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Another Day 14 Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle: Digging Deeper

March 23, 2023 by Natalie Smith Leave a Comment

Another Day 14 Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle: Digging Deeper

Natalie Smith

March 23, 2023

Adoring,Affectionate,Beloved,Comfort,Know,Life,Love

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Gentle & Lowly Lifestyle"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 139:1-7

1 LORD, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD.
5 You have encircled me;
you have placed your hand on me.
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty;
I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why is it important to recognize the depths of God’s knowledge of me? (verses 1-4)

These verses were written by King David of the Old Testament. There is a deep relational tone in its lines like an intimate You-and-me connection between God and David. From the human perspective, there is such a great emphasis on being deeply known it takes the old phrase, “you know me better than I know myself” to a whole new level of literality.

God, literally, is aware of our thoughts before we have processed them ourselves. He not only knows what they will be, but he “understands” them (verse 2) and “knows all about it” (verse 4). He sees our heart attitudes and complex emotions before we have formulated or even recognized them ourselves.

To be known and understood to this depth can be beautiful, healing, and comforting or quite the contrast. Do we know the ONE who knows us so well? The answer to this ties closely with either the beauty or terror that may arise in our hearts.

Secondly, but actually more importantly, is the YOU emphasis of these verses which shifts the focus on WHOM King and psalmist David is speaking about. David points the eyes of hearts unmistakably upon the LORD, Creator of all things. (Genesis 1-2)

Theologians use the big words of omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful) and omnipresent (present in all places) to describe the LORD who is utterly outside our understanding. In my mind, these words help me focus on God’s rule, reign, and personhood as high and above all other authorities as the king He is.

These truths are meant to radically shape our perspective on God, but we must not forget Scripture also teaches this same LORD is intimate, close, and personal. He is intentional in His relationship with each of us as evidenced by His active searching of our inmost being. (verse 1) The LORD God keeps watch over all we do because He cares intimately, with perfect love, for His creation. (Matthew 6:33)

The Everyday Application

1) Why is it important to recognize the depths of God’s knowledge of me? (verses 1-4)

The Enduring Word Commentary notes that having an All-Powerful Being know your deepest thoughts and every move would either be fearfully uncomfortable or wondrously comforting. If you learn someone unknown seems to know everything about you, it would leave us feeling unsettled and fearful. Who is this person? What is their intent?

Conversely, consider a child in the presence of their parent; she roams free, safe, and happily within their given boundaries as their needs are anticipated and satisfied by their parent. If a parent disappears, a young child will desperately search for their parent as the source of their stability and sustenance.

Perhaps you’ve experienced the rest and refreshment found in the presence of a friend with whom we share everything freely because we know our worst selves are safe in their love. This type of close relationship often stirs up gratitude, security, and great joy.

It was this beauty David wrote in Psalm 139 as he reflected on the Lord who had remained steadfast and faithful all the days of his life. From his youth, David learned to trust the Lord as he fought off lions and bears (1 Samuel 17:34-37) and was stirred to worship the One who knew him best and loved him most. (Psalm 84:10-12)

May we grow in deeply knowing the One who knows us so well! For the Lord is near to those who draw close to Him through repentance of our sins. (James 4:8-10) What intimacy awaits those who feel lonely, fearful, and depressed when they come to the Lord to confess their sin and enjoy the pleasure of relationship with Him because of His forgiveness and mercy! What sweet connection awaits if only we would pour ourselves over His Scripture and meditate on His character day and night that we might deeply know Him! (Joshua 1:8)

The Original Intent

2) What does it mean for the Lord to have encircled someone? (verse 5)

As the original Hebrew phrasing is not a clear, direct translation to English, different translators have used differing English phrases for the Hebrew term translated “encircling me” in the CSB (Christian Standard Bible).

The ESV (English Standard Version) translates the Hebrew as “hem me in, behind and before” and New King James uses “hedged me in.” Studying different translations can provide us with a wider understanding as we study God’s Word.

According to Bibleref.com, David is using words to paint a picture of God setting up a boundary of protection around what is precious to Him. While God created all people with intentionality (verse 6), Scripture provides several examples of God securing the righteous, meaning those who trustingly look to Him with the steps of their daily lives. (Psalm 7:9-11)

When reading the book of Job, we find great sadness brought upon him by Satan, but it was never beyond God’s orders of allowance. Through every suffering, not even Satan could move beyond the boundaries of protection placed on Job by the Lord God. (Job 1:12)

The Everyday Application

2) What does it mean for the Lord to have encircled someone? (verse 5)

I sat mulling over a friend’s child who is having unusual health symptoms. Google searches can quickly pull up anything from mild to life-threatening causes. When some of these mild causes are ruled out, it’s easy to let panic of the scary causes arise in the heart. Every night my daughter fears a “bad guy” breaking into our house.

Though I encourage her that the Lord guards us and we can take our fears to Him, the questions linger. What if this sweet child is really sick? What if someone breaks into our house? What if our fears become real? How do I trust the Lord if it seems this “encirclement” of protection has been penetrated?

I cannot say I know how to live faithfully in these situations, but I can know the Sovereign God has proven Himself loving without fail. When I remember that Scripture teaches the hard reality that the wages of my sin equates to death (Romans 6:23), my perspective is re-oriented.

I rightly earn death and destruction because of my choice to sin. Every day, every relationship, every gift evidences a good, kind, merciful God bestowing gifts I don’t deserve! (James 1:17) The greatest evidence of His vast love is His offer of complete forgiveness for every sin, because He paid the price of death in full for us with His own life. (Romans 3:23-24)

Repentance from sin and trust in His mercy provides access to this fullness, even in the face of suffering. God does allow suffering, but nothing passes through His hedge of encirclement without Him using it “to bring good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) May our hearts be tethered close to the Lord that when suffering comes, we are anchored to the One who rules over the storm. (John 16:33)

The Original Intent

3) How does the Lord’s omniscience and omnipresence help me to love others? (verses 6-7)

Only a God who is, “too wondrous” and higher than we can understand is truly worth our time, energy, and worship. Too often we look to limited power – ourselves or other people – to fix our problems.

David’s life is full of situations bigger than him, both figuratively and quite literally (i.e. Goliath versus teenage boy with a slingshot). Still, David found rest repeatedly in knowing a God who is all powerful and yet always intimately near. (Psalm 62) Even as David is being chased by King Saul, he does not draw his sword against the Lord’s anointed, but rests in God’s all-knowing purposes. (1 Samuel 24:5-7)

David reminds himself in the depths of fear and struggle that nothing escapes the Lord’s eye, even that of “Sheol” or the grave. (verse 8) He had no need to take matters into his own hand, or bring about his own sense of justice because he trusted the God who held him steady and safe; David had chosen to deeply know the Lord God. He was free to act in accordance with God’s commands and rest in the Lord’s hands.

Consider the Lord’s words to the one who trusts Him, “Because he has his heart set on Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.” (Psalm 91:14-15)

The Everyday Application

3) How does the Lord’s omniscience and omnipresence help me to love others? (verses 6-7)

Confidence is, “the state of feeling certain of something.” Having confidence in our abilities is a good thing. It’s important to develop skills and know our limits. Yet, who provided our bodies, minds, and abilities? Who can handle that which we know is too great or heavy for us? Even in my strong points, things go wrong and I slip; who will catch me then? Scripture reminds us the Lord upholds us all our striving. (Isaiah 41:10)

David, author of many psalms and shepherd boy, knew this well. He took great concern for the people of Israel as they cowered before the threats of giant Goliath. Though he was concerned for his people, he was further concerned that enemies would defy the Lord in threatening the Lord’s people. (1 Samuel 17:26)

When we read David’s brave testimonies, it may initially sound as though he is confident in himself, “Whenever a lion or a bear came…I went after it, struck it down…” But in the end, David clarifies, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

David practiced trusting the Lord as he fought off wild animals, shepherded sheep, and composed songs. The more he trusted, the braver he became in the strength and surety of the Lord. When he stood against Goliath, His confidence was in the Lord’s omniscience and holy purposes because he had practiced trusting His ways.

Only in this resting place of confidence in the Lord was David able to fight for others and treat those against him with patience and grace. Like David, I need to trade my fears and desire to control for the steadfast faithfulness of having full confidence in the Lord.

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forgiven,free,known,loved,Safe,secure,Welcomed
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We cannot authentically love what we do not deeply know.

I was enamored with my husband from Day 1. But it wasn’t until over two decades had passed and we walked dark pathways that I had an inkling of what love meant.

I was head over heels in love with my firstborn the moment I saw those 2 pink lines on the pregnancy test. But my love for her multiplied with every day I spent with her, knowing her, arguing with her, and learning from her.

Love grew strong, fierce, and authentic in the days, years, and decades of learning to know.

Intimate familiarity changes everything. Misconceptions flee, doubts dissolve, and the brilliance of authentic love shoots through like daybreak when we commit to deeply know another.
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Posted in: Adoring, Affectionate, Beloved, Comfort, Know, Life, Love Tagged: forgiven, free, known, loved, Safe, secure, Welcomed

Philemon Day 10 Purposed Pain

February 24, 2023 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 10 Purposed Pain

Rebecca Adams

February 24, 2023

Broken,Enemies,Fear,Freedom,Suffering

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:14-16
Romans 5:1-5
Isaiah 42:5-9

He was a prisoner,
writing to a free man,
about a slave
who had escaped and cheated his way into freedom.

The escapee?
He was the free man’s runaway slave.


Ironic, isn’t it?
Oh, did I mention the prisoner’s only “crime” was speaking of Jesus?
The one bound by unfair shackles was advocating
to the free man
on behalf of the runaway.  

Does a sense of justice rub your soul the wrong way about now?

We read the words again, imagining the scene in our minds. It doesn’t take long before we begin putting ourselves in the place of the unjustly punished prisoner. Faces and circumstance sneak in as we recall being the receiver of un ”justice”.

Pain.
Hurt.
Anger.
Bitterness.
Hatred.
Injustice.  

My child was supposed to live.
My loved one wasn’t supposed to suffer.
My spouse wasn’t supposed to cheat on me.
What was mine was stolen away.
I deserved better.
All the while, the stifling bond of Self Love constricts our heart ever-tighter.

Through the course of life events that surely felt random at the time, but were actually God-ordained, the runaway slave, Onesimus, crossed paths with prisoner Pastor Paul, who shared the good news of freedom in Jesus with Onesimus.

The man whose feet were shackled spoke of a freedom the runaway had no concept.
Paul’s physical freedom had been restricted, but his soul had long been released to roam the heart of God; it was this freedom he shared with Onesimus.

The runaway had his own view on freedom, or lack thereof.
Slaves held no rights, were viewed as property, and made no income. Onesimus longed for escape from injustice. Lusting for a freedom he could not buy, he ran from his chains, never realizing the heaviest bonds he bore were wrapped around his soul.

Until Paul, that is.
Paul, having experienced the internal wrestling and external rebellion of kicking against the God of Righteousness and Perfect Justice, shared of true freedom with Onesimus. (Acts 26:14)

All of your striving will not win your freedom, for you are enslaved not to a human taskmaster, but to the rule of Sin and Death. Your work makes no difference in tipping the scales. Whether you ran from your master or remained a dedicated slave until the day of your death, unless you turn from the sin of Self Love that strangulates your soul,
you will continue to feel its death grip for all eternity.

Paul had found another way, the only way, to slash the shackles of Sin and Self.
The doorway was direct access to God Himself, the God of Justice.

The access point?
A human body, holding perfect divinity within its skin,
unjustly slaughtered for the sins of the world,
and risen again to conquer Sin and Death.


The open door to intimacy with God was grace, grace, and grace. (Romans 5:1-2)

Jesus embodied injustice utterly undone as He took all punishment upon His innocent soul.

Herein, Paul found his delight, whether slave or free, living in plenty or in want, He discovered the purpose in his pain existed not in the circumstance,
but in the Christ who paid the debt to Justice.
A debt Paul owed.
Though he’d broken no law to gain his physical chains, he had broken the law of God countless times with his sin, incurring the rightly deserved wrath of God. (Romans 3:5-6)

White lies.
Lusting looks.
Complaining.
Gossip.
Bitterness.
Harsh words.
The Self Love Life.
These sins bring God’s righteous wrath upon us.


“For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)

Do you see those chains, Sister? Do you feel them slice into your skin as you work to free yourself from their hold?

Our only freedom is found through the same doorway Paul walked and then proclaimed with urging passion. Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. (John 10:9)

As it was true for Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus, forgiveness and true freedom are available to us. If we will come to Jesus, dropping our attempts at “good enough” and reviling the sins of Self Love, He will shatter our chains, removing our sin as far as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12-13)

“Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 
A slave does not remain in the household forever,
but a son does remain forever.
So if the Son sets you free,
you really will be free
.”

(John 8:34-36)

The chains on Paul’s body couldn’t touch his soul.
The freedom Onesimus thought he had without his chains was meaningless.
The freedom of Philemon’s heart allowed him to see his slave as now his brother
because Christ had truly set him free.

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Paul encountered Philemon in a completely different territory than he lived. Philemon heard the Gospel and then believed in Christ. Your influence matters. Who you encounter day to day matters. Where you plant seeds for Christ matters.

By holding steadfast in your personal walk with Jesus and how you carry yourself, yes even on bad days, are noticed by your neighbors, co-workers, family, and your fellow church goers. Your ripple effect really does have an impact. Even when the struggles of life weigh on you, be assured that your connections, conversations, and convictions plant seeds, just as Paul’s did for one runaway slave turned brother in Christ!
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Posted in: Broken, Enemies, Fear, Freedom, Suffering Tagged: Christ, free, slave, suffering

Champion Day 4 Bold And Brave?: Digging Deeper

June 2, 2022 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 Bold And Brave?

The Questions

1) Why did God choose Moses to help set the Israelites free from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11-12)

2) What does God mean by instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that I AM had sent him to release them from Egypt? (Exodus 3:14-15)

3) What explains Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s instructions even after the promises, signs, and miracles? (Exodus 4:13)

Exodus 3:11-4:17

11 But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship God at this mountain.” 13 Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation. 16 “Go and assemble the elders of Israel and say to them: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I have paid close attention to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt. 17 And I have promised you that I will bring you up from the misery of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 19 “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. 20 But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. 21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.” 4 Moses answered, “What if they won’t believe me and will not obey me but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” 2 The Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. 3 “Throw it on the ground,” he said. So Moses threw it on the ground, it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 The Lord told Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail.” So he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand. 5 “This will take place,” he continued, “so that they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 In addition the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, resembling snow. 7 “Put your hand back inside your cloak,” he said. So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, it had again become like the rest of his skin. 8 “If they will not believe you and will not respond to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign. 9 And if they don’t believe even these two signs or listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.” 10 But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will help you speak and I will teach you what to say.” 13 Moses said, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “Isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, he is on his way now to meet you. He will rejoice when he sees you. 15 You will speak with him and tell him what to say. I will help both you and him to speak and will teach you both what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you. He will serve as a mouth for you, and you will serve as God to him. 17 And take this staff in your hand that you will perform the signs with.”

Original Intent

1) Why did God choose Moses to help set the Israelites free from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11-12)
When God met Moses at the burning bush and called him to return to Egypt and free the Israelites from slavery, Moses was reluctant and baffled that God would choose him. (Exodus 3:11-12) David Guzik suggests Moses should have focused on God rather than his own shortcomings because “God’s identity was more important than who Moses was. When we know the God who is with us, we can step forth confidently to do His will.” God chose Moses because He wasn’t looking for eloquence and bravery. He was looking for faith, obedience, and willingness to follow Him. (1 John 5:3) God chose someone who was not a great speaker because He wanted Moses to rely on His power and His presence (Isaiah 41:10), not on Moses’ skill and talent. Christine Caine suggests, “There seemed to be a precedent in the Bible for God using people who considered themselves unqualified, insecure, and incapable. When they obeyed and did what He called them to do, it ensured that He received all the glory.” If a reticent stutterer could convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go, it was only because the God working through him was powerful and almighty. God performed amazing miracles through His flawed servant, Moses, and He has plans to use each one of us to do great things for His glory (1 Corinthians 2:9), no matter our imperfections. We can rejoice that God uses our weaknesses to show Himself strong! (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2) What does God mean by instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that I AM had sent him to release them from Egypt? (Exodus 3:14-15)
There are over 1,000 names for God in the Bible, but the one God instructs Moses to use when freeing the Israelites is I AM, because He says, “This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.” (Exodus 3:14-15) John Piper explains how “the name Yahweh and the name I AM are built out of the same Hebrew word (hayah) […] Yahweh seems to be used here interchangeably with I AM. Contained in the name Yahweh is the first and most important truth about God: He exists.” God wanted to remind His people He had always been their God, since before Creation (John 1:1-3), and He would continue to be their Deliverer. (Romans 11:26) As David Guzik suggests, “God told Moses His name was I AM because God simply is; there was never a time when He did not exist, or a time when He will cease to exist.” Jesus uses this name for Himself in John 8:58 when He declares, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” He says something similar in John 18:4-6, when the Pharisees ask if He is Jesus and He answers, “I Am He”, and they all fall backwards on the ground. Lisa Lorraine Baker suggests, “The force of the expression of God’s name was akin to God telling Moses he was standing on holy ground.” The Almighty, Eternal God commanded Moses to make His name known to the captive nation of Israel so they would understand that the God of their ancestors could be trusted to deliver them from captivity. Jesus came to earth for the same reason, to set us free from our slavery to sin. (Romans 6:6) I AM truly is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

3) What explains Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s instructions even after the promises, signs, and miracles? (Exodus 4:13)
God used common things in a spectacular way when He called Moses to free Israel from Egyptian captivity. He employed a burning bush, a rod that became a snake, and a hand that became diseased and then was healed. God provided the promise of Presence and more miraculous events to prove His power, but Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else”. (Exodus 4:13) Moses was afraid and reluctant to obey because he focused on his own weaknesses and shortcomings instead of the Almighty God who performed miracles with amazing power. He trusted what he knew and understood about his own flaws more than he trusted God’s ability to work through his deficiencies. Karen Ehman explains that Moses “responded by using thoughts about His weaknesses instead of thoughts about God’s strength. His heart-closet contained so many ill-fitting assumptions that he was unable to quickly don the name-brand truths from his Creator and Designer, Yahweh.” Moses simply didn’t trust God could use him to do such important work. He needed to learn to see God as bigger and stronger than his weaknesses (Isaiah 40:29-31) John Piper suggests, “God’s answer to that maneuver is always the same: ‘RIGHT, you are small and weak. But WRONG, that is no excuse to cop out. Why? Because I will be with you, I will help you, I will strengthen you and will uphold you with my victorious right hand. I love to do big things through small people! How else will My name be glorified in all the earth?’” Moses needed to accept that none of God’s success was determined by Moses’ skill and prowess; everything depended on God’s ability to work through Moses’ trusting surrender. This is the faith that pleases God! (Hebrews 11:6)

Everyday Application

1) Why did God choose Moses to help set the Israelites free from Egypt? (Exodus 3:11-12)
As a new teacher, I quickly realized that no matter how good my grades were in college or how thorough my training was, a class full of high-schoolers could size me up and determine all my vulnerabilities within the first week of classes. Multiply that by 6 classes a day, and I was pouring over the help wanted ads by Christmas break my first year of teaching, looking for a career change. I thought God had led me to the profession, but I began to question, much like Moses did, who am I to do this job? (Exodus 3:11-12) I needed to learn, just as Moses did, what Christine Caine asserts, “It is never about who I am not, but rather, it is always about who He is in me.” I was not a great disciplinarian, and Moses was not a great orator, but that wasn’t the full story. When God chooses you for a task, He empowers you to accomplish the task by giving you His strength and working through you as you surrender. (Hebrews 13:21) Meredith McDaniel explains, “It was by God’s holiness and power that Moses was able to go back to the people and share with them the promises of their Creator. God provided just what he needed to do it and more. […] In the same way God equipped Moses, He provides everything we need through His mighty power and His ability to see farther down the road ahead than we can.” When you struggle in your own strength to do something God has asked of you, I encourage you to stop flailing and allow God to empower and direct your actions. He is gracious to provide everything we need to excel in what He has planned for us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

2) What does God mean by instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that I AM had sent him to release them from Egypt? (Exodus 3:14-15)
As a teacher, I taught a trick to identify “being verbs”. By replacing the verb with an equal sign in a sentence, one could know its identity if the words were equally defined. In, “I am a teacher,”, I = a teacher, so “am” is a being verb. In, “I teach Spanish,” I [does not] = Spanish, so “teach” is an action verb. When God instructed Moses to announce Himself as “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14-15), He didn’t follow the verb Am with anything. He simply declared, “I AM.” No equivalent was needed. “There is no equivalent for God but God. If you place God on the one side of your symbol of equation (=), there is nothing to put on the other but Himself.” (F.B. Meyer) God wanted His people to recognize that He is the one true God without equal. (Exodus 8:10) The Israelites found that I AM was their Every Thing in their time of need, including Deliverer (Exodus 6:6) and Provider (Exodus 16:13-14). There exists no need that cannot be fulfilled by the Great I Am! In our humanity, we may believe we need something different in a different timeline, but God is not our genie, bending at our whim. He lovingly knows exactly what is needed and will prove Himself to be the perfect I AM every time. (Matthew 6:8) Of Himself, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12) and “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) to describe God as the Sovereign Lord who supplies every need. (Philippians 4:19) Our God, The Great I Am, is our complete supplier!

3) What explains Moses’ reluctance to follow God’s instructions even after the promises, signs, and miracles? (Exodus 4:13)
When my husband mentions something God may be calling us to do, I have been known to respond with, “God would need to send me a flashing neon sign before I would consider that.” When I read how Moses told God, “Please, Lord, send someone else” (Exodus 4:13), I recognize my own attitude in his reluctance and reticence. God performed miracles and gave Moses details about His guidance and direction during the exodus, but Moses was still afraid to trust God. Priscilla Shirer suggests, “Moses’ problem was that although he reverenced God, he didn’t yet know him very well. Understanding God’s attributes . . . helps us appreciate him in a deeper, more intimate way as it moves us from knowing about him to truly knowing him.” Moses needed to learn that God was faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9) and worthy of his trust (Psalm 111:7). He also needed to learn that, while God loved him and wanted to use him, God didn’t love Moses for his abilities or what he could do for God. Judah Smith said, “To solve Moses’ identity crisis, God reminds Moses who God is. […] The answer to our frequent identity crises is not first and foremost focusing on who we are, but focusing on who God is.” God used miracles to let Moses rest in truth, knowing that, when you have a powerful God on your side, you don’t need exceptional capabilities. God just wants a faithful and obedient servant to follow Him in a demonstration of faith. (1Corinthians 4:1-2) Although my own attitude is sometimes as faithless as Moses’, I am blessed that God gives grace to “bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name”. (Romans 1:5)

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1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
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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
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Posted in: Faith, Forgiven, God, Gospel, Grace, Lord, Love Tagged: free, God, grace, love, strength

Alive Day 13 Dearly Loved

September 29, 2021 by Michelle Promise Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1
Genesis 22:1-19
Psalm 44:17-22
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Romans 8:31-36

Alive, Day 13

“What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:31-36)

When I became a believer, I selected a life verse (a passage of Scripture I especially wanted my life to embody) reflecting my limited understanding of the Gospel as I felt I had to “live up” to a standard of “gospel” in order to keep God’s favor:

“Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27a)

As I grew in my understanding and the Lord unpacked the legalism I carried, He gave me Romans 8 as my new life passage. This shift has been monumental in my understanding of who God is, how I interact with Him, and how He cares for me. I pray that as we walk through this chapter today, you will allow Him to lead you deeper in relationship with Him! 

Verse 31: Is any enemy greater than our ally, our God?

The Creator of the entire world has called us unto Himself. He is Elohim, the only One who has ever created something from nothing. He has given us an eternal inheritance as His children and conformed us to the image of His Son. Nothing in the earth, physical or spiritual, is more powerful than our Great God. No one can remove what He has so graciously given.

Verse 32: Having given us THE greatest gift, Jesus, would God then withhold anything we need for a transformed life?

In Genesis, Abraham was willing to give up his precious son, Isaac, with unshakable faith in and love for God; how much more astounding is God’s sacrifice of His own perfect Son, Jesus, because of His love for us? Out of that same love, He promises to equip us, carry us, and sustain us until we reach our eternal home.

This doesn’t mean, “If I pray to win the lottery, God must give it to me.” Our Heavenly Father has so much more than money or other temporal items to give us, if we embrace His gift of a Spirit-led life!

Verses 33-34: Who is qualified to justify, judge, save, and intercede before God for us?

A joy of mine is using Scripture to interpret Scripture, for the Lord’s letters to us are consistent and true! In 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, I found a similar theme: only the One who sets the standard for righteousness can justify, judge, and save.

God gave the law to demonstrate our need for a Savior.
Jesus, fully God and fully Man, came to fulfill the law.
Therefore, we can have right relationship
with God
through Jesus.

Jesus is sitting next to the Father, speaking to Him on behalf of you and me (also known as interceding). Because Jesus bore the wrath of God in His death and then showed ultimate victory over Satan’s limited power in His resurrection, we can have new life! Only the One who designed this plan of redemption can justify or condemn. 

Verse 35: Can anything separate us from God’s love?

Isn’t it kind of the Lord to set these verses in this order?
He affirms our adoption.
He offers us everything we need for a God-filled, Spirit-led life.
He justifies us.
And now in verse 35, He reminds us nothing can steal any of those gifts.
Sometimes, when we walk through a serious trial, we wonder if God has left us alone.
Take heart, my sisters, He hasn’t left. Nothing can separate us from His perfect love. 

Verse 36: Does ridicule or persecution or suffering mean God has abandoned me?

At first glance, this might seem like a strange reference! However, King David was writing of Israel’s hardships. He was lamenting that Israel had walked away from God and was experiencing His judgement. The enemies of Israel were mocking and taunting them; they were “being put to death all day long.” And yet, throughout all their hardships, the Lord God cared for His people by continuing to redeem them.

We can take heart in our current sufferings, for the Lord God will not abandon us, but will redeem us! Our sufferings do not change the realities and truths of God’s love for us. We can rest in His promises and walk forward confidently in His love! 

Lord, as we study this passage verse by verse, show us Your heart. We want to build on these foundational truths so when we fall, we land on Your truth. Would You make clear Your desire for relationship, and show us Your great love? Let us respond to You with humility and a longing to know You. You are our good God and we praise Your holy name! 

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Posted in: Awake, Beloved, Called, Captivating, Clothed, Daughter, Follow, Forgiven, Freedom, Fruitfulness Tagged: beloved, calling, forgiven, free, hope, loved, promise

Alive Day 3 Mindset

September 15, 2021 by Marietta Taylor Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 8:5-9
Romans 6:12-19
Galatians 5:16-22
John 3:16-21
Psalm 146:5-8

Alive, Day 3

“For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:5-9)

If you read my Faces of Grace story, you’ll learn of my season of sin after the deaths of my father and father-in-law within months of each other. Looking back, “I’m free to do whatever I want” aptly describes my mindset. But was I really free? No.

It’s easy to think we’re in control of sin, but we’re not. In fact, we’re born as slaves to sin. God warned Cain, “[. . .] if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7) Romans 6:12 reiterates, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.” So if I am obeying something, I’m not really free, right? Romans 6 further describes sin:

  •     the body ruled by sin (verse 6)
  •     enslaved to sin (verse 6)
  •     a person who has died is freed from sin (verse 7)
  •     sin will not rule over you (verse 14)
  •     you are slaves of the one you obey—either of sin leading to death (verse 16)
  •     slaves to impurity (verse 19)

That doesn’t sound like freedom to me. To truly understand why sin equals bondage and not freedom, answer this question: how many times, after sinning, do you feel the crushing weight of guilt? I know I did in that season and frankly, every time I sin. And what about when you repeat the sin? Do you feel as if you were compelled somehow? That’s the enslavement part. Sisters, that’s not freedom. It’s actually a pathway to death, because “the wages of sin is death”.  But the good news is “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) So how do we go from death to life? Happy to share.

“Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

Mindset is defined as the established set of attitudes held by someone. So when we read this verse, we see two mindsets, “of the flesh” and “of the Spirit.” To be clear, we can’t have both.

We’re born with a bent toward self. We want our way. We’re not inherently good. Romans 3:10-12 tells us there is not one righteous person, no one who seeks God, and no good person. “But Mari,” you say, “aren’t Christians good people?” Good question. Let me answer by comparing and contrasting.

Non-Christians “live according to the flesh,” or have a mindset of the flesh. Romans 8:7 tells us, “The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.” So nonbelievers cannot and will not live according to the Spirit or the Word. They can’t please our Holy God. As a result they “carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:19-21 explains the fruit of those choices: “sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,  idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar.” Sobering, isn’t it?

But Christians live by a different mindset, that of the Spirit. “The mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.” Life and peace is quite different from the outcome of the mindset of the flesh. When “the Spirit of God lives in you,” the fruit we bear is very different. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Did you catch that word in the middle of the list? Goodness. We can only be righteous and display true goodness when we live by the Spirit. Though we start out with the mindset of the flesh, we can have a change in our actions, our fruit. We banish that sinful list of the flesh by overcoming sin and gaining freedom. But how?

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

We choose Jesus. When we do, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us and, dear Sisters, enables us to live by the Spirit. (John 3:21)

“Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in them.”
(Psalm 146:5-6)

The Lord frees prisoners, opens the eyes of the blind, and loves the righteous.
Let us choose freedom over captivity and bondage.
I pray each of us will choose to live by the Spirit and walk in freedom!

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Posted in: Freedom, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Obedience, Seeking, Sin Tagged: alive, bondage, choose, Enslaved, free, Fruit, good news, Mindset, question, righteous

Terrain Day 9 Bethlehem & Nazareth: Digging Deeper

August 12, 2021 by Marietta Taylor 1 Comment

Terrain Day 9 Bethlehem & Nazareth: Digging Deeper

Marietta Taylor

August 12, 2021

Faithfulness,Fruitfulness,Gift,God,Jesus,Life,Mercy,Salvation,Treasure,Worship

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Bethlehem & Nazareth"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 6:22-35

22 The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw there had been only one boat. They also saw that Jesus had not boarded the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone off alone. 23 Some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Don’t work for the food that perishes but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal of approval on him.”28 “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked. 29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”30 “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”32 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why were the people looking for Jesus? (verse 25)

The events in this passage take place just after Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with a young boy’s “five barley loaves and two fish”. (John 6:1-13)

The people were determined to make Jesus king over them and had spent the night and part of the morning looking for him. They knew Jesus did not leave in the boat with his disciples and were confused about how he got to the other side. According to the Bridgewater Bible Commentary, “the people wanted him to be king not because they felt any spiritual need, but because they thought he had magical powers that could supply all their daily needs.”

Jesus had done a great sign pointing to Himself as the long-awaited Messiah. But the “ people missed it. In John Piper’s sermon, “Do Not Labor For the Food That Perishes”, he states, “What they did was fixate on the product of the miracle, not the person of the miracle. And so the sign ceased to be a sign for them.”

How tragic to be graced with the wonder of the Messiah you’ve read about all your life only to singularly focus on the wonders done by the Messiah. Would that they were more like the shepherds in the field who simply worshipped Jesus, the Messiah when he was born.

The Everyday Application

1) Why were the people looking for Jesus? (verse 25)

We often read the Bible and criticize the Israelites. But aren’t we often guilty of the same things we fault them for? I can raise my hand here because sometimes I seek the gift more than the Giver. I anticipate the treasure from God more than the treasure that is God. There is even false doctrine that is centered on this very concept. It has fooled many people into the same thinking the Israelites had.

But unlike them, we should be like the Psalmist who praises God and thanks Him for who He is, thereby pleasing God. As believers, we should always check our motivations. David Guzak instructs, “Often we can learn more from understanding the reason we ask God a question than from the answer to the question itself.”

Let us make a daily habit of determining if our desire is for the Lord or for what He can provide. May it be that our heart echoes King David’s in Psalm 27:4.

The Original Intent

2) What is the difference between “the works of God” in verse 28 and “the work of God” in verse 29?

When Jesus told the people to work for spiritual food instead of food that perishes (Verse 27), they were still focused on how they might get what they were looking for. Enduring Word Commentary explains their response as “Just tell us what to do so we can get what we want from You. We want Your miracle bread and for You to be our Miracle King; tell us what to do to get it.” The works of God to them was a checklist that, when completed, would result in the reward Jesus spoke of.

“The work of God” Jesus refers to is not work at all. Eternal life was not something they could work for. Romans 6:23 boldly proclaims, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You can’t work for a gift. It’s freely given. The work of God was “simply believe in Him that God sent.” One verse that sums it up is John 3:16, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” 

The Jesus they were conversing with was offering Himself, the Son of God, the work of God. All they needed to do was believe in Him. Not His works, Him. Jesus was ready and willing. But again, they missed it because they misunderstood who He was.

The Everyday Application

2) What is the difference between “the works of God” in verse 28 and “the work of God” in verse 29?

Works based salvation is the idea of our salvation being tied to works. If one were to believe this you would be embroiled daily in a list of “the works of God” you need to do so that you can “earn” eternal life. This is not how you gain salvation. There is one way to be saved, Ephesians 2:8-9 says it best. “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” 

We are saved by faith in Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross, “the work of God”. There is no set of tasks we can do, no amount of good deeds we can perform that will allow our names to be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is by faith alone, in Christ alone. The second part of this is that when we are saved, we begin a new life.

This life, Ephesians 2:10 tells us, will include good works, not for salvation, but as the fruit of faith in Christ. Even after we are saved, we can get caught up in doing works because we think God will love us more. God loves us the most already. God loved us and Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) There’s not much more love than that! One way we can keep ourselves grounded in “the work of God”, is to daily acknowledge God as the source of our salvation while also asking Him to lead us to the good works He has planned for us. God will never steer us wrong!

The Original Intent

3) What does the statement in verse 35, “I am the bread of life” tell us about Jesus?

I am. God reveals himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 with the title, “I AM WHO I AM’. And Jesus starts this statement declaring He is God, I AM. He was the Word walking around in flesh, dwelling with the people (John 1:14) But Jesus also gets specific.

In response to the Israelites reminiscing about the manna “Moses” gave to fulfill their hungry bellies, Jesus let them know God was concerned with providing for their spiritual hunger, by giving bread from heaven. “The true bread from heaven gives eternal spiritual nourishment. It is infinitely superior to the manna provided in Moses’ day, which met only physical needs.” (Global Study Bible) Jesus that bred from heaven, the Bread of Life. 

This “I am” statement tells us that Jesus is loving and merciful. Only a loving God would provide salvation for such sinful, selfish, self-centered people. We also learn that Jesus is sufficient  to provide what the people needed, even though they didn’t realize what that was. Jesus, the Messiah, willing to be “poured out like water”, thirst, and be pierced for their sins so that they could have eternal life (Psalm 22:14-18) What a Savior!

The Everyday Application

3) What does the statement in verse 35, “I am the bread of life” tell us about Jesus?

On this side of the cross, we know that Jesus is the Messiah. We have the Gospel accounts and the story of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. But there are still things to learn from verse 35. Christ is our satisfaction. There are so many opportunities for “pleasure” as the world defines it. We can indulge in as much or as little as we want. Not all of it is bad, but one thing is universally true. Nothing we engage in will keep our appetites quenched. 

Chuck Smith puts it this way: “…though a person pursues after the pleasures, the excitements, the thrills of the world, one thing about them is that they’re just not lasting. It isn’t long before you’re thirsting again. But Jesus said, “I’m the bread of heaven. God has sent Me. And if you eat of Me you’ll never hunger again, and if you believe in Me you’ll never thirst again.” What glorious good news!” Glorious indeed! We also learn Jesus is our refreshment.

In the blazing summer heat, a cool drink of water is so refreshing. It makes us feel revived. Jesus is our perpetual source of refreshment. No matter what the situation, when we feel the heat, He is available to refresh and restore us. (Revelation 21:6-7) He is the One who will never forget or forsake us.

Be prepared for those times when it feels like life has turned up the heat and you’re fading fast. Have your list of Scripture verses ready to draw upon. Think back on all the times God has sustained you. The Lord will refresh you. He will be all you need.

Tags :
Answers,Bread of Life,eternal,free,I Am,Messiah,questions,Savior,Simple,Spiritual Hunger,sufficient,works
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Feel the sun on your back. The sizzle of the water as it touches your lips, and the refreshing relief it brings! You’ll also need to pack bread and oil for your meals. Just take the clothes on your back, traveling light is a necessity in these parts. I think that’s everything on my travel list. Wait, the donkey . . . ok, check!
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Posted in: Faithfulness, Fruitfulness, Gift, God, Jesus, Life, Mercy, Salvation, Treasure, Worship Tagged: Answers, Bread of Life, eternal, free, I Am, Messiah, questions, Savior, Simple, Spiritual Hunger, sufficient, works

If Day 11 Free Ride

July 26, 2021 by Sara Cissell Leave a Comment

If Day 11 Free Ride

Sara Cissell

July 26, 2021

Follow,Gift,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Joy,Kingdom,Love,Peace,Redemption,Relationship,Sacrifice,Seeking,Significance,Trust

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 13:44-46
Romans 5:1-5
Matthew 6:25-34
James 1:2-4

“Yes, but it’s going to cost you.”

Have you heard a version of this phrase, if not those exact words? 

I have. Sometimes it’s said with the humor of a friend; other times, it has been spoken with all seriousness. 

Cost. 
We understand it from a monetary sense pretty easily. Do I have the money needed to buy this? How much do I need or want said item, and what am I willing to do to ensure I can make the payment? 

But do we grasp the concept of cost beyond dollar signs? 
Do we recognize cost is involved in every decision we make? 
Beyond that, do we recognize we are changed by every decision we make? 

In the business world, return on investment, otherwise known as ROI, is a recurrent phrase. Will an investment provide a return that is worth the cost of the investment?

Will our investment of following Jesus provide a valuable return?

Suppose following Jesus cost us nothing?

Cost is significant. 
Upon reflection, I honestly cannot think of a time when cost was not connected to change in my character or life.  Even when I’ve received a free gift, I am aware of the significant cost to the giver. 
Cost is always involved. 

With these thoughts swirling through my mind, I sat down to write this study.

What if following Jesus cost us nothing?            

If my brain were a literal computer, I would be receiving an error message. In fact, my mind is unable to compute that sentence, and I think of the movie Mean Girls, in which a character says, “The limit does not exist” during math class. 

We’re either following Jesus, or we’re leading ourselves.
We’re seeking His kingdom, or we’re building our own. 
We’re either counting the cost to follow Him, or we’re not investing. 

Adam and Eve chose to invest in the words of the serpent and we are still reaping the returns on their investment. From the very beginning of time, cost has been at play.
Our relationships with Jesus are no different.            

The Bible says a difficult road and narrow gate are the way to heaven. Narrow means lots of decisions are involved in staying the course. Narrow means potentially being misunderstood by those walking the broad paths. Narrow means uncomfortable seasons and various invitations for growth. 

Narrow means there will be a cost,
and the final return on investment is Heaven.

But what if…
following Jesus cost us nothing?

We willingly pay out for what we view as valuable.
If we aren’t willing to pay, we deem the value as worthless. 

Eternity with Jesus is a pretty significant return on investment, and motivates many people to choose to trust Him. However, Heaven is not the only return we receive when we truly follow the Lord. 

Galatians 5:22-24 highlights the fruit of the Spirit, and outlines the cost of their cultivation. When we “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires,” we allow the Spirit to move within us and He pours out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The brutal language describing the cost of following Jesus boldly declares to us that holiness, not happiness, is the aim of the Christian life. The way of change, the way of transformation, the narrow way of daily putting to death the sin nature wrapped around our spirits since Adam and Eve’s initial investment . . . this is the way of great cost.

We gladly pay the cost because the benefit far outweighs the price tag of surrendering self to the Savior who gave Himself wholly for us, choosing to hold nothing back. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Whole surrender is the way of Jesus, who sacrificed everything from His human body to His very existence in community with the Father. 

This is the way of Jesus-followers, who are called to walk in His footsteps by picking up our own crosses.

Oh yes, the cost is great.
But the reward, “the joy set before [us],” Jesus assures us, is far greater.

For in return for Jesus’ sacrifice, we receive redemption, the knitting back together of our spirits once torn apart by the claws of our sinful choices.

In return for our costly sacrifice, we become more like Him, the One who sacrificed all for our redemption.

Thus, not only do we know Him more deeply, but we reflect Him more clearly to the searching world around us.

“Come,” our lives say, “Here is the One who can breathe healing and life into your shattered soul.” 

Finally, in Ephesians 6:10-18, we learn how God equips and sustains us through the attacks we will experience during our days on earth. The Lord does not leave us alone until we get to heaven. He is faithfully with us, teaching us how to navigate this lifetime. Again, the benefit of never being alone or ill-equipped adds to the value of following Jesus with our whole lives. 

We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we have the Word of God to read and learn, and we have the Heavenly Father loving us deeply. The Lord’s love is infinite and His mercies are new every morning. 

While the sacrifices and challenges involved in following Jesus are quite costly, the ROIs of following Christ are infinite. I will gladly invest to gain Christ and heaven for eternity, and to point others to His open arms during my time on earth. 

I am so very grateful that following Christ costs me something.
This is a gift I can never repay!

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Connected,cost,eternity,free,Fruit,If,Ride,Savior,surrendering,What iF
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Posted in: Follow, Gift, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joy, Kingdom, Love, Peace, Redemption, Relationship, Sacrifice, Seeking, Significance, Trust Tagged: Connected, cost, eternity, free, Fruit, If, Ride, Savior, surrendering, What iF

If Day 8 Easy Life

July 21, 2021 by Sarah Afan Leave a Comment

If Day 8 Easy Life

Sarah Afan

July 21, 2021

Amazed,God,Love,Pain,Relationship,Salvation

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3:8-13
Isaiah 1:11-19
Luke 9:23-25
Philippians 3:7-11
Ephesians 1:3-1

What if God gave Christians an easy life?
A life free from pain and sorrow;
everything went as desired without any discernible problems.
Life would be sweet, right?  

This may seem appealing, but if it were so, we would feel we earned an easy life through salvation. Salvation would be like a business transaction; a contract initiated between two parties, and consummated; chapter closed. In other words, once we pray to Jesus for salvation and receive an easy life, the whole deal is completed.
Let each party continue on;
no need for any abiding relationship with Him;
we have what we wanted.

If salvation was simply an exchange to ensure ease in this present life, would that fulfill God’s intent for salvation? No, God’s plan for our salvation reaches far beyond physical ease. His plan is to restore us back to an abiding relationship with Him, repairing what we have broken through our sin. 

In the garden of Eden, our ancestors committed treason against God. Their desire to be as powerful as God made them eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. (Genesis 3:1-7) Immediately, their expectations of self-glory turned to disaster: they ended up with nothing except guilt, shame, and death. So, they went into hiding; they could not face the Holy God with Whom they’d once freely fellowshipped. Sin created a barrier between them and their Creator. 

Scripture says, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) 

The sin of our ancestors, Adam and Eve, became our sin because we came into existence through them. But God, Who is rich in grace and mercy, out of His great love set in motion a way to restore the lost relationship. When Adam and Eve hid, He sought them out, calling, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) 

His voice, calling out for His lost children, echoes through the generations. We hear Him calling out to the Israelites who abandoned Him for other gods, saying, “Come, let’s settle this”. (Isaiah 1:18a) Again and again, God declared His plan for restoring man back to an enduring relationship with Him.

The Lord Jesus also made this clear when He lamented over Jerusalem, saying, “How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34)

Furthermore, He seeks relationship rather than mere behavior modification; the Lord Jesus told His disciples to remain in Him, and He in them, for without Him they could do nothing (John 15:4-5). Again, to demonstrate His commitment to establishing a relationship with them, He said, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:13-14)

Though He directly addressed His disciples, His words are also for us. He laid down His life for us all, and we are also His friends. What is more, He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) What amazing love!

Sometimes I imagine the Lord Jesus on the cross, His hands and feet nailed, His head carrying a crown of thorns, and blood oozing over His body. Above all, carrying the weight of our sins upon Himself resulted in excruciating agony and total separation from the Father. He is left all alone, abandoned to the consequence of our sins. 

Often, I end up shedding tears because my heart cannot comprehend such indescribable love. Sisters, how could such great love and sacrifice possibly be diluted down to the cold distance of a business-like transaction for an easy life?

We see this practically in the life of Apostle Paul when he came to terms with the reality of Christ’s love. His greatest desire was to enjoy a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.

“But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

As Paul vividly explains, there’s nothing to be cherished in life more than having a deep relationship with our Savior and Maker. Our desire to be free from the problems of this present life should not override our commitment to loving Him. Our love for Him should motivate us to go through every hardship in Him, rather than to simply enjoy an easy life outside of Him. 

Standing upon His promise that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ, let us embrace the Jesus-life, with its joys and sorrows, valuing above all else a deeply relational walk with our Savior.

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Abiding,broken,calling,Easy Life,Enduring,free,If,Israelites,Repairing,sorrow,What iF
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Posted in: Amazed, God, Love, Pain, Relationship, Salvation Tagged: Abiding, broken, calling, Easy Life, Enduring, free, If, Israelites, Repairing, sorrow, What iF

Fervent Day 11 Suffering Of One

March 1, 2021 by Rebecca Adams Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Romans 15:30-33
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Fervent, Day 11

I’ve never really considered myself to have suffered for Jesus.

Unfriended on social media?
Losing a real, face-to-face, personal friendship?
Labeled as the “Jesus girl” or the “church girl”?
On the receiving end of snarky comments, text messages, and emails?

Yes, to all of these.

Beaten for proclaiming Christ?
The lives of my children threatened for my refusal to renounce Jesus?
Imprisoned for relentlessly sharing the gospel?

Never, not once. Not even a hint.

Occasionally, I will remember to pray for the “persecuted church,” even pray fervently with tears and renewed vigor, but I shamefacedly admit to generally feeling fairly disconnected from “them.”

Then, one summer I read a book that marked me for life.
Some things you simply cannot un-read.

Nik Ripken, using a pseudonym to protect his identity and countless other believers whose stories he tells, shared many unforgettable accounts in his book The Insanity of God. Years later, Stoyan’s testimony continues to speak volumes to me.

Stoyan had been imprisoned for his faith, and as Nik thanked him for sharing his story, Stoyan made a remarkable statement:
“I thank God and I take great joy in knowing that I was suffering in prison in my country,
so that you, Nik, could be free to share Jesus in Kentucky.”

My heart plummeted as I read his words, and simultaneously put up defenses.
How could Stoyan consider it a trade-off for himself to be chained so that I can be free?

We aren’t connected!
Me, in midwestern United States, free to drink Starbucks, parade around Target at my leisure, share Jesus when, or if, I want, walk in my church doors whenever I please (or don’t please) and belt praise music whenever I feel (or don’t feel) the urge.
Stoyan and I are not connected.
How could we be so intertwined that I should feel a debt to him and his persecution?

A debt so heavy I should feel all the more urged to share Jesus, as if on his behalf?

My response was similar to Nik’s…
“Those words pierced my soul. I looked Stoyan straight in the eyes. ‘Oh, no!’ I protested. ‘No! You are not going to do that! You are NOT going to put that on me. That is a debt so large that I can never repay you!”

I pray Stoyan’s response will mark your heart like it has mine.

“Stoyan stared right back at me and said, ‘Son, that’s the debt of the cross!’
He leaned forward and poked me in the chest with his finger as he continued,
‘Don’t you steal my joy! I took great joy that I was suffering in my country,
so that you could be free to witness in your country.’

Then he raised his voice in a prophet-like challenge that I knew would live with me forever: ‘Don’t ever give up in freedom what we would never give up in persecution! That is our witness to the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!””

“Don’t ever give up in freedom what we would never give up in persecution.”

Sisters, I confess I have done exactly this.
I have indeed “given up” sharing the hope I and Stoyan both possess because, well, I have other things to do, you know? All the Target runs, the coffee, the groceries, the running of kids to all the places, the laundry, oh please the laundry…
Besides, what if I push someone away in my passion to share Jesus?
What if I offend someone?
What if they ask me a question I can’t answer?

When I am afraid of “awkward”. . .
I plead for the Holy Spirit to remind me of Stoyan’s call to
“never give up (my witness of Jesus) in freedom what he wouldn’t give up in persecution.”

The apostle Paul was familiar with persecution.
He was also familiar with the comforts of life.
He knew hunger, and he had lived in plenty.

He knew years of education and finery, and had also felt the cuts of whips, the weight of rocks as he was stoned, and emotional distress accompanying oppression.

His prayers on suffering in the church have little to do with being removed from it, but rather, persistence to share Jesus in suffering, together with other believers.

“… brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, (…) and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people…”
(2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, emphasis mine)

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in prayers to God on my behalf. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints…” (Romans 15:30-31, emphasis mine)

Stoyan, Paul, Nik, myself, and you, dear sister Christ-follower, wherever you are living in the world, are all connected.

There is no “persecuted church” and “free church.”
We.
Are.
Church.
Together in One Body, Christ’s.

Every single believer carries the weight of the same gospel, purchased by the same blood, from the same God and Savior of us all. May we cease to be guilty of “giving up in freedom what our brothers and sisters refuse to give up in persecution.”

Stoyan is right to expect the free-by-law believers, to boldly share Jesus, precisely because he is suffering for the same gospel.

We are bound together.
All suffering together.
All preaching Christ together.
All interceding for one another together.

Unity is the heart of Paul’s laborious prayers and the thread woven through every single letter he penned. Because we are one, may we live, and preach, and suffer as one.

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Posted in: church, Cross, Fervent, Freedom, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joy Tagged: free, Give Up, One, persecution, Pierced, share, soul, suffering, testimony, witness, Word
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