identity

Philemon Day 8 A Sheep Called Useful

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Philemon Day 8 A Sheep Called Useful

Bri Bailey

February 22, 2023

Accepted,Affectionate,Beloved,Broken,Called,Identity

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:11-13
Ephesians 2:4-5
Titus 1:15-16
Titus 3:3-8
Psalm 82:3-4

Imagine a flock of sheep grazing on a picturesque hillside under the watchful eye of a shepherd. The sheep are useful to the shepherd; they prevent overgrowth of vegetation, reproduce and grow the herd, and offer milk and wool. Each sheep is known by the shepherd, lovingly named, given its own unique call. (John 10:3-4)

Around the pasture runs a stone wall; in one spot, it has crumbled, leaving a gap. The shepherd, aware of the dangers beyond, had filled the opening with wooden pickets interwoven with fallen twigs and branches, even propped up a placard painted in brightly-colored dyes . . . all to clearly convey: Do. Not. Pass. 

When an ewe approaches the breach, the shepherd cries out, “No! Stay here! Trust me!”

The sheep meets the shepherd’s gaze, quirks an eyebrow. She places a hoof on the barrier. “Don’t do it! You’ll be lost!” the shepherd warns again. She bleats belligerently, and scrambles over. (Isaiah 53:6)

Instantly, she is careening down, dashed over boulders, flung through thistles, choking on grit. The sunshine of the pasture is replaced by utter blackness. When she finally comes to a stop, she can’t distinguish sky from ground. Everything hurts. A terror she has never known settles over her.

She tries to struggle to her feet, but her injuries are far too great. 
She tries to call for help but manages only a wheeze.

Her special, shepherd-given name has been shattered in her fall.
Now, she is Lost, Helpless, and Powerless.

Shame and despair join hands with terror, specters dancing around her.

“You’ve done this to yourself,” they taunt. 
“You knew not to cross the breach, and you did it anyway. 
You certainly can’t get back to the pasture.
You’ll never enjoy its abundance again. 
You’ll never contribute to the growth of the flock, never share your milk or wool. 
You’re Useless; you’re Hopeless.
You’re already dead.”

Her tears soaking into the bracken beneath her, she waits for the death in her spirit to overtake her body.

Time passes.
Suddenly, she hears her name. Not her death-names, but her true name. Her shepherd-name.
She opens her eyes . . . and there he is.
Her shepherd, emanating light into the darkness, crouching before her. (John 8:12)
His body is more broken and bloodied than hers, yet he lives. (Luke 24:1-8)

Gentle as a whisper, he gathers her to his chest.
“Sweet lamb,” he murmurs, “I’ve made a way back. Do you want to come home?”

Too overwhelmed for words, she nods.
The shepherd settles her into the satchel used for carrying newborn lambs (1 Peter 1:3-4), tucking her securely against his side (Psalm 91:1-6).
“Let’s go home.”

Friends, this shepherd is Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” (John 10:11)

And this sheep?

Her name is mine, which means strength.
Her name is yours, which means ____________.
Her name is Philemon, which means loving.
Her name is Paul, which means humble.
Her name is Onesimus, which means useful.

Well-versed in the oratorical practices of his time, in today’s passage, Paul purposefully uses the meaning of Onesimus’ name (Philemon 1:11) to describe the transformation believers in Christ undergo when we are rescued and redeemed by Jesus.

Like the sheep in our story, we have all chosen to abandon our Shepherd and pursue our own way, leading to death.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked[.]” (Ephesians 2:1)

Lost in our sin 
like the sheep in our story, 
like Onesimus before he met Jesus, 
we are Useless. Powerless. Helpless and Hopeless. (Titus 1:15-16)

But not worthless.
For our Good Shepherd’s love is unbroken.
So He pursued us, bore the eternal consequence of our sins, and defeated sin and death, rising back to life. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Now, He invites us into new life with Him. (Galatians 2:20)
Our death-names are gone; He gives us a new identity, a new call as a child of God, a sheep of His flock. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us–not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy–through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit [. . .] I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.” (Titus 3:4-8)

When our identities are renewed and regenerated through God’s loving mercy, we are transformed from useless to useful. God calls us to actively live out our faith through good works, works that bless and grow the body of believers *and* serve as living proclamation of the good news of the Gospel.

Sisters, in closing, I leave us with 2 action steps.

First, pursue God’s understanding of our new identity in Him. 
Ask Him and search His Word.
Here’s a place to start: 
Romans 6:4-11
Ephesians 4:20-24
John 5:24
Ezekiel 36:26
Romans 8:1-2

Second, seek God’s guidance for the good work to which He’s calling us.
Ask Him and search His Word.
Here’s a place to start: 
Ephesians 2:8-10
Romans 6:15-23
1 John 3:16-18
Isaiah 1:17

Redeemed and commissioned, we are transformed into useful sheep of His flock!
We will demonstrate our faith through our works . . . our faith is active together with our works, and by works, our faith is made complete. (James 2:18, 22, paraphrased)

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broken,identity,made new,Rescued
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Philemon Day 9
Digging Deeper

When I stop to think about my own usefulness, it can feel as if I myself am pulled in so many directions, I am not really useful to anyone. My messy home with half-accomplished clean-out tasks. My Bible study partly addressed. My children receiving partial attention and my work receiving another piece. Oh, my long list of half-dones and lofty hopes of accomplishment. While I have not run away like Onesimus, I frequently find myself failing someone.

But Christ has a different goal. His goal is for the truth of the Gospel to move forward and build His kingdom. Christ redeems, renews, and rebirths.
Dig Deeper!

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Sketched X Day 13 Dinner & Identity

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 43:15-45:15
John 14:9-11
John 13:1-17
Luke 24:13-35

Sketched X, Day 13

After all this time….
Thirteen years (Genesis 37:2, Genesis 41:46) spent wondering what would become of me. Years of wondering what had become of those who had sold me into slavery – you, my half-brothers. (Genesis 37:12-28) Now here you are, back for more grain. (Genesis 43:1-14)

This time I won’t be rough with you as I was at your last visit when I desperately needed to know if your hearts had truly repented. (Genesis 42:9-20) Instead, I will continue to show kindness like I did as you returned home to our father. (Genesis 42:25-26)
I will instruct my servant to invite you to the noon meal. 

I see my brother Benjamin (Genesis 35:24) has returned with you, as I had previously instructed. (Genesis 42:20) How my heart is both joyful and heavy. I missed so much of his life while I served Potiphar and sat in prison. (Genesis 39, Genesis 41:1) O Benjamin! Let me retreat to my room as I am overwhelmed to see him as a mature young man. (Genesis 43:30)

I want to reveal myself to you, my brothers, on this visit, but I also want to continue to test your hearts. You were honest with my servant about the money I returned to you, and you gave more care to Benjamin on the journey here than you did to me that fateful day. Maybe you have learned. But how will you handle favor? Will you be jealous, like you were when our father favored me with the coat? (Genesis 37:3-4) Let us see.

First I arranged you in birth order. (Genesis 43:33) I knew that would alarm you. Then I gave my brother Benjamin five times more food and drink than the others.
But you did not get upset and for that I was overjoyed. (Genesis 44:34)
I enjoyed my time with you, but I needed to prepare for my final test. Well, not my final test, but Yahweh’s. It is He who is guiding and obstructing me in how I deal with you brothers.

As you left to return to our father, I sent my servant after you to accuse you of thievery. (Genesis 44:1-2) Many would think you are thieves, stealing my freedom and so many years of my life. But you stole nothing. Not this day, nor the day you sold me into slavery. It was all part of God’s plan, and I intended to share this truth with you if you passed my final test.

When my servant stopped you and found the cup in Benjamin’s bag I had placed there, you returned to me, not angry and indignant, but humble! You fell to the ground and bowed before me, (Genesis 44:1-14) just like in the dream that made you hate me enough to sell me. (Genesis 37:5-11) In that moment, you were more humble than I had been when I shared the dream.

And then Judah. O Judah! You mentioned I was dead, but I was not. I was right before you. But despite still holding onto that story of what happened to me, you, above all, amazed me. You came to me with humility, a sense of responsibility and dare I say love and compassion. (Genesis 44:18-34)

You offered your very life for my brother Benjamin. You offered your life to prevent our father from any further grief. I saw none of that before, but now, now, my brother, I see the change. You passed my test. All of you passed.

Now, I weep as I reveal myself to you brothers. Yes, I tricked you, but it wasn’t done in vengeance or hate. I sense your worry, but I say to you, “…don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5) Brothers, I love you in spite of your actions.

And now, I await your return with my father, Israel. How I have missed him! How I have missed all of you! My soul rejoices for the plans of Yahweh, for they are always true and right. Now hurry my brothers and bring our father to Egypt, where he will be well cared for and Yahweh will be glorified.

John: Joseph invited his brothers to a meal to reveal who he was. We see Jesus openly reveal who He is at a meal, but without any trickery in John 14. Joseph used trickery to confirm his brothers’ heart intentions, but Jesus had no need for such tactics. He simply served them humbly and lovingly by washing His disciples’ feet. (John 13:1-17)

Cleopas: Joseph went to great lengths to reveal to his brothers who he was, with the big reveal at the noon meal. I wonder if they sensed it before he told them? As I walked the road to Emmaus, I felt something, a recognition. But it was at the meal that He, Jesus, fully revealed Himself. And it was my great privilege to truly see the God who keeps on revealing Himself to humanity through our telling of Him. (Luke 24:13-35)

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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!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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Nations Day 10 I Am Daughter

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 3:16-4:1
John 1:6-13
Romans 8:12-17

Nations, Day 10

My name is Anna, and I am a Swede-Swiss living in Switzerland. We quite often laugh about Americans who don’t know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland. I know most of you understand the distinction, but the truth is, when the Swedish company Spotify was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, they briefly displayed the Swiss flag by mistake.

When I tell you I am Swedish and Swiss living in Switzerland, it might not sound like such a big thing for you. But for me, it has led to a crisis of identity.

Who am I, and is my identity at all important? 

In some way, identity has always been something with which I have struggled. My father abandoned our family when I was a child, so identity was something I dealt with at an early age. What are we, if not a “normal” family? Who am I, if not “the girl whose father left her?” Could anything (or Anyone) else define me?

When I met Christ, I started my long journey of finding home and discovering my true identity as a daughter to the living God. 

I won’t share my entire life’s story, but I moved abroad when I was only 22 years old. Somehow, I had always known my life would be spent in other countries. I have always felt drawn abroad and when I was only 15, I went on my first missionary trip to Romania. I can still remember how amazed I was by the American couple living there who invested in the poor people of Brasov.

It was in Romania I heard God’s calling over my life to live in another country. I thought He would take me to eastern Europe, to work with orphan kids, but His plans looked a little different from mine, and I ended up as a stay-at-home mom in Switzerland. My 15 year-old self would have been dumbfounded, and the questions of identity rolled on, “Who am I, if not a foreign missionary?” Could purpose and identity be found in the life I was actually living?

Living in another country, in a new culture, led me to question a lot of things in life. Activities and relationships born of and defined by proximity suddenly ceased. Instead, I gave serious thought to how I wanted to live, and began making intentional decisions. In the beginning, it was all very exciting, but after a while, it became tiring.

As time passed, I realized I didn’t really understand the culture back home in Sweden anymore. Yet, at the same time, I still didn’t feel fully at home in my new country. I continued wrestling with my identity.

Who am I then, if I’m neither Swedish nor Swiss?
Is my identity important?
As followers of Christ, from where do we derive our identity, and on what are we building our lives?

Even if you don’t live in another country, perhaps 2020 prompted you to ask similar questions. Who are we, if we can’t live our lives as we are most comfortable and familiar? Where do we find our identity as Christians? As a church, who are we if we can’t do our programs as we once had? On what foundation are we really building our lives?

My journey to discovering my true identity has been a long and winding road, but at last, I finally understood that my core identity is not found in the country of my birth or city of residence. Philippians 3:20 reminds me, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Furthermore, I am not an abandoned girl or a stranger, but an adopted daughter of the King. Indeed, “the Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16) Now, I build my life on Christ and He alone defines my identity. 

You might also be asking yourself hard questions. On what are you really building your life and identity? Is it your work, your education, your nationality, or money? All of these are good, but hear me, they do not define you and cannot serve as an immovable foundation for your life.

Let’s make a subtle shift to those questions.
Instead of “who am I,” we ask “Whose am I?”
Instead of “what is the bedrock of my life,” we ask, “Who is the bedrock of my life?”

Sisters, can we let go of the definitions and labels the world stamps on us, and instead root our identities in His love alone?

I know now that I can be both Swedish and Swiss. I can eat my Swedish meatballs and my Swiss raclette and enjoy how both enrich my life. I know that at the end of the day, I am assured of God’s amazing love for me. I can run to my Father and call Him, “Abba!” because I am His daughter.

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Word Day 5 Of Water & Spirit

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Word Day 5 Of Water & Spirit

Abby McDonald

April 23, 2021

Christ,Follow,God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Know,Love,Scripture

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 3:1-21
Ephesians 1:3-14
Revelation 2:12-17

If my husband or I call our daughter anything other than her name, she is always quick to correct us. Like many families, nicknames are an affectionate habit, so we often use something like “sweat pea” or “snuggle bunny” instead of her given name. If she’s pretending to be a dog, frog, or other animal, we’ll say, “Oh my goodness, Elise turned into a.…insert animal name. “No, it’s me, Elise!”, she exclaims without missing a beat.

Over time, our four-year-old realized she has an identity.
One way she lays claim to her is her name.
It belongs to her, and no one can pin a name on her that doesn’t belong. Before she entered the world, her Dad and I chose a specific set of sounds, syllables, and letters to refer to her, and this combination was chosen with plenty of thought and intention.

When we come to know Christ, God gives us a new name.
Revelation 2:17 tells us our new identifier is written on a tablet, to be revealed later to us. Scripture is filled with other names we can now take ownership of as well, such as daughter (Mark 5:34), conqueror (Romans 8:37), and co-heir (Romans 8:17).

Despite these God-given titles, and like the man, Nicodemus, who came with plenty of questions to Jesus, we wonder what it truly means to be a Christian.
Can we know, without a doubt, if we are in Christ and part of His family?

For much of my life, I defined belonging to Christ
as following a rigid set of rules.
Maybe this is true for you, too?

I spent my middle and high school years at a Christian school, and the rulebook was lengthy. After years of keeping in line with their strict code of conduct, I tired myself out.

The tireless grace of God was an aspect of His character I didn’t yet understand, and no one attempted to explain it to me. My senior year, I was caught breaking the rules several times, and nearly expelled. Because my grades were good, the staff agreed to let me graduate with the rest of my class, but I didn’t return to church for nearly a decade.

Even though I ran, God pursued me.
As He is for you!

I didn’t recognize His pursuit at the time, but the passing of years always brings perspective. It took a cross-country move and the birth of my first child for me to realize it wasn’t sacrifices and rule checklists that God wanted.

He wanted my heart.
And yours.

In his gospel, the eye-witness disciple, John, records Jesus’ interaction with a Pharisee who brought his confusion and questions with him. He wanted to know who Jesus really is, but he came to Jesus at night so no one would see him. Jesus saw Nicodemus’ greatest need, just as He does for each of us, and cut to the heart of the matter.

 “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

To be born of water is flesh birthing flesh, but to be birthed of the Spirit of the Living God is altogether other.

Like Nicodemus, I questioned Jesus.
I found answers to some of my questions, but not all of them.

My point of surrender came when my thirst for Christ became greater than my thirst for answers. It came, blessedly, when my desire to know Him and love Him became greater than my need to have everything explained to me.

Once I surrendered all I knew of myself
to all I knew of God,
I knew I was His.

I was born of His Spirit.

Like my daughter, I had an identity that was given to me, not because I earned it, but because of the unconditional love of a parent. I knew who I was because the desire to walk in step with his Spirit came without feelings of guilt or shame. I was no longer obedient out of a sense of obligation or fear of punishment. I followed Jesus because I wanted to; I wanted to be a living reflection of the radical change He made in my life.

A couple of years later, Mormon missionaries came to our door and asked if I died tomorrow, would I know where I was going. For the first time in my life, I answered confidently. I knew God’s Spirit was in me because He was changing me from the inside out. When others commented on the newness they saw, it solidified my assurance.

Jesus’ Spirit in us is our seal, guaranteeing our redemption and our eternal future with Him. Although we can grieve Him when we go our own way or give in to the selfish cravings of our flesh, He will never leave us.

“In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.” (Ephesians 1:13)

Do you know Him?
Do you share conversation with Him, listening for His gentle whispers to guide your days?

If you will surrender, He proves a constant Friend and steady Counselor.
If something is keeping you from Him today, confess it to Him.
Declare out loud that He is your Lord.

Do you believe this?

Because the answer to that question changes everything.

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Co-heir,Conquerer,heart,identity,New Name,pursued,Questioned,spirit,water,Word
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Whole Day 5
Digging Deeper

Even amid suffering, we preach the gospel to ourselves. We remind ourselves and others that God is good and faithful, always loving and forgiving, ready to free us from the chains of sin and shame we are trapped within. We know this because He tells us in His word and because He’s proven Himself time and time again.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
Dig Deeper!

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April 19 - May 7, 2021 Journey Theme #88

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Beloved Day 3 Radical Love of Marriage

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Beloved, Day 3

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

Their love was radical; it was original.
It was God’s kind of love, which is unconditional.
The couple compared the strength of their love to fire, saying many waters cannot quench it nor can rivers drown it. (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)
No force, or condition, would alter their decision to love one another.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Calling Day 2 Into Inheritance: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Into Inheritance!

The Questions

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

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

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

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

Ephesians 1:1-14

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

Original Intent

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

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

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

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

Everyday Application

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

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

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

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

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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This is Calling Week One!
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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Calling Day 1 Into Inheritance

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Calling, Day 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every believer is the Church.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Treasure Day 1 Handcrafted And Lovely

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-28
Psalm 139:13-14
Ephesians 2:1-10
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Romans 8:35-39

Treasure, Day 1

Did you know that you are incredibly loved by the Most High God?
Not just your friend, your sister, your mom, your pastor, or your revered grandfather.
No, you.
You, yourself, as you are, are loved by Him!

It’s easy to believe in the existence of God’s love for others,
but it’s far harder to believe His love is for us as much as for them.

This is particularly challenging on those days when we really don’t like what we see staring back at us in the mirror. I don’t know about you, but I don’t always view the girl I see in the mirror as being treasured, lovable, or desirable. But she is!

I’ve always wished for a stronger jawline, slimmer thighs, and a less prominent nose, but none of these make up my identity, nor are they accurate representations of how God made me. While I commonly see flaws in the mirror, those are my own false opinions of myself, not the perspective through which God views me.

Psalm 139:13-14 says,
“For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.”

While it’s easy to see the beauty of a rose, a sunset, or a fall-colored leaf and believe God’s works to be wonderful, but this passage isn’t describing any of those things.
These verses are talking about you!
You are wonderfully made!

Does your soul know that very well?

The truth is you have been made in the image of God with care, precision, love, and artistry. You have been “created in Christ Jesus” as His workmanship according to Ephesians 2:10. You have been designed “for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that [you] should walk in them.”

You are not a mistake, an afterthought, or an accident.
You have been created in the image of God Himself,
tasked with purpose and mission,
and made beautiful in His sight.
That, my friend, is the truth of who you are.

Our identity isn’t based on how we look, what we do, or what others think of us. It is only based on who God created us to be and what He has to say about us. Until we grasp this truth for ourselves, it will be incredibly hard (if not impossible!) to discover a firm foundation of our identity.

You see, if we base our identity in anything other than Christ and who He made us to be as treasured, beautiful, beloved daughters of God, we will always find ourselves on the proverbial identity roller coaster.

When we base our identity in our looks (which change),
our job or position (which isn’t guaranteed to last),
or our relationships (which come and go),
we will be building on a faulty, wobbly, ever-changing, insecure foundation.

When we live like this, it’s difficult to produce the good fruit God designed for us to walk in. (Galatians 5:22-26) When our roots of identity are weak and failing, taking every thought captive to God’s truth of how we view ourselves, is a hard task.

We can break free from the lies our eyes tell us about ourselves
when we ground our hearts in the truth of Scripture.

When we begin with who God says we are, then our identity is anchored in the firm, unchanging foundation of the truth of God’s Word.

Body image is a challenge for all of us!
Let’s immerse ourselves in truth, and fight back against those lies.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says,
“All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Do you want to be equipped for the good works God crafted you for?
Do you want to have a healthy body image based on truth rather than passing fads?
Do you want to truly believe you are wholly loved by God?
Start in God’s Word!

Let’s make it our mission to be in His Word every day and watch our view of ourselves, and our bodies, radically transform through the amazing love of our Creator God!

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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 Treasure 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 Treasure!

The GT Weekend ~ Anchored Week Two

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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) To be pruned in a relationship with Jesus means we are growing deeper with Him! Colossians 2:6-7 has much for us in how we can grow deeper and remain anchored in truth. Write out these short verses on a notecard (or download the lockscreen!) and memorize them this weekend. Read the verse out loud to help you and write it out in different lettering on a journal page. As you meditate on it, what words is the Spirit pointing you towards specifically? Write those on your wrists to remind you of His truth and how He wants to anchor your heart in Him!

2) Have you ever considered your faith as means through which God equips you for your day-to-day life? Are you tempted to think of God, faith, or religion as an escape from the real world? Suppose God’s desire was to be your shelter in the middle of tumultuous circumstances. Suppose His Word was intended to equip you to extend His kingdom in the lives you come in contact with. How might your perspective shift on why you go to church or why you should read your Bible or why you are called to live authentically in biblical community? Write down specific ways you feel you are being stretched to grow deeper and extend the gospel further because of how God is equipping you!

3) Tawnya challenged us to reassess the foundational values behind phrases like, “you be you.” Write out some of your thoughts on this. What is attractive about these phrases? What assumptions does it make about the person and their core identity? In contrast, read through Colossians 3, writing out what our identity as believers is (not should be). Compare your thoughts on both of these and consider why one has a more secure foundational source than the other.

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 Colossians 2:8-10 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Prayer Journal
Father, I know You came to set me free, but oh how often I am captivated by lesser loves. I throw myself at lies that look so appealing and I swallow them whole, looking for an antidote to my pain. But You died to set me free. You came to fill me, not partially but completely with Your flawless fullness. The glory of the godhead alive within me!

Remind me of the sweet satisfaction of submitting fully to Your rule and Your authority in the midst of my everyday. Have Your way, Lord Jesus, silencing the temptation to find shelter in any anchor but You.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music