kingdom

Waiting Day 14 Not Yet, Not Now, No: 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 Not Yet, Not Now, No!

The Questions

1) Who is Theophilus and what is the first narrative referred to in verse 1?

2) Why were the apostles told to wait in Jerusalem? (verse 4)

3) What do the men in verse 11 mean in saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven”?

Acts 1:1-14

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Original Intent

1) Who is Theophilus and what is the first narrative referred to in verse 1?
Luke, the author of Acts, addresses his letter to Theophilus. The first narrative referred to is the Gospel of Luke, which was also addressed to Theophilus. (Luke 1:1-4) Luke’s purpose was to provide Theophilus with a brief summary of what Jesus did when He came to earth (verses 1-3) before beginning the account of what happened following Jesus’ death and resurrection. Luke wants his friend to bring to mind all he had written in his first gospel account, which had been thoroughly investigated (Luke 1:3), in order to provide a background for all that comes next as the Holy Spirit fueled the early believers with His power and the Church was birthed!

2) Why were the apostles told to wait in Jerusalem? (verse 4)
The apostles, or disciples, had been with Jesus in Jerusalem at the end of His life when He was crucified just outside of the city. They celebrated the Passover with Jesus in Jerusalem (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-22) and watched as Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, tried, and sentenced to crucifixion (Matthew 26:47-27:26, Mark 14:43-15:15, Luke 22:47-23:25, John 18:1-19:16). While many of them were not present at His crucifixion they knew He had died, been buried, and physically seen Him after His resurrection. (Matthew 27:32-28:8, Mark 15:20-16:8, Luke 23:26-24:49, John 19:16-21:19) Jerusalem was not a friendly environment for the followers of Jesus and they likely were afraid of meeting a similar fate to Jesus, yet He told them to wait in Jerusalem. Jesus knew the Holy Spirit was coming, and He knew God’s plan was for the disciples to spread the Good News of the Gospel beginning right at the epicenter of Jerusalem where He had been crucified and risen. (Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8) Jesus knew the gift of the Holy Spirit was coming soon and the disciples needed to stay together in Jerusalem so God’s plan would be fulfilled.

3) What do the men in verse 11 mean in saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven”?
This is the second time Luke records the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven. (Luke 24:50-53) However, this time Luke provides more detail to Theophilus about what occurred after Jesus’ ascension. Luke tells of the disciples standing on the mountain and looking into Heaven, waiting for Jesus to return. Suddenly, men appear, wondering why they are still standing around staring into heaven. They inform the disciples that Jesus will return just as He left them. These angelic men assure the disciples He will return, but they don’t give a specific time of return. They are, in their own way, encouraging the disciples to not stand around waiting doing nothing, instead they motivate them to action, reminding them to return to Jerusalem and wait as Jesus had instructed. Only when they were obedient to wait would they receive the Holy Spirit and begin the work of sharing the Good News. 

Everyday Application

1) Who is Theophilus and what is the first narrative referred to in verse 1?
Just as Theophilus needed to be reminded of Luke’s first narrative, the Gospel of Luke, we need the same reminder. What Luke recorded in Acts happened after Jesus’ time on earth and after His death and resurrection. Without understanding all that had taken place while Jesus was on earth, it’s difficult to understand Acts. We can only begin to understand the decisions of the apostles throughout the book of Acts when we understand the relationship and time they spent with Jesus as first-hand eye witnesses to His life. Remembering that Scripture was originally written with varying timelines and purposes is important for us to keep in mind as we read and study. What we read in the pages of God’s Word isn’t a letter written directly to us, rather it is God’s Word revealing Who He is, who we are as sinful humans, and what great Hope we have because of His lavish love for us. Reading Scripture through the proper lens is imperative to proper understanding and good application to our everyday lives. If you’re new to studying the Bible like this, there are many excellent study tools available for free online to help us understand passages in their original context and language. Check out www.studylight.org or www.blueletterbible.org for great resources!

2) Why were the apostles told to wait in Jerusalem? (verse 4)
Jerusalem would have been hostile territory to the disciples. They had just seen their Rabbi teacher, whom they had closely followed, be arrested, beaten, tried, crucified, and buried within a matter of hours. They knew Jesus was no longer dead and had seen Him resurrected, yet they knew those who had killed Jesus would likely be after His followers as well. Yet, Jesus instructs them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit to be given. God had a plan, and the disciples trusted it, even when they were likely terrified. As believers today, God still has a plan to continue building His kingdom through us. It doesn’t mean the plan will always make sense when God calls us to action. However, just as the disciples trusted Jesus and waited, we need to be just as obedient when God calls us. God has proven over and again He is trustworthy; our job as believers is to obey just as the first disciples did. We can rest in the knowledge that God’s plan is best, and He will use us as we surrender to Him just as He used the men who had physically walked with Jesus.

3) What do the men in verse 11 mean in saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven”?
The words in verse 11 that guarantee Jesus’ return in the same way He left seem cryptic. They don’t provide a time frame, or answer any other questions, instead they point to a singular assurance, He will return. Today, more than 2,000 years later, we still wait for the fulfillment of those long-ago words. However, we are blessed with the entirety of Scripture the original disciples didn’t have the benefit of accessing as a whole. We can read of the promise of Jesus’ return in Revelation 19:11-16 and can read of the guarantee of a New Creation in Revelation 21. We can see the faithfulness of God from Genesis to Revelation and we can note His plan to rescue us from our sin woven into the fabric of Scripture from beginning to end. We rest in the assurance that while we still wait for the fulfillment of the promise of Christ’s return, He is indeed coming, and when He does, it will be more than worth the wait. “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) In the meantime, there is work to be done as the Gospel still needs to be shared to the ends of the earth. We each play a role in the ongoing work of the Lord while we await His glorious return.

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Not Yet, Not Now, No!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Nations Day 5 Pray For Us

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 7:9-10
Psalm 22:27-28
Matthew 24:3-14
John 17:20-26

Nations, Day 5

Malaysia is a lovely, multiracial, multicultural country. Let me share a little about our beautiful nation, and give you an insider’s glimpse into the challenges we face and the support we need from you, our sisters in Christ!

Our total population of 33 million people is a diverse mix of Malays, Muslims, Chinese, Buddhists, indgenous Bumiputra, and Indians, to name a very few! Christians (including Catholics) make up around 9% of the population.

Many people in Malaysia are religious and believe in deity; this belief is even affirmed by the National Principles of our country!

As the common view of the society is to believe in God, there are not many debates on the existence of God. Instead, the challenge of the multiracial and multicultural society is the people’s embrace of “respect” of different religions and rejection of “exclusivity.” It is difficult to overcome this listener bias when sharing Jesus is the truth and the only way to God.

There is tremendous cultural resistance to accepting Christianity among the different ethnic groups. Upon conversion and confession of faith in Christ, new believers face pressures and persecutions from family and society. For example, a Chinese teenager who accepted Jesus was cast out from his non-believing family because he violated their traditional “filial piety” practices.

Interestingly, while Malaysia has a national language, “Bahasa Malaysia,” ethnic groups have their own dialects and mother tongues, and often prefer using these to worship God and fellowship with others. From Malaysia, a chorus of praise in many languages rises to heaven!

While the churches in Malaysia are faithfully serving the Lord and their surrounding communities, we face many different challenges, and urgently need prayer support.

First, many churches, especially those in the cities, are losing their youth. Despite our national affirmation of belief, many young people do not believe in God. Please pray for our next generations to encounter God and remain strong in their faith.

Second, while indigenous churches are expanding in rural and emerging townships, the sharing of gospel remains challenging due to high resistance from the community.

Our church also joins with other churches and Christian organizations to care for our community, in ways such as having “tuition” (tutoring classes) for poor students, distributing food to needy families, and ministering to children in the “Orang Asli” Home. We also offer financial support to pastors in East Malaysia who are working in the mission fields, as well as supporting the foreign workers/migrant ministries.

Our challenge in these ministries is that although we are allowed to care for the poor in our local community, by law, we are not allowed to share gospel with people across ethnic lines. Even events like carnivals for the children face strong opposition.

Please pray for God to open doors and gospel opportunities in this “hard” land. We believe only the Holy Spirit can move hearts and bring people to Christ. Pray also for believers to be alert to the Spirit’s guidance as we minister.

Did you know approximately half of the Christians in our nation are from East Malaysia, especially from the indigenous Bumiputra (non-Malays)? A majority of them are second- and third-generation Christians, they need to encounter God personally and relationally.

There is also rising Islamic influence in these ethnic groups. We urgently need your prayer support as we defend and guide our next generation of indigenous Bumiputra believers.

Malaysia is an official Islamic country, with Muslims comprising more than 60% of the population. In Malaysia, religious freedom is for all people, except Muslims. As I mentioned earlier, the government forbids sharing of any other faiths to Muslims.

Additionally, anyone born into a Muslim family will automatically join the family’s religion. Marriage to a Muslim results in mandatory conversion to Islam. Finally, because of the law in Malaysia, churches in Malaysia focus mainly on non-Muslim communities. The result of these combined factors means the Muslim population in Malaysia will continue to grow quickly and exert increasing influence, while also remaining far from the hope of Jesus.

Yet we hold tight to the promises of Scripture:

“This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world, as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before You, for kingship belongs to the LORD; he rules the nations.” (Psalms 22: 27-28, emphasis mine)

“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” (Revelation 7:9-10, emphasis mine) 

We believe these prophecies in the Bible will be fulfilled one day.
All nations, every tribe, people, and language will come to worship God.

We invite you to come alongside and pray for the struggles of Malaysian churches, and our nation!


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Sketched VIII Day 12 Giver Of Sight: 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 Giver Of Sight!

The Questions

1) Why did Jesus lead the blind man away from the village for his healing? (verse 23)

2) Why did the man’s healing come in phases?

3) Why did Jesus warn the man to not even enter the village after his healing? (verse 26)

Mark 8:22-26

22 They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”

25 Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. 26 Then he sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Original Intent

1) Why did Jesus lead the blind man away from the village for his healing? (verse 23)
If we rewind two chapters back to Mark 6 we see Jesus sending the disciples out in pairs to preach and heal. Jesus gave His followers power over demons, the ability to heal the sick, and the instruction to call the Israelites to repentance, all for the sake of spreading the kingdom of God. Jesus also included a warning that if any place would not receive, or listen to the message, then the disciples were to shake the dust from their feet as a testimony against that place. (Mark 6:7-11) In Matthew 11:16-24, Jesus curses the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their consistent rejection of truth and persistent unbelief. “Then He began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matthew 11:20-21) As a result of their spiritual blindness and hearts dull of hearing truth, the village of Bethsaida was no longer allowed to experience the fullness of God. They had firmly chosen unrepentance as their stance towards God. Could this have been the reason the blind man’s friends begged Jesus to touch him? Even in the midst of judgment, God still had mercy and led the blind man out of the village to restore his sight.

2) Why did the man’s healing come in phases?
The first stage of the blind man’s healing took place when Jesus physically removed him from the village of unbelief (Bethsaida). The second part took place when Jesus did an unexpected thing. “When He had spit on his eyes and laid His hands on him, He asked him, ‘do you see anything?’” (Mark 8:23) The physical blindness of the man was much like the spiritual blindness of the disciples. Although they were witnesses, and took part in the miracles of Jesus, there was still a veil covering their spiritual eyes. They could not comprehend the full scope of who Jesus really was, and is, as God. After spitting and laying hands on the man, the blind man responded that he could only see partially. His condition mirrored the disciples’ partial spiritual blindness. In fact, earlier in the chapter, Jesus had just fed the 4,000 and warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples thought He was talking about physical bread, and frustrated, Jesus responded, “Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?” (Mark 8:17-18) Often, spiritual understanding is the cure for spiritual blindness. (Mark 8:21) As the man’s blindness began to lift, Jesus completed the healing by laying hands on him one more time. “His sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” In fact, after this healing, Peter’s spiritual sight was made new, and he finally saw Jesus clearly for who He was as the Son of the Living God. (Mark 8:29)

3) Why did Jesus warn the man to not even enter the village after his healing? (verse 26)
Paul posed an interesting question in Romans 6:1-2, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Once Jesus called the blind man out of the place of sin and unbelief, there is no going back to the place of blindness. Once the blind man’s sight had been restored, Jesus set him on a new path of renewal. There were instances where Jesus warned people to go and sin no more like the woman caught in the act of adultery John 8:3-11 or the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda John 5:1-16. In the case of the blind man, the wrath of God was resting on the village of Bethsaida due to the corporate sin of unbelief. Unbelief is an affront to God’s character because the premise is that God is a liar, He will not perform according to His word. God has declared that if anyone is to approach His throne, that person must first acknowledge that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him. “For without faith it is impossible to please God” and, “for the just shall live by faith.” (Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 10:38)

Everyday Application

1) Why did Jesus lead the blind man away from the village for his healing? (verse 23)
The book of Mark is full of references to Jesus wandering desolate places to be alone and to receive refreshing from His Father. In many ways, God will take us on paths that lead us away from our villages. Sometimes, our “villages” where we spend our most time are places where faith dies, where we are pulled away from the Lord because the voice of the “crowd culture” is so deafening. In order to do a new thing, and usher in times of refreshing, the Lord will lead us down lonely and isolating paths away from the crowds, just as He did with the blind man in Mark’s narrative. In Exodus, when Yahweh led the Israelites into the wilderness and met them on the mountain, He initially wanted to converse with the entire congregation at one time. Unfortunately, the crowd was frightened and asked Moses to be their representative instead. So, Moses and God conversed on the mountaintop for 40 days. “The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:21) Sometimes the clearest place to find God is in the midst of thick darkness. When life is chaotic and uncertain, solitude is the surest place to find God. To know Him, and the fellowship of His sufferings, requires an intimacy that cannot be found in peace and security wrapped around material things or even other relationships. Instead, God’s peace is found when you leave what you have known to follow Him. “He who dwells in the SECRET place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91:1) The place of intimate healing is often found in the desolate corners of life.

2) Why did the man’s healing come in phases?
Paul said that “we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) Until we come to the point of perfect understanding in Heaven, some things remain a mystery. I suppose that not being able to see everything clearly can be one of the most frustrating things about the faith walk. I’m sure the blind man was wondering why Jesus couldn’t just heal him on the spot in the village. I’m really sure the blind man was wondering why Jesus spit on his eye! At that point, I’m not sure I would have had the faith to see what Jesus would do next. There have been many times when I asked God to come through at a certain time and place and He didn’t. Often, God doesn’t move and act on our time, or in the way we imagine to be best. Sometimes, He takes the long route and gradually we discover His “why” as we keep walking forward and trusting Him. Like a child, the Lord teaches us heavenly precepts at the level where we are. “Who is he trying to teach? Who is he trying to instruct? Infants just weaned from milk? Babies removed from the breast? “Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there.” (Isaiah 28:9-10) You’re not going to find your growth in the place of comfort! For many of us, these have been some of the most painful and uncertain times we have ever experienced. But in this midst of all that uncertainty, the Great God is preparing you for a better place. In this place, you will find your healing!

3) Why did Jesus warn the man to not even enter the village after his healing? (verse 26)
Have you ever left a toxic relationship before? It took a really long time for me to heal from the effects of a bad relationship, yet there is still the haunting question of what if I tried again? Your brain, and wise friends, tell you not to return because you will be worse off than you before. Sometimes people will return to what was comfortable and familiar, even if it will put them back into bondage. Even the Israelites wanted to go back to slavery because walking by faith in the desert with God required surrendering control. Lot’s family was warned to not return to sin-filled Sodom, yet Lot’s wife still looked back and was instantly punished for it. Sin will always beckon you to return like a siren’s song. Fear and doubt will tell you to continue doing what were familiar with, even if it disobeys God. At some point, we all have to choose not to go back to our personal “Egypts” and “Bethsaidas”. Instead, we can make the same choice as Paul, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:7-8)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Giver Of Sight!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Treasure Day 6 Beautiful Work

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1
Genesis 2:15-20
Proverbs 11:10
John 17:15-19
I Corinthians 10:31-11:1

Treasure, Day 6

As a 14 year-old, I was thrilled to start earning money. Bagging groceries never sounded so glorious! I quickly learned, however, just how hard I had to work to pay for the teen necessities of Gap jeans and outings with friends.

As I entered adulthood, I gained a deeper understanding of my work, beyond a monthly paycheck. I learned how God designed work to be a gift, both to the worker and the world.

Genesis 1 paints a beautiful example of God’s work in creation.  The image isn’t one of drudgery or complaint, but of beauty, energy, creativity, and calling the end result “good.” (Genesis 1:31) God enjoyed creating and working because He saw a greater purpose.

God established purpose in work for humanity, as well. In Genesis 1:28, God gives authority over the earth to Adam, commanding him to “subdue it”. Adam’s dominion wasn’t a reckless use of the earth’s resources for selfish gain, but rather a rule of careful stewardship.  

Genesis 2:15 reiterates, “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” 

It’s critical to recognize these mandates were given to Adam before sin entered the world. Work was not a problem, nor was it punishment. In the perfection of Eden, the work we were created to do was a gift and privilege.

God wove holy work into our design as an act of love toward humanity. 

Then, Adam sinned. His choice brought toil, frustration, and pain to our work. What a heart-wrenching example of how sin breaks and mars a perfect gift. (Genesis 3:17-19)

But He didn’t leave us there.
Instead, He created a rescue plan, full of hope and grace, in Jesus.

He promises to faithfully complete His work within us (Romans 8:28) as He makes all things new. (Revelation 21:5) Therefore, our work can be done with excellence and faithfulness, even while we are not perfect.

But how?

Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that we have been made in the image of God. Much like a mirror reflects what is before it, we have been created to reflect the character of God before us.

Not to be God, but to reflect Him.

When God created, He did so with joy, creativity, purpose, and with the end result in mind. His work gives us an image of His glory. Likewise, God has established good works in advance for His followers to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

Out of His love for us,
He has given us work as a gift and privilege,
to exercise the skills He’s given us,
all to display His greatness. (I Corinthians 10:31)

Every task we’re given is for the purpose of pointing to a Creator God who is full of joy, excellence, justice, integrity, grace, mercy, and beauty.  This is kingdom work.

We’re not just talking about missionaries, evangelists, and pastors.
No, the kingdom of God is much broader, bigger, and fuller than a few vocations.
While Jesus lived on the earth, especially before His public ministry, He worked an ordinary job. Learning carpentry from His earthly father enabled Him to earn a living in an honest, simple, ordinary way.

The Kingdom of God is anywhere where God rules. Jesus came to teach us about and to usher in the Kingdom of God. We can apply Jesus’ approach to kingdom work to our own efforts.

Does God rule our motivation and attitudes?
Does He rule the use of our time on the clock?
Do we have a long-term view of how our work will serve those around us?
Do we aim to reflect God’s character in our work day?
When our heart for the simple, ordinary work before us mirrors His own, we are doing kingdom work.

In John 17:11-19, Jesus reminds us we are not of the world; rather, He has sent us into the world. While our identity isn’t rooted in the world, we are here to serve, impact, and love the world through the tasks the Father gives us. He’s shared with each of us a slice of creation to steward well, for His glory.

The awesome impact of kingdom work is highlighted as Proverbs 11:10 declares,
“When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices;
when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.” 

When we are using the gifts and skills God designed for us, working with excellence to bring the most glory to God, we will flourish in a way that blesses and serves our co-workers, communities, families, cities, and beyond.

Whether we’re collecting garbage around the neighborhood or collecting plates off
of a restaurant table,
designing websites or church bulletins,
nursing the ill back to health or nursing a newborn baby in the night,
the foundation can be the same.

Let’s align ourselves with the kingdom of God, be faithful in our work, and purpose to bring glory and honor to the King.

It’s what we are created to do.

Author’s note: A few years ago, I wrote a song surrounding work and vocation in light of the Kingdom of God.  If you’d like to hear a modest recording of The Work of our Here and Now, head to the link here.

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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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Here’s a link to all past studies in Treasure!

Kaleidoscope Day 2 Patient Father: 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 Patient Father!

The Questions

1) Who is the audience of this letter?

2) What is the promise referred to in these verses?

3) Why do these verses emphasize God’s delay?

2 Peter 3:8-12

8 Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. 13 But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Original Intent

1) Who is the audience of this letter?
Unlike other letters written in the New Testament, Peter writes this letter to a broad audience of believers.  2 Peter 1:1 introduces the letter to “those who have received a faith” instead of to a specific church. There are many scholars who believe this letter was written to the churches in Asia Minor. These churches were undergoing both persecution and false teaching and Peter is writing to warn them. Peter wants to remind them to cling to their faith and the promises God has made. He wants them to stand firm and not waiver in the face of outside influence.

2) What is the promise referred to in these verses?
These verses center around a promise the audience is waiting to be fulfilled. The promise is seen in verses 12-13. It is the promise Jesus left His disciples with when He ascended to the right hand of the Father. Acts 1:10-11 promises that just as Jesus left, He will return. When He does, Revelation promises the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth where everything is as it was supposed to be. A coming redemption where there is freedom from sin and death for all who have placed their faith in Jesus and received the gift of salvation. The promise Peter speaks of is the fulfilled promise of the redemption for all creation!

3) Why do these verses emphasize God’s delay?
When Jesus ascended to Heaven and promised to return, He did not give a time frame for His return. He simply promised to return. Since Peter died during the reign of Nero, we know his death occurred before 68 A.D. This letter would have been written before then, but scholars assume it was towards the end of his life. This is important because it means it had been over 30 years since Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and ascended. There were believers who lived during Jesus’ life and those born after Jesus’ time on earth. Yet, they are still waiting on the fulfillment of the promise made to them. These verses emphasize God has a timing and His timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with mankind’s timing. Believers are being reminded God will not delay in fulfilling the promise made to them, even though it may have seemed like He has. They are also reminded God’s delay is intentional. He is providing an opportunity for others to accept Jesus and receive the gift of salvation before His return. Once Christ returns, the time for choosing His offered salvation will be over.

Everyday Application

1) Who is the audience of this letter?
The broad audience of this letter should remind us that, as believers, we too are included in these warnings and encouragement to hold tight to the faith. Just as the believers in the early church faced persecution and false teaching, believers today face it as well. We are not exempt from any of this. Peter writes to the early believers and warns them of false teachers and we too need to know there are false teachers and be prepared. We too need to cling tight to Scripture, to what we know is true, and to not be swayed when the false teachings arise. Even Jesus, in Matthew 7:15, warned there would be false teachers and they would come as wolves disguised in sheep’s clothing. The encouragement, however, is found in that when we know the fruit to look for, we know if it is truth being shared. We know this fruit when we spend time knowing Jesus and reading His Word.

2) What is the promise referred to in these verses?
The promise in these verses is the promise we are still waiting for the complete fulfillment of. As believers, we have assurance of what is yet to come. Revelation 21:3-4 promises a time when God will dwell with us, when there will be no more death, no more tears, and no more pain. What an incredible promise! When we place our faith in Jesus and surrender our lives to Him, this is the certain hope we look forward to. God doesn’t promise we will be free from pain, temptation, death, or persecution while on this earth, but He does promise there is something so much better coming, something we can only imagine! The promise the disciples and early followers of Jesus clung to is the same promise we cling to. The promised day is coming, we just don’t know when.

3) Why do these verses emphasize God’s delay?
Two thousand years after Christ’s ascension to Heaven and we are still waiting on the fulfillment of God’s promise. Patience is hard on the best of days, but when circumstances are tough and life doesn’t make sense, patience is even harder. Yet, just as the early believers are reminded God does not delay, so are we. God is faithful and His promise will see fulfillment, however, it will be in His perfect timing… not ours. That tension isn’t always easy to live in. These verses remind us, just as much as they did early believers, that God is providing an opportunity for lost people to receive the Good News and share in the promise made. We can cling tight to this promise knowing that in God’s perfect timing, Jesus will return and His Kingdom will reign forever!  It is a promise we can cling tight to on both good days and hard days, and it will never fail. Patience is hard, but as someone I know and love says, “God is never late, but He is always on time.” His delay is intentional and means our work of sharing the Good News is not complete. The delay will end in God’s ultimate and perfect timing!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
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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

Share What You’ve Learned!
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Our Current Study Theme!

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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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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

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

The GT Weekend ~ Anchored Week One

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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 you think of the local church, do you see yourself as having a role in helping her grow healthy and strong? Why or why not? Don’t give quick answers. Consider what you say you believe and what your actions prove. Consider your words and how you view leadership in the church. Are you generally encouraging and looking for ways to strengthen the Body? Take time this weekend to write a note or two to a church leader the Spirit is leading you to encourage! Love the church well this week!

2) What feelings do you sense as you consider words like “community” “church” “transparency” “connection” “prayer” and “worship”? Exuberance? Warm feelings? Gratitude? Fear or pulling back? How we view God and our role in His Body, the Church, greatly impacts how we view those words and what we choose to associate with them. As you think through these, look for ways you can grow deeper in your understanding of God’s perspective, plan, and purpose for the Church to live together.

3) Tawnya tackled some big topics in yesterday’s Journey Study as she helped us unpack core truths of the Almighty God of the Bible. Right thinking about God and His character will lead to right living and a true gospel shining out in our lives from the mundane to the big-moment-highlights. Make a list of the top 10 things you know for sure about the God of the Bible. Don’t think too hard, just the first 10 that come to mind. Next make a list of things you also know about God that seem to contradict the first list. For example, how can God be both loving and jealous? Or how can he hold Justice and Grace perfectly? Don’t let your questions scare you away! The Lord isn’t afraid of them, He wants you to ask and explore Him in greater ways!

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 1:5-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.

Prayer Journal
Yes, Abba. Ah, gracious Lord God! How sweet and pleasing it is to gaze at this “Word of Truth”, Your gospel, Your hope given generously to humanity. Precious, Lord, it is precious! Remind me, again and again, every single day, hour by hour, of this life-giving gospel by which I am surrounded by abundant, unending grace. Remind me that the work is finished, my job is to submit to Your tender leading as Your Spirit whispers through Your Word.

Bear much fruit here, Father. See my relationships? My children? These ministries You’ve given me to steward well? Grow gospel fruit here, Lord. Teach me to surrender more and more of myself to You that Your Spirit may be free to grow and prune and multiply Kingdom growth here in the soil of my life. I praise you, Lord God, ruler of all, Creator of all!

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

Pause 2 Day 6 The Sword & The Scalpel

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Pause 2, Day 6

The wound refused to heal.
The flesh surrounding the wound was hot, pink and tender.
The doctor’s brow furrowed as he poked around, speaking in low tones to the nurse, who scurried away. The wound was deeply infected, needing to be lanced, infection drained, cleansed and perhaps packed. The nurse returned with a cart bearing medical supplies in tidy rows,
the silver blade of the scalpel glinting in the light.

The doctor explained the procedure; the patient didn’t hear.
His eyes were fixed on the silver blade.
It was true the wound refused to heal, and intervention was needed, but the scalpel?
Yes, the scalpel.
If the wound was ever going to heal, the scalpel must be part of that plan.    

As the doctor lanced, drained and packed the wound to allow physical healing,
so the Spirit of God desires to pursue the healing of our souls.

To do this, He must remove the infectious sins impeding our spiritual healing.
Scripture describes His Word as a sharp, two-edged sword.
Swords lacerate, wound and even kill!
But in the hands of our Great Physician, the Sword of the Spirit is an instrument of healing. 

Due to our innate depravity, besetting sins are imbedded in the deep tissue of our souls like infectious bacteria. Allowed to remain, those sins multiply, leaving our souls riddled with festering infection and rendering the work of our hands ineffective for Kingdom growth.

With truth, our Great Physician cleanses our souls, leading us to repentance and the fullness of a redeemed life. He then packs our wounded souls with the healing balm of grace upon grace. 

“I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing” 
Psalm 101:2-3 

When my flesh cries out for gratification, Scripture’s truth speaks clearly.
As I welcome its healing, I feel the deep slice of the sword of truth and know my self-will must die if I am to be healed and whole. 

Without the sword of truth, our only option is to remain entangled in besetting sins,
observing the abundant life from a distance,
yet never truly partaking.

Without the sword, there can be no healing.
Therefore, I welcome the sword,
for by it I am healed and set free to run in pathways of the abundant life.
1 Peter is a book about solid hope.
It’s also about running fervently away from sin that chokes the lifeblood of our freedom in Christ,
and our effectiveness in building God’s Kingdom. 

Peter’s passion for Jesus and His redemption available to all is woven throughout his first, short letter.
As we continue to Pause this week, walk slowly through the words Peter wrote.
See his heart, hear his passion, run from the world’s enticements, and sink your feet deep into the solid rock of HOPE! 

Today's Invitation

1) Read 1 Peter 1 and answer these 3 questions in your journal:
a) What do these verses tell me about God and His character?
b) What do these verses tell me about others and the world around me?
c) What do these verses tell me about me and my heart?

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
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I Peter 1

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ: 

To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.  12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things. 

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For 

All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.  

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

How Does “Pause” Work?
1.Each day, Monday through Friday, for 2 weeks, we will provide you with an invitation to get away with the Savior. Each one is designed for you to engage with the Almighty in a deeper way and perhaps in a new way than you have been recently.

2. Having a journal is a must! You’ll want to take notes as you walk this special Journey of Pause.

3. Each week focuses on one or two passage of Scripture and we walk with you as you study and flesh these out for yourself. As you write your thoughts, read His Word, and pray, questions might come up. That’s Perfect! Ask a trusted fellow believer, a pastor, or send us an email as you work through them!

4. Jumping in at the middle? No problem! Here is the entire Journey Theme.

5. Connect with others on Facebook by visiting our GT Community Group!

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 Pause 2 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 Pause 2!