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The GT Weekend! ~ Ready Week 3

June 19, 2021 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Have you ever thought about what your struggles are meant to signify to you and those around you? If you had to guess, pick a few of your recent times of difficulty and think out loud as to what they might mean. On Monday, Rebekah challenged us through Scripture’s teaching that our trials are evidence of God’s coming judgement and coming glory. It certainly doesn’t seem likely when we think about this from our human perspective! If we slow down and surrender our struggles to the vantage point of the Almighty, and apply the truth of His Words, we can see the glimmers of coming Hope. We grieve and ache and weep because all is not well here in our world, but the Lord God designed us for perfect existence without pain. He is the Redeeming God who delights to make all things new and bring beauty from ashes. Do you believe this? Spend some time reading 2 Thessalonians this weekend, looking for how the first century believers were encouraged in their faith even in the midst of intense struggle. How can this encourage you?

2) It’s only 17 verses. I timed it and it takes about 55 seconds to read. Sisters, this is worth it! Go, right now, and read the 17 verses of truth-soaked-grace of 2 Thessalonians 2. What sticks out to you? Which parts sear your heart with urgency? Which words bring comfort or quicken your being with aching for hope to come? Where are you believing lies from the enemy of your soul? (verses 9-10) Who do you know who is trapped by the deception of the Lawless One whose desire is to keep all of us blinded to the coming glory and goodness of the Only True God? Sit with this question for a few minutes, close your eyes, and ask the Lord to show you those friends or family members who are trapped by lies that are keeping them from seeing truth. See those faces? Hear those names? Know their stories? Pray for these, Sister, pray for them!! Bring them to the Father, weep over them, beg for their eyes to be open and for them to hear and respond as the Spirit of the Living God calls out to awaken them from death to life. Is your name among those being deceived? Have you trusted Jesus to pay the blood-price earned by your sin and rebellion against Him? What’s holding you back? Are you ready to spend eternity with the God who loves you?!

3) Paul writes his letters to the churches in Thessalonica with fierce love and a passionate call to stand strong and live Ready “in the now” for the coming return of Christ. If you haven’t spent the very few minutes it takes to read his short letters, go read up! (1 and 2 Thessalonians) Now, he fervently concludes by reminding the church that God is indeed faithful, He IS coming back for His beloved people. We can be made Ready for all that is to come by deeply dwelling in His Word and leaning into His power, which He unleashes in us by the Holy Spirit to draw other people into relationship with Himself through us! Are you actively engaged with His power for this eternal kingdom purpose? Think about the common, everyday pieces of your day. The dish washing, the children watching, the friend-calling, and the meal making. Suppose it is in the mediocre and mundane that we are to glimpse to coming glory of the Father who is crafting an eternity with us that is beyond description? How might this reality shift the way you approach your everyday tasks? How can you begin changing your perspective to see the eternal in the ordinary this week?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

Prayer Journal
Lord Jesus Christ, You are my solid Hope. You are present now in this moment, flooding every aspect of my life just as fully whether I am aware of You or not. Every trial is seen and known, and Your Hope shoots through every tear that falls and every ache of my human heart. Your strength is for my everyday moments. Jesus, I praise You for this tender grace. Lord Jesus, lift my eyes from mu busy lists, from the pain around me, from the brokenness, and remind me Your Hope is not only present, but is also coming. These struggles are momentary and fleeting, regardless of how permanent they feel. More so, this unshakeable Hope is solid, able to support the full weight of my ache to be whole and new. Oh Christ, may I make it my aim, with eyes transfixed on Your glorious coming Hope, to share this life and love with those around me. Strengthen me to lift my eyes off myself and use my circumstances to point to You, the One who makes me Ready now for all the indescribable richness to come! Come, Lord Jesus, come, and until you do, make me ready to tell everyone about 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

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Posted in: Beloved, Deep, Dwell, Faith, God, GT Weekend, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Kingdom, Love, Power, Redeemed, Scripture, Trust Tagged: Coming Hope, encourage, Glimmer, glory, go, goodness, Living God, ready

Ready Day 9 Living Ready: Digging Deeper

June 10, 2021 by Mandy Farmer Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Living Ready!

The Questions

1) What does “God’s will, your sanctification” mean in verse 3?

2) Of all the sins that he could speak of, why does Paul cite sexual sin as the way to have holy lives?

3) Why is loving others so important in living a godly life?

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Additionally, then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God–as you are doing–do this even more. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality,4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor,5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.7 For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness. 8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more,11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

Original Intent

1) What does “God’s will, your sanctification” mean in verse 3?
God’s desire, His will, for us is more than just forgiveness of sin so we can be restored to a right relationship with Him. He wants to restore us to flawless His image, completely unmarked by sinful desires. God created us in His image. (Genesis 1:27) While that was ruined by the fall of man when Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3), God still instructed us to “be holy as He is holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16); God’s will is to perfectly restore His image in each of us and He offers this to all who have trusted Him for salvation from the condemnation of sin. (Colossians 3:9-10) Sanctification is a big, confusing word. It can also be translated as “holiness” or “set apart.” Thus, God’s will for us is to live holy lives. When we live holy lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, we become more and more like Him. (2 Corinthians 3:18) His Holy Spirit enables us to “participate in the divine nature” of God. (2 Peter 1:3-4) Peter urges us in the following verses to do our part in coordination with God’s Spirit working inside every believer, “make every effort to add to your faith (…) godliness with brotherly (…) love”. (2 Peter 1:5-9) Again, Peter urges us, “make every effort to confirm your calling and election.” (2 Peter 1:10-11) When we participate in His work, we are READY to enter His Kingdom. “For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.” (2 Peter 1:11)

2) Of all the sins he could speak of, why does Paul cite sexual sin as the way to have holy lives?
The church in Thessalonica was amid an amoral society. The ancient writer, Demosthenes, described the view of sex in the ancient Roman Empire like this, “We keep prostitutes for pleasure; we keep mistresses for the day to day needs of the body; we keep wives for the faithful guardianship of our homes.” (Enduring Word Bible Commentary 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4) Sexual sin was rampant and grossly distorted God’s design! Paul exhorted the church because they were called to live set apart lives. He encouraged them to live more and more like children of God, taking on the image of Christ as the Holy Spirit shaped it in them. His will was for believers to live different lives from unbelievers, so their good works would be seen and draw all men to glorify God and receive salvation also. (Matthew 5:16) God, through His Holy Spirit, is directing us to work for His good purpose. In his book, “Holiness”, J. C. Ryle stated, “if we are not obeying Him and living more like Him, we are not shining lights. And if not, perhaps we have not truly given our lives to God in the first place. Certainly, we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us.” (Philippians 2:12-15)

3) Why is loving others so important in living a godly life?
Love is the cornerstone to holy living. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6, “Love the Lord and love your neighbor.” (Matthew 22:37-40) It all boils down to LOVE. All the law rests upon loving God and loving others. In his letter, the disciple John encouraged us to love each other. This kind of divine, selfless love proves we are born of God because we are becoming like Him. (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-8) He even said, if we aren’t loving each other, we don’t know God! (1 John 4:8) If we struggle with this, we may need to consider whether we genuinely love Christ. J.C. Ryle wrote, “Let it never be said that we cannot know whether a Christian really loves Christ.” He continues, if not “perhaps you have no sense of debt to Him”. The only way to genuinely love Christ and realize our indebtedness to Him is to study the Bible fervently. Learn the attributes of Kingdom living in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Get a grasp on our sinfulness in Romans 1 and 2. Additionally, pray. Plead with God earnestly, asking for His light and understanding. Seek Him with all your heart, soul, and mind until you see your need of Him. “To see your need of Christ and the debt to Christ is the first step toward loving Him.” (J. C. Ryle)

Everyday Application

1) What does “God’s will, your sanctification” mean in verse 3?
We receive many graces when we are saved from the consequence of our sin, which is eternal death and separation from God. The first of these is justification, which is the forgiveness of all our personal sin past, present, and future. I like to explain it this way, God’s grace makes me “Just as if I’d never sinned”. (Romans 5:9-18) But grace does not stop there! The next thing God gives is new life! We call this regeneration. Easton’s Bible Dictionary explains regeneration as a change of heart (Titus 3:4-8); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17); a renewal of the mind (Romans 12:1-2). This is nothing man does on our own strength, but rather it is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Thirdly, God adopts us as His child! (John 1:12-13) We are His heirs! Finally, we are given the Holy Spirit, who teaches us to live more and more like Jesus. As we grow in Him, this holiness (sanctification) becomes the doing and living of our salvation. Dr. David Jeremiah says, “it is the proof of our faith… the example of our faith… and the action of our faith.” (Crosswalk)

2) Of all the sins he could speak of, why does Paul cite sexual sin as the way to have holy lives?
Much like Thessalonica, sexual immorality is rampant today, even within the church. Sexual passion is a wonderful, God-given gift, but God designed it to be enjoyed only within the bounds of marriage. (Hebrews 13:4) The desire of the flesh is likely the strongest desire we have and is incredibly hard to resist. Even King David, a man after God’s own heart, failed to resist sexual desires. (2 Samuel 11:1-5) It must be fought on two sides, body and soul. We must take care to “guard our hearts” (Proverbs 4:20-23) to keep our desires at bay. We can only remain pure through our humble search of God’s Word (Psalm 119:9-11), hiding it deep in our hearts. [Bishop Kastor, The Philokalia, Vol. 1] It takes diligence on our part along with constant submission to the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Anne Graham Lotz stated in her book, Jesus in Me, “While you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you, the cooperation of your full surrender, obedience and faith is required to activate it.” It takes self-control and humble constant repentance to quench the fires of the flesh. But be encouraged, with His Power, we CAN resist and flee temptation! (1 Corinthians 10:13) We CAN live holy lives. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

3) Why is loving others so important in living a godly life?
Today, we hear it said that we cannot love others unless we love ourselves. This idea would essentially be saying Jesus gave us a third commandment (actually, loving ourselves would become the second commandment.) God has instructed us to put others before ourselves (Philippians 2:2-4). Scripture tell us many times to love others without saying anything about loving ourselves. (1 Corinthians 16:14, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 3:11, 18) (Doug Britton, Marriage and Family Therapist) Loving others is not always easy. There was a time in my life when there was a person whom I did not want to love. Until a preacher said, “Ask God to make you willing, to be willing to love her.” I put it to the test. God gave me several tasks to complete including giving her gifts and praying for her. Before I knew it, I loved her dearly. God’s love is not like ours, and to love like Him, we must be willing to surrender our dingy definition for the divine pathways of God’s love to be manifest in us. C.S. Lewis confirmed this idea in Mere Christianity, “Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor, act as if you did. As soon as you do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”

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

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 Ready 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!

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

Posted in: Digging Deeper, Faithfulness, Help, Holiness, Purpose, Relationship, Worship Tagged: encourage, God's will, holy life, ready, sanctification

Ready Day 2 Trade Routes: Digging Deeper

June 1, 2021 by Shannon Vicker Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Trade Routes!

The Questions

1) Why had Timothy traveled to visit the Thessalonians? (verse 6)

2) Why was Paul in distress and affliction? (verse 7)

3) Why was Paul experiencing joy? (verse 9)

1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

Original Intent

1) Why had Timothy traveled to visit the Thessalonians? (verse 6)
Paul’s original visit to Thessalonica was cut short and he was sent away due to a riot initiated by the Jews. Check out the story in Acts 17:1-10! However, Paul did not forget about the believers in Thessalonica and, while he himself was delayed in revisiting them because of Satan’s hindrances (1 Thessalonians 2:18), he sent Timothy to “strengthen and encourage” the believers. (1 Thessalonians 3:1-2) Paul was concerned that the persecution would ruin the faith of the Thessalonians and they would feel overwhelmed, buying the lie that Jesus wasn’t worth the struggle. As with everywhere he went, Paul had fully invested himself while with the new believers in Thessalonica. (1 Thessalonians 2:8) He sent Timothy to ensure his (and Silas’) labors in sharing the gospel hadn’t been for naught. (1 Thessalonians 3:5)

2) Why was Paul in distress and affliction? (verse 7)
Paul had been driven out of Thessalonica during the riot of the Jews. Yet again, Paul was met with persecution for his faith, which he lived out in daily, obedient surrender to Christ. While no stranger to persecution, it still caused distress and affliction in his life. He suffered emotionally and physically in ways we may never experience, but he counted it all as significant gain because he suffered for Jesus, who is of immeasurable worth! (James 1:2-4, Philippians 3:8) Paul was no stranger to the feelings of physical and emotional distress as he was continuously confronted with persecution after his conversion to Christ. However, Paul knew every affliction that came as a result of his obedience to God was absolutely worth it if the gospel was being spread! (1 Peter 3:17-18) He wrote to the church in Philippi regarding his suffering for Jesus, “My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Philippians 3:10)

3) Why was Paul experiencing joy? (verse 9)
Timothy brought back an encouraging report to Paul that far exceeded his expectations. The believers in Thessalonica were persevering and flourishing both in their faith and love for one another. This caused great joy in Paul and he publicly thanked God for His work in the lives of the Thessalonians. Paul knew this good work was not to be attributed to him and quickly placed credit where credit was due. Paul was witnessing in the testimony of the Thessalonians what he himself had experienced to be true in his own life of persecution. The more believers surrender to the work of God in their lives, the more God advances the gospel and finishes His work in and through their outpouring of faith and gratitude. Even in the midst of significant hardship, there was still reason to offer thanksgiving, and Paul did exactly this. Paul was also joyful that the Thessalonians had not forgotten him (verse 6), which emphasizes the love all believers share because of the love of God at work within them!

Everyday Application

1) Why had Timothy traveled to visit the Thessalonians? (verse 6)
Paul had been forced away from Thessalonica before he had finished the work he planned to do there. He was concerned the work of discipling new believers, and helping them grow into mature Christ-followers, would fall apart. He was concerned the Gospel would not flourish or take root in his absence. There are times in our own lives where we share the Gospel with people and don’t have the opportunity to stay and watch it grow. If we travel to a mission field away from home, we will likely need to return home before we can witness the growth and change happening in the hearts of those with whom we shared Jesus. People may briefly be placed in our lives for a short season and then they are no longer part of our everyday life for us to see the Good News take root in their lives. Whatever the case, there will be times where we will obediently plant seeds we may never have the opportunity to see grow. While Paul had the ability to send Timothy to follow up on the Thessalonians, we may not have that same privilege. However, we can take comfort that it is God’s job is to grow the seeds we plant; He will send the right people into the lives of those we share with at just the right time in order to encourage and strengthen them. Conversely, we may be the people fulfilling this specific role after someone else has planted seeds in obedience. Whatever the task, and whoever is around us, our command to share Jesus and invest well never changes! We never know where someone is in their faith journey, but it is always our job to work as God is calling us in the lives of those He places around us. While we are obedient to His call, He will be faithful to accomplish His mission!

2) Why was Paul in distress and affliction? (verse 7)
Paul was no stranger to significant struggle. We see him confronted with it time and again throughout his ministry. However, Paul was willing to accept distress and affliction if it meant the Gospel was advanced. (Philippians 1:12-13) He lived a life exemplifying what it looked like to continuously surrender to Christ no matter the earthly consequences. Paul never allowed affliction to prevent him from sharing the reason for his faith, which is a lesson we all need to learn and put into practice! Persecution, distress, and affliction will come our way if we are committed to following obediently after Jesus. However, it is our choice whether we will be silenced by these struggles or, whether we, like Paul, will choose to share the Gospel regardless of our circumstances. Paul always had a response to the hope he had in the midst of all kinds of persecution. (1 Peter 3:15) The question we must ask ourselves is, do we?

3) Why was Paul experiencing joy? (verse 9)
The genuine joy Paul abundantly experienced resulted from the fruit of the Thessalonians’ actively growing faith in God. While not all was perfect in Thessalonica, the believers there had not abandoned their faith and instead they were maturing in it, despite living in the midst of conflict and persecution. In the same way, our authentic joy comes from knowing God and seeing Him move regardless of the circumstances around us. Joy also flows out of actively engaging in shared biblical community. The Thessalonian believers had not forgotten Paul, just as he had not forgotten them; this shared unity and delight in being mutually invested in one another brought deep, satisfying joy. We cannot live this life alone and the joy Paul and the Thessalonian believers felt speaks to the sense of community we all long for, to be known and loved, both by fellow believers in Jesus and by God Himself. What a delight to know God gives these as gifts to share between all believers and Himself!

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

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 Ready 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.

Posted in: Christ, Digging Deeper, Faith, God, Jesus, Joy, Love, Obedience, persecution Tagged: affliction, Distress, encourage, Experience, Invested, New Believers, ready, strengthen, Suffered, Trade Routes

Word Day 9 It Is I Am: Digging Deeper

April 29, 2021 by Lori Meeks Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out It Is I Am!

The Questions

1) Who is Jesus referring to when He says, “My sheep”? (verse 27)

2) How do these sheep hear His voice and follow? (verse 27)

3) What does Jesus mean by saying, “No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand”? (verse 29)

John 10:27-30

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Original Intent

1) Who is Jesus referring to when He says, “My sheep”? (verse 27)
Jesus often refers to His followers as sheep. Sheep and shepherds were plentiful and a normal part of everyday living at this point in history. Understanding the role of shepherds as they cared for their flocks will help us better understand Jesus’ words in this passage. The job of shepherd most frequently fell to the youngest boy in the family, which is demonstrated in 1 Samuel 16 when the prophet Samuel is sent to the house of Jesse to anoint a new king. Samuel visits all the older sons before asking if there are any others. We read in verse 11, “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” This youngest shepherd boy was David and Israel’s future king. Shepherds spent a lot of time with their flocks, in fact pretty much all of their time, both day and night. A shepherd’s job was twofold, first was providing for needs, which meant planning for food and water each day. This dictated where the shepherd would lead his flock. The second aspect was protection. Shepherds carried slings (you might remember this from David’s battle with Goliath), rods, and staffs, which were all used to protect and defend the sheep under their care. A shepherd’s protection ensured none of the flock wandered away or was lost. Shepherds developed a close relationship with the sheep and their flocks, knowing them as unique animals, and able to identify them easily. Even with this broad overview, it’s easy to see why Jesus would use this analogy to demonstrate how He is our Shepherd, Provider, and Protector and we are His sheep.

2) How do these sheep hear His voice and follow? (verse 27)
As we just learned, sheep and shepherds spend basically all of their time together. Sheep learn to listen for the familiar voice of their personal shepherd and follow him when he calls. The kind of intimacy required for sheep to easily pick out their shepherd’s voice, recognize it, and follow is built on the amount of time spent together. In this passage, Jesus is teaching these new believers to think of themselves as sheep who are learning the voice and rhythm of their shepherd. His words are not meant to be demeaning, but simply to teach them to depend on Him and grow close to Him. He is saying, “I’m going to take on the role of shepherd and all the responsibilities that go with this role. You will be the sheep. Spend time with Me, become familiar with when and how I speak, then follow Me, knowing I’ve got your back”.

3) What does Jesus mean by saying, “No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand”? (verse 29)
Jesus is referring to eternal security with these words, meaning He has the power and ability to protect a soul entrusted to Him for all of eternity. Many people in Jesus’ audience were quite familiar with the numerous times God’s chosen people were seemingly “snatched” away from God’s protection. They were taken from their homes, land, safety, and sometimes even families by foreign nations and forced into slavery. Even though Israel was God’s chosen people, their lives weren’t always safe, mostly because they continued to rebel against Him. Jesus’ statement, “no one can snatch them away”, comes on the heels of a question posed in John 10:24. “The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” The people were still looking for an earthly king, not an eternal one. They wanted a king who would provide the protection and earthly security they longed for. But they still didn’t see the big picture. Jesus hadn’t come to be a temporary earthly king and make Israel more comfortable. He came to conquer Sin and Death for all time by offering Himself as a sacrifice to pay the penalty we all owe. This was a radical shift in thinking for the Jews, and because Jesus hadn’t yet been crucified or resurrected, they just didn’t understand His full meaning. However, the truth behind Jesus’ statement remains true, once you choose to accept and follow Jesus, eternal security is yours!

Everyday Application

1) Who is Jesus referring to when He says, “My sheep”? (verse 27)
All who trust Jesus as their great Rescuer from the debt we owe God because of our sin are the sheep. Jesus is the Shepherd. Think of it as each of us having “roles to play”. Jesus, as our Shepherd, takes full responsibility for us, His well-cared for and beloved sheep. Our role is much simpler, because well, we’re sheep! We listen intently for His voice, are ready to watch for His movement, and are quick to follow Him because we trust Him. When we relate a shepherd’s responsibilities to how Jesus leads, protects, nourishes, rescues, knows, and loves His followers, it’s easy to allow Jesus to rightfully take the role of Shepherd in our lives once we surrender to Him and become His sheep. I encourage you to stop reading this for a few minutes, grab your Bible and read all of John 10 because you will learn much more from Jesus’ words as He describes His role as our Good Shepherd over mine! The deep love and care Jesus, as our Shepherd, has for His sheep is pretty indescribable!

2) How do these sheep hear His voice and follow? (verse 27)
“But I don’t hear God speak to me!” Let’s be honest, we’ve all heard those words and we’ve likely even said them ourselves. We make excuses like, “It’s not the same! Jesus’ first followers could physically hear and see Him”, or “I’ve never actually heard Jesus speak, so how am I supposed to recognize His voice?”. Not to be overly harsh, but we make these excuses because it’s easier. It takes time, energy, and consistency on our part to develop the intimate relationship with Jesus required for us to shut out all other voices in our heads. It’s easier because, if we say we can’t hear Jesus, we think it means we can just do what we want and decide for ourselves which way to go. You know how we can recognize and pick out the voice of a loved from across a busy room? We’ve heard their voice so frequently because of the proximity of our relationship with them, it’s easy to identify their voice above all others. The same is true when we listen to Jesus. Learning to actively listen to His whispers generally doesn’t “just happen”; it takes time as we practice sitting quietly in stillness and reading His Word. Intimacy comes with time and consistency.

3) What does Jesus mean by saying, “No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand”? (verse 29)
The feeling of safety and security is something we all want; just consider how many times we pray for health and safekeeping for our loved ones! For most of us, attempting to manufacture this security means we spend quite a bit of time planning, preparing, and worrying about the “what ifs” of life. We work hard, save for the future and the unexpected, and set up rules or boundaries intended to protect those we love. While those things are important to some extent, they can distract us from trusting God in ALL things. Ultimately, our eternities are secure once we have accepted Jesus’ work on the cross for us and surrendered our lives to Him. The truth is, there is no thing and no one who can change this reality! As fickle humans, consumed and distracted by this world, it’s easy for us to lose sight of the eternal promises of Jesus. The honest truth is there is no way we can plan for and protect ourselves and loved ones from the unexpected entirely. People get sick, accidents happen, children rebel, and loved ones die. It takes a conscious and daily, sometimes even hourly, choice to leave our lives in the more than able, more than capable hands of Jesus the trustworthy Shepherd. We can rest assured that even when bad things come our way, Jesus has us safely in His grasp; He will never let us go.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with It Is I Am!

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 Word 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!

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

Posted in: Digging Deeper, Jesus, Love, Protection, Provider, Relationship, Rescue, Sacrifice, Shepherd, Truth Tagged: encourage, He is, I Am, intimacy, It Is, know, listen, Messiah, sheep, Whispers, Word

Worship VII Day 14 One Day: Digging Deeper

November 12, 2020 by Patty Scott Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out One Day!

The Questions

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?

2) What are the causes of our worship?

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?

Romans 5:6-11

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Original Intent

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?
The original word for worship in Greek is proskyneō. It means submission to a higher authority, often accompanied with a bowing to the ground. The image given to demonstrate this kind of submission is a dog licking his master’s hand in a token of reverence and adoration. This is a picture of whole-hearted devotion and loyalty. Worship, at its heart, is humble submission, which is why Paul writes in Romans 12:1 that we, as Christ’s Body, are to offer ourselves together as a living sacrifice. Paul says, “This is our true worship”. Worship is a lifestyle characterized by a giving of self in whole-hearted surrender and whole-minded submission to the goodness and greatness of God. It isn’t only something felt or acknowledged, but something lived through attitudes of our heart and sacrifices of ourselves and our resources in everyday life. Paul’s words in Romans 5 speak specifically of God’s magnificent grace towards us in offering Himself as the ransom for our sin-wrecked souls. He concludes in verse 11 by stating, “we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”. Paul exhorts his audience, and clearly models for them, that true worship is anchored in reverent humility to God for the vast love He has lavished upon us, sinners that we are!

2) What are the causes of our worship?
In the Romans 5 passage we discover how worship is rooted in awareness of what we have been given and how we have been loved. 1 John 4:19 says we love because He first loved us. In like fashion, we worship because we have experienced God’s goodness. In Psalm 150 we are reminded to praise Him for His deeds (what He has done), the greatest of these being our salvation and restoration to relationship with Him (Romans 5:10). The “hymn book of the Jews” (Psalms) is replete with specific reasons to worship the God in whom alone is found salvation. (Romans 5:11) Psalm 115:1 instructs our hearts to praise God for His steadfast love and faithfulness while Psalm 103 recounts “His benefits” including forgiveness, rescue, and redemption. Psalm 100:1-5 says we praise Him for making us and Ephesians 1:3 says we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing because of Christ, and therefore we bless God. Worship wasn’t something that began after Jesus died to rescue our souls, neither is it something Jewish people did in the Old Testament when circumstances were wonderful. Regardless of feelings or situation, there are always reasons to worship because we need not look any farther than God and His character to discover a reason to worship Him!

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?
We are talking about worship being a lifestyle of humility and honor toward God. In 1 Samuel 15:22, God says (through Samuel) “to obey is better than sacrifice.” To worship God is a sacrifice, but it is best carried out through obedience. God’s Word is filled with examples of His people choosing to worship in faith and obedience, which then resulted in God showing favor and victory. (2 Chronicles 20:22) Worship brought physical victory in battle to Israel. Their decision to worship out of obedience removed themselves as an idol in their hearts and gave room for God to move in the way He had willed. Scripture teaches us to give thanks to the LORD with all our heart. (Psalm 9:1) When we are truly thankful, our hearts are engaged. Worshipping God brings us to a place of full engagement with Him. God invites us to lift our eyes over the things of this earth and focus on the place where He sits at the right hand of God; here, our real life is hidden. (Colossians 3:2) Because Paul’s life modeled consistent, humble worship, the Lord worked through His life in incredible ways. Paul recognized his life was nothing compared to knowing and experiencing God. (Philippians 3:8-9)

Everyday Application

1) What is worship and how does Paul encourage believers to worship?
God created us to live out worship in everyday lives, but we often are tempted to worship anything but the Only One Worthy of worship. As we come to understand worship as humble surrender and loyal submission to the Lord, amazingly, we see a connection of humility to God Himself, the sole worthy object of our worship. Though God had every right to never lower Himself, He did exactly this by coming to earth in human form to become our Reconciler and Salvation. (Romans 5:8-11, Philippians 2:6-8) Our great God is a humble God! When He calls Himself the Helper of Israel (the word “ezer” in Hebrew refers to Helper and the name of God JEHOVAH ‘EZER emphasizes it). These terms reflect the heart of God as He calls Himself one who concerns Himself to stoop down. (Psalm 113:4-6) As we worship, we stoop in response to how the Savior God has already bent for us. Worship, at its heart, is grateful submission. It’s a bowing and acknowledgement that someone is greater and worthier than ourselves. Yet, we serve and love a God who stoops to bless us; Who came to a cruel cross to die for us; Who takes on a lowly life for us. God is lofty, yet He tells us His way of greatness is not one that holds Lordship high over others’ heads (Matthew 20:25-28), but instead stoops to bless us. (John 13:3-5) Worship is both a response and a fully engaged bending as we answer the One who bent for us and continues to bend humbly for us out of love.

2) What are the causes of our worship?
Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19) As we practice living our everyday lives rooted and grounded in love, we become motivated to love God responsively. This creates a heart of true worship. As we fix our minds on what is good, true, noble, and praiseworthy, our minds are lifted to remember the goodness of God and genuine worship overflows. (Philippians 4:8) As we consider His character and His names (which reflect His character) we are drawn to recall the truth of who He is. This creates a mind of worship. As we humble ourselves in the sight of God, surrendering self to the Savior, we receive the will to worship. Here in this sacred space, we truly begin loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Matthew 22:37) This is the picture of lifestyle worship, wholly engaged with our Creator, Redeemer, and Lover of Our Soul.

3) How does worshipping God change us and impact our daily life?
We know God wants us to take on a heart of obedient worship that consistently permeates our everyday lives. What does this look like? In Micah 6:8 He says, “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” This is a picture of lived-out worship. Even though we will have trials in life, He will use them to shape us. Along the way, He calls us to worship Him through the storms, as this anchors our hearts in truth despite changing circumstance and feelings. This is how He develops our dependence and strengthens our endurance in faith as He reinforces our hope. In Romans 5:3-4 Paul writes, “…we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Worship gives us perspective in every circumstance, the capacity to be joyful in the face of affliction, and the means to be filled with strength when we are at our weakest. Like a faithful dog leans on his master, giving his life in devotion, we can give our lives to God. He takes that sacrifice and multiplies it for our good. We cannot out-give God. Our life of sacrificial worship always fills us more than any other thing we seek on earth. When we offer true worship, we lift our eyes and gain perspective.

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

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 Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up
to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Posted in: Adoration, Character, Faith, Faithfulness, God, Grace, Humility, Love, Obedience, Paul, Praise, Redemption, Rescue, Worship Tagged: change, encourage, goodness, impact, lifestyle, Magnificent, One Day, rooted, Submission

Worship VII Day 1 Be Still My Soul

October 26, 2020 by Rebekah Hargraves Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46
Isaiah 43:1-7
Romans 8:31-39

Worship VII, Day 1

I’ve always loved the beautiful hymn, “Be Still, My Soul” by Finnish writer Veikko Antero Koskenniemi. In studying the rich Scriptural truths behind these inspired lyrics I’ve discovered deep theological waters. Journey with me into cavernous springs of solid truth and sweet grace as we unpack the foundational truths behind one Finnish man’s heart cry.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide;
in ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

While Veikko’s lyrical melodies wash over us,
ancient truths from the heart of God are reborn within us.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” ~ Romans 8:31b

“For He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘the Lord is my helper; will not fear; what can man do to me?’” ~ Hebrews 13:5b-6

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice, who ruled them while He dwelt below.

“Be still”, Veikko croons as he quotes from King David.
How strenuously our bodies, minds, and souls push against this gift of slowing to stillness and silence before the God of the Universe! Yet, He continues washing us with truth…

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” ~Proverbs 16:9

“The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.” ~Proverbs 16:33

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” ~Mark 4:39

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the veil of tears,
then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.

Deep, dark waters of loss threaten to pull us under with gripping physical force, but Hope sings low and clear with growing intensity, “I have defeated death!”

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’” ~ Job 1:20-21

 

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 8:38-39

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

One day, time will cease, we will breath our last, and with our very own eyes, we will behold the mysteries that have eluded us for so long. At long last, we will be face to face with the Lover of our souls, the Great Rescuer of our hearts. We will be Home, and forever, we will dwell with the Lord of All. Oh, come Lord Jesus!

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~Revelation 21:4

Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely. ~ Revelation 22:17

Come away and drink deeply of the sweet waters of truth and feel the embrace of grace by the Father who loves you without end! The next time you hear this hymn or sing it yourself, remember just how much truth from God’s Word you are meditating on and memorizing, and may it encourage you in your walk with the Lord!

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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 Worship VII 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 Worship VII!

Posted in: Faithfulness, Fullness, God, Grace, Hope, Jesus, Journey, Love, Scripture, Stillness, Truth, Worship Tagged: be still, embrace, encourage, Heart of God, home, Melody, pause, Remember, soul, Sweet Truth

Ten Day 4 The Name: Digging Deeper

August 6, 2020 by Ashley King Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

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

The Questions

1) Why does Jesus use the phrase “take up his cross and follow me”? (verse 24)

2) What does Jesus mean by “whoever loses his life because of me will find it” in verse 25?

3) Where else can we find “Son of Man” in Scripture?

Matthew 16:24-28

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Original Intent

1) Why does Jesus use the phrase “take up his cross and follow me”? (verse 24)
Jesus’ decision to use “take up his cross and follow me” in Matthew 16:24 would have struck his Jewish disciples as odd, if not profoundly concerning. To understand the disciples’ perspective, we need to understand what the cross signified in Jewish law. If we go back to Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Moses dictated that an offender’s execution on a tree was for the worst offenses. Indeed, this mode of death was so offensive that “anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse,” and the criminal’s body needed to be promptly buried as not to “defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance” (verse 23). In the first century, the Roman authorities did not view the cross any differently than the Jews. One ancient source stated, “Let the very name of the cross be far away not only from the body of a Roman citizen, but even from his thoughts, his eyes, his ears” (blueletterbible.org). The cross, therefore, was not just a “symbol of pain, distress, and burden-bearing” (blueletterbible.org), it was also a deeply shameful way to die in the eyes of the Roman and the Jew. Hence, Jesus’ original audience would have been shocked to hear their teacher associate discipleship with this brutal form of execution. If Jesus was the promised Messiah, wasn’t he supposed to free them from Roman oppression? Yet, Jesus was demonstrating through this phrase that following the Messiah was going to entail suffering. Indeed, Jesus embodied the real cost of discipleship when he carried His own cross to Golgotha, the place of His execution (John 19:17-18). Paul would later write that to redeem us from the limitations of the law, Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). By taking up His cross, Jesus gave us a precious gift, we now “receive the promised [Holy] Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14) By taking on our curse of sin, He freed us to have access to God through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit empowers the follower of Jesus to become increasingly like their humble Messiah, who proclaimed a counter-cultural understanding of discipleship.

2) What does Jesus mean by “whoever loses his life because of me will find it” in verse 25?
If Jesus’ statement in verse 24 was not puzzling enough, what He said in the following verse was probably causing the twelve disciples to scratch their heads even more. How does one simultaneously lose their life and find it? Let us first define what “life” would have meant to Jesus’ original audience. As modern readers, we get to the benefit of dozens of English Bible translations, but Matthew originally wrote his Gospel in Greek. This Jewish writer’s choice to write his account in Greek, rather than Hebrew or Aramaic, makes sense since it was one of the official languages of the Roman Empire and, after all, he had served as a Roman tax collector. That being said, the Greek word “psuché” can mean either soul or life, depending on the context; this explains why some translations replace “life” with “soul” in verse 26 (biblehub.com). Therefore, while life can allude to one’s physical existence, Jesus and the New Testament writers used this term figuratively: for immortality (Hebrews 7:16), conduct (Romans 6:4), salvation (John 3:16), and eternal life (Matthew 19:16-17) (blueletterbible.org). Thus, “life” here refers to more than a finite number of years, but to the place where our soul will find true rest for eternity. While every person must ultimately die (“lose his life”), a believer who places their faith in the Gospel (“because of Me (Christ)”) enjoys eternal life (“will find it”) that surpasses the temporary pleasures of our physical existence. Indeed, “God and Christ [are] the absolute source and cause of all life” (John 1:4), so trying to find eternal satisfaction apart from our Triune God is foolishness that leads to death (blueletterbible.org; verse 26).

3) Where else can we find “Son of Man” in Scripture?
When Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of Man,” he is not referring to humankind generally, but to a unique title for the Savior taken from Daniel 7:13-14 (blueletterbible.org). “And suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” In this vision, the prophet Daniel sees the “true humanity of our Lord. He had a true body and a rational soul. He was a perfect man” (blueletterbible.org). While Jesus’ followers do not refer to their teacher as the “Son of Man,” our Savior uses this term for Himself at least forty-three times throughout the four Gospels (blueletterbible.org; bibleproject.com). As the Bible Project points out, “The biblical story begins with God appointing humans as His royal images, that is, representatives who will rule creation on His behalf and in partnership with Him. Humanity is a glorious being, destined for even greater glory, to rule over heaven and earth (Genesis 1:26-28) Tragically, humanity forfeits this destiny when we are deceived by dark spiritual powers and lured into embracing our own self-destruction” (bibleproject.com). Unlike the long line of broken, flawed Jewish leaders whose stories fill the pages of the Old Testament, Jesus is indicating He is “the hope for a new humanity who will finally realize the ideal purpose that God has for the human family.” (bibleproject.com)

Everyday Application

1) Why does Jesus use the phrase “take up his cross and follow me”? (verse 24)
Today, we often see ornate crosses as decorative motifs. We hang these bejeweled ornaments as a final addition to a wall display of family portraits and Bible verses. However, a first-century observer would balk at proudly displaying this symbol of death in our homes. Yet, the Christian looks upon the cross with different eyes.  As Paul writes, the cross of Jesus bridges the divide between sinful humanity and our perfect God. (1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 6:14; Philippians 3:18; Colossians 1:20) Additionally, Jesus’ atoning work on the cross unifies those from different socioeconomic classes, genders, and races (Ephesians 2:16). It is by the cross that all our old “passions and desires” are put to death (Galatians 5:24), and we are made new. For the believer then, the mind-bending truth is this, the cross, once a symbol of execution and torture, becomes a symbol of hope and life. In Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers, the writer observes that taking up one’s cross means, “The man is to deny his whole self, all his natural motives and impulses, so far as they come into conflict with the claims of Christ…The self-denial here commanded has, accordingly, its highest type and pattern in the act by which the Son of God, in becoming man, emptied Himself of all that constituted, if we may so speak, the ‘self’ of His divine nature” (biblehub.com). Let us then praise God for Jesus Christ, who redeems us from death that we would bring glory and honor to Him forever and ever.

2) What does Jesus mean by “whoever loses his life because of me will find it” in verse 25?
I admit that experiencing suffering, or watching others go through it, is not pleasant. Rather than run towards a friend who is suffering, I cringe, keep silent, and watch from a safe distance. I comfort myself with the belief that the sufferer needs space, time to grieve, and process their loss. Yet, I am only trying to protect myself. My heart whispers the lie, “Perhaps I will be spared personal pain if I avoid their grief.” However, the writer C.S. Lewis warns this is pure foolishness on my part. In The Problem of Pain, he writes, “Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself” (brainpickings.com). Indeed, the examples of Jesus Christ and His disciples promise us that suffering is inevitable. Indeed, Jesus promises in John 16:33 that trials will come, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” By “world,” Jesus means every evil power, temptation, and sin that would lead us astray. Through Him, we can lose our lives for His sake as John Gill observes, “[the disciple] is willing to forego all the pleasures and comforts of life, and be subject to poverty and distress, and to lay down life itself, for the sake of Christ and the Gospel, rather than deny Him, and part with truth, shall find it; in the other world, to great advantage; he shall enjoy an immortal and eternal life, free from all uneasiness and affliction, and full of endless joys and pleasures” (biblehub.com). As disciples, our eyes must be focused on things of eternal value rather than those of temporary, worldly gain.

3) Where else can we find “Son of Man” in Scripture?
The first Christian martyr, Stephen, is one of my favorite people from the New Testament. A decade ago, I committed to reading through the entire Bible when I was coming out of a difficult emotional and spiritual period in my life. One night, I sat in my quiet bedroom, utterly mesmerized by Stephen’s ministry and death found in Acts 6-7. Not only was Stephen a powerful preacher, but he was “full of grace and power…performing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Before his death at the hands of Jewish religious leaders, he gave a remarkable sermon that was 52 verses long (Acts 7:2-53). It is the “first apology for the universalism of the gospel as a message to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. It is the longest speech contained in the Acts,” which suggests that the author was drawing attention to its importance (blueletterbible.org). This disciple understood what Jesus meant when He said, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28) Indeed, Stephen sees the Son of Man in all His glory at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55-56) Stephen is not spared from suffering, but prays God would forgive those who are stoning him to death. (Acts 7:57-60) Just as I did ten years ago, I still cry every time I read Stephen’s story. Not merely because of his remarkable faith, but because he understood what few do. Stephen knew Jesus would indeed return one day as “the Son of Man…seated on the cloud, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.” (Revelation 14:14) As John Gill writes, the white cloud represents “the purity, uprightness, and justness of [Jesus’] proceedings in judgment” and the golden crown is “an ensign of royal majesty, showing that his kingdom was now come, the time for Him to reign personally with His saints on earth a thousand years; and that it was a very glorious one; and that He should now reign before His ancients gloriously; and that it was pure, solid, and durable” (biblestudytools.com). Jesus holds a sharp sickle, a farming tool used for gathering and cutting down, in His hand, because He will institute perfect judgment and power over all nations (biblestudytools.com). The Son of Man is the better King David, King Solomon, and other Jewish leaders who briefly reflected God’s glory only to fall repeatedly into sin and rebellion. In our time of suffering, we can look to the Son of Man to encourage us and sustain us through every trial of this life.

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Posted in: Cross, Digging Deeper, Faith, God, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Hope, Inheritance, Scripture, Suffering Tagged: encourage, Endless Joy, eternal life, Follow Me, glory, humble, Savior, Ten, The Name

He Day 14 El Olam: Digging Deeper

June 18, 2020 by Rachel Jones Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out El Olam!

The Questions

1) What does it mean that the Lord is the “everlasting” God? (verse 28)

2) How does God strengthen the powerless? (verse 29)

3) How can those who trust in the Lord renew their strength? (verse 31)

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding. 29 He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. 30 Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31 but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean that the Lord is the “everlasting” God? (verse 28)
Isaiah 40:28 says “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never becomes faint or weary; there is no limit to his understanding.” The word everlasting comes to us from the Hebrew terms “El”, which refers to God, and “olam”, which means forever or eternal.  Albert Barnes explains how an everlasting God “has existed from eternity, unlike the idols of the pagan. If He was from eternity, He would be unchangeable, and His purposes could not fail.”  So, an everlasting God is one who has existed always and never changes. We see Abraham calling God an everlasting God in Genesis 21:33. In Isaiah 57:15 the prophet calls God the “High and Exalted One, who lives forever.”  In Malachi 3:6 God says, “I, the Lord, have not changed.” In Psalm 90:2, the Psalmist declares “from eternity to eternity, you are God.”  Because God is everlasting, “the same yesterday, today and forever”, He can be trusted and relied upon. (Hebrews 13:8) He is faithful and true, from now to forever!

2) How does God strengthen the powerless? (verse 29)
Isaiah 40:29 tells us God “gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless.”  Author Albert Barnes explains that “The design of this verse is to give consolation to the afflicted and down-trodden people in Babylon, by recalling to their minds the truth that it was one of the characteristics of God that He ministered strength to those who were conscious of their own feebleness, and who looked to Him for support.”  Isaiah was speaking to the Jews taken captive in Babylon, and He wanted to encourage them as their hope waned and their strength grew faint.  According to author David Guzik, faint comes from the Hebrew meaning “failure through loss of inherent strength.” God promises to strengthen those who have lost strength and who have no power.  David Guzik also observes, “Those who are proud and confident in their own wisdom and strength will receive no strength from God.”  It is the powerless to whom God gives strength, not the arrogant. He strengthens those who recognize their need for Him. According to Thomas Constable God “shares His strength with those who need it. He has all energy, and He has energy to spare and to share. Whether we buckle under life’s pressures or lack innate strength, He provides durable, stable power.”  When the Israelites needed strength, Isaiah reminded them to look to God and access His power. God gives us that gift as well! He gives us strength when we look to Him and rely on Him.

3) How can those who trust in the Lord renew their strength? (verse 31)
We read in Isaiah 40:31 that “those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength.”  According to author E.W. Bullinger, the word “renew” comes from the “Hebrew “halaph” meaning to change for the better.” Author Warren Wiersbe explains, “The word renew means ‘to exchange,’ as taking off old clothing and putting on new. We exchange our weakness for His power.”  The Hebrew word for strength, koah/koach, means “power, capacity or ability and thus speaks of power in the sense of the inherent potential to perform some function.”  When we put our trust in the Lord, waiting for His perfect will and timing in our lives, He takes our worries, struggles and fears and gives us the power to carry on.  When Christians rely on God’s strength, they can do more than just survive; Isaiah 40:31 promises they “will soar on wings  like eagles;  they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.”  This is something that cannot be done in natural, human strength.  Even the best athletes will eventually grow weary from running. God blesses His people with this supernatural strength to walk in His ways as they trust in Him, and He renews their strength each time they wait upon His will and His plans.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean that the Lord is the “everlasting” God? (verse 28)
One of my favorite places to visit as a child was my Grandma’s house.  I loved running up the staircase in the living room and descending the back stairs into the kitchen.  I enjoyed the glass bluebirds that decorated the tables and windowsills, and I relished poking around in closets and drawers, finding books, pictures and forgotten treasures. In the 40 years I visited her house, nothing ever changed.  Same furniture, same knick-knacks, same art on the walls.  It was very comforting to know that no matter how much my life changed, Grandma’s house was always the same.  It was a sad day when the house was cleaned out and sold, and I knew I could never go back and see things just the way Grandma left them.  That is why is there is so much comfort and solace to me in the fact that God never changes.  Isaiah 40:28 tells us God is “everlasting”, meaning He does not change and is eternal. I can trust that my unchanging God will come through for me and keep His promises.  I can trust that the God who knows the beginning from the end has a holy calling on my life to fulfill His purposes. (2 Timothy 1:9) My God who never changes gives me good gifts (James 1:17) and gives me the security and comfort to follow Him, knowing He will guide me safely, just as He has promised from days of old.

2) How does God strengthen the powerless? (verse 29)
Ever since I was a child, my dream job was being a Mom.  When I married, we waited several years to start a family, and I felt like I was just putting in time at my job as a teacher until I could fulfill my true calling of being a mother.  When my children finally arrived, I was overjoyed! Soon, however, I was also overwhelmed. I maintained some sense of order until the 2nd baby started to walk.  After that, there was a lot of chaos, jumble, and exhaustion, but the worst part was that feeling of powerlessness. I did not have much control over behaviors or attitudes (theirs or mine!).  I had felt that in the classroom too, but I expected things to be different in my parenting. Being bone-tired all the time did not help.  Not only did I not know what to do, but I didn’t have the energy to do much at all.  Of course, I talked to other moms, bought lots of books, and read lots of advice online.  This helped to some extent, but what I needed most was strength from the Lord.  I needed to stop thinking I should be inherently equipped to do my dream job and recognize I needed God’s help to parent my children (and to do everything else!).  Isaiah 40:29 tells us God “gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless.” When I relied on God for my daily strength, the days went along much better.  There was probably just as much chaos and jumble in my house, but in my spirit, there was more peace because I looked to God to strengthen me.  I did not do everything perfectly (as my now adult son likes to point out), but most days were powered by God’s strength, and that made all the difference between anxiety and peace in my heart.

3) How can those who trust in the Lord renew their strength? (verse 31)
We read in Isaiah 40:31 that “those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not become weary,  they will walk and not faint.”  How can trusting in the Lord renew our strength?  As author Warren Wiersbe points out, “God knows how we feel and what we fear, and He is adequate to meet our every need. We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need.”  When we look to ourselves and rely on our own power, we cannot get far.  We eventually stumble and fall.  When we turn to God, trusting in Him to take care of everything, he renews our strength.  He helps us run without getting tired and helps us walk without wearing down.  As author Matthew Poole notes, God helps His people “grow stronger and stronger in faith, and patience, and fortitude, whereby they shall be more than conquerors over all their enemies and adversities.”  God renews our strength to help us do all the things He calls us to do when we trust in His plan, His timing and His will. Waiting for Him to show Himself faithful and come through can be difficult, but He promises strength to those who put their trust in Him.

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

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 He Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up
to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Posted in: Digging Deeper, Faithfulness, Gift, God, He, Hope, Power, Strength, Treasure, Trust Tagged: Blesses, El Olam, encourage, eternal, Everlasting, forever, Lord, renew

Neighbor Day 5 Love lived Out

April 24, 2020 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Titus 2:1-15
Matthew 28:18-20
Jude 1:1-3
Jude 1:20-25

Neighbor, Day 5

She set her coffee mug down on the table and rested her chin in her hand. The last few weeks of her life had been challenging and throughout the time we’d been sitting in the corner of the coffee shop, she had poured out the highs, lows, and everything in between of those days. I sipped my coffee and listened, occasionally asking clarifying questions to help her process all she desired to share.

I was not her counselor, but I did fill a role in her life. For this season, she had honored me with her willingness and desire to be discipled. Discipleship is defined as one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. While the word can be applied to a range of scenarios, we were focused on growing in our relationships with the Lord and becoming more like Him.

Our meetings typically did not last more than an hour or two, but they were still integral in making progress in our spiritual growth. This specific evening was critical in her journey. Decisions she had made and circumstances beyond her control had challenged her belief in God’s goodness and grace. The temptation to give up on His presence in her life lingered in her words.

She stared out the nearby window for a few moments, seemingly captivated by the breeze moving through the tree limbs outside. As I watched her process, I maintained a peaceful countenance; inwardly, I prayed fervently for the Lord’s words and wisdom.

Oh Lord, you have provided this connection for Your glory. You know the plans and purposes You have for her. You have not left her or forsaken her. Regardless of the choices she has made recently, You have promised not to despise a broken and contrite heart. 

Lord, help me point her to You. Give me the words to honor You and bless my dear sister in Christ. My choices may be different, but my sin is no less profound in Your eyes. Grant me the humility to lead with honor and grace. 

Dwell in the midst of us, Lord Jesus. Move as only You can. I surrender myself to You. Lead me and use me for Your glory. 

No immediate Bible verses sprang to mind. No sudden ray of light shined through the window, directed toward my friend’s hurting heart. Peace filled the space, however, and I found myself breaking the silence.

“I’m proud of you.”
As the unexpected words tumbled from my lips, her expression echoed my own surprise. She dropped her hand from her chin and grasped her mug once again. Her knuckles went white with the tightness of her grip.

“You’re proud of me? After I just shared everything I’ve done wrong in the last few weeks and my struggle to believe He would still want me?” Tears filled her eyes with those last words.

“Yes. I am proud of you because you are still running to Jesus. You may be struggling to believe He wants You and has plans for You and desires to walk through this life with you, but there’s fight left in you. You have not given up.

“You’re acknowledging your choices and how they disregard God’s will for your life. You’re bringing your sin into the light, so it cannot be used against you. Do you believe Jesus died for your sins and is capable of washing you clean in this moment? Do you believe you can leave this coffee shop wholly forgiven?”

She continued to stare at her mug for several moments. She slowly raised her head. Tears still glistened in her eyes, but a fierceness now joined them. “Yes.” Her words were shakier than the resolve in her tone, but she had made a decision regardless.

“Make 1 John 1:9 a reality for your life. Acknowledge the ways you’ve fallen short and trust Him to forgive you. Do you have any ideas on how to avoid being in the same scenarios this coming week?”

With that, our conversation turned to the Word and digging for ways to hold on to and apply the truths the Lord poured out in its pages. We brainstormed practical ways for her to honor Him in her walk and I encouraged her with examples where I had found victory, too. Our time in the coffee shop ended with a quick prayer and the next meeting confirmed on the calendar.

As I walked to my car and pressed the button to unlock the door, I prayed for continued wisdom in my role in her life and for her to cling to Jesus in deeper ways this coming week.

The Lord placed this neighbor in my world to help spur her along in her journey with Him. In order to hear His voice lead me as I guide and encourage her, I knew my own journey must be one of steadfast pursuit as I anchored in truth that would hold me fast to Jesus.

Oh Lord, lead us on. 

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

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Posted in: Discipleship, Forgiven, God, Good, Grace, Jesus, Love, Relationship, Wisdom Tagged: encourage, God's Goodness, growth, Lived Out, Lord's Glory, Pray fervently, questions
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