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Questions 2 Day 12 Rescue Mission: 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 Rescue Mission!

The Questions

1) What is Paul quoting in verses 10-12 and why does he quote them?

2) Verse 19 refers to those who are subject to the law but who is that?

3) What does it mean that “the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment”? (verse 19) Is there hope?

Romans 3:9-20

9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment. 20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.

Original Intent

1) What is Paul quoting in verses 10-12 and why does he quote them?
Paul is referencing Psalm 14:1-3 in these verses which are also repeated in Psalm 53:1-3. “…There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless…” (verses 11-12) These words speak to the flesh nature of every person ever born. Paul’s Jewish Christian audience would have been familiar with the Psalmist’s words, knowing they were penned to describe every human heart from God’s perspective. This is a reminder of the depravity of mankind and the sin every person commits. Every human being is hopelessly stuck in their sin and by pointing his audience to their guilt, Paul is later able to point them to their only hope for salvation, Jesus.

2) Verse 19 refers to those who are subject to the law but who is that?
Paul is clear that Law speaks to only those who are subject to the law. However, that is not an out for Paul’s audience. His readers would have known the law being referred to was what we call the 10 Commandments. However, this law encompassed much more than those few commands. Included in the whole Old Testament law was the first 5 books of our Bible and every regulation found there. The Israelites had hundreds of laws they were supposed to follow, and no one could follow them perfectly. Paul is telling his audience they are all subject to the law. Every person in his audience knew precisely what Paul meant, and they all knew they were guilty.

3) What does it mean that “the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment”? (verse 19) Is there hope?
Paul does not sugarcoat the truth. God is a just God and He will rightfully judge the whole world. Every single person who has ever lived will indeed face judgement where they will be called to give an account of their works. Revelation 20:11-15 tells of this coming judgement. However, although we know all are subject to the law and all fall short of the hitting the “bullseye” on the target of the Law (Romans 3:23) there is hope. Romans 6:23 reminds us of the gift of Jesus, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Revelation 21 tells of the full promise of hope coming in fullness for all who trust Jesus as their personal Savior. Jesus paid the penalty for sin and death and His blood covers those who believe in Him when they stand before God on the day of judgment. He becomes the believer’s righteousness!

Everyday Application

1) What is Paul quoting in verses 10-12 and why does he quote them?
Paul refers back to Psalm and the sin state of all mankind. He reminds readers that none of us are good and, at some point, we have all turned away from His standard of righteousness. Whether it was a selfish thought, a white lie, or a lusting glance, all of these and much more violate His holy standard. In so doing, we become sinners, separating ourselves from a holy and righteous God with no ability to regain a perfect standing. Without this realization of our sinfulness, we are unable to see our need for a Savior. We feel we can be “good enough” on our own, compared to our own measure of “right”. Paul begins this chapter with the condition of all mankind so he can later point all readers to Jesus. If we do not view ourselves as sinful, not good, and without hope we will never surrender to God and accept the gift only Jesus can provide by His righteousness offered in exchange for our sinfulness.

2) Verse 19 refers to those who are subject to the law but who is that?
When I read the words “the law” I immediately think of the 10 Commandments. When God gave those to Moses, His intent was never for them to be a checklist for Israel (or us) to try to live up to. Instead, it was meant as a mirror, helping us see that no one could ever not break even just those 10 laws. As matter of fact, Israel had broken those laws before Moses ever made it off of Mt. Sinai with the law in hand. (Exodus 32) While we no longer live under Old Testament law today, we are still subject to the law. Jesus provided 2 commands which sum up the whole of this law, love God and love others, and I know I daily fall short of just those two simple commands. Just as the 10 Commandments showed Israel they were sinners, Jesus’ words show us we are sinners and in need of a Savior.

3) What does it mean that “the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment”? (verse 19) Is there hope?
Every person who ever has or ever will walk planet earth is subject to God’s judgment. This is His world and His rule applies to us, His creation. Scripture is very clear there will be a day of judgment when all will stand before God and be judged for our actions. This coming judgment is exactly why understanding the law, and how far we each fall short of its perfect standard, is so important. Because of the law, we see our desperate need for a Savior. John writes of the day of judgment in Revelation 20, but He doesn’t leave us at the judgment seat without hope. John writes of the promised hope that is coming in the New Heaven and the New Earth in Revelation 21. This promise is for all who have believed in Jesus and accepted the sacrifice of what He did for us on the cross. His righteousness can be ours in place of our sin; His perfection in exchange for our failure to follow the law! Sisters, the question is, have you accepted the gift Jesus offers for yourself? If so on the day of judgment, He will say this one is Mine! Our judgment as believers will be vastly different than those who have not chosen to believe because we will be covered by Christ and in Him, there is no condemnation, only life!

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

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 Questions 2 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.

Follow Day 5 Where We See A Mess

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 3:1-14
Exodus 4:1-20
Acts 4:7-13
 1 Corinthians 1:26-30

Follow, Day 5

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.’ This is the Lord’s declaration. ‘For as heaven is higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Who but God would invite an ex- murderer to lead an entire nation? Humans use the past to judge the present, but God sees beyond the past. Regardless of our history, He longs to make us radically new and use us to build His kingdom.

Consider Moses, who grew up in the palace of the Egyptian pharaoh knowing he was a Hebrew. One day, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, and, after carefully ensuring no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian. Still, Pharaoh learned of Moses’ crime and sought to kill him, so Moses fled to Midian. Welcomed into the family of Jethro, a Midian priest, Moses planned to live out his days in the wilderness as an isolated shepherd caring for mangy sheep.

Like Moses, there was a time in my college life when I felt like running away. My boyfriend spent the night with another student in his home, and someone told the school authority I was the student. I was innocent, but unable to convince school leadership. My punishment was a warning; a repeat would earn my dismissal.

I was devastated. In time, bolstered by God’s merciful strength, I ended the relationship. God gave me a new beginning altogether: since then, I have been following Him, and am now in His service.

Similarly, Moses was in desperate need of a new beginning. Moses was content with a shepherd’s life in the bush; one day God appeared to him in a literal bush bursting with fire. God called Moses to Egypt to bring His people out from slavery and into a land of freedom and plenty, a land of promise.

Dismayed, Moses gave God a slew of excuses:

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” (Exodus 3:11)
What if they ask Your name? ( Exodus 3:13-15)
“What if they don’t believe me?” (Exodus 4:1)
I am not eloquent (Exodus 4:10); send someone else (Exodus 4:13).

Looking through the lens of his past, Moses saw himself as unfit for the work God was calling him to do. But despite his resistance, God was not deterred. He promised to be with Moses, and commissioned Moses’ brother, Aaron, as his spokesman. God also understood the physical fear hiding behind Moses’ excuses, and assured him those who sought to kill him were dead.

We cannot mess up God’s plan for us, even if we push against Him!
He refuses to give up on us because He looks not at our mess, but our potential in Him.

As Moses’ heart turned toward trusting obedience to God, he encountered God in a personal and powerful way. He received instruction and clear direction from God for his next steps. When he met resistance in Pharaoh, he sought God who faithfully met and guided him. Soon, the naïve and fearful man became a threat to Pharaoh and all of Egypt, until Pharaoh released the Israelites.

Sometimes, our past failures threaten to hold us back from following God. The past upsets us, and we lose confidence. Like Moses, we easily conclude we cannot be useful to God. Moses didn’t have an organized plan, talent, or the confidence of a leader, but God still invited him to follow. It was not about Moses, but about God. He chooses the foolish, the weak, and the despised to shame the wise and the mighty, so we boast in Him alone. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

Regardless of our past, God forgives completely, and equips us by His power for His service as we choose to follow His way. We see this truth in the lives of the apostles. Some were mere fishermen; one was even a tax collector, considered by the Jews as the most sinful; yet Jesus called each of them to follow Him. When the Pharisees grumbled about Jesus dining with sinners, Jesus replied His call was precisely for sinners such as them. (Mark 2:15-17)

Consider the Apostle Paul, a persecutor of the Church; yet God called him out of slavery and empowered him with the Holy Spirit to follow Him in freedom. As a result, Paul became a great preacher of the gospel. His Spirit-inspired writings continue to guide our lives today, comprising a large part of the New Testament.

Hear Paul’s own testimony, “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–and I am the worst of them.’”
(1 Timothy 1:15)

Moses’ story, the first 12 apostles, Paul, and even my own life, join together to declare in wondrous chorus . . .
Where we see a mess,
God sees an opportunity for transformation.

God simply requires hearts willing to accept His invitation to follow Him, one step after the other.

Sisters, let us turn our eyes from our pasts to the One who holds our tomorrows and whisper, “Yes.”

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Follow Day 2 Trust Through Tears: 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 Trust Through Tears!

The Questions

1) What is the “business” God has given for us to do?

2) How do we better understand God as a Groom through this passage?

3) How does God’s eternal character comfort His Bride, the Church, in verses 14-15?

John 9:1-7

As He (Jesus) was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 4 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After he said these things he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.

Original Intent

1) Why does Jesus connect the man’s blindness to God’s glory and Jesus’ work? (verses 3-4)
It was a common belief among Jews that sickness was a consequence inflicted by God as a result of sinfulness. This came from the incorrect interpretation of an Old Testament passage, “
Do not bow in worship to them (false gods), and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” (Exodus 20:5) Each time this warning is recorded in Scripture, it’s tied to keeping the Ten Commandments. God is reminding Israel He cannot overlook sin because He is just. Hearts that rebel against the Lord God will be punished, and that legacy will often live on their children and grandchildren. The original passages are very clearly focused on the heart condition resulting in sinfulness, but over time, and the sway of legalism from the Pharisees, Jews stretched the consequence to mean a physical illness instead of an idolatrous heart. It’s easier to blame something physical on sin than be prompted to examine our hearts before a holy God, isn’t it? Just as in the Old Testament, Jesus is still seeking after true heart humility and this man’s blindness from birth was
neither random nor an accident. It wasn’t “by chance” Jesus met this beggar at a divinely appointed time on the roadside that Sabbath so his blindness would be the gateway for God’s glory to be revealed through
Jesus’ work.

2) What is meant by connecting “work” to “night” and “day”? (verse 4)
It’s the small words in the Bible that often mean the most. If you want to dig deeper and grow in what the Holy Spirit will teach you, pay attention to the little words of Scripture. On the heels of Jesus correcting the disciples’ theology (their understanding of God) on the blind man, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach His disciples about purpose and mission. He begins by using the little pronoun “we”.  “
We must do the works of Him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.” (verse 4) God Almighty, humbled in the flesh, standing before human disciples, just invited (again) ordinary people to do His divine work with Him. How unspeakable! Jesus did not come to earth to sit idly by, learn carpentry from His human father, Joseph, make good friends, and be an upstanding citizen in the ancient middle east. He came with a purpose, and He “must” accomplish it. That Greek word for must, another small word, means “bound or lashed to”. Christ was “lashed to” His purposeful work to follow the mission of the triune God. While Jesus walked the earth, there was intentional work to accomplish. When He ascended to Heaven, He continues His work of interceding on behalf of us to the Father, but our work also continues on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ah, the beautiful “we”. Every believer “lashed to” the work being done in unity with the Father, Son, and Spirit. Work now, while it is light, while it is still called “today”. (Hebrews 3:13-15) For a time will come, when the Light given by the Holy Spirit will be gone as Believers are taken to be with the Lord forever, and the time to do Kingdom Work on earth will end as Jesus returns in judgement. (Philippians 2:9-12)
3) What does Jesus mean by being the light of the world as long as He was in the world? (verse 5)
As John writes in His gospel, Jesus is the “Light of men” and He was revealed as He entered the world. (John 1:4-9) In Revelation, the same author, John, describes the vision of “New Jerusalem”, which is the eternal home for all who believe in Jesus, as not needing any planetary light source. “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:22) Jesus IS the light. When He walked the earth, He was on mission to accomplish the very specific work of the divine godhead to rescue mankind. This covered every moment and every action of Jesus. His mission was interwoven into every aspect of His life from the mundane to the magnificent. When He ascended back to Heaven, He made it clear to the disciples the “we” work was intended to continue. “
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.(…)” (Matthew 28:19-20) While Jesus was still with His disciples He gave them a heads up that though He was leaving, He would send His own Spirit to dwell within them. Through the Spirit’s power, they would continue the work He had called them into. (Acts 1:8) Also while Jesus was on earth, He taught that we also were the “light of the world”because His light is within us. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Everyday Application

1) Why does Jesus connect the man’s blindness to God’s glory and Jesus’ work? (verses 3-4)
It’s an interesting trifecta, isn’t it? One no sane human being would ever devise. We run from suffering. We plead against loss whether it’s financial, emotional, or physical. But, where we see ruin, deep sorrow, and grief curtained in black darkness, the Lord of Light and Life sees a gateway for His glory to be revealed through the work of Christ! Our sin-wrecked hearts are destined to send each of us to an eternity apart from Love and Hope with God, but God took the suffering from our sin and magnificently gave Jesus and His work on the cross as a means to bring about His glory of saving us. What is more glorious than taking what is worthless and esteeming it to the highest place of honor?! One man’s story from ancient Israel can become our anthem in everyday life. Whether it’s losing your patience with your unruly toddler, the emotional gut-punch from your teenager, the sickening grief that comes from watching a loved one die painfully, the heart-wrenching agony of knowing the one you loved walked out on you, or something else entirely, the triad remains and hope is alive. Our suffering opens the door for Jesus to do His work, and God’s glory will be the telltale trademark of our redemption stories. The question we need to ask is, will we surrender to His hand, or will we drag ourselves, and our pain, away in agonizing anger or self-demise, rejecting the Lord of Life and Love.

2) What is meant by connecting “work” to “night” and “day”? (verse 4)
How often do you wake up, do your morning thing, and remember that everything stretching out before you on is an opportunity to work with the God of the Universe?! Not everyday?! Me either! As our awareness of this reality grows, however, the quicker we are to view everything we do in life as kingdom work. This drastically shifts our perspective and gives us new meaning, purpose, and real depth to even the most mundane aspects of our lives. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Jesus said we must work while it is day. Today. This moment, and the next. The one when you are in conflict with your spouse. The hot minute when you want to scream at your toddler. The “fat minute” when your teenager acts like a teenager. The moment when your heart screams over injustice committed against you or your head hangs in shameful regret. These are all moments that fill “the day”. There is work to do here and now. There is “We” work that “must” be done. These are the opportunities to surrender to the work the Holy Spirit is actively doing in us, as we submit our will to His, and allow His work to flow through us to advance the Kingdom one moment at a time. Are you ready to work alongside the God of your heart? He’s inviting you in!


3) What does Jesus mean by being the light of the world as long as He was in the world? (verse 5)
There will come a day when the time for work will be done. The opportunity to choose to surrender one’s will and self to Jesus will close. Work for the Kingdom will cease, and Christ will summon everyone to His judgement seat where only those whose names are found written in the Lamb’s book of life will be given full access to dwell with God forever. (Revelation 20:15) Everyone else will be turned away to the “lake of fire” and eternal separation from God’s love. This should urge us forward with passion to work for advancing God’s kingdom now! Paul fervently wrote to the church in Rome, urging them to “love one another” because “…it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11-12) How will you choose to surrender more to God’s will today than you did yesterday? Love well, Sisters, the day’s end is near!


What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up withTrust Through Tears!

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 Follow Week One!
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.

Calling Day 1 Into Inheritance

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Read His Words Before Ours!

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

Calling, Day 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every believer is the Church.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sketched VII Day 6 A Mother’s Heart

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Judges 4:1-5:31
Isaiah 61
James 1:5-8

Sketched VII, Day 6

I took my seat beneath the palm tree. Its shade provided a bit of respite from the brilliant sun that would soon bake the ground around me. A slight breeze promised to be a welcome companion in the heat of the day, should it decide to stick around.

Another day fulfilling the mission the Lord has placed before me awaits. Already, those seeking help in settling their disputes climbed the hill to wait for the wisdom the Lord graciously pours out through me. My ability to discern His leading has become known throughout the land: I am Deborah, a prophetess. My dear husband, Lappidoth, has embraced the Lord’s touch upon me and supports my repeated trek to the palm tree. Each day sitting under the tree begins with prayer asking the Lord to impart His wisdom to me as I guide His people.

My arrival at this place of leadership can only be attributed to the Lord. Who was I, a woman living in the days of King Jabin of Canaan’s oppression, to serve as judge over Israel?   Twenty years had passed thus far under King Jabin’s mighty hand, miserable years under his domination. Thankfully, hope seemed to ride the wind.

Recently, I awoke with an awareness of the Lord’s desire to speak to Barak son of Abinoam. I sent word requesting his presence and spent several days watching the horizon for his arrival. A peace and preparation for the conversation to come settled on me as I waited, and somehow I knew Barak would join me before the sun set.

Therefore, I was not surprised when, mid-day, I saw his small traveling caravan crest the hill in the distance. As he approached, I sent a messenger to bring him directly to me, rather than wait with others seeking wisdom. The Lord had a message for Barak and obedience urged me to speak to him immediately. 

When Barak stood before me, I spoke the words burning within me.

“Hasn’t the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you:
‘Go, deploy the troops on Mount Tabor,
and take with you ten thousand men from Naphtalites and Zebulunites?
Then I will lure Sisera commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his infantry
at the Wadi Kishon to fight against you,
and I will hand him over to you.’” (Judges 4:6-7)

My words carried a peaceful authority. I didn’t condemn, but made my point with a question whose answer we both already knew. The Lord had summoned Barak to confirm he was hearing His voice. I prayed my tone would help imbue him with strength and confidence to believe the Lord had chosen him for such a time as this. My mother’s heart desired to see Barak rise up as the warrior the Lord was inviting, declaring, and commanding him to be.

Barak replied to me, “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.” (Judges 4:8)

I looked at the man standing before me. The lines in his face were etched from time spent in the sun, and quite possibly from events he could no more erase from his mind’s eye than he could from his weathered skin. They spoke to me of a man who survived many hardships. However, his eyes communicated the fear of a young man longing to know he was not fighting alone.

I paused before replying, listening for the words and impression of the Lord’s heart to rise up within me. A yes but response solidified in my spirit and the words flowed freely from my mouth.

“I will gladly go with you,
but you will receive no honor on the road you are about to take,
because the Lord will sell Sisera to a woman.” (Judges 4:9)

I sensed I would not be said woman, but I also began to prepare my heart for all the Lord had in store. The Lord faithfully pours out His wisdom, discernment, and leading, but never had He painted the whole picture in one moment.

We journeyed to Mount Tabor and all the Lord prophesied came to pass. Sisera’s entire army lost their lives, and by the hand of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, Sisera met his ultimate demise. She used the tools in her hand to defeat Sisera and thereby fulfill the Lord’s word.

Barak and I declared the goodness of the Lord after He demonstrated His power and faithfulness to Israel once again. I found myself rejoicing over the mother’s heart the Lord had nurtured within me.

I was delighted by the way Barak embraced the command of the Lord to rally the troops, and the humility with which he accepted the Lord’s response to his request for my presence. Setting aside his pride, Barak accepted the reality of Sisera’s delivery into the hands of a woman, and praised the Lord.

Later, as I returned to my seat beneath the palm tree, my eyes scanned the faces of those waiting before me. A mother’s compassion rose within me and I spoke over them:

“Lord, may all your enemies perish as Sisera did.
But may those who love him be like the rising of the sun in its strength.” (Judges 5:31)

I motioned the first group forward and prayed for the Lord to encourage, empower, and edify them to complete all He has planned for each of them. For His glory.

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

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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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Eve Day 15 Eve Of Eternity

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 1:7-8
Revelation 3:11-13
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Titus 2:11-15

Over the past few weeks, we’ve discussed so many eves. Some were laden with joy, some with sadness. All were buoyed by the expectancy of a Great Change to come, regardless of context.

This eve, the Eve of Eternity, is no different.
Friends, this life we’re living right now, today?
We are in the Eve of Eternity.
I know.
Sometimes it feels like this life is so basic, so routine. We wake up, make the coffee, do the work, make the dinner, go to bed. I get it.
But friends, this is our Eve.

These days. These hours. These minutes.

If we were each being honest, we would all agree that our daily routines and tasks seem to take over so much of our time, thoughts and energy. Our intentions may be golden, but we are so easily pulled away. We set alarms, set aside time, set aside our goals and to dos so we can spend time in His presence without outside distraction…for our 30 minutes or one hour…but things get busy, children start crying, our boss moves up the deadline, our car won’t start, fill-in-your blank. As we discussed and shared throughout Pause, most of us find that our challenge lies in actively making space for the Kingdom in our daily lives…but Loves, is that really what we are called to do in these final days?

Or are we called to craft a daily life that revolves around the Kingdom?

The thing is, we exist in this crazy tension between our identity in Christ and where our citizenship lies, versus the fallen world we currently live in.
Our spirit is at constant war within us, fighting against the flesh and yearning for the holy, because in Christ we are made holy.
Our hearts are burdened by the sin we see around us and in us,
because in Christ we are made clean.
We ache for the hurting,
because through Christ we are sent to heal.
We weep for the lost,
because Christ commissioned us, you and me, to reach them.
We live in this Eve in these imperfect bodies with imperfect desires, knowing that a perfect body awaits us, and friends? It’s really hard to reconcile that sometimes.
Truth? All the time.
But friends, we will live in these bodies until we either die or Jesus returns,
at which point,
our Eve will be over.

And when that time comes, regardless of whether it’s when Jesus returns or we fade as the flowers, will we be able to say that we pursued passionate relationship with our Jesus in our Eve?
Will the record of our lives show that we built our earthly life around our calling in Him?
With all the expectancy and hope, faith and obedience due the Eve of the return of our King?
Or will we be caught unaware, carving out space for Him in the middle of our busy?

When I was a little girl, Jesus’ return seemed so scary to me. I could blame it on the Left Behind books, but there was actually a particular passage of Scripture that always left me worried. The thought of Jesus’ return coming “like a thief in the night” stood in stark contrast to the God of my Bible stories and the Father I had grown to know. I couldn’t reconcile the two, and it left me feeling anxious.
Many nights, I laid awake, thinking, worrying and waiting.

My thoughts would race.
Why would He sneak in that way?
I thought He was clear in His commandments and laws, so why would this be so different from His nature?
Maybe He isn’t Who I think He is.
Maybe I don’t really know Him at all.

Isn’t that just how the enemy loves to sneak in? But friends? I was missing the whole point of that passage!
A little further on, Paul writes (and I paraphrase):
You are not in the dark, so you will not be surprised!
You are children of Light, of the day…
You are not destined for wrath, but for salvation!

Paul goes on to exhort us to remain vigilant and aware, keeping our eyes open. He isn’t talking about our physical wakefulness here. Whether our earthly bodies die or Jesus returns, we have salvation! But in the meantime, this walking-out-the-Kingdom stuff in our Eve of Eternity?
It’s not for the faint-hearted, friends.

We need to center our lives on Christ to make it through.

We need to live outward focused lives, sharing Jesus generously with others through our words, but more so through our actions.

We need each other; we need to adopt, uphold and encourage the sweet community that Jesus modeled with His disciples.

Our Eve of Eternity is similar to the other eves we’ve journeyed, but there is one stark difference: it is our final eve.
Our one shot to fulfill all that He calls us to do.
The Word is clear in that no one knows the day or hour, but we do know He will fulfill His promise to us.

Today I am issuing a challenge to each of us, myself included. As we examine how we are living out our Eve of Eternity, think about those who do not have personal relationship with Jesus whom God has placed in our circles. They could be our barista, our cashier, our librarian, or our next door neighbor. Let’s write those names down and begin to pray for Holy Spirit to reveal and appoint opportunities to do life with them and draw them into community with us!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Eve Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Justice Day 11 Beyond My Walls

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 30:18
Psalm 146
Psalm 147

It’s something I take entirely for granted.
Clean water.
In my house, there are 21 outlets for fresh water.
Twenty-One!
In many third world countries, there are zero.
Even traveling outside of a home or village to get to water, it’s contaminated and disease ridden,
meaning that literally millions of people have no access to clean water whatsoever.

My church has proudly taken a stand to help fill the gap, standing up for those suffering without this most basic necessity of life. They run for clean water by partnering with Team World Vision, where just $50 changes 1 life with clean water access.
For the amount of a nice dinner out, 1 life can be forever changed.

The fact that people, usually women, spend their days walking about 4 miles one-way to collect dirty water for their families, and then carry it home again, is a social injustice worth fighting against. One, that together, we can make a huge difference in.
It’s practical, it’s tangible, and it’s life changing!

We hashtag #firstworldproblems and snicker a little, knowing full-well the incredible advantage we have in the country we live in.

My daughter has every athletic bone in her body, she is speedy, determined, and does backflips like nobody’s business. She ended up on a soccer team with another girl her age, Addy. Addy is 8 years old, in the 3rd grade, and is training to run a half-marathon in October.
For Real!
What’s more, she’s raised a mind-blowing $10,000 for clean water in Africa so that little girls like her can grow up healthy because they have access to something my 2-year-old can turn on and off without even thinking about it.
Clean. Water.

Access to clean water saves lives.
While access to the Living Water of salvation through Jesus Christ saves souls for eternity.
We must not divorce these two!
We are called to share the fullness of the gospel and intertwine it with loving others in the nitty gritty real stuff of everyday life from digging wells, fighting for equal rights, supporting abortion clinics, and passing out food to those less fortunate.

Drink in Psalm 146 and joyously celebrate our God of Justice:
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
….who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry,
The Lord sets prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
He watches over the foreigner,
He upholds the widow and the fatherless.

This is our God, Ladies!
A God of freedom for all.
A God who stoops low to love well.
A God who fights for the oppressed.
A God of justice.
A God who never ignores people,
never side-steps issues to sweep them under the rug,
and never is blind to injustice,
but is a righteous Defender of the weak!

Looking at this list of those the Lord loves to defend, who do you know who fits these categories?
Who do you see that is
oppressed,
hungry,
in prison,
handicapped,
weighed down,
is a foreigner,
a widow,
or an orphan?

Yes, sister, we are called to share the gospel.
We are called to ministry in the church body.
We are called to encourage the saints (our fellow Christians).
But sharing the fullness of the gospel,
extends far beyond
words we say,
prayers we pray,
or classes we teach at church.
We are called beyond the safe walls of our homes, and churches, and carpool lines, and grocery aisles.
We are called to outside of us.

Plead with the Lord, this Maker of all, who cares so deeply and intimately about His creation,
to break your heart over what breaks His own.
Beg the Spirit to peel away the blinders on your eyes and truly see beyond yourself to the least of these.
Those you don’t like,
those you feel defensive against or look down upon,
those who clearly need the gospel as much as we do.
Then, fueled by the love of a Father who gave to you, choose to give yourself away for another.

Help Addy raise money for wells in Africa.
Adopt a family in need.
Partner with your local women’s clinic to help save unborn lives.
Go inner city and look under bridges and behind old warehouses for the souls who feel like they’ve been abandoned by humanity and God.
Find Them.
See Them.
LOVE THEM LIKE JESUS!
Love them like the God of Justice!

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Justice Week Three! 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 Justice!

Borders Day 12
Miracle Working God: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

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Ezekiel 37:1-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

The Questions

1) What is the context of this passage and who are the characters?

2) Is the question in verse 3 a “trick question”? What are its implications?

3) Why is there a distinction between bodies coming alive without breath and having breath?

4) What is the conclusion of this incredible object lesson?

The Findings for Intention

1) What is the context of this passage and who are the characters?
Jerusalem had been ruined, the temple destroyed, and the Jews have been taken captive and were now displaced in Babylon. The Jews had hit rock bottom; for all practical purposes, they were dead and felt deserted. BUT GOD. He called Ezekiel out to a plain (or valley), and spoke to him. God had neither forgotten nor abandoned His beloved people. The players on the scene are the dry bones, the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord God, and the breath of His Spirit.

2) Is the question in verse 3 a “trick question”? What are its implications?
If we were to visit a morgue and pull out a body that had long since died and asked, “Can this person come alive,” we would scoff. Of course not! For all of our technology and forward strides and theology and psychology, dead is still dead. God’s point in asking this question is to quite vividly show Ezekiel that where man’s ability ends, the Lord’s only begins. Israel had to stop looking for other things to satisfy them, please them, and heal them. They were beyond sick, they were held in captivity and only God could revive them.

3) Why is there a distinction between bodies coming alive without breath and having breath?
Let’s journey farther back to Garden of Eden to get a good look at this question. Genesis 2:7 says, “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” God is the author of life, and it begins and ends with His breath, His Spirit, HE is the source of life. Ezekiel could prophesy all day long, but without the breath of the Lord, those bones were still just dead men…..impressive dead men, but still dead men.

4) What is the conclusion of this incredible object lesson?
The point of the Lord’s miraculous visual lesson is stated twice. Once at the beginning, and once in the conclusion: “That you shall know that I am the Lord.” Only the Almighty can being life where death has reigned, only the Almighty can bring a scattered Israel back home and rebuild them from having been delivered into captivity. The conclusion is the glory of the Lord!

The Everyday Application

1) What is the context of this passage and who are the characters?
What’s probably most interesting to me about this unique scene in biblical narrative is that God intentionally chose to use Ezekiel. God could have made the army of dead men come alive without the prophet’s words. But He didn’t. He wanted His glory to be made known, His truth declared over Israel, and He wanted Ezekiel to play a role in that. Sister! The same is true for us!! The Almighty wants His glory to be made known as He rescues sinners for eternity, He wants the truth of who we were made to be to be sung over us, and He invites us to be part of it! In what ways are you making His glory known and declaring His truth? Are you pushing your comfortable boundaries away to make room for His Spirit to do the unbelievable?!

2) Is the question in verse 3 a “trick question”? What are its implications?
Until we realize exactly how desperate we are without the Lord, we will never be able to understand why we need Him so much. You and I….we are sinners. Not mistakers. Not “good people”. Not well meaning. We are sinners, falling perpetually short of God’s standard for holiness. And we will never, ever attain His favor on our own. That’s dire. That’s desperate. That’s hopelessly dead. And it’s exactly the picture God wants us to see about ourselves. Not to condemn us or walk all over us, but to extend His Good News of grace and love and forgiveness and redemption and freedom. Until we can see how desperate we are, we can’t see how richly gracious God is!

3) Why is there a distinction between bodies coming alive without breath and having breath?
The picture of bones coming to life with sinews and marrow and flesh is mind-blowing, but when you consider that they weren’t “alive” until the Spirit of the Lord fell on them, it’s breathtaking as we see the parallel to today. Those women at the office, those neighbor boys who seem so nice, that elderly man who sits on his front porch, that cashier with the smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes…..these are the dead bones walking around, faking at life, grasping for abundance, but finding emptiness. Until the Spirit’s breath falls on them, making them new and alive to the Lord, they are dead….perhaps impressively adorned on the outside, but still dead. Are you willing to speak life over them?!

4) What is the conclusion of this incredible object lesson?
The same conclusion that was intended for Ezekiel and Israel is the same for you and I right now in our everyday moments. “That you shall know that I am the Lord.” He is the Almighty, He is for us, He is with us, and He delights in inviting us in to what He is doing in order to declare boldly through us to a sick and dying world that He alone is the Lord God Almighty! One, glorious day the Lord God will “open (our) graves, and raise (us) from the dead,” as He returns victoriously, once and for all declaring Death to be the loser and Life to be the eternal victor! Christ will come back, claim those who have trusted in Him as His own, and we will live with Him forever! Truly a miracle working God!

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I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

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

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

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

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Borders!