved, Day 3

Studying the Song of Solomon gave me a fuller perspective on marriage. The book describes the relationship between a man and a woman from its beginning, into marriage, and thereafter. All along, their relationship was marked by romance.

Their love was radical; it was original.
It was God’s kind of love, which is unconditional.

The couple compared the strength of their love to fire, saying many waters cannot quench it nor can rivers drown it. (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)
No force, or condition, would alter their decision to love one another.

This is a picture of the marriage relationship God wants His children to enjoy.
He desires marriage relationships soaked in a deep friendship, emotional bonding, and physical pleasure; this is an enduring marriage. Though misunderstanding and disagreement arise, these cannot quench the love of a husband and wife who are committed to the perfect plan of God.

Marriage, we know, was instituted by God Himself with the command for two becoming one flesh. God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” (Genesis 2:18) When the man saw the woman, he exclaimed, “This one at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken from man.”  Therefore, Scripture says, a husband leaves his parents to be united to his wife. Here within the mystery of radical love, God binds two into one. (Genesis 2:23-24)

God’s handiwork is marvelous! He made them two kinds, one man, one woman, but one pair with one intention. Our differences as individuals help us acknowledge we are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator. (Psalm 139:14) Though two kinds, we complement each other, and our union achieves something altogether unique.
Oneness doesn’t mean sameness!
Within the context of marriage, God designed individuals to create a single bond together. We can celebrate our Maker God and His creativity on display in marriage!

Unfortunately, sometimes we fail to appreciate
the beautiful combination of our differences crafted by God,
instead elevating ourselves over our spouse.

We wish our spouses were more like us, so we could get things done our own way.
We want them to think our thoughts, follow the direction we go, and do what we want.
We forget our Maker crafted us as individuals to complement each other and fulfill His perfect plan for us in marriage, as opposed to our plan in our way! The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church regarding unity, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?” (1 Corinthians 12:17)

If we want all things done our way,
we miss the beauty of the union.

Furthermore, it’s difficult to celebrate God’s creativity in crafting us as individuals
unless we first pursue a deep relationship with Christ.
Only in Christ, can we find our true identity and deepest delight.

We were once in darkness, following the inclinations of our sinful nature. Our Plan. Our Way. God the Father sent Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. Our faith in Christ has made us new creatures in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17-21); this is our new and true identity.

Finding our identity in Christ is one thing, choosing to remain in Him is another. The Lord Jesus said we must remain in Him, because without Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) When we fail to remain in Him, we hold on to our old, selfish nature of sin.
This selfish nature is all about having our way, even if it is wrong.

But if we choose to remain in Christ, He fills us with His radical, sacrificial love.
This is the love that drove Him to the cross to pay for sins He did not commit.
He willingly put Himself in our place, receiving the punishment meant for us,
so we may have fullness of life in Him.

We must learn sacrificial love from Him.
According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, His love is patient and kind,
it is not jealous or boastful, proud, or rude.
It does not demand its own way, neither is it irritable nor keeps a record of wrongs.
It never gives up, never loses faith, but is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.

This is the love expected of us whose Master is the Lord Jesus.

As I was preparing to write this study, I spoke with my husband, and he said something that hurt me deeply. I almost reacted negatively, but immediately the Holy Spirit reminded me love is patient and kind, and not easily provoked. I was humbled and quickly refrained from being angry. The Bible says love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

When we surrender our control to the Holy Spirit, our pattern of thinking changes.
Radically, we begin appreciating one another as individuals. When we look at our spouse through the lens of a lovingly handcrafted being with unique gifts, talents, and insights, our appreciation for God and our spouse both broadens and deepens.

When we firmly root our identity in God,
appreciate our spouses as individuals,
and share a common aim of pursuing and honoring the Lord together,
our relationship allows radical romance to thrive in our marriages!

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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 Beloved 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 Beloved!

Posted in: Beauty, Beloved, Christ, God, Handiwork, Marriage, Relationship, Sacrifice, Strength Tagged: committed, Deep Friendship, Enduring, God's plan, identity, oneness, Original, Radical Love, romance, Song of Solomon, unconditional

Pause IV Day 6 Intently Waiting

September 21, 2020 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

Pause IV, Day 6

Within the intensity of a deeply committed relationship, our hearts are laid bare with frank vulnerability. Raw emotion, profound passion, heartache, and love mingle together and are offered in plain sight of the other. Trust has long been built over time. There is no need to hide behind self-defense or barbed attacks. Love and trust hold up the foundation where both parties stand, bound up in unity.

Here, in the sweetness of a long-time journey with the Lord God in intimate relationship, Habakkuk stands before the Lord. His heart is grieved. His insides wail at the atrocities being committed against a holy God by his own nation. He begs the Lord to mend the broken.

Then the Lord speaks, and Habakkuk writhes in anguish at His answer.

Bluntly, again in context of their shared relationship, Habakkuk wrestles in plain sight with the Lord. How could He use an enemy nation to bring retribution against Israel? Can the Righteous One choose to act so far outside Habakkuk’s limited line of sight and perspective? Will Habakkuk still trust the Lord?

The insides of his heart have now been verbalized, the air hangs heavy between Habakkuk and the Lord. Habakkuk leans in, intent on listening.

He is confident the Lord heard him.
He knows the Lord will answer.
He stands ready to hear.
He watches like a guard on a high tower, waiting for the slightest whisper from the Spirit of God.
He is not in a hurry.
Habakkuk intently waits to hear from his Lord.

What a beautiful pattern for us to follow in our own walk with the Lord God!
His invitation for depth and authentic sharing of our hearts is just as available to us as it was to Habakkuk. In fact, He longs for just such an exchange. Will you trust Him? Begin investing deeper in your relationship with God by spending time in His Word consistently. Be honest before Him.

And intently wait for His response.

Today's Invitation

1) Read Habakkuk 2:1 and answer these 3 questions in your journal:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

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

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Habakkuk 2:1

I will stand at my guard post
and station myself on the lookout tower.
I will watch to see what he will say to me
and what I should reply about my complaint.

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

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

Posted in: Broken, God, Journey, Pause, Relationship, Trust Tagged: Bare, committed, deep, Habakkuk, hear, hearts, holy, Intently, intimate, Sweetness, Vulnerability, waiting

Relentless Day 12 Repent From Rebellion: Digging Deeper

September 24, 2019 by Rachel Jones 1 Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Repent From Rebellion!

The Questions

1) What are ways we bow down to another god besides the Lord?

2) How can God be jealous?

3) Why would God be jealous for His reputation?

Exodus 34:14

Because the Lord is jealous for his reputation, you are never to bow down to another god.  He is a jealous God.

Original Intent

1) What are ways we bow down to another God besides the Lord?
An idol is defined by author M.G. Easton as “image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object.”  The first mention of an idol in the Bible is in Genesis 31:19, when Rachel hides her father’s idols in her saddlebag as she sets out on a journey with her husband.   The Israelites also picked up idol worship during their sojourn in Egypt, but as M.G. Easton points out, “the idolatry learned in Egypt was probably rooted out from among the people during the forty years’ wanderings; but when the Jews entered Palestine, they came into contact with the monuments and associations of the idolatry of the old Canaanite races. . .”  By New Testament times, according to Editor James Orr, idolatry meant not only image-worship but also “giving to any human desire a precedence over God’s will.”  The Scriptures are very implicit in instruction regarding idolatry.  They tell us not to bow down to false gods (Exodus 34:14) and not to defile ourselves with foreign idols (Ezekiel 20:7).  Anything we put ahead of God in our lives can become an idol and must be avoided if we desire to honor the Lord.

2) How can God be jealous?
To our American way of thinking, the word jealous has a negative connotation associated with envy and pain, but in a Biblical context, jealousy has a positive meaning. The words jealous and zealous are the same Hebrew word, qana’, which means “to be zealous or jealous.”  In English, both words come to us from the Greek root zelos.  We can use this concept of zeal to better understand how God can be jealous.  Author Kyle Idleman notes, “we think of zeal as being intense enthusiasm. That idea captures why God is so possessive about us: He is, as He says, a consuming fire of passion for us.”  God’s jealousy is a way of Him showing us His love.  Author Richard L. Strauss clarifies, “there is no selfishness in His jealousy.  It is the appropriate expression of His holiness.” Author John Piper concurs, explaining that God’s jealousy “does not rise from fear or weakness but from a holy indignation at having his honor and power and mercy scorned by the faithlessness of a fickle spouse.”  For Christians, a jealous God is a holy, loving God who is passionate about His bride, the church.

3) Why would God be jealous for His reputation?
When Israel journeyed toward the Promised Land during their exodus from Egypt, God gave them Ten Commandments to follow.  Many of these commandments reflected God’s holiness and sovereignty.  His first command was in Exodus 20:3, “Do not have other gods besides me.”  His next command warned them not to make idols or to worship idols because He is a jealous God. (Exodus 20:4-5)  As preacher Charles Spurgeon explains, God is jealous “when he beholds His throne occupied by false gods, His dignity insulted, and His glory usurped by others.”  Author Ken Easley points out, “For God, jealousy may also be understood as His continually seeking to protect His own honor. . . It is right for God to seek His own honor, for He alone deserves it.”   Because God is the one true God, He alone is worthy of praise, glory and honor, and He is jealous when false gods reign in the hearts of His people.  As author Richard L. Strauss points out, “Since He is the highest and greatest being there is, infinitely holy and glorious, He must be passionately committed to preserving His honor and supremacy.  He must zealously desire exclusive devotion and worship.  To do less would make Him less than God.”  May we remember each day to give the one true God the glory and praise He deserves.

Everyday Application

1) What are ways we bow down to another God besides the Lord?
If you asked me what I worship, I would answer “the Lord God” without hesitation.  But if you looked closely at my life (my calendar, daily schedule, bank statement, social media activity,) would my real-life answer ring true to my words?  Or would I have to add a few more “gods” to my list?  Author John W. Ritenbaugh observes, “People make a god of money, athletics, hobbies, traveling, or whatever they devote almost their entire lives to.”  John Piper notes that idolatry “starts in the heart: craving, wanting, enjoying, being satisfied by anything that you treasure more than God.”  Even good and healthy pursuits and passions can become a problem if our heart is not in the right place, putting God above all else.  We can help guard ourselves from idols (1 John 5:21) by purposing to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, which Jesus calls the greatest commandment.  The more we pray, read the Bible, and focus on Jesus’ love for us, the better perspective we have of God’s rightful place in our hearts.  John Piper suggests that “We make a god out of whatever we find most joy in. So, find your joy in God and be done with all idolatry.”  Let the joy of the Lord be our strength as we purpose to make Him number one in our hearts and lives.

2) How can God be jealous?
It is hard to make time to hang out with extended family and friends, but I try to be intentional about it because I want to nurture those relationships.  Nothing irks me more than sitting down with my loved ones to find myself staring at the back of their phones and tablets.  I find myself jealous for their conversation and interaction.  I want them to spend time with me.  I want them to want to spend time with me more than they want to check the scores, scroll through Facebook, or post a goofy picture.  I wonder if this is how God feels about us sometimes.  He longs to spend time with us, share His plans with us, and abide with us. (John 15:5) God desires us to worship Him. The Scriptures encourage us to praise Him: “Sing to the Lord, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name”. (Psalm 30:4) Scripture also tells us God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) This means that praising Him brings His presence.  God is longing to commune with us…are we inviting His presence, or are we ignoring His invitation, oblivious to His jealous love for us?

3) Why would God be jealous for His reputation?
Have you ever done great work on a project and not have it appreciated?   Or worse yet, have the credit given to someone else?  That is a little bit what it must be like for God when we don’t recognize His sovereignty.  He is the Creator of the universe, yet at times we relegate Him to the bottom of our to-do list while we place other “gods” before Him.  Even if they are truly wonderful things, like our family or our ministry, these other loves do not deserve our fidelity over God.  Author Kyle Idleman teaches, “God is jealous for your heart, not because He is petty or insecure, but because He loves you.  The reason why God has such a huge problem with idolatry is that His love for you is all-consuming. He loves you too much to share you…”  God is jealous for our love and attention, and He wants to be number one in our hearts.  It is a blessing to be so wholly and completely loved, but one we take for granted.  Because He is jealous for His reputation as the God above all gods, He will not let us forget the glory and praise that are due Him.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Repent From Rebellion!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Relentless 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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Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Posted in: Digging Deeper, Faithfulness, God, Jealous, Longing, Love, Relentless, Scripture, Worship Tagged: all-consuming, blessing, committed, heart, idols, Jealous God, passionately, selfishness, zeal

Dwell Day 3 Rhythm Of Rest

October 3, 2018 by Randi Overby Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 16:22-30
Exodus 31:12-17
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Ezekiel 22:23-26 

Dwell, Day 3

Sitting on top of a mountain in Colorado for a week, disconnected from life and the rest of the world, brings a rest to the soul that is hard to describe.  That time of silence and solitude made my husband and I realize we weren’t doing enough to observe a time of dedicated rest, or sabbath, in our lives.  We were good at disconnecting from work and obligation, rest didn’t feel life-giving. With four teenagers, a full-time ministry position for my husband, a dog, a full-time job for me, a weekly community group, friends, school and much more…the idea of true rest often felt like a cruel joke.  Yet, what we began to grasp was the truth that, if we were willing, we could enjoy the kind of rest God desired.  Intentional decisions and planning were required, but it wasn’t out of reach.   

To understand why we were committed to making adjustments in our lives, you first have to understand how sabbath rest serves to distinguish, focus, and remind.   

Sabbath Distinguishes
God himself established the idea of sabbath rest on the final seventh day of creation. (Genesis 2:1-3) He took a step back, considered the work He had done, saw what was good, rested, and declared the day holy. He effectively distinguished the seventh day from the other six.  God then asked His people to observe the same pattern of work, labor, and gather for six days; rest, remain, and trust in Him for the seventh. (Exodus 16:22-30, Exodus 20:8-11) 

Simple, right?  Not so much… 
In our pride, we think we know better. 
In our greed, we think we need more.
In our need to be the best, we think we need to do more.  
In our need to be important, we think we must been seen. 

None of those beliefs lend themselves to rest and pulling back.
Sabbath is admittedly counter-intuitive to our current cultural way of life.  But God’s desire is that as His children, we distinguish between the common and the holy.  Six days are common and we work just like everyone else; but then, there is one day where we are to declare how we are different (Ezekiel 22:23-26).
When we ignore the Sabbath, it ends up looking like any other day.
We’ve declared the common to be enough! 

Sabbath Focuses
“Sabbath is that uncluttered time and space in which we can distance ourselves from our own activities enough to see what God is doing.” —Eugene Peterson 

Setting aside the cares, burdens, and work of the world opens the ability to reflect on and think about the God of the universe.  Throughout scripture, we see God time and again instruct us to remember.  With the Sabbath, we are to remember a couple of specific things:  God’s work AROUND US  through His creation (Exodus 20:11) and God’s work IN US as He sanctifies us (Exodus 31:13), making us more like Christ.   

Not only are we given the Sabbath to focus on our relationship with God, the time also allows us to focus on the earthly relationships that matter most.  We are called to observe the Sabbath with anyone within the walls of our home at the time  – family, friend, co-worker, or someone just passing through. (Exodus 20:10) 

Sabbath Reminds
Perhaps my favorite benefit of observing the Sabbath is its purposeful  reminder that I am no longer a slave, but have been set free (Deuteronomy 5:15).  Regularly reflecting on what my life was like without Christ, realizing all God has done to rescue me, and acknowledging that I could not do that on my own, has a profound effect. 

God receives the credit.
I remember how imperfect I am.
I am aware of my desperate need for salvation. 

Realizing our need for salvation isn’t just a one-time thing.  

Sabbath reminds me there is freedom available.
Sabbath reminds me there is a God willing to rescue.
Sabbath reminds me I cannot do this on my own. 

Sabbath Isn’t Easy
Coming home from our time in the mountains, we had a strong commitment to adjust how we would intentionally observe the Sabbath; but reality has proven it difficult to remain consistent. Resting well requires us to work well.   

To enter into our sabbath time with the ability to remember, focus and be aware of God and His work, we must do the prep work to allow these to happen.  When we do that, we experience the life-giving, empowering and rejuvenating joy God gives as a result.   

And then there are the questions….
What’s the right way to do this?
Am I allowed to….?
Is it ok if we….?
What about…..?
Can I go and….? 

We can quickly get caught up in the “rules and regulations” of what is or isn’t “Sabbath” to the point that it’s no longer restful.  Mark Buchanan, in his book The Rest of God, provides two principles that characterize a healthy Sabbath: DO NOT DO what is necessary; DO what is life-giving.  Those have become our Sabbath filter. The simplicity has helped us let go of questions and concerns about doing it the “right” way.  Our Sabbath doesn’t look like others, but it honors the expectations that God has put in place for us.  We can follow the command to keep the observance (Hebrews 4:9), yet we have freedom in how that takes shape (Colossians 2:16) through the gifts gained in Christ.   

Work hard. 
Rest well.
Distinguish yourself.
Focus on God.
Remember His work. 

The fight for Sabbath is worth it! 

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

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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14