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Philemon Day 11 Partnership In Christ

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Philemon Day 11 Partnership In Christ

Sarah Afan

February 27, 2023

Believe,Christ,church,Clothed,Faith,Family,Fellowship,Forgiven,Freedom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:17-20
Ephesians 4:1-6
Psalm 133
Ephesians 4:31-32
Matthew 5:23-26

When we talk of partnership from the perspective of the secular world, it is easy to focus on commerce. Partnership is often seen in the context of a relationship between people doing business together, bound by a legal agreement. 

Yet partners in Christ are bound together by more than a mere agreement enforceable by law. We are bound by the New Covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Him, we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesian 1:13) 

We have been “called to one hope [. . .] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6) 

While a partnership in commerce can be terminated, the one in Christ can never be revoked. His blood has brought us together, and we are now members of God’s household, bonded in His love.

In consideration of this relationship between believers in Christ, today’s passage in Philemon reveals the Apostle Paul advocating reconciliation between Philemon and his estranged slave, Onesimus. Paul says, 

“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me.” (Philemon 1:17)

By implication, Paul is saying Philemon should consider Onesimus as a brother, as Paul does. Though Onesimus was once Philemon’s fugitive slave, now as a believer in Christ they share a common hope. By dropping all charges against Onesimus, it would prove Philemon regarded Paul, as well as Onesimus, as fellow partners in Christ.

Scholars believe Onesimus had run away from his master, Philemon, and encountered Paul in Rome. Having converted him to Christ, Paul finds it expedient to reconcile Onesimus with his master because unity is absolutely essential within the Body of Christ. (John 17:21) As the one who introduced both of them to Christ, Paul pleads with Philemon to forgive whatever wrong or debts he might hold against Onesimus. He directs Philemon to charge to his account anything Onesimus owes, and Paul would provide repayment. As he contends on Onesimus’ behalf, Paul reminds Philemon, “you owe me even your very self.” (Philemon 19)

Paul displays a perfect example of the unity Christ prayed should exist among His believers. As a spiritual father to Philemon, he does not take advantage of his position, but rather pleads with him and calls him a partner, just as Christ no longer calls us slaves, but His own brothers! (John 15:15) Furthermore, he assumes the position of Onesimus before Philemon, assuming any debt charged against Onesimus. 

In this interaction, Paul is a living example of Christ; just as Christ has forgiven Philemon’s debt to sin, Paul assumes Onesimus’ debt and urges Philemon to extend forgiveness. Both forgiven and restored, they can maintain the unity of purpose they have in Christ.

As humans, we wrong each other because of our sinful natures. The Scripture requires us to seek reconciliation when offense happens, in order to preserve unity within the Church of Christ. (Matthew 5:23-26) As Scripture says, two cannot walk together unless they agree. (Amos 3:3) Reconciliation can only take place when there is forgiveness; therefore, Paul urged Philemon to forgive Onesimus. 

But sometimes offences are so grievous, or our offenders fail to show remorse, that we find it difficult to forgive. However, if we are to remain united, the only way forward is through forgiveness and reconciliation.

We cannot claim to be walking with Christ
if we are walking apart from each other.

As painful the offence or attitude of our offender may be, we must make deliberate effort to forgive, and pursue reconciliation. Knowing offences can be painful and humiliating, Paul says, “[Bear] with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace[.]” (Ephesians 4:2-3) 

If we truly see each other as partners in Christ,
as fellow sisters in the household of God,
then we must make sacrifices to keep that partnership.

When it comes to offences we must forgive, not out of affection for our offender, but rather affection for Christ as we look to Him as our advocate. Christ did not consider our sinfulness as a barrier to dying for us; rather out of His limitless love, He died for our sins. 

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in our trespasses.” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

If we are to maintain unity in our families and the Church at large, we must be willing to forgive and pursue reconciliation, just as Christ has forgiven and reconciled us.

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Philemon Day 12
Digging Deeper

To the early Christians in Ephesus, this word may have brought to mind images of the marketplace and commerce. Paul encouraged them in this verse to “weigh” their calling and to walk accordingly. He had previously told the elders in Ephesus, “the church of God had been purchased with Christ’s own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
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The GT Weekend! ~ Philemon Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Philemon Week 2

Katelyn Palmer

February 25, 2023

Community,Discipleship,Faith,Forgiven,Freedom

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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Pray His Words Back To Him!

1 John 3:16-18

“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him – how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, Your teachings have richly encouraged me this week! I ask You to press them into my heart so I may continue to absorb them in the days to come. You have emphasized the importance of a life led in love and obedience to Your will. Help me love like You do, Lord. (1 John 4:9-12) Guide my steps and don’t let me stumble. (Proverbs 4:12)

I know Your will is saturated in compassion, mercy, and goodness. You are not selfish. You are the very embodiment of love, so I can act with confidence as I carry out Your commands to love others. Strengthen my resolve as I stand firm with my brothers and sisters against worldly wisdom. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) Show me when my actions and my words don’t align with You, Lord.

I desire to bring You glory in the everyday patterns of my life. Let my path be straight so others can see an example of the transformative power of Your love in my brokenness. May You take all the glory so I can’t boast apart from You. (Ephesians 2:8)
In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

There is much to unpack this week! If you’ve missed any studies, catch up here! On Monday, Malinda taught that transformative faith is activated to greater degrees when we know Christ more deeply. Our reflection of Jesus’ love increases because we’ve come to know more of Jesus’ love.

From the beginning of our faith journey, God transformed our very identities as a result of faith. When we surrender ourselves to Him, and trust He died to save us and is exactly the God He claimed to be in Scripture, He makes us utterly new. As we walk in this faith and lean deeper into knowing Him through prayer and studying Scripture, His love transforms us and stirs others up to deeply know the God we’ve come to love. (Philemon 1:6)

Reflecting God’s glory requires action in allowing our love for Him to overflow as love toward others. Loving actions bring life to our words! (1 John 3:18) We’re also warned to consider those whose actions reveal deceitful tongues. (Romans 16:18; Titus 1:16) Lastly, our motivation is key! 1 John 4:7 reminds us to “love one another, because love is from God” and Paul teaches we have nothing without love. (1 Corinthians 13:3) When loving others inevitably becomes difficult, remind yourself, “we love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) 

JOURNAL TWO

Philemon is a short, but exceptionally rich book. In our everyday lives it may be hard to relate to Philemon’s struggle of forgiving a slave for some unspoken crime, but what about a friend who betrayed us, a partner who deceived us, or a boss who abused our work ethic?

Paul explains that salvation allows God to provide us with a new identity AND a new purpose, one where love, mercy, and compassion color our days. (Philemon 1:11) Through the gift of salvation, we are brought into Jesus’ beloved flock. Once, we may have wandered a barren hillside with overgrown coats, but now we have a home with the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) who uses our coats (faith and purpose) to keep others warm, feed the hungry with our milk, and encourages us to grow His flock. Like sheep, we are likely to be unaware of the ways God is using us, but we can rest assured of His love (Titus 2:14) and His good purposes for us (Ephesians 2:10).

As we obey Him and learn to love Him more, we bring glory to Him and shower loving, gracious compassion on our fellow brothers and sisters. (1 John 5:2-3)

JOURNAL THREE

Shame, regret, failure. We’ve all wrestled with these feelings in life. Regardless of its source, as it varies for each of us, the heavy weight of these chains has been felt by us all. Onesimus thought he would find the freedom he longed for by escaping captivity from physical slavery. Pastor Paul exemplified, while living under house arrest with his own physical limitations, true freedom isn’t found in your circumstance, but in Christ and His love.

Isn’t it much easier to think we can free ourselves from the pain we feel by manipulating our circumstance rather than surrendering ourselves to Christ and allowing Him to redefine our perspectives?

Pause to consider what set of current life circumstances would you readily trade so you could be free from painful feelings or hardship like Onesimus? In the middle of pain, it’s so hard to see anything good, but the Lord will faithfully use our difficult situations to remind us that He alone is the chain-breaker for our souls.

Even if our circumstances don’t change, we have access to true freedom in Christ because we can “roam the heart of God” as Rebecca wrote yesterday.
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Philemon Day 10 Purposed Pain: Digging Deeper

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Philemon Day 10 Purposed Pain: Digging Deeper

Carol Graft

February 24, 2023

Broken,Emptiness,Forgiven,Freedom,Jesus

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 "Purposed Pain"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:14-16

14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) How were Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus connected? (verses 14-15)

This letter was more than likely written while Paul was imprisoned. Some sources say it was more likely house arrest than an actual prison cell, allowing Paul to have visitors more easily. It is believed Paul first met Philemon while preaching in Ephesus.

Philemon was a leader in Colossae and was converted to Christianity by Paul. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave who escaped and fled to Rome where he met Paul. (Enduring Word) Some sources cite he had also committed an act of theft.

We don’t know for certain if Onesimus already knew Paul or just encountered him in Rome, but we know he was converted by Paul. (Got Questions) Since Paul converted both men, he considered them both “brothers” and “sons” in Christ. Because he also considered Philemon his dear friend (verse 1), he didn’t want to make decisions about Onesimus without discussing it with his friend, which is the purpose of this letter.  

The Everyday Application

1) How were Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus connected? (verses 14-15)

Maybe you’ve never encountered a runaway while sitting under house arrest. Or perhaps the Lord hasn’t called you into a teaching ministry as He did with Paul. Regardless, God has you where you are for a distinct purpose.

You may think your role in His Kingdom is small, but it’s not dear sister. 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, you 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!

The Original Intent

2) Was Onesimus still a slave after conversion? (verses 15-16)

Becoming a Christ follower in the 1st century generally didn’t stop your earthly obligations.  We don’t really know for certain if Paul’s desire was for Onesimus to be manumitted (set free) by Philemon. Regardless, it was not in Paul’s authority to issue that edict.

What we do see is that Paul doesn’t excuse Onesimus’ behavior. Paul shows Philemon that perhaps there was a greater plan of Divine orchestration working behind the scenes for Onesimus, even as he chose to rebelliously run away. “For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time”. (verse 15)

Onesimus was still Philemon’s slave, but he was no longer a slave to sin. Christ had granted his soul freedom. According to Enduring Word, “Paul “re-introduced” Onesimus to Philemon; not as a slave, but as a brother. In this relationship as brothers and not slaves, Paul effectively abolished the sting of the “master-slave” relationship.”

Though by law Onesimus was still a slave, Paul no longer considered him as such and encouraged Philemon to also see him as a brother and not property. 

The Everyday Application

2) Was Onesimus still a slave after conversion? (verses 15-16)

Once we become a Christ follower it doesn’t diminish or remove our position in life, rather, now we have a fuller purpose to live within it! With new life in Christ, we absolutely must denounce and turn away from any sinful lifestyle we have lived and sinful activities we have participated in. If this includes our work, we must trust the Lord to provide work that honors Him.

But Christ’s transformation within does not release us from our secular, legitimate occupations and responsibilities without. We can’t simply walk out of a job we may dislike because we now trust and follow God. In fact, the Bible tells us, “Submit to every human authority because of the Lord.” (1 Peter 2:13) Our relationship with our employer may change as we understand their need for a Savior, just as we had. Christ may re-shape how we view our position at work through the lens of Christ.

We have more at stake to perform our job while fulfilling our role for the glory of Christ! (1 Timothy 6:2), (1 Corinthians 10:31)

The Original Intent

3) How would the first century have understood the phrase “more than a slave” given their cultural context? (verse 16)

Bondservants in the 1st century were indentured servants. They were not necessarily treated as chattel, like slavery in the United States or even the Israelites as slaves in Egypt. In Roman law, slavery was a permanent position of servanthood.

According to Biblicalcyclopedia, “…notwithstanding all the barbarous cruelties of Roman slavery, it had one decided advantage over that which was introduced in modern times into European colonies — both law and custom being decidedly favorable to the freedom of the slave.” So perhaps they would have been thinking about Onesimus being set free to be “more than a slave”.

Paul viewed his now-freed-from-sin-self as “all in” for the cause of Christ; a different kind of slavery altogether. (Galatians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 7:22) There were also people in the Old Testament who considered their lives enslaved to the Life of God. Joseph knew God and nothing would sway him from his trust in God’s faithfulness. Esther didn’t waiver though faced with her death and genocide of her people, but acted as the Lord’s slave, wholly devoted to Jehovah.

Paul’s cultural terminology advocated for this perspective: “Regardless of economic, social and cultural context – followers of Christ have the opportunity to share the love of God by their  changed lives – by faithful, submissive, humble obedience.” (Alliance Bible Fellowship) Choosing slavery to Christ and whole life surrender to His lordship is far more desirable than any other role available to humanity. 

The Everyday Application

3) How would the first century have understood the phrase “more than a slave” given their cultural context? (verse 16)

Becoming a slave, even a slave to Christ, doesn’t sound appealing to our modern, Western ears. We immediately associate slavery with negative connotations such as chattel slavery, or abuse of persons.

Indenturing yourself to someone historically meant serving them wholeheartedly, usually with the promise of freedom at some point as well as finances. (Alliance Bible Fellowship) Paul’s perspective on serving Christ as His slave was the most wonderful role to live out in life. Nothing would separate him from being so closely aligned with Christ and Kingdom work.

Would you say you share Paul’s sentiments? Are you “all in” for Christ’s Kingdom? I’d like to think I am. While we don’t know everyone’s story, those of us in the western hemisphere probably haven’t faced hardships to make us question how far “in” we truly are in surrendering to Jesus. But those hurts, slights, and moments of being asked to serve the Lord Jesus outside of our comfort zone can cause us to consider just how close we want to be to Jesus.

Let us determine to be like Paul, serving the Lord and interacting with others as brothers and sisters in Christ, freely submitting to Christ as His slave.

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Philemon Day 10
Journey Study

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.
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Sketched X Day 5 Injustice Upon Injustice

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 30:15-22
Genesis 37:12-36
Genesis 39:1-20
Acts 8:26-40

Sketched X, Day 5

Joseph
My body racked with pain and it shook violently. Of their own volition, sobs overtook my frame. My legs could not sustain my weight and I crumbled beneath my grief. I gasped for air, my ribs pressed in, and I tasted the metallic hint of blood where my own teeth had crushed my tongue in anguish. The pain was too much. My fists clenched and opened rhythmically as I furiously pounded the hardpacked earth beneath me.

No, I wasn’t being tortured by enemy forces. No whip lashed my back. My head was not bowed by blows to my brow. The agony inside threatened to swallow me whole.

Injustice upon injustice was mine.
“Yahweh!” “Where! “Are!” “You!”
Each word punched the air as I screamed, the stone walls deafly pressing my agony back upon my ears.
Other prisoners banged on their bars to stop my clamor, but I didn’t care. What did it matter? My only hope of escape had flown away, the stones seemed tighter every day, and the memories of old dreams mocked me every time I closed my eyes.

My brothers’ sheaves bowing down to mine, then theirs turned to laugh at me with disdain.
My beautiful coat paraded as a king’s and then covered in goat’s blood.
The stars encircled me and then my embers exploded into oblivion.

Why would you mock and humble me, Yahweh?!
I obeyed you!
I listened to Your voice and believed You when You gave me dreams.
I was faithful to You and didn’t give in to temptation with Potiphar’s wife!
I sought You, not myself, for the answers to other prisoners’ dreams.

AND WHAT HAS MY OBEDIENCE GOTTEN ME?!
Injustice Upon Injustice

Philip
“I don’t understand,” the Ethiopian continued as he turned his eyes from the scroll to meet mine. “Who was despised? Why should we bother if he was rejected?”

Instantly, gruesome images and horrific sounds assaulted my mind’s eye as Isaiah’s centuries-old prophesies had played out right before me days before. The Spirit of Christ living within me had brought me to this Gentile Ethiopian’s chariot because he needed to know the truth. He needed to meet the risen Christ that Isaiah had foretold would come to suffer.

As the scenes in my mind flashed, God’s Spirit inside loosed my tongue and I explained Isaiah’s words.

“His body was wracked with pain as the Roman whip bit into his flesh, tearing skin away and exposing the bones of His spine and ribs. His wrists bled profusely where He was tied to the whipping post. The cries of a man near death hung in the air that morning, haunting all of us. The whip was not enough, of course”, I continued, not even seeing the Ethiopian beside me, for I could only see the scarcely recognizable body of Jesus in my mind.

“Thorns pierced His brow,” I went on, knowing I could do nothing to stop my voice from shaking. “Blood. So much blood, it was everywhere. But even the nails piercing innocent flesh and the wretched pain they brought, were nothing compared to the agony inside Him as He was separated from the Father as He bore our sin.”

I caught my breath and fixed my eyes on the Ethiopian. He must understand. “He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:5)

I made no attempt to stop the flood of tears now streaming down my face as I repeated Jesus’ anguished words from the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?!” (Matthew 27:46)

The man’s eyes still clouded with confusion, so I begged the Spirit to make it clear to him as I said, “Isaiah’s prophesied Messiah is Jesus. He took our place, took our punishment for our sin and suffered injustice upon injustice, that we might be freely restored to God forever.”

Joseph
Slowly my heavy weeping slowed, my body spent. Dirt that had mixed with my tears and saliva caked my face. Broken and shaking, I lay silent, wondering if the Lord would hear my cries.

Unsuspectingly, an early memory of my father wafted over me like a welcome embrace. I saw my young, boyish self sitting at his feet and heard his strong voice warming me as he told me again how the Lord had come to him in one of his dreams. My eyes were alight with wonder that Yahweh would speak to Father and unwittingly my breath caught in my chest as I remembered one particular phrase, “I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.” (Genesis 31:12) The God of Dreams SEES injustice. Surely, Yahweh longs to reverse the curse of injustice and usher in His favor just as He did with my Father!

I uncurled my frame and sat upright, wiping my face and breathing deeply, calmly, as if with new life. Yahweh sees. As I held onto this truth, repeating it over and over, memories came flooding back of how the God who sees injustice and gives Himself for the righteous had acted for me and generations before me.

Yahweh was indeed a faithful God and deep inside, I knew my story was not over here surrounded by stone, dirt, and darkness. He would finish the plans He had for me; I would wait for Him.

I bowed my head as fresh tears of gratitude washed my face. My once-clenched fists now lifted upward with palms raised in worship to the God of all Faithfulness who would take my injustices and finish the work to make me whole!

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
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And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Whole Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Whole Week 1

Carol Graft

June 25, 2022

Christ,church,Faith,Forgiven,Freedom,Grace,GT Weekend,Healing

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
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and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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Pray His Words Back To Him!

1 Peter 5:6-11

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. To him be dominion forever. Amen.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord, I confess it’s difficult to be humble. Arrogance and self-love are always sneaking around my heart and it’s easy to get caught in the trap of false humility. Help me to become more disciplined in surrendering to You my anxiousness. Help me to lean steadfastly on You and the surety of Your unchanging Word every day, even every moment. I don’t want to let my guard down and give in to the cares of the world or the deceptive traps of the scheming enemy.

Lead me away from the temptation to flee my troubles without facing them and turn my heart toward worship. Make me aware of Your mercies and Your movement in my life as I surrender to You, waiting in trust for You. I know you hear me, see me, and guard me; teach me to rest here in these truths as I praise You!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE
How often have you wished you could just run away and hide? 

There have been many moments like that for me. It sounds so easy and freeing to hide from the difficulties and stresses of everyday life. How wonderful to be able to hide from situations where I’ve messed up and don’t want to call more attention to myself. Running away and hiding might seem like a lovely thing to do if it would actually solve our problems, but it won’t.

Hiding, as Adam and Eve attempted to do, merely postpones the consequences.

From what have you wished you could hide? What part of your past do you wish was deleted and forgotten?

Have you ever brought these to the Lord? How do you imagine He would respond? Does Scripture support your answer?

Mandie reminded us on Monday that, when we attempt to hide, we end up focusing on the wrong things. Truth? We are never alone, and the Lord God is for us. 

No matter how broken, lost or anxious we feel, Jesus is constantly present with us. Christ came precisely for the hurting, the wounded, the lost, the broken, the sinner.

He isn’t afraid of our emotions, sadness, anger, or our questions. He isn’t shocked by the situations we find ourselves in, instead He endured the suffering of the cross to bring us redemptive healing.

Reflect on what it might be like for Jesus to take your surrender and make you whole! What would you give Him?
JOURNAL TWO
Our sister in Pakistan brought such insight from her experiences and urgently reminds us of the suffering Jesus promised would come to those who follow Him. Knowing the darkness of oppression exists is one thing, but seeing the face of the persecuted, hearing her story, and knowing she is paying a high price for following Jesus is entirely different.

There is a cost for every follower of Jesus, but not all look the same. What challenges have you faced for holding steadfast to Christ and choosing Him over the call of the world? In what way can you fervently intercede for others facing persecution for choosing Christ?

Oppression against Christianity takes many forms and is found all over the world. Though it may look different in your part of the world, it still exists. Oh, that those for whom following Jesus carries little to no physical threat would share Jesus as bravely as those brothers and sisters who endure significant oppression. 

Remember, we are all one Body in Jesus, highly persecuted or not. We must each continue sharing Christ together.

Keeping our hearts steadfast on Jesus, our eyes and minds in His word, communing in prayer and conversation with Jesus keeps us hopeful that one day oppression will cease and Christ’s kingdom will come. 

Selah. Let it be so.

JOURNAL THREE
What an encouraging and transparent Journey Study Melis shared with us this week! 

It is never easy to confess our sins and make known our areas of weakness, but in doing so, Melis reminded us we are not alone in our struggles.

When was the last time you confessed a sin to another brother or sister in Jesus? Are you participating in a community of believers where this is common? What was challenging to you personally about the discipline practices Melis described?

Training for following Jesus is so important and dramatically increases our focus on the Lord. Which spiritual disciplines have been particularly effective or challenging for you as you seek to follow the Lord?

Not sure what they look like? Take a peek at our Journey Theme: Training.

The Lord God never intended us to live the Christian life alone, which is why He designed us to hunger for iron-sharpening-iron friendships and community that press us into knowing Him more deeply.

Consider choosing a spiritual discipline that Melis listed and put it into practice in the coming week. Set up reminders on your phone, or better yet, invite a friend to join you! Whether you take a Sabbath rest, pick up a new journal, or set aside time to fast, the intentionality we invest into our relationship with the Lord always pays off!

May we each commit to doing whatever it takes to nourish and cultivate our relationship with God and keep our focus on Him as He shapes us to be more like Himself!
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Champion Day 3 Bold And Brave?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 3:1-4:17
Exodus 33:15-16
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
2 Corinthians 12:6-10  

Champion, Day 3

What comes to mind when you think of Moses? 

He’s probably one of the most famous Bible “heroes.” Maybe his name conjures up an image of a man with arms stretched high over the Red Sea, holding back the waters; perhaps you picture him standing boldly before Pharaoh demanding freedom for the Israelites; or possibly you think of him on Mount Sinai with thunder crashing and smoke billowing around him as God draws near to give him instructions for his people. 

Moses is often remembered as a mighty, powerful leader whose example we should emulate, but while strength and boldness are certainly part of his story, when we look a little deeper there are also elements of his story which aren’t quite so heroic. 

After being miraculously rescued by God as a baby and raised in the luxury of the palace, Moses flees Egypt after killing a man. (Exodus 2:11-15) He spends many years in Midian, living in obscurity as a shepherd. 

When God reveals Himself to Moses in a burning bush and calls Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom from slavery, Moses’ response isn’t what you might expect from a mighty hero. 

Instead of responding with faith or courage, he is full of excuses. 

 Who am I to do this task? (Exodus 3:11)
What if they won’t listen? (Exodus 4:1)
I’m not good with words. (Exodus 4:10)
Please send someone else. (Exodus 4:13) 

Even when Moses finally accepts God’s call and steps out in obedience, his leadership is far from perfect. Despite securing the freedom of the Israelites and leading them through the wilderness, he isn’t permitted entrance to the Promised Land because of his failure to trust God and obey Him. (Numbers 20:1-13)

The true picture the Bible paints of Moses is not one of a mighty hero, but one of a human being, with moments of greatness and achievement, but also with flaws and weaknesses.  

Personally, I find that comforting. Moses was able to accomplish great things for God not because of his own power, but because of God working through him, even in his weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:6-10) I am encouraged that if God could use Moses, perhaps He could use me. 

I relate all too well to Moses’ hesitation at the burning bush and the sense God is calling me to something far beyond my own ability, for which I feel inadequate. I share his experience of being called to speak for God while feeling I lack the skill. 

And I love how God responds to Moses. 

When Moses protests no-one will listen and he is not skilled at speaking, God doesn’t answer by encouraging Moses he is good enough or he has what it takes. Instead, He reveals Himself to Moses. 

Moses’ excuses are all about himself and his own perceived inadequacy, but God points Moses back to what really matters. He reassures Moses of His presence, He provides signs to demonstrate His power, and He promises to help Moses complete the task. 

He directs Moses’ focus away from his own weaknesses and onto God’s strength.  

In the end, Moses rises above his fears and apprehensions and steps out in faith, confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites to freedom. He comes to realise that success does not depend on his own ability, but on the fact that God has called him and is with him.   

When the Israelites finally leave Egypt, God’s presence goes with them in a brilliant cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22), providing a visual reminder they are not alone.   

Moses comes to recognise the importance of God’s presence with him and the people. This is what marks them out from others, and enables them to take possession of the Promised Land.   

“‘If Your presence does not go,’ Moses responded to Him, ‘don’t make us go up from here. How will it be known that I and Your people have found favor with You unless You go with us? I and Your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.’” (Exodus 33:15-16) 

It is encouraging to remember that, if we have put our trust in Jesus, we have the same distinguishing mark. God’s presence is not only with us, but in us through the Holy Spirit. We have God’s promise, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5) 

Like Moses, we can look to God for direction, and we can know His strength working through us, even in our weakness and despite our perceived inadequacy. 

This, not our own ability, is what will empower us to be used by God and fulfill His calling. 

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Training Day 1 In My Name

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Training, Day 1

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

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

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

So then, why do good works?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Training Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Alive Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

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

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) God grants a wonderfully freeing, fully permanent declaration in the opening words of Romans 8. No more shame. No fear of condemnation. Both are radically erased because the One we have offended with our sin has freely forgiven us! The sticking point is two-fold. First, this gift of freedom remains entirely inaccessible if we have not recognized our own sin to the Holy God, repented of it, and chosen to trust Christ to rescue us from permanent death and separation from God. Second, if we have indeed been made free in Christ, the temptation to believe a lie seems to follow us like our shadow. The lie? That we aren’t really freed from shame, that we still, somehow, owe God and should therefore beat ourselves up for our past sin. Can you relate like I can?! Let’s refuse to let our enemy continue to have a foothold here! Name that place where you most often find yourself falling into the trap of shame and guilt from sins you’ve already been forgiven from and pray persistently over these. Lay hold of truth and carry it with you in place of shame! “If the Son sets you free, you really will be free!” (John 8:36)

2) Either we live according to flesh or according to Spirit. We cannot please both simultaneously; it is impossible. On Wednesday, Marietta helped us understand we must all make a personal decision to follow Jesus for ourselves. Our default position before God is not goodness, but an inherited sin nature that rejects God and rebels against Him. Thankfully, what is impossible for us and our natural sin nature, is possible with God when He puts His new nature inside of us! All believers, those who have been made new in Christ, have certain areas of life where we struggle more than others to surrender to God’s nature over our own. In the span of 3 verses in Romans 8, we find the phrase “mindset” used five times! The key to overcoming our areas of struggle is to surrender to the Spirit’s activity in us, and take up His mindset, which is entirely renewed and different from our sin-nature mindset. Think about the character of God, really pause to do this! Look up some passages to help like Philippians 4:8-9, Psalm 86:5, 15, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. As you consider His heart, His “mindset”, turn your thoughts to your areas of struggle and your old mindset of approaching them. See the difference?! Ask the Lord to renew your mind! (Romans 12:1-2)

3) I once heard a story of an orphan child who had lived for most of his young life in severe poverty and food insecurity. This child was adopted into a loving and secure family, where there was no question about the source of the child’s next meal. He was fully provided for. However, he would often take food from the kitchen and hide it in his room, keeping it secure for himself. Even though his entire situation had changed, his attitudes and behaviors were still in accordance with his previous insecurity. For those of us who have come to the place of belief in Christ, repenting of our sins, and trusting in Him to give us new life, we are like that adopted orphan. We no longer need to worry about our security, but we often act like we are still in spiritual poverty. When we sin, we are living according to our old manner of life, but when we walk by the Spirit and set our minds on things above, we are operating in our new identity as children of God. Colossians 3:12-17 give us one picture of what our new life in Christ can look like. Write out these verses and post them somewhere you will see them frequently. Set your mind on things above by reading and contemplating these verses and by applying them to situations in your daily life.

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 Romans 5:6-11 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by His blood, will we be saved through
Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Prayer Journal
Oh Lord, our God, thank You for the great work You have done by setting us free from our old ways of life. Once we were dead in our sins, without hope, striving to make ourselves better. But You, oh God, being rich in mercy, because of Your great love, made us alive together with Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-6) You weren’t forced to save us, but You did. And now, we can walk in freedom with no more shame, no more condemnation, and no more fear. Forgive me, Father, for the times I revert to my old way of living. I am acutely aware of my tendency to live as though I need to save myself or make myself better. But You are the one who transforms and makes me new. Enable me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, shifting my mindset to focus on the truth of the new life that You have given me. (Romans 12:2) Help me live my life as one who has been changed by You, sharing the joy and freedom that comes with new life in Your family.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

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Alive Day 1 Justice + Mercy = Freedom

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 7:22-8:4
1 John 1:5-2:2
Galatians 5:13-18
Hebrews 12:1-6

Alive, Day 1

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)

“Son, do you love Jesus? Have you given Him your whole life?”
“Yes, Mama. You were there when I prayed to Him.”
“Do you see how you have been jumping quickly to make rude comments to your brothers? Do you see how fast you are to throw a punch and then say you were ‘just playing?’”
“Yeah, I do. It’s just…so hard to follow Jesus all the time.”

Yes.
Yes, it is.

“So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.” (Romans 7:25)

To surrender our lives once to the Savior of the world for the rescue of our souls is an incredible, necessary act. But to surrender to His Spirit at work within us on the daily, in every moment, is something else entirely.

Herein is the long, grueling, often painful process of sanctification by which our souls, once dead to God and alive to sin, are now being fashioned into the image for which we were always intended: Christ’s.

“… the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

But, oh, the habits of the flesh cling hard and fast to our rhythms of life. Always competing with our desire to follow Jesus is our desire to still love ourselves most and first and best.

“For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, but I see a different law in the parts of my body,  waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.” (Romans 7:22-23, emphasis mine)

What wretches we are!
And who will rescue us from this ceaseless war within ourselves? (Romans 7:24)

With tears, oh Christ. Only Christ!
Jesus, the only One worthy to sit at the right hand of our Father God. (Ephesians 1:20-21)
Jesus, willing to take our sin and shame upon Himself that we might never bear it again. (1 John 2:2)
Jesus, willing to break us free again and again and again from the ridiculous chains of sin we insist on slinging around ourselves. (Romans 5:21)
Oh Merciful Christ.

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

This beautiful Christ, and the freedom He lavishly gives, are the subject of one of the most profoundly significant chapters in all of Scripture, Romans Chapter Eight.

And the benefactors of such magnificent love?
The wretched ones.
Us.

We who, having witnessed the atrocities of our own sinful rebellion, have now turned instead to look upon the blood stained, nail-pierced body of the resurrected Jesus. He who, having died the death we deserved, now offers us His life and righteousness. He willingly laid down His life that we might live anew with Him, both in eternity and right now, in the nitty-gritty of everyday choices. Here, we choose either to surrender to His Spirit or lustfully love ourselves.

This great unfolding of the vast love of Christ begins here in the dark places of our souls. For only in knowing, grasping, and insistently gazing upon the ugliness of our sin can we truly be taken aback by the sheer glory of the love of a magnificent God who chose to set His love upon us simply that we might be called His own forever.

Never could we dream of becoming good enough to qualify as “righteous” before the Holy One. No amount of law-keeping, good deeds, kind words, gut-wrenching sacrifices, or generous giving could ever amount to earning even a single drop of God’s mercy.

“All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment…” (Isaiah 64:6)

Our law-keeping is meaningless for earning right standing before God.
So, what hope have we?
None, Sisters.
None.
We are utterly without hope.

Our sin demands the death penalty, for we are wholly unrighteous.
We cannot earn goodness, for we have already earned death.
“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

And here, in the inky blackness of hell, eternally separated from a loving God, the Spirit of God whispers, “For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did.” (Romans 8:3)

Like brilliant, white light streaming into a once-darkened dungeon, “God Did” thrills our hearts with blissfully delicious, entirely immovable H O P E.

With perfect Justice, God “condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us.” (Romans 8:4) He paid for sin with His perfection, forever slaying Death on our behalf, and now extends to us unshackled freedom if we surrender our sin-loving, self-focused selves.

His justice.
His mercy.
Our freedom.

And what will we do with this freedom?
Come alive, Sisters, we will come alive!

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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 Alive 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 Alive!