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Fervent Day 14 Strength Training: 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!
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The Questions

1) What does a life surrendered to Christ look like? (verse 1, 6-21)

2) What does it mean for believers to not be conformed to this age? (verse 2)

3) What does it mean to not repay evil for evil? (verses 17-18)

Romans 12:1-21

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

Original Intent

1) What does a life surrendered to Christ look like? (verse 1, 6-21)
After spending the majority of his letter to the Romans expounding on the incredible richness available to us through Christ for this life and the next, Paul turns our attention to practically living out our everyday lives from this perspective. His short answer is that we, collectively as a whole body of believers, are to present ourselves as a singular living sacrifice together, set apart as holy to Him. The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were now rendered obsolete by Jesus’ sacrifice for us, but what every believer can still give is the holy offering of our lives as acts of worship and obedience. Paul urges all believers to present the whole of our lives to God for His holy work. Hebrews 13:15-16 helps us understand the believer’s sacrifice is marked by continuous praise, doing good in love, and sharing what we have. These “living sacrifices” are pleasing to God. Romans 11:33-36 is a beautiful poetic picture of the cry of the adoring heart as it offers thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. This passage speaks of the depth of the riches, wisdom, and knowledge of God. His ways and decisions are far beyond the mind of man, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory Forever!” (Romans 11:36) Paul’s outburst of song was to heartily remind the believers in Rome that, if they were truly surrendered to Christ,  having a transformational change in their lives owing only to God, then the overflow would burst forth in worship of both their tongue and their lives. This was no superficial shift, but a very real whole-heart adjustment, and the result was a deep, stirring desire to worship the Only One Worthy of such complete adoration. The sacrifice of life was demonstrated by serving with the whole self, ready to do His will moment by moment with a heart of adoration. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works. A transformed heart results in a worship so deep and radical it overflows as continual “living sacrifices” to the God who rescued us and made us new!

2) What does it mean for believers to not be conformed to this age? (verse 2)
Paul used imagery that would quickly connect with his audience as he wrote of God’s heart call to not be “conformed” to this age. His Greek word usage for conform gave the idea of making a copy or following a pattern and passing it along. In contrast, however, the Greek for “transform” means entirely new, not manufactured on our own power, but to quite literally become something altogether different. Paul wanted his readers to immediately understand the significant difference between self-induced patterning and radical transformative metamorphosis because of Jesus! Paul was a list-maker (maybe you are too!), and in his letters he listed several examples of worldly patterns including “sexual immorality, moral impurity, outbursts of anger, drunkenness, envy, and anything similar.” (Galatians 5:19-21) The temptation to sin is strong; there is hardly an end to the list of things the lover of Jesus should shun. Because we have been transformed, utterly made new, our hearts and lives are meant to be expressed not for self, but for Christ! Everything should be done for God’s glory! (1 Corinthians 10:31) Transformation is not a matter of impulse, on again and off again, rather it is continuous as we submit ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Paul’s intentional wording reminds us this transformation is not done of ourselves, instead we “are being transformed…from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) As believers, we are not, however, passive in this transformation process, it is our duty is to cooperate fully, allowing the Spirit to do His work in our hearts and lives.  Conforming to this world chooses to worship ourselves instead of the Lord. Live with a heart ready to humbly offer surrender in worship, ready to be transformed by the Spirit of God as you lean in to His wisdom! (Proverbs 2:1-5) 

3) What does it mean to not repay evil for evil? (verses 17-18)
Here, Paul reiterates the principle of non-retaliation for the Christian that Jesus taught. (Matthew 5:38-48) Verse 17 reads, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.” Paul didn’t want the recipients of his letter to be left wondering what it looked like to follow Christ in everyday life on this side of eternity. Romans 12 answers that question. Revenge feels natural and all-important in the moment of anger, or in looking back after being poorly treated, but Paul declares we must resist this human, fleshly instinct, instead surrendering to the Spirit’s work. By His power in us, we can actively refuse to pay back evil to another who has done evil toward us. This is true whether the person who hurts us is a believer or not. Rather than emotionally react, Paul tells us to be thoughtful when evil is done to us. He suggests we see that moment of lusting after retaliation to be an opportunity to instead demonstrate Christ’s love He extends freely to all people. “Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.” (verses 19-20) After all, we cannot display Christ’s love and forgiveness until we have the opportunity to forgive someone! When we do, we are making a powerful statement about the kind of love Jesus lavishly gives. Acting with intentional goodness toward our enemies is far more effective in showing them God’s heart than attempting petty revenge. Together, let’s refuse to sink to evil’s level of repayment, instead leaving justice to God!                                                                      

Everyday Application

1) What does a life surrendered to Christ look like? (verse 1, 6-21)

We live in a day when finding authenticity is a challenge. From imitation crab to faux nails to Instagram filters, we work hard to have the appearance of the “real thing”. While this condition is commonplace in our world, it is a tragedy when it comes to a believer’s life. If we are brutally honest with ourselves, “Imitation Christianity” is something all believers are tempted with on various levels. It’s easier to live our everyday lives without considering our call to be “living sacrifices” to our God. Imitation Christians can be difficult to spot as they can appear on the outside like a genuine believer. Church attendance, generous giving, a good neighbor, and even serving in church are all marks of genuine believers, but they are easily copied by going through the motions. What is impossible to imitate, however, is a transformed heart of worship! Are we true believers or only imitating? To help us understand what it looks like in everyday life to be an authentic “living sacrifice”, Paul lays out several characteristics each anchored firmly in a heart attitude of sacrificial worship to God. “Let love be without hypocrisy.” (verse 9) Only authentic love, flowing from the heart of God Himself, can genuinely be without hypocrisy. Real love is a matter of the heart, not the face. Masking your real feelings and intentions with superficial niceties is a charade none can sustain before others, and certainly we cannot deceive the Lord God. “Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. ” (verses 9-10) Hearts truly transformed by Jesus and indwelt by the Holy Spirit will neither be passive nor indifferent about evil. Rather, they will be repulsed by it, despising what harms others and dishonors God. In place of harsh, self-righteous judgement, the worshipful heart will cling steadfastly to what is good, humbly believing the best and choosing to honor others over themselves. May we each evaluate our hearts before the Lord, asking Him to convict us regarding true sacrifices of worship that honor Him. Let’s bless others graciously and be honoring with our words, choosing to live every day from the overflow of worship!

 

2) What does it mean for believers to not be conformed to this age? (verse 2)

Conforming is so easy! It requires little effort or thought to follow the pattern provided by those around us. Just do what everyone else is doing! While following the well-traveled road can provide a sense of safety, comfort, and belonging, the Christ-follower has been made new that we may live with a full abundance the world does not understand. As you consider your heart desires, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are following a worldly pattern. Ask Him for conviction and repentance! Ask the Spirit to encourage you where you are choosing to live in full surrender to His work of transformation in you. Guard and celebrate these areas! Identifying worldly patterns is nearly impossible without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who brings conviction in order to shift our hearts, not to condemn or shame us. Whether you feel drawn away by wanting a bigger or better house, car, or lifestyle, remember that every believer is called to fight against the pull of the world’s pattern for life. While these feel appealing, they are temporary and can lure our hearts away from worshipping the Only One Worthy of our life’s sacrifice of worship. Only Jesus will satisfy. Purposefully fight against following the pattern by steady surrender to the Holy Spirit in your everyday life. Dare to break free from pattern-following, Ladies! Follow the Good Shepherd of our hearts for the most abundant life possible! Resist the tempting urge to focus on the physical and fleeting delights of this world, setting your heart on things of Christ (Colossians 3:2), determining to be renewed in our minds (verse 2), and ready for action in this transformation process! Rebel against the power of darkness and the schemes of the world. Be a nonconformist, a rebel with a cause for Christ!

3) What does it mean to not repay evil for evil? (verses 17-18)

God spoke through Paul to pen the difficult words, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” While we may find it easy, or at least, easier to live peaceably with our friends, the Lord leaves no wiggle room for exception cases. He commands us to “live at peace with everyone.” While Christians need not look far before we find someone with whom we disagree, whether believer or not, God calls us to live peaceably with them. Honor. Love. Respect. Kindness. Gentleness. These should characterize our engagement with, well, everyone. Lost souls without Jesus do not come to Him because a Christian condemned their outward choices, but rather, because they showed the rich, selfless love of the Savior in everyday life circumstances. As believers, there are certainly times to call out our brothers and sisters who are choosing sinful, destructive life patterns, but even this is to be hemmed in love, seeking their peaceful reconciliation with God. Paul’s timely message reminds us of 3 keys to living peaceably with everyone: 1) Retaliation does not belong to us, only to God. In the end, no human being has the right to judge, only the God of all justice can do this. 2) Treating one another with kindness results in lasting change. Vengeance brings discord and piles on hurt, but kindness motivates repentant hearts and fosters deep relationships, which allow space for authentic conversations. 3) Evil can never be conquered by evil. Hatred, if met with more hatred, only results in its increase. If we stoop to revenge, then we ourselves have been overcome by evil. Booker T Washington stated, “I shall not allow any man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.” Mark Twain adds, “The only safe and sure way to destroy your enemy is to make him your friend.”

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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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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 :-))

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Sketched VIII Day 1 Hagar And Ishmael

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 16
Exodus 33:12-23
Genesis 32:24-30

Sketched VII, Day 1

Salty tears streaked my face.
I longed to rest from my desert trek.
But I couldn’t.

I wasn’t safe.
I’d fled under the cover of night, but dawn was breaking.
Would Sarai send Abram’s men to force my return?

Returning wasn’t an option.
Not now.

Sarai’s rage was at an all-time high.
I feared for my life,
and for the little one growing inside me.

I rubbed my belly and couldn’t help but smile.
I already loved this precious child, even though he wouldn’t really be mine.
Like me, he belonged to Sarai, to Abram.

I choked back more tears and wished somehow I could drink them.
My parched throat longed for water.
I was ill-prepared for my escape.

While I was familiar with Sarai’s cruelty, something snapped in her yesterday.
Perhaps the reality I was carrying Abram’s child while she remained barren broke her already hardened heart.

I silenced the nagging voice inside, “. . . and you missed no opportunity to remind her of that, did you?”

Decades after God promised my master a son, Sarai’s womb remained empty.
Desperate, she dreamed up a plan, and I was her pawn.

As a slave, obedience was my only choice.
So I entered Abram’s tent.
When I left, my sorrow came with me.

Weeks later, when I realized I was pregnant, emotions flooded in.

Joy.
Pride.
Hope.
I would be a mother!

But my baby wasn’t mine.
Sarai and Abram would get their promised child.
I would lose mine.
Bitterness.
Rage.
Hopelessness.

But when I dared speak of my pregnancy,
I watched Sarai’s face blanch in pain . . .
And suddenly, for the first time in my life, I felt power.

Through its lens, I looked with pride at my body,
fresh and glowing, softly swelling with life.

And then I looked at Sarai,
thinning white hair crowning a wrinkled husk of a body.
Her pathetic hope to bear a child, to fulfill God’s promise, was beyond ridiculous.

I was filled with contempt for Sarai.
And as Abram’s gaze began to swerve my way more frequently,
I saw an opportunity to change my future.

I stirred up enmity between Abram and Sarai,
Encouraged comparisons between her and myself,
Knowing I carried the promise Abram wanted more than anything.
I was the one feeling the baby kick, not her. 

Sarai’s growing depression only spurred me on.
Had she forgotten this was HER idea to push me into her husband’s tent?

Finally, Sarai confronted Abram.
My haughtiness turned to panic as he flicked a dismissive glance in my direction, giving Sarai free reign to do with me as she pleased.

So Sarai loosed years of bitterness, disappointment, and anger . . . on me.
She exchanged words for a whip, or rod, or clay pot.

After yesterday’s beating, I had to leave.
To protect myself.
And my baby, who I imagined was a boy.

I ran all night.
I had no destination; I was running away.
Away from Abram and Sarai.
Away from abuse and death.

Now lost, the barren wilderness stretched endlessly before me.
Overwhelmed with despair, I sank to my knees.
I pounded the cracked earth and cried out for help,
help I knew wouldn’t come.

Death stalked me.
With the last of my energy, I lowered myself to the ground.
This would be my grave.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Certain Abram’s men found me, I cowered,
bracing for death’s blow.

But then, I heard my name.
Spoken with kindness.
Concern.

LOVE.

Peace washed over me.

“Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?”

I replied honestly, explaining my desperation to escape Sarai, hoping the stranger would mercifully lead me to safety.

The stranger knelt, handing me bread and a new skin of water.
I bit off a huge chunk of bread and gulped down water.

Once I finished eating, the stranger helped me up.
At his touch, new energy surged within me.

He looked into my eyes.
For the first time in my life, I felt SEEN.
Just as I began to hope, the stranger’s words rocked me to the core.

“Go back to Sarai and submit to her.”

Go back?!

The stranger kept talking.
This time, his words were full of promise.

“You baby is indeed a boy. When he is born, name him Ishmael.”
I whispered it out loud, daring to add, “I love you, Ishmael.”

When I spoke his name, I understood.
ISHMAEL.
God will hear.

The Lord HEARD me.
He SAW me.
Here in the desert, as I waited to die.
He sent this stranger to save us.

I felt Ishmael kick, as if in celebration.
A solid kick, the strongest yet.

The stranger’s words rang in my ears, “He will be a wild donkey of a man.”

I laughed and turned to share my joy with the stranger . . .
But he’d vanished.

I was alone.
Yet, the peace accompanying the stranger lingered.

In the place he’d stood, there was now a well.
Bewildered, I ran to it, drawing water and drinking my fill.
I splashed water on my face, washing away the sweat and tears.
Then, I scrubbed my feet, wiping away the blood and dirt.

Like a carefree child, I threw a handful of water into the sky.
I watched in awe as the sunlit droplets danced.
Tiny rainbows landed on my hair as I lifted my hands in praise.

I shouted, “El-Roi, El-Roi!!!  You are the God who sees!”

I began the trek back home.
Unsure of what awaited me,
I only knew I was returning a changed woman.

No matter what happened, God would be with me.

If He was with me in the wilderness, when I was alone and on the cusp of death, I trusted Him to remain with me now.
If He heard my cries in the desert, I knew He could hear me anywhere.
If He saw me at my worst, and loved me even then, I believed His love would be steadfast the rest of my days.

The following months were NOT easy.

But when my son was born, and Abram announced, “The boy’s name is Ishmael,”
I knew God was with me, and He saw me and loved me,
me and my son.

***

Maybe you relate to Hagar and feel alone in a wilderness, overwhelmed, defeated, and full of despair. Call out to Jesus. He HEARS you. He SEES you. He is with you, ready to fill you with His peace, power, strength, hope, joy, wisdom, and love. May you experience Him as Hagar did, as El-Roi, the God who sees.

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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!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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 Sketched VIII 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 Sketched VIII!

Sketched VI Day 5 Paula

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46
Isaiah 40:21-31
Isaiah 41:8-14
Colossians 3:12-17

Sketched VI, Day 5

My parents were both raised with Catholic backgrounds, but never attended services.  As a result, I was unfamiliar with anything involving religion as a young child. However, when I was in grade school, a friend invited me to a Christmas service at his church. That was my first time encountering any type of worship. I was hooked and my curiosity grew. When he moved away, I was unable to go back to church until I began high school and started driving.

After the Christmas service, my friend and I attended the youth services and I really started honing-in on what Christianity was all about. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea of a God who died for MY sins, who loves each one of us as His creation, despite our brokenness. I loved going each week and seeing the new friends I was making…
Each friend has a story and a background; some very different than mine, but some very similar.

After my friend moved, I stopped attending church and kind of felt like that entire season of my life was a dream; I forgot about God. In high school, before I started driving, I met a girl in band class who was involved in her youth group. She invited me to go with her and I was reintroduced to Christ, but this time, it stuck.

After I graduated from high school, I decided to go back to my now-current church where I volunteered in kids’ ministry, worship, and met more Christ-followers, which led to my baptism in May of 2016.

After being baptized, I started taking my relationship with Christ seriously.  I studied Scripture and listened to online sermons from other churches. I attended every Sunday service I could and stayed actively engaged in serving.

However, I was also on a teeter-totter after a relationship break up, a big move away from home, several deaths, and the loss of a job I loved. I definitely kept Jesus at arm’s length.
I wanted Him around, but I also wanted nothing to do with Him. I considered myself “Christian,” but I had drifted away from a deep relationship with Jesus and His followers.

After several months of skipping church, I “woke up” and returned. I saw the director of volunteers (my now-mentor) from afar, and avoided her. I felt like she was someone who could “see into my soul” and would know everything about my emotional and spiritual turmoil.

But God’s plan was bigger than my fear!
One week, she caught up with me after service, and after meeting later in follow-up, she connected me with the worship team.

I was incredibly happy!
I was FINALLY part of a middle school worship band ministry like I had dreamed of for YEARS. My way of communicating with God was through music, almost as if I had written the lyrics I was singing. God and I were chit-chatting as if we were best pals; I loved every single moment of it. 

I was on my way home from a full day of serving at church when I was involved in a car accident. I vaguely remember getting home after the accident and feeling that something wasn’t right. I collapsed to the floor in my front entryway, barely making it inside my house. I went to the ER, had scans done, and received terrifying news the next morning:
“You have a shadow on your brain.”

Strong words I will never forget.

Several weeks later, after my first seizure and losing my vision, I had emergency surgery to remove a good portion of this “shadow.”

More strong words: 
Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Grade 3 brain cancer

Following surgery, I wasn’t myself. I was so angry!
I refused to listen to or play music, knowing I’d hear God’s voice.
He was the last person I wanted to speak with.

I had so many questions for the Lord:
If we had such a great thing going, why throw a wrench in my plans by taking away my joy and dream? Why make me learn to trust You all over again?  

While I don’t have all the answers to my questions, this past year has brought deep spiritual growth I didn’t realize I was desperately craving.

Since my diagnosis last November, the Lord has brought people into my life for whom I’ve prayed since my teenage years. Both were strangers I’d connected with and are now as close as family.

My love for Christ has grown deeper than I ever imagined possible.  Even though I struggle with trusting Him, He has never left my side. Even though I prayed, and lost patience when I wasn’t given exactly what I’d wanted, He has never failed to give me something better.

Today, I have such a grand appreciation for life, friends, family, my church community, worship, music, gifts, God, and the list goes on. There are so many hardships God has brought me through, though He had no obligation. He has reminded me HE is good, even in the midst of darkness.

I get comments all the time about how “brave” and “courageous” I’ve been or questions about where my positivity comes from.
It didn’t happen overnight, but God drew near.

God has more for me to discover!
More songs to sing, and more people to meet and help them come to faith.

The enemy tried to silence me.
The enemy tried to discourage me.
The enemy tried to steal my joy.
The enemy tried to stop God’s work in me.

BUT GOD
Changed everything.

October 7th, 2018.
The day that changed my life forever.
The day I so badly wish had never happened, but am so thankful it did.
A day that could’ve ended everything, but here I am.
. . .  because He’s not finished with me yet.

His words.
His truth.
His song within my heart.
These give me courage and hope.


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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!

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 Sketched VI Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched VI

Relentless Day 8 Relentless Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Judges 6:19-7:1
Matthew 26:69-75
John 21:15-18
Jonah 3:10-4:11

Relentless, Day 8

Determined. Unstoppable. Persistent. Relentless.

Those words describe God’s love towards us.
He is determined. He is unstoppable. He is persistent. He is relentless.

In our weakness, He is still relentless.
In our doubt, He still pursues.
In our failings, our running away, and our questions, He still gives chase.

I’ve often questioned God’s love. 
“Maybe this has happened because I messed up and God is punishing me.”
“God is proving to me that I don’t measure up.”

I’ve run from Him in anger. 
I felt God failed me, so I went the other way.

I have failed to follow Him. 
In my pain, I’ve focused on my hurt and my situation, choosing to ignore the truth about God.

Yet.
He still relentlessly loves.

How do I know?
The easy answer is “The Bible tells me so.”
It does say how much God loves us, but even better,
it tells stories of those who questioned, failed, and ran.

Of whom, Gideon is one.
His story is full of adventure as a “nothing” became one of God’s great warriors. One weak man is lavishly loved as a result of God’s relentless pursuit!

Gideon’s story unfolds while his people were being punished for their continued rebellion against God. False gods and lies were everywhere. His own father had built idols to the pagan god Baal. He had grown up hearing about this all-powerful God, but had never seen Him do much, if anything, in his own lifetime.

As Gideon was working, doing his ordinary low-honor job of threshing wheat, an angel appeared telling him he would save Israel from their oppressive enemy.
Gideon started asking a bunch of questions, kind of like we do sometimes.

How?
Why me?

Then Gideon asks for a sign.
To which, God responds with three signs, proving He is God and His word is trustworthy.

I’ve heard the debates.
Gideon shouldn’t have questioned God.
He shouldn’t have asked Him to prove Himself with the fleece (again!).

But see our God?!
Did God walk away from Gideon saying, “Oh forget it, I’ll get someone else.”
Or
“You are too weak for this, never mind.”
No.
He answered the questions, He gave the sign.
God met Gideon where he was!

Today, His sign is His Word and His confirmation the transformed lives of ordinary people who have taken Him at His word, trusted His faithfulness, and seen the incredible!

Many times, I’ve questioned God.
Recently, I was at a loss, confused and questioning everything, but I knew His Word was the medium He used to speak.  I randomly opened my Bible to Psalm 94 and His voice faithfully spoke:
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheers my soul.” (verse 19)
“But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.”  (verse 22)

Did God get mad and turn His back?
No, He reminded me Who He is.

Gideon had never heard God speak or seen His miraculous works.
His faith was weak.

The Lord called Gideon to do two jobs, tear down his father’s idols and save Israel. God miraculously showed Himself to Gideon by burning up Gideon’s offering sitting on a rock and covered in broth. He experienced God firsthand, so he obeyed and tore down the idols.

Again, God proved Himself with Gideon’s fleece, once being wet and once being dry.
Gideon’s encounter with the Almighty, gave him the faith he needed to go off to war and defeat his enemies in the face of insurmountable odds stacked high against him.
Each time God showed Himself, the stronger Gideon’s faith grew.
The easier it became to follow without question.

I am like Gideon, my faith grows as I see God working in the living testimonies around me and speaking actively through His Word.
The more I choose to trust Him, the easier I follow without hesitation.

I’ve questioned.
I’ve run.
I’ve failed.
Holding onto lies, believing God has failed me, I might decide not to open my Bible or worship as I could.  I isolate myself from others because of the hurt I believe God caused.

But His grace found me in in the pit!
“He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.”
(Psalm 40:2)

God did not let Gideon go, desert him, or turn His back in anger, neither will He do for us! His unending love will never end, always giving chase.

He is Determined.
He is Unstoppable.
He is Persistent.
He is Relentless Love!

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

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

Focus Day 9 Make Peace: 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 Make Peace!

The Questions

1) How can I cultivate peace?

2) What is the fruit of righteousness?

3) How do I get wisdom from above?

James 3:13-18

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Original Intent

1) How can I cultivate peace?
The Greek word for peace, Eirene, means “right relationships between man and man.”  Author William Barclay suggests that in James 3:18, James is saying “we are all trying to reap the harvest which a good life brings. But the seeds which bring the rich harvest can never flourish in any atmosphere other than one of right relationships between man and man.”  Barclay also suggests that “in the Bible peace means not only freedom from all trouble; it means enjoyment of all good.”  The book of James suggests we can make peace not only by avoiding unnecessary conflict with others, but also by treating them with love and kindness.  John W. Ritenbaugh also asserts, “peacemaking involves not only mediating but also everything the person is, his attitude and character as well as what he intends to accomplish. Peacemaking is a package dominated by the godliness of the person.”  When we treat others with the love of our heavenly Father, we are cultivating peace with them.  It is not something we can do without the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.  But when we let God’s saving grace and love permeate our actions, we become peacemakers.

2) What is the fruit of righteousness?
Author Rhoderick D. Ice notes that the original audience for the book of James believed that “Goodness = righteousness. The Greek-speaking Jews put great emphasis on the ethical side of religion, and were very proud of their relationship to God. Goodness is the goal here, and it grows out of the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.”  Isaiah 32:17 also relates righteousness to peace, stating “the result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.”  The apostle Paul also connects the two when he writes how the Kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)  Paul also teaches in Romans 5:1 that our faith in God has made us righteous, which gives us the peace of God through Jesus Christ.  The righteousness of God works peace in our lives, and having God’s peace allows us to live a righteous life.  When we live a life of peace, love, gentleness, and faith, we draw and encourage others to know Jesus and enjoy the fruits of righteousness in their own lives.

3) How do I get wisdom from above?
The book of James was probably written by Jesus’ brother, James, to Christian Jews around AD 45-48.  It was probably the first New Testament book written.  One of the main topics in the book of James is wisdom; Charles Swindoll notes that James “looks a bit like the Old Testament book of Proverbs dressed up in New Testament clothes.”  According to Professor Robert W. Wall, the Hebrew word for wisdom, hokma, “suggests using our God-given intelligence to pursue the insight and know-how we need in order to negotiate life in the public square.”  James was instructing Jewish Christians how to live wisely with help from God.  Robert Chaffin, Jr., points out that James teaches “the ethical life flows as the fruit of God’s divine gift of wisdom.” James instructs Christians to seek wisdom from God to live the life God desires.  It is not the same as the earthly wisdom of humans, which is selfish and unholy.  True wisdom is a gift from God, given by God to those who seek Him to help them live a holy life.

Everyday Application

1) How can I cultivate peace?
I notice that when I argue with my loved ones, I am usually at fault.  I am not saying (or at least not admitting) that I am usually wrong, but I recognize how I often refuse to be the peacemaker I know I am called to be.  Sometimes I care more about being right, or getting what is rightfully mine, than I care about being like Christ.  Author Stephen J. Cole observes, “If you see a church or a home where there is peace, it is because the members have worked to cultivate peace.  They have listened to one another, respected one another, judged their own selfishness and pride, and sought to live in accordance with godly wisdom, not ‘worldly’ wisdom.” In the Bible, Paul also notes this in Romans 2:9-10:  “There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;  but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”   When I can focus more on doing what is good than on getting my own way, I am making peace with those around me and walking in the wisdom of the Lord.

2) What is the fruit of righteousness?
Author John W. Ritenbaugh suggests, “some of the fruit of righteousness are the qualities James mentions in James 3:17. Righteousness is therefore the seed from which these things grow.” Author John MacArthur concurs with Ritenbaugh saying, “Righteousness is equated with true wisdom because wisdom is righteous living.”  Author Andrew Murray says, “being right with God is followed by doing right.  ‘The righteous shall live by faith’ a righteous life.”  So, if I am peaceful, gentle, merciful, faithful and genuine, I am displaying the fruits of righteousness.  The more I let God’s saving grace work its power in my life (Titus 2:11-12), the more I will experience and display the fruit of righteousness.  Being saved and transformed by God enables me to live a righteous life that will show other people the life-changing love of Jesus.

3) How do I get wisdom from above?
The book of James tells us that wisdom from God is “pure and gentle, peace-loving and
compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without pretense.” (James 3:17).
This wisdom sounds amazing, but how do we access it?  One thing we can do is follow the counsel of James to those seeking wisdom.  He tells them to “ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. (James 1:5) This truth is also found in Proverbs 2:5: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”  We can also follow the advice in the book of Proverbs to “Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life”. (Proverbs 19:20) Wisdom also comes in knowing Jesus.  I Corinthians 1:24  states, “to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  Concerning Christ as the wisdom of God, author Thabiti Anyabwile asks, “Can there be a greater display of the intricate and exquisite wisdom of God than the simultaneous punishment of sin and clemency of the sinner through the crucifixion of God’s perfect Son?” God, who is wisdom, offers us wisdom through His beloved Son, Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins on the cross so we could be blameless before Him. So, if we want godly wisdom, we can ask God to give it to us, we can learn from wise friends, and we can find it in the person of Jesus.  We are truly blessed to have such ready access to the wisdom that comes from God!

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Focus Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Open Day 9 Casting Out Fear: 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 Casting Out Fear!

The Questions

1) Who is the speaker and audience in this passage of Scripture?

2) What is the context of this one verse within the chapter?

3) What kind of freedom is being described in this verse and how is it obtained?

John 8:36

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Original Intent

1) Who is the speaker and audience in this passage of Scripture?
In reading the previous verses, we know the disciple John is the author of the book and he is recounting a conversation between Jesus and “Jews who believed Him.” (verse 31) Although Jesus’ audience, made up largely of Jews, were listening and believing, they were still questioning Him. They did not fully understand who He was as the long-awaited Messiah, nor did they grasp His purposes beyond being a knowledgeable Jewish teacher.

2) What is the context of this one verse within the chapter?
Jesus is teaching in the temple and many are putting their full trust in Him by believing Him at His word that He is indeed exactly Who He claims to be, God Almighty in the flesh. (verse 30) Jesus is explaining who He is and what authority He has to teach, while, at the same time, He is teaching the truth of freedom as well as the truth of sin. Every time Jesus speaks, it is with truth and grace. He boldly preached on the reality of sin, which separates every person from the righteousness of God. Because of our sin, we are utterly and eternally incapable of being made whole in the presence of God. However, just as true is the reality of freedom found in placing our full belief and trust in Jesus Christ as the Only One who took the punishment we rightly deserved because of our sin, and magnificently, gave us righteousness in place of our sin. That is freedom!

3) What kind of freedom is being described in this verse and how is it obtained?
Jesus is specifically talking about freedom from sin. He clearly states that everyone who “practices sin is a slave to sin” (verse 34). Meaning that whoever continues in their state of sinfulness, relying only on themselves to somehow “become good” will always and forever be a slave to sin. There is no escape from the deadly grip of sin simply by trying to “become good” on our own will power. But, through the Son, there is freedom from that slavery! Jesus’ listeners would have understood His terminology, and followed His logic, but they did not see Him as God’s Son sent to take away the sins of the world and provide that freedom. Jesus was claiming to actually be God, for only God could possibly take away sin and its punishment of death. They did not understand the true freedom Jesus was offering because they could not fathom a God who became flesh, rather it was far more comfortable to keep God in a box they could manage. A box where they could be secure in their standing with a righteous God because of their Jewish lineage as Abraham’s descendants.

Everyday Application

1) Who is the speaker and audience in this passage of Scripture?
Scripture is the inspired word of God and although there is a specific context within which it was written, the message of the Bible is still active and living for us today (Hebrews 4:12). We are the audience just as much as the Jewish audience John was writing to over 2000 years ago. Jesus speaks to us today through His Word. How do you view Scripture? Is it strange and archaic to you? Do you find it boring or is it precious? Do your daily actions genuinely reflect your belief? Which claims of Christ do you struggle to fully embrace? Is He just a good teacher or is He the Lord of all? We must all wrestle with these questions, just as Jesus’ listeners did in the first century. Our answers reveal much about our hearts!

2) What is the context of this one verse within the chapter?
Freedom in Christ comes through knowing Him intimately, trusting Him as Lord of your life, and recognizing His authority. In other words, doing exactly what those in verse 30 were doing, “believing Him” and fully taking Him at His word. Jesus is exactly Who He says He is! Jesus is speaking powerful truth to His audience and there is a moment farther in the passage where His audience simply can no longer handle the truth. Angry, because Jesus’ truth makes them extremely uncomfortable as they come face to face with their own sin, His hearers actually pick up stones to throw at Him. (verse 59) What He was saying was so foreign to them, so outrageously unthinkable, it was considered blasphemous. How could Jesus possibly be the Almighty God, having authority to both call out sin and claim to offer freedom from it through Himself?!
Freedom isn’t free; it cost Jesus His life, but our freedom comes through submission, total surrender, to Him. We can’t earn this freedom and neither do we deserve freedom from our sin, but God, being rich in His mercy, provided it to us at the cost of His Son’s life. That is love!

3) What kind of freedom is being described in this verse and how is it obtained?
Throughout history, there have been wars in the name of freedom. A desire to break free from the tyranny of a government or a break from an ideology has caused uprising for the sake of freedom. The freedom Jesus speaks of is infinitely more than an ideal or moralistic teaching because this freedom is eternal, not earthly. My favorite passage in all of Scripture is Romans 8. It starts with the verse, “there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ…” (Romans 8:1). Freedom from sin is freedom from the wrath of God that we rightly deserve because of our sinfulness before Him. All it takes is one small sin to render us separated and fallen below the standard of flawless, perfect righteousness that He as God exists eternally as. The freedom Jesus offers results in a breaking of all bondage from Sin and Death; no longer are we under that slavery, we are not bound to obey Sin. Rather, we are free to live in the light of Him who created us, free to dance in the love Christ lavishes upon us. That freedom is only accessed in Him through knowing, believing, trusting, submitting, and surrendering to who Jesus is as fully divine and fully human, able to take our punishment in our place. “My chains are gone I’ve been set free.”

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Casting Out Fear!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Open Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

The GT Weekend ~ Seeds 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) When have you experienced a season of waiting and feeling empty? What did it look like as those areas were filled and redeemed by the Lord? Our empty places aren’t always filled the way we envision them, but every situation we give over to the Lord is transformed by His filling. When we relinquish control of our everyday moments, we open them up to being filled by the Spirit and used by Him. Decide to look intentionally for where the Spirit is leading and filling instead of rushing by these moments and filling them with our agendas. Consider writing “filled” somewhere in your home, car, or even your wrist as a reminder to give over control to the Lord, waiting for Him to fill.

2) It’s one to thing to say yes to the Lord when He asks you to specifically do something, but it’s a different heart attitude to be willfully submissive to whatever he calls us into. Jesus doesn’t call us into ‘categorized obedience’ where we can control the outcome and the game plays, He asks for total submission. When we do, Real Life breaks through and lives are transformed for eternity! How will you begin practicing saying “yes” as part of your everyday?

3) In what ways does the “easy lie” of “striving is required to please God” pop up in your life? Look for ways you seek to control, or ways you feel burdened or weighed down, or consider the expectations (and their source) you spend time, energy, and emotion working to meet. Hidden inside life with Christ, peace buoys and joy comes and freedom is unleashed, even in the maddening moments of everyday life precisely because striving has ceased. The Lord cannot love you more than He does in this moment, and He will never love you less! What physical markers can you put around you to remind yourself of this truth? Consider setting an alarm on your phone with a helpful label to keep you focused

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 3:1-4 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Prayer Journal
Your thoughts, my plans. Your power, my weakness. Your infinite knowledge, my narrow-minded and limited perspective. How could you consider using me to expand Your Kingdom and do Your work? Yet, You do. All of those weak limitations are altogether transformed in the light of Your offer of redemption.

Remind me, Spirit, constantly, to seek the things above; the things of Christ. Train my heart to focus on You and the life You give and the obedience You call me to as I move through my day, interact with my kids, spend money, and chat with friends. Prepare me to be ready to say yes to You at any moment regardless of what it could cost me. How I love You, Lord! Thank You for hiding my life in Yours!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched V Day 15 Paul, The Legacy Leaver

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 1:18-30
1 Peter 5:6-11
Ephesians 3:14-21

Sketched V, Day 15

“Paul, Paul!”
The kind, prodding voice called a welcome down into the inky blackness.
“Brother, it’s Luke.”
Luke plunged his hand into the dank hole in the floor where he knew I sat below, locked inside the lower level of the Mamertine Prison under the fast-paced streets of Italy.

Nero’s iron fisted rule of Rome and his bloodthirsty hatred of Christians had finally landed me here. “Prison”, up until this point, had generally meant “house arrest”. Limited mobility, and chained almost constantly to a Roman guard, but still, the Lord had granted me freedom to write and continue teaching and encouraging churches.

But this prison cell was different.
Marked men like me were brought here short-term, for one purpose: execution.

There was that time Silas and I had been bound together in a cell.
I smiled at the warmth of the memory as I stretched my hand to reach Luke’s above me.
Brothers bound by the gospel.
A gospel that was free despite my chains!

Silas and I had sung together late into the night before the Lord had sent an earthquake to break our physical chains and free the jailer from his spiritual ones. Melodies of rich grace, the deity of Christ, and the unfathomable truth that God had come in the flesh to rescue us.
I grinned, grabbing Luke’s hand and began in a rambling, throaty voice, “He is the image of the invisible God…”
“The firstborn of all creation”, Luke finished the line for me in his lighter voice and back and forth we went.
“For by Him all things were created….”
“In heaven and on earth…”
“Visible and invisible..”
Onward through the glorious mysteries of Christ we sang until we reached the refrain.
Now singing lustily with tears streaming down both our faces at the wonder of it all, “and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

The cavernous, stout room amplified our voices making us feel as if we were only 1 voice among hundreds.
“Peace by the blood of His cross.”
The hush enveloped us as words ceased. We squeezed hands and let go, fingers nearly numb as we had stretched to reach the other.

We both knew the days were ending for my pilgrimage here.
My tent of a body would soon lay motionless aside Ostian Road outside of Rome. For a Roman citizen like myself, crucifixion was considered too inhumane, so beheading would take my final breath.
It would be a quick death.
I’d known much worse suffering in the years before now.

Finally, I was going Home.
Home to see again the face of Jesus who had appeared to me so long ago on that road to Damascus.
“I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name”, Christ had told Ananias the day I became blinded.

And suffer I had, but now, now I was nearly Home!
I would have done it all again for “these light and momentary troubles were achieving for me a glory that was unfathomably rich.” The life I’d lived here in the body, I had lived for Christ as I’d sought to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. Dead to sin. Alive to Christ.

And now, here I was under the streets, awaiting my final new birth.
The thought of it bubbled up inside me as if I were a young man again and I couldn’t help the chortle of laughter from coming out and echoing around me.

“Paul? Are you… laughing?!” Luke’s incredulous voice belayed a teasing smirk.
He knew me well enough to know that of course I would be laughing.
Nero thought he had me, thought he had killed the Church, but what could possibly end what the Lord had determined would be?! It was as ludicrous as saying there would be an end to the love of the Father. Outlandish!
Nothing could separate us from the love of God, and I told Luke as such.
To which he responded, “neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth…”
I chimed in victoriously, “nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the Love of God!”

The echoes hammered around us again before fading.
“I will miss you, brother,” said Luke, and I heard his voice catch in the darkness above me.
I reached my hand out again.
That sting of death.
Soon I would gaze upon the glory of the Lord, waking up to endless day, the fullness of God realized in a resurrected body and renewed purposes yet unknown to me, but Luke would still be here, journeying onward. Without me.

“For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
this will turn out for my deliverance.”
Remember that line in the letter I penned to the Philippians, Luke?
How I love those brothers and sisters!
Their prayers buoyed me as the Spirit strengthened me through them.

“Yes, I remember,” mused Luke thoughtfully. “Deliverance….”, his voice trailing off and his thoughts drifting to a day when suffering would end.

“Brother! You must keep running! Your race is not over yet, but one day it will be.
With full courage now as always
Christ must be honored in our bodies,
whether by life or by death.
As Barnabas encouraged us often with the imagery of a ‘great cloud of witnesses’ cheering us on from glories above, be encouraged you are not alone.
Keep running, brother.
Christ is worth it.
Hold fast to the word of life, Luke, so that in the day of Christ you may be proud that you did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

I felt Luke’s sadness linger, but a steadfast determination filled us both.
We weren’t the first to face the temporary separation of death, or the grand welcome home awaiting us. Brother Peter had traveled Home just a few months before, spending his last days in this same cell. My heart shook for grief at the loss, but then revived nearly immediately with the knowledge I would soon see him whole and healthy as well. Home, I was almost there.

Peter’s words came to me through the Spirit and I lifted my face to speak truth firmly over Luke as an embrace, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

In His mysterious way, the gracious Lord raised our spirits beyond the walls of my confinement, binding us together, reminding us of His mission, strengthening us for the pilgrimage ahead. The unity of His Spirit is unspeakable!
We would each keep running on our journey toward Home, full of faith given by the Father.

Luke leaned his face down as close to the portal as possible, and with a voice full of jubilant victory declared, “To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
“And Amen!”

To live is Christ…
To die is gain.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
~
We don’t know for certain of Paul’s last days on earth, but historical tradition leaves us with a decent idea. Paul was likely released from house arrest for an undetermined time and then captured again by Nero and placed in the Mamertine prison for a handful of days before execution by beheading. We don’t know if Luke was with him, but his letters to Timothy give a good indication he was. We do know for certain, Paul died a free man on his way Home.
Free because who the Son sets free, is free indeed.
He lived his life for Christ and encourages us, the Church, you and me as sisters, to keep running the race marked out for us, until we too are finally Home!

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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!

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 Sketched V Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched V

Sketched V Day 14 Paul, The Renewed Soldier: 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!
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The Questions

1) What is considered sound doctrine?

2) Is sound doctrine really important?

3) But I just want to love Jesus and enjoy life. Are we over thinking this?

2 Timothy 4:3-5

3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist fulfill your ministry.

Original Intent

1) What is considered sound doctrine?
God’s word, with appropriate application in context and further interpreted by other Scripture, is “sound doctrine.” Doctrine in and of itself is defined as “a belief or set of beliefs.” As noted in an article by Ligonier Ministries, even demons have teachings and their own doctrine (1 Timothy 4:1).  Scripture notes that even demons are fully aware of who God is (Luke 4:40b-41; James 2:19). Therefore, being aware of God alone is neither the basis of salvation nor the definition of living a life honoring to the Lord. Simply knowing about God does not equal “sound doctrine”.
The basic foundation of Biblical doctrine is summarized multiple times in the book of Acts: “…by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.  This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) Sound doctrine involves a deep and wide understanding and confession of Jesus Christ as fully human, fully God, and the only means why which salvation is attained for humanity.

2) Is sound doctrine really important?
Paul devoted his life to preaching Scripture accurately as revealed through the lens of the Gospel. Paul apparently thought it was important enough for people to align with truth that he spent years traveling and ploughing through extreme circumstances of shipwrecks, imprisonment, and more in order to call people to Christ and to living out sound doctrine.
During his own imprisonment, Paul urges Timothy to not be afraid of people and circumstances; nor to not allow these things to alter his teachings in order to please others or protect himself from persecution. (2 Timothy 1:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Paul specifically notes of deterring from sound doctrine leads to “empty speculations” and “fruitless discussion.” (1 Timothy 1:3-7). In 2 Timothy, it’s noted how idle talk easily leads to some turning away from truth and towards false claims about Christ (2 Timothy 2:14-19).  Having witnessed the destruction of handling Scripture inaccurately, Paul leads in to 2 Timothy 4 with a charge to “preach the word; in season and out of season.” Though people will want teaching that permits their chosen lifestyle and offers entertainment with “tickling of the ears”, it is absolutely necessary to cling to the gospel and pronounce it to the lost world (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

3) But I just want to love Jesus and enjoy life. Are we overthinking this?
God wants us to enjoy life! He is the one who created a perfect garden for us to live in complete union with Him. He is the one who gave Himself—His Son—as the perfect sacrifice that we may have opportunity to be right with God. And all of this after we repeatedly deny recognition of Him as Almighty Creator GOD.
However, due to the severity of sin (even “little sins”), this world is no longer perfect peace and harmony. (Obviously!) God graciously gives what is needed to sustain life in order that every human soul may have opportunity to draw near to Him through Christ in repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
Understanding that it is the Lord’s holy, perfect standard we have violated because of sin is the beginning of making sense of the broken world around us. A right understanding of who God is illuminates good news of what He has done for us. Though God does want us to have joy, He knows true joy is only in HIM. He knows we are innately driven to please ourselves. His greater purpose is to lead us out of a path that leads to death driven by self-desires and into the eternal life with His perfect presence.

Everyday Application

1) What is considered sound doctrine?
When I first met my husband, one of the things that caught my attention was his constant challenge with the question of who people believe God is. Do I believe in the God of the Bible or do I believe in God as I assume him to be and, perhaps as I want Him to be, through my own personal experiences and interpretations? This leads to the challenge of, “What does the Bible say about God?”
To some degree, in our fallen state of thinking, we will never fully see God as He truly is until we reach Heaven in His full presence and glory. But we are to strive with Scripture as our guide. Scripture always trumps and interprets experience. Personal experience may bring alive or enhance what Scripture is teaching, but personal experience is not the interpreter of Scripture.
Life is overwhelming and the Bible is rather thick. The task can feel too hard. But God can produce great things from small, consistent bites. Follow a Bible study plan even if you fall behind. In this age of FREE podcasts, listen to multiple teachers as you drive, exercise, or clean the kitchen. The goal is to know Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and coming again!

2) Why is sound doctrine important?
Often people skirt from seeking doctrine because it can feel overwhelming or, perhaps, believe that by declaring some sort of definite statements will divide the church. In actuality, clinging to the doctrine of the Gospel and encouraging each other to grow pulls the church together.
In a sermon by Stephen Armstrong, he describes Paul’s charge in 2 Timothy 4:1 as the climatic answer to all the problems mentioned prior. Pastor Armstrong breaks it down, “the solution to false teachers: preach the word. The solution to having misguided believers led astray: preach the word. The solution to persecution: preach the word. The solution to apostasy: preach the word.”
There are many good acts of charity and ministry people in God’s church carry out to bring Him glory. But the bottom line is only the Holy Spirit through the Word of God can change hearts and win souls. Only when hearts are repented and surrendered to the Lord can real change happen. “Whatever you do, do for the glory of the Lord,” but while you are doing these things, speak God’s Word to those around you “with complete patience and teaching.”

3) But I just want to love Jesus and enjoy life. Are we overthinking this?
Yeah, I just want to enjoy life and love Jesus, too. But living this way may not be how you initially imagine. God allows tough circumstances. Some trials are such a part of life that they are not going away in my lifetime. I get tired. My emotional love for and connection to Christ stretches thin. I question my relationship with Christ as feeling a need for a vacation more than the feeling of surrender.
So, what does it mean to love Jesus? Paul and the apostles are great examples. Through the lens of who Jesus is, they grasped their identity, not the other way around where our feelings dictate who Jesus is or who we are. Paul urges Timothy to live his identity in Christ with, “self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5). Paul was “being poured out as a drink offering” to spread the Gospel (verse 6). Even then, he learned to rejoice in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11-12). Paul did not fake until he made it type of thing. As he learned more deeply the character of God and his own place before Christ, he learned true joy in living out God’s purpose to further the Gospel.

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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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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 :-))

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