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The GT Weekend! ~ She, Week 3

November 18, 2023 by Rebecca Adams 2 Comments

The GT Weekend! ~ She, Week 3

Rebecca Adams

November 18, 2023

Anchored,Beauty,Courage,Dwell,Fruitfulness

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

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Hosea 6:1-3

Come, let’s return to the Lord. For he has torn us, and he will heal us; he has wounded us, and he will bind up our wounds. He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.

Let’s strive to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord God, I praise Your Name for being a God who would delay justice so You could place it on Your Son. I praise You for being the God who waits patiently for us to turn to you in repentance and godly grief over our sins. Lord, I ask you to increase conviction in my soul so I might see my sin and be repulsed by it instead of drawn in by its sultry allure. Call me ever deeper into fellowship with You!

I know that as You call me to walk out my friendship with You, You will be faithful to build Your kingdom in and through me. I desire obedience to Your way, Lord God! Help me to know You more deeply that I may walk out the roles You’ve given me for Your glory. Encourage me to look past the specifics of each role to see You as Lord and as the One for whom I truly serve. I love You, Lord, may this be evident in my everyday life this week!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Draw to mind some marriages you’ve observed that have positively impacted you. What characterizes those relationships? What do you admire? What are your thoughts regarding marriage in general? Would you say they are largely positive, negative, or neutral?

Spend a few minutes jotting down some beliefs you have about marriage, including why you think it’s important or not. We come with a lot of ideas about marriage, don’t we?! Likely, not every belief we hold about marriage aligns with God’s view. What then?

How willing are we to drop what we believe, or want to be true, about marriage in order to embrace the Lord’s design?
Oh, that’s a hard one isn’t it? And doesn’t it beg a deeper question?

What kind of God is the Lord who crafted marriage? Is He worthy of our trust when it comes to the purpose and manifestation of marriage in real life or do we hold the Bible’s perspectives to be archaic and unable to adequately communicate God’s “real” design for marriage?

Now we find ourselves at another foundational question! Can the Bible be trusted in whole, or do we have the freedom to pick and choose what we deem “true”? Turns out, how we approach marriage, and why, reveals an awful lot about our beliefs about God and the Bible.

Certainly food for thought this weekend! I’ll be spending some time in prayer and Scripture study; will you join me?!

JOURNAL TWO

Roll up your sleeves, take a big breath, grab your journal and pen, and decide to take on a challenge that will stretch you to know God more deeply! Settled and ready?!

First thing, pray, sister, pray for the Spirit of God to make His heart known to you. Ask Him for clarity, for understanding, and for endurance to keep wrestling with truth when you want to give up.

Okay, let’s get to work. Pick up that pen and write two headings at the top of your page, “Submission: My Ideas” and “Submission: God’s Ideas”. Told you we were in for a ride!

Go ahead and put down your thoughts. This is just between you and the Lord, and He desires honesty in the inmost places, so here’s your chance to be real with the God of the Universe about “submission”. When you finish, read back through your word lists and take note of the feelings that rise up in you as you read certain words.

What do you experience? Joy? Relief? Peace? Angst? Frustration? Maybe you could fill up one side easier than the other, or maybe, as you came to the “God Idea List”, you suddenly realized you weren’t really sure what God’s thoughts were about submission. Are you certain that what you wrote truly reflects His purpose and design?

Go back and read days 13 and 14 of Journey Into She from Wednesday and Thursday this week and see if any adjustments need to be made to your lists. Decide to talk through these things with a trusted, Jesus-following friend this week, or send us an email! We’d love to hear your wrestling thoughts about this important topic!

JOURNAL THREE

In the midst of our everyday lives, purposelessness seems to quickly gain ground over eternal perspective. Monotony, repetition, and a nagging question of, “does this matter?”, pull at the corners of our hearts if we sit still long enough to listen to what we try to silence with busyness.

Thankfully, the Lord assures us of two essential truths, 1) our labor for Him is never in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58), and 2) when we lean into His constantly present friendship, He is draws every nearer, giving us comfort, guidance, and reminding us of our purpose. (James 4:8) We may make our plans, but it’s the Lord who lovingly guides our steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

Every day, we have the opportunity to build, wisely investing, in the Lord’s eternal kingdom. Each day, we are given countless opportunities to build our kingdom or His; we will choose one of them. We are safeguarded to build for the Lord when we lean into Him, when we fear Him more than we fear people, when we love Him first, most, and best.

Consider the fearless faith of Puah and Shiphrah, of Lydia, and Jesus-followers around you who have impacted you, and ask yourself what it would look like to live a little more boldly today. Take some time this weekend and read the short Old Testament book of Nehemiah for practical encouragement on eternal kingdom building. Pair your reading with the GT Study Theme, Build, and make notes in your journal of ways the Lord is challenging you to be a She who Builds!
Tags :
hope,mission,purpose,role,she,women,worship
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Worship XII Day 11 Go Tell It On The Mountain
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Posted in: Anchored, Beauty, Courage, Dwell, Fruitfulness Tagged: hope, mission, purpose, role, she, women, worship

She Day 15 A She For The Kingdom

November 17, 2023 by Marietta Taylor 2 Comments

She Day 15 A She For The Kingdom

Marietta Taylor

November 17, 2023

Courage,Daughter,Encourage,Equipped,Faith,Humility,Identity,Kingdom,Legacy

Read His Words Before Ours!

Exodus 1:15-21
Luke 8:1-3
Acts 16:11-15
Jeremiah 31

“Why have you done this and let the boys live?”
(Exodus 1:18)

How dare the midwives, Puah and Shiphrah, defy Pharaoh’s command and not kill the Hebrew babies when they delivered them! Didn’t they realize he was king and therefore must operate in complete obedience to him? Had they no fear of the repercussions of their disobedience?

While they acknowledged Pharaoh as ruler, they submitted to one higher than him. God was their ultimate king. It was Him they honored, refusing to allow these babies’ blood to cry out to the Lord from the ground as Abel’s had done centuries earlier. (Genesis 4:1-16) They operated with the wisdom found in Job 28:28 “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom.”  Instead of bowing to tyranny, they embraced courage and strength to show God as The One and Only God.

Had they been in modern times, Matthew 10:28 might have guided them, “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Did Pharaoh punish them? Amazingly, he did not. Instead, their loving Father in heaven rewarded them. Not only did He prevent punishment, “Since the midwives feared God, He gave them families.” (Exodus 1:21)

God also blessed His beloved people by making them multiply and become numerous, (Exodus 1:20) in direct opposition to Pharaoh’s desire.
God loved His people and used the obedience of Shiphrah and Puah to put it on display.

Why is Jesus consorting with these women, who were once filled with evil spirits and sicknesses? (Luke 8:1-3)

Having women with “tainted” pasts in His close circle broke all social norms and Jewish tradition.

Can you imagine the looks and whispers?

Despite social norms, traditions, and opinions of others, these women provided tangible support for Jesus’ ministry. (Luke 8:3)

Joanna’s husband, Chuza, managed Herod’s estate; the same Herod who beheaded John the Baptist. (Mark 6:14) Joanna’s allegiance lay not with the Romans who ruled Israel on earth, but with the God who claimed Israel as His people and served as their True King. (Jeremiah 31:1) As she worshiped Yahweh, so she now worshiped Jesus, God in the flesh.

Despite Joanna’s connection with those who hated Jesus, her worship didn’t go unnoticed by the God who loved her first. (1 John 4:19) He gave her co-workers in ministry so she was not alone. And He rewarded her with the sweetest of privileges…

On Resurrection morning, the women went to Jesus’ tomb to prepare His body, but “…found
the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body
of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:2-3)

And then…

 “…suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes”, proclaiming, “He is not here, but He has risen!”

“Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest.  Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.”

 It makes my heart leap to think, these women, whom society had shunned and discarded, saw angels and were the first witnesses to the empty tomb, the evidence of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Bless the Lord!

He sees the broken and unwanted and calls them His own, using them for His glory and the good of His kingdom while lavishly demonstrating His love and care for them. What a God we serve!

“If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.”
(Acts 16:15)  

Lydia’s resume would read like this: God-fearing woman from Thyatira working in a male dominated industry selling luxury (purple) cloth. First female convert to Christianity. Baptized by Paul. (Acts 16:11-15) Home is a church and work base for Paul’s ministry in Asia. (Acts 16:40)

Lydia had no official leadership titles.
But she didn’t need them.
She was a God-fearing believer. Her capacity and willingness to lead and serve was born not from desire for accolades but from her love for and willingness to follow and obey God.

We’re never told specific “rewards” for Lydia. However, based on watching her in Scripture, I believe the Lord may have rewarded her with success in a mostly male industry alongside the abundantly satisfying joy of simply serving the God she had come to know and love by serving the Church.

Sister in the faith, Co-laborer for Christ, Ministry Partner and most importantly, Friend and Encourager

This description fits, none other than the President of Gracefully Truthful (GT), Rebecca Adams. She’s a homeschooling mom raising seven kids and awaiting the day to reunite with her eighth Treasure who preceded her to Heaven. She’s been married for over 20 years. She’s on staff at her local church. She founded GT and currently serves as the President of our board of directors.

But the role I hold most dear to my heart is as friend and encourager. We share some of the same life struggles. And we pray fervently for, and with, each other over those challenges, right alongside those of this ministry and the lives it touches.

Not only does she encourage me, she does the same for countless other women, serving as a mentor for many. She loves the Lord and His Word and she openly and lavishly shares that with others.

I wish each of you could know her personally, but you can “know her” through her writings at GT. You can see the depth of her faith and her joy in serving the Lord and His people.

You.

Culture would tell you to serve your own wants and purposes, but…
Looking at these “Shes”, it’s evident serving God should be our purpose.

It will look different for each of us, but as we submit to His plans for our lives,
He will guide and reward us for our obedience. And He’ll faithfully bring others alongside us for the journey to encourage us. As She, let’s commit to living His way!

Tags :
Brave,follow,kingdom,mission,purpose,she,Woman
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Recent Journeys

Worship XII Day 11 Go Tell It On The Mountain
December 4, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2
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She Day 15
Digging Deeper

Take the next few weeks and go on your own adventure through God’s narrative of beginnings! Read Genesis and Exodus, then fast forward to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, but read them chronologically (here’s a chapter guide for timeline reading!).

While many are reading narratives of Jesus’ birth leading up to Christmas, read the history of the people Christ came to save! See the devastation of their rebellion, and ours, that brought such a radical, unheard of gift like God Himself wrapped in flesh.

I guarantee that these four books will bring a fresh understanding of Christmas like never before!
Dig Deeper!

Can We Pray With You?

Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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Oct 30 - Nov 17, 2023 - Journey Theme #124

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Posted in: Courage, Daughter, Encourage, Equipped, Faith, Humility, Identity, Kingdom, Legacy Tagged: Brave, follow, kingdom, mission, purpose, she, Woman

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption

August 7, 2023 by Rebekah Hargraves Leave a Comment

Done Day 11 Reconciled Redemption

Rebekah Hargraves

August 7, 2023

Broken,Christ,church,Courage,Freedom,Justice,Kingdom

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 2:11-22
Luke 4:16-21
Galatians 3:27-29
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Isaiah 49:5-6

The past three years have been one of the most increasingly divisive seasons I have ever experienced in my country (the US) in my lifetime. Certainly, this was, in part, due to trauma we all experienced as a result of Covid. But another major aspect of this division hit the national spotlight following the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020. Racial injustice has been an on-going evil for generations, but when Floyd was killed on display for all to see, the ready-embers of injustice that had been growing hotter just below the surface, roared into view in a way none could continue to ignore. 

Today, claims of injustice – and attacks levied against those who dare to acknowledge and condemn injustice! – have reached a fever pitch. Derogatorily labeling people as “woke” or “liberal” as an excuse to ignore reality by refusing to look full into the face of oppression while erecting ever-higher racial dividing walls  has become commonplace in many circles – including Christians. 

My friends, this ought not be so.

Make no mistake, I’m not encouraging blind advocacy or any sociopolitical agenda with my words, I’m calling us to study and hold dear #HisWordsBeforeOurs; this requires Spirit-led discernment. But as followers of Christ, the One who referred to Himself as THE truth (John 14:6), one of most effective ways we demonstrate Christ’s love is by being “slow to speak and quick to listen” (James 1:19-20).

When we adhere to Christ’s teaching in this, the beautiful results are
we learn from others,
we actively pursue truth over opinion or prejudice, and
we cultivate the caring heart of Christ toward all who suffer injustice. 

These ideas of justice, freedom, and an end to oppression are foundational to the very nature of the Gospel itself. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus describes His mission by quoting Isaiah 61:1 as He stood in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-21):

“The Spirit of the LORD is on me,
because He has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor.” 

Anytime one nationality is set up against another as “better”….
Anytime people are divided along racial lines…
Anytime racism rears its ugly head…
The Gospel is to come in on the arms, ears, and lips of Love as the Bearer of Truth and a harbinger of Good News.

Not only are we all image bearers of God (Genesis 1:26-27), equal in God’s sight from the beginning, but the Gospel declares the restoration of what sin has ruined in our relationships with others. 

You see, not only does the Gospel have vertical implications (reconciling us to God, Galatians 3:27), but it has horizontal implications, as well as it reconciles us with one another. Early Church preacher and apostle Paul says in Galatians 3:28, “There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (emphasis mine) We are now one family, one Church; we have been reconciled to God and redeemed for His purposes. His grand purpose? To be His own Ambassadors of Reconciliation with one another as believers while carrying the Ministry of Reconciliation throughout the world. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

The Church.
US.
Harbingers of the Best News Ever.
Slashing through hate walls and barriers of injustice on the arms of love as we listen well and anchor our ready feet in the Gospel of the Savior who laid Himself down in humility to rescue us. (Ephesians 6:15)

Likewise, Ephesians 2:11-14 confirms, “So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called the ‘uncircumcised’ by those called ‘the circumcised,’ which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time, you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.”

Where human sinfulness erects divisions along ethnic, national, socioeconomic, and gender lines, the Gospel says, “No more.”

Psalm 62:10 declares God’s heart when he sings, “Place No Trust In Oppression.”
For His mercy triumphs and His mercy relentless pursues. (James 2:13 and Psalm 23:6, ESV)

Christ’s blood shed on the cross brought the eradication of our segregated lives,
separated by walls of hostility.

A divisive lifestyle has no place among those who bear the name of Christ, for it directly counters what He came to accomplish. Galatians 3:14 confirms, “The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

God desires His Church to be one holy, redeemed family, showing love, equality, justice, respect, and honor for each member. This is our mission, friends. This is how we operate, together, as the holy temple (Ephesians 2:21) and the holy nation (1 Peter 2:9-10) we have been created to be in Christ.

One practical way I have sought to live this out is to be a listening ear, practice proximity, and have a sense of curiosity. I no longer act as if I know everything and understand what others have been though. I am determined to listen to the lived experiences of others, to learn and discover what they have been through, and to prayerfully consider how I can be the hands and feet of Christ. 

It’s hard work sometimes, friends, but it is important.
I invite you to join me in the journey!

Tags :
gospel,justice,kingdom,mission,righteousness
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Worship XII Day 11 Go Tell It On The Mountain
December 4, 2023
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Done Day 12
Digging Deeper

At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.

Ephesians 2:12-14
Dig Deeper!

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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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Join a GT POD!

Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

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Posted in: Broken, Christ, church, Courage, Freedom, Justice, Kingdom Tagged: gospel, justice, kingdom, mission, righteousness

The GT Weekend! ~ Mission Week 3

May 27, 2023 by Katelyn Palmer Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Mission Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

May 27, 2023

Busy,Faith,Future,GT Weekend,Obedience,Worship

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

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

2 Peter 1:5-8, 10

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.”
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, every week You pour into my heart with these studies and this community of women seeking Your beautiful face. Thank you, Father, for the lessons on the enemy’s distraction tactics, for the reminder of the treasures found in Your heavenly call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14), and the prize of eternal life in Your magnificent presence (Jude 1:21).

I ask You now, God, to empower me to put the wisdom You’ve given me through Your Word and by Your Spirit into action! (2 Peter 1:7-8) I ask for Your help in honest reflection and refocusing my life on Your calling, Lord, when the enemy seeks to distract and disrupt. He is no match for You, Jehovah Rohi, my Shepherd, who leads me through the darkest valleys unto quiet waters and green pastures. (Psalm 23)

For who can offer greater comfort and to whom would I turn when You, alone, hold the words of eternal life? (John 6:68) You have my gratitude, Yahweh, simply for Your mercy, grace, and love, all of which I do not deserve and cannot earn.
In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Idolatry, busyness, and suffering are three universal distractions we all must battle against at some point.

Idolatry is the exaltation of something above God. It comes in all forms like the pull of relationships or binging the latest season of our favorite show; idolatry steals our worship.

Busyness appears when chores, careers, or overbooked social calendars take precedence over Christ, effectively killing our passionate love for Him.

Suffering, well, that’s an unavoidable piece of living in a sinful world! Either we allow suffering to destroy our relationship with God by blaming Him and growing bitter, or we surrender our suffering, allowing God to use it to deepen our understanding of Himself..

Sometimes, like in the case of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), it seems our hearts hold the right posture, but our actions prove otherwise as we place God second. The enemy is cunning and patient in his game of distraction. Thus, it becomes crucial we allow ourselves time to pause, reflect, and refocus regularly in our everyday life on Truth.

When we pause, we must practice stillness in God’s presence. When we reflect, we must do so with full honesty. When we refocus, we must fix our gazes straight ahead (Proverbs 4:25-27), forgetting our old patterns and reaching forward to what is ahead in Christ (Philippians 3:12-14). 

 

JOURNAL TWO

 

The Treasure Of Mission, as we learned this week, is two-fold. 1) Joy found in loving others as God loves us. 2) Fruit of our labor of love as the Lord brings others to Jesus as we build His kingdom through the Spirit’s power.

In His “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus commands us to lead others, teach others, and bring the knowledge of salvation to others. Not once does He tell us to seek fame and fortune, acceptance, or earthly rewards.

Ladies, the enemy has fostered a culture in which we are encouraged to place ourselves at the center of our universe; what a lonely life that makes! Jesus, however, came in the form of a servant, humble and obedient unto death on the cross. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Naturally, then, His commission for us will be to adopt the same attitude of humility and a life of serving others. Notice, also, that His commission requires action. We often talk about God’s Word without acknowledging His Word is active.

Jesus’ disciple, Peter, offers a great reminder that our knowledge and wisdom in Christ is meant to bring forth fruit! (2 Peter 1:7-8) We are expected to use the wisdom God provides to build and strengthen His kingdom by His power for His glory!

JOURNAL THREE

On Jesus’ last day before returning to heaven, He gave His disciples one last set of instructions: make disciples, baptize, and teach. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Upon Jesus’ coming return when He will make all things new and washes away this broken world, our mission of making disciples, baptizing, and teaching will be complete. (Revelation 21:1-5) We don’t know when that will be, but we do know Jesus will come to repay us for the labor we do in His name. (Revelation 22:12)

As we wait, we must prepare ourselves by submitting to God’s will in our lives, humbling ourselves before Him as Jesus did even unto death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-11), and remain “steadfast, immovable, excelling in the Lord’s work” (1 Corinthians 15:58). At the time of Jesus’ return, let us be among those who claim the truth of Revelation 19:7-8, “…the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.”

Let us be counted as God’s people, dwelling with Him in the new Jerusalem, experiencing life without death, pain, or suffering! (Revelation 21:1-5) May we enjoy the abundance of our long-awaited inheritance (Revelation 21:6-7) and enter the holy city by the gates (Revelation 22:14).
Tags :
busyness,idolatry,life,mission,purpose,worship
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Recent Journeys

Worship XII Day 11 Go Tell It On The Mountain
December 4, 2023
The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XII, Week 2
December 2, 2023
Worship XII Day 10 Joy To The World: Digging Deeper
December 1, 2023

Join Us On The Journey!

Want encouragement
on the daily?
Registration gives you free, every day access to encouragement, weekly worship prompts, and daily Bible study that applies to real life.
Journey On!

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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

  • prayer@gracefullytruthful.com
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May 8 - May 26, 2023 - Journey Theme #118
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Posted in: Busy, Faith, Future, GT Weekend, Obedience, Worship Tagged: busyness, idolatry, life, mission, purpose, worship

Mission Day 15 Mission Accomplished: Digging Deeper

May 26, 2023 by Patty Scott Leave a Comment

Mission Day 15 Mission Accomplished: Digging Deeper

Patty Scott

May 26, 2023

Alive,Faith,Glory,Joy,Welcome,Worship

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Mission Accomplished"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Revelation 19:1-9

After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands.

3 A second time they said, Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever! 4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah!

5 A voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all his servants, and the ones who fear him, both small and great!

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!

7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What does this passage tell us about the end of time? (verses 1-9)

At the end of time, God will destroy sin and the source of sin. In verse 2, God judges the “notorious prostitute” referencing the actual city of Babylon. More deeply, however, the Lord God is judging the symbol of what Babylon stands for within the broader scope of Scripture. Babylon represents the highest symbol for immorality and the chief seat of idolatry. (Got Questions)

The word used for prostitute in the Greek is porne, signifying “a prostitute, a harlot, one who yields herself to defilement for the sake of gain.” (Studylight.org) In conveying judgment over Babylon, God proclaims judgment over all idolatry, meaning all things that counter the right rule and reign of the Lord God.

All manner of worship of anything or anyone that does not worship the One True God will be eliminated until all that remains is a harmonious and cooperative worship of His goodness and power and salvation in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24)

Following this true and righteous judgment, there will be a wedding feast to celebrate the final victory of the consummation between the Bride (the Church made up of genuine believers in Jesus) and Christ. (Revelation 21:12-17)

The Everyday Application

1) What does this passage tell us about the end of time? (verses 1-9)

From God’s preserved words in Revelation 21:4, we know important details about the end of linear time on earth when all tears will be wiped away. Sin, and the source of sin, will be eliminated once and for all. We can’t fathom what this will be like while we live so entangled by the fleshly desires of sin that battle to overtake us. (Hebrews 12:1, Galatians 5:17)

To ask a fish to imagine a non-aqueous life would be beyond comprehension; we are that fish living in a world of sin. To ask us to imagine a life free from sin, both ours and the sin around us, in others and the world, is unfathomable.

Regardless of our ability to comprehend the magnitude of this existence, we surely will experience freedom we have never imagined. There will be joy, abounding love, pervasive peace, and a complete absence of all things rooted in the broken emptiness of sin. No longer will we harbor fear, act selfishly, or endure the hardship that comes from oppression or addiction. We will, at last, be unhindered.

True to His faithful Word and character, Jesus will complete everything He has promised. The “end of the age” is earmarked for complete restoration and full redemption. Those of us who have chosen to accept God’s invitation to join Him in sweet relationship will be fully with Him face to face while also enjoying the perfect, unified joy of relationship with one another as believers in Jesus. No sin will encumber us; death and suffering will simply cease to exist, forever swallowed up by life! (2 Corinthians 5:4)

This knowledge of what is to come and will last forever is what made Paul unable to say whether it is better to live or die. (Philippians 1:21-24) This confident knowing allowed Paul and James to encourage us to persevere in suffering because we recognize troubles are truly light and momentary when held against the backdrop of the beautiful, promising reality of eternity with Jesus. (James 1:2-4; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

The Original Intent

2) What is the appropriate response to God’s just actions? (verses 1-9)

This passage is filled with images of complete, unadulterated worship in spirit and truth. Nothing detracts the worshippers from the object of their delighted adoration, The Lord God.

The people worship with their whole bodies, falling down as their mouths can’t help but proclaim, “Hallelujah!” as they join together with angels, elders, four living creatures, and the whole Body of Christ. Together, with one united voice that sounds like rushing waters with a thunderous roar, they worship the Only One Worthy of Worship. (verse 6)

Every praise, and cry of faith when we cannot see, we have given to the Lord God in our time on earth points forward to this eternal refrain of victorious “Hallelujah!”.

Our response to the culmination of God’s promises is deep, unified worship alongside every other believer in heaven and on earth. Unfathomable!

The Everyday Application

2) What is the appropriate response to God’s just actions? (verses 1-9)

One glorious day, all true believers will worship with our bodies and voices in response to the flawless beauty of God Almighty. (Revelation 4:8) Until then, we are still called to worship the Lord with our whole lives.

Romans 12:1-2 describes the call on Christ-followers to give themselves, together with each other, as a unified “living sacrifice”, which is our “true worship”.  This happens practically as we pattern our everyday lifestyles in a manner reflecting genuine heart-worship. As we wait for Jesus to fulfill all His promises, we worship Him with hope, assured of the Life that is certain to come; we worship in faith, looking with eyes that see what is yet unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

When the end of time has come and we are united with Him and other believers, free from all sin, we will worship in pure spirit and sheer love. Nothing will hold us back from giving God all glory He deserves for Who He is and what He has accomplished for us. We will delight in Him as a bride delights in her beloved husband and He will receive us as a husband delighting in His Bride whom He has desired and given everything for.

Knowing this deep love of God and the future that awaits us, results in worship even now. We don’t wait for the end to worship the Timeless God, even though we, along with all creation, groan inwardly for the end of suffering and Jesus’ soon return. (Romans 8:22-25, Revelation 22:20) We can choose worship now. Our hosannas, “God save us,” become our hallelujahs “Praise the Lord!” when we worship in faith with our eyes set firmly on the “yet to come”. We no longer cry out for God to do this or do that, instead, we choose worship simply because of His good, gracious, kind, just character that we know will one day right all things.

The Original Intent

3) How is the Bride to prepare herself now in preparation for the Groom’s coming at the end of time? (verse 7)

Matthew 28:16-20 records Jesus’ clear missional plan for Christ-followers, “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. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


Christ’s mission encompasses at least four missional directives for the global Church as we await His return, but each are wrapped within His overarching command to simply and profoundly love God and love others. (Matthew 22:37-40) One simple mission requiring a lifetime of discipline and surrender to the Spirit.

Christ commands us to 1) make disciples of all nations, 2) baptize believers in the Name of the Triune God, 3) teach believers to follow Jesus, and 4) remember we are never accomplishing Christ’s mission without Him.

In Jesus’ day, sought-after teachers were surrounded by followers who adhered to their teaching; these were disciples. In appointing His own disciples as “disciple makers”, Jesus was giving them His authority as teacher. Just as they had learned from Him, so they were to invite others to learn from them. (1 Corinthians 11:1, John 15:16)

In Scripture, a person’s “name” represented the wholeness of their character. To baptize into another’s name was an alignment with their character. Christ assigned believers to be baptized, set apart, for the mission of living according to His Name as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No part of God, His character, or His mission could be excluded from this appointing. (Isaiah 43:7, Revelation 3:12)

In His earthly ministry, Christ was known as Teacher. (Luke 18:18) He stated He was our example, teaching us how to love others in the pattern of how God loves us. (John 13:15) Christ alone is the Good Teacher; none compare to Him.

Christ concludes His commission to mission with a command to remember His constant presence; He is with us “to the end of the age”. (Matthew 28:20) Though He was sending His disciples out as “sheep among wolves”, His presence would comfort, guide, and protect. Christ, the promised Messiah, proved to be Immanuel, “God With Us”. (Isaiah 7:14)

The Everyday Application

3) How is the Bride to prepare herself now in preparation for the Groom’s coming at the end of time? (verse 7)

Disciple. We are to testify of Jesus to the world around us for the purpose of demonstrating what it looks like to follow Jesus in real life. Would you follow a fitness guru who lived on pizza and ice cream while channel surfing? No. Neither should we expect “disciples” to follow us as we lead them to Jesus unless we are authentically practicing following Jesus ourselves.

Baptize. In baptizing others, we are helping new believers take their first step of obedience in following Jesus as they publicly declare their faith and alignment with God’s name, character, and mission. Baptism represents the internal decision an individual has made to die to their old pattern of sin and live a new life by walking in the mission of Christ by His powerful Spirit.

Teach. We are to teach believers, one another, to observe everything Jesus commanded in His Word. This necessitates being intimately familiar with His teachings and choosing to consistently walk in them while leaving ourselves transparently open to accountability within the context of biblical community.

Remember. God is a present God and there is nowhere we can escape His presence. (Psalm 139:7-12) Sometimes it feels as if God is remote and detached, especially when we face struggles for following Him. Christ’s words remind us to hold to the truth that He is a “with us” God. He intimates this truth by telling us His sheep hear His voice. We know we belong to Him and have cultivated a relationship with Him when we hear and recognize His voice in our spirits as we seek to follow Him. He is near; His presence is marked with gentleness! (Philippians 4:5)

We do not serve a God who came and left, but a God who is present and active. When we remember this, we do not rely on ourselves to live out His mission, but rest upon his constant presence.

Tags :
death,hope,life,mission,purpose,victory
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Journey Study

As we re-orient the worship of our lives, we will discover what Keller, Riley, and countless others have embraced.

Regardless of the number of our days, the satisfaction of our mission is bound up within the joy of intimate knowledge of the Holy One as we lay our lives before Him in surrendered worship.
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Posted in: Alive, Faith, Glory, Joy, Welcome, Worship Tagged: death, hope, life, mission, purpose, victory

Mission Day 15 Mission Accomplished

May 26, 2023 by Rebecca Adams 1 Comment

Mission Day 15 Mission Accomplished

Rebecca Adams

May 26, 2023

Alive,Relationship,Rescue,Victorious,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 23
John 10:1-5
Revelation 19:1-9
1 Corinthians 15:53-58

If there’s a topic we’d rather not dwell on, it’s death.
We pull away from feelings of loss, grief, and sadness, putting it off for “later in life”, secretly hoping to die peacefully in our sleep. Remembering our lives are fleeting and no one escapes the finality of death is a thought we’d prefer not to embrace.

Still; reality remains.
Death is coming.
One day, likely when we least expect, Death will have the final word over our earthly existence.

Perhaps, like every other aspect of following Jesus, our minds need to be renewed by
Life Himself in order to gain a right perspective on life and death.  (Romans 12:2)

The world urges us to seize the day,
manipulating us into believing today is the gift,
and it’s all we have.
Armed with this faulty belief system, we miss not only the purpose of now,
but also entirely eclipse the reality yet to come,
as well as the Giver Himself.

Life’s true purpose is inextricably bound up within an intimate relationship with the very source of Life Himself, the Triune God.

The often-missed secret to a spectacularly satisfying life is laying our life upon the foundation of worshiping the Creator rather than ourselves and our desires. (Romans 1:25) When we release our façade of control we find the freedom to flee fear, dis-entangle from sin, and find fulfillment, not in achievement, but in surrender.

Genuine Christ-followers, having arrived at the end of their days, ready to embrace the full reality of the richest life yet to come, recognize the familiarity of joy found in their last minutes. Its source isn’t knowing they have “checked every box”, but rather that all the boxes have been checked for them by Jesus, the One to whom they have run towards and delighted in through worship.

One week ago at the time of this publishing, Pastor and author, and most importantly genuine Christ-follower, Tim Keller, died on earth and awoke to the real life for which he’d been living for decades. Some of his last words earth-side were, “There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.”

Like the five virgins in Jesus’ parable who eagerly awaited Jesus’ return (Matthew 25:1-13), Keller was ready for death because he had firmly set the course of his life upon worshipping the Author of Life while waiting for the life that would not end.

When the mercy and goodness of God that had pursued him his whole life, finally caught him, Death was forever slain for him and he eagerly rejoiced. (Psalm 23:6) His mission of worship was not only accomplished on earth, it would continue in radiant glory for eternity to come as he welcomed an in-person, face-to-face worship that would ceaselessly endure forever.

A life committed to worship and marked by eagerness for life after death isn’t reserved for pastors but is available to all who follow Jesus.

Recently, a young woman from my church was brutally murdered. According to the onlooking world, her whole life was ahead of her. Which is true, but in a much different sense. Unlike Keller, Riley had lived most of her life in rebellion against the God who had surrendered Himself for her. She never authored a book, pastored a church, or studied at seminary, but one decision changed the theme of her life’s song. (Psalm 119:54)

Months before she died, Riley chose Jesus and her worship radically shifted off herself and onto the God who desired a relationship with her. With her mind renewed by the Spirit of God, she began sharing the Hope of Jesus. Roommates, coworkers, and neighbors who had never heard of the transformation offered by Jesus who came to pay the penalty accrued by our sin, now saw Jesus reflected in the worship-focus of Riley’s changed life.

As Riley breathed her last on earth, she was welcomed with the same celebration Keller received. Her mission on earth was accomplished, but her life of face-to-face worship was just beginning!

As we re-orient the worship of our lives, we will discover what Keller, Riley, and countless others have embraced. Regardless of the number of our days, the satisfaction of our mission is bound up within the joy of intimate knowledge of the Holy One as we lay our lives before Him in surrendered worship.

Perhaps there is no more beautiful picture of adoring, breathless worship than what is portrayed in Revelation 4 as angelic beings ceaselessly cry afresh, “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God the Almighty Worship, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8) If you haven’t read the whole scene and imagined yourself there to join the worship in person, you’re missing out! Go read Revelation 4!

Wherever you are in your faith journey today, decide to shift your focus.
Choose to place your worship solely on the Only One Worthy of it in the first place.
Then get excited, and eagerly anticipate the Forever Face-To-Face Life that will begin when this earthly life ends.

“Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent (life on earth),
burdened as we are,
because we do not want to be unclothed (
without Real Life)
but clothed (with Real Life),
so that mortality
(Death!) may be swallowed up by Life. 
Now the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God,
who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.”

(2 Corinthians 5:4-5, commentary mine)

 

Our purposed mission by God’s design is life with Him,
made available because of Christ’s sacrifice and His Spirit alive within us.
When we breathe our last on earth, Mission Accomplished is just beginning!

Tags :
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Digging Deeper

When the end of time has come and we are united with Him and other believers, free from all sin, we will worship in pure spirit and sheer love. Nothing will hold us back from giving God all glory He deserves for Who He is and what He has accomplished for us.

We will delight in Him as a bride delights in her beloved husband and He will receive us as a husband delighting in His Bride whom He has desired and given everything for.
Dig Deeper!

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Posted in: Alive, Relationship, Rescue, Victorious, Worship Tagged: death, life, mission, purpose, victory, worship

Mission Day 13 The Treasure Of Mission

May 24, 2023 by Rebekah Hargraves Leave a Comment

Mission Day 13 The Treasure Of Mission

Rebekah Hargraves

May 24, 2023

Called,Faith,Glory,Hope,Joy,Purpose

Read His Words Before Ours!

2 Peter 1:3-10
1 Timothy 2:1-6
Jude 1:17-23 
Deuteronomy 28:9-10
Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus’ final instructions to His followers before ascending into heaven are known as the Great Commission: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) 

This, friends, is our mission in life, our greatest calling, and one important reason we are not instantly transported to Heaven the moment we are saved. We have been tasked with seeing those who need rescuing from the bondage of sin and death and making sure they know the truth about the love of God in Christ for them. 

Similarly, we see in 2 Peter 1:7-8 that we are to combine “brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

What does this tell us? 
It teaches us that the good news of salvation in Christ is not something we are to selfishly keep to ourselves. Rather, we are to be effective and fruitful in our knowledge of our Lord. 

How? 
By joyfully sharing the hope of Christ’s life of service, propitiatory death on our behalf, and sin-conquering resurrection, ensuring we too have eternal victory (Mark 10:45), with others through brotherly love and concern for their spiritual well-being.

This joy is the treasure and reward of our day-to-day Great Commission work.
All too often in this age of social media platforms and online ministry, we are deceived into thinking the treasure of this mission, the reward we must seek, is fame, popularity, and the esteem of our “followers.”

But nothing could be further from the truth. 

Our mission is not about us. It is not about making our name famous, receiving an earthly reward, or patting ourselves on the back for a “job well done.”

No, this mission – if we truly understand it and live it out faithfully! – is all about others understanding just how deeply the Father loves them and coming to faith in Christ. Knowing we are being used by God to help bring others into His kingdom is a treasure sweeter, more fulfilling, and above and beyond anything else we could ever imagine.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:44-46, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.” 

The kingdom of God is a treasure worth more
than anything else and sharing it with others is our greatest joy.
 

This perspective is everything!
If we seek to fulfill the Great Commission from this viewpoint, suddenly, we see people in need of Jesus at every turn. 

Suddenly, our love for them grows infinitely, making it impossible for us to withhold the good news of the love and grace of Jesus. 

Suddenly, the joy of sharing in God’s divine rescue work is so life-giving it becomes second nature. (Jude 1:17-23)  

Maybe you are reading these words, though, and wondering how we can invest in this treasure. How can we grow in our love for people and our desire to share with them the good news of the Gospel?

Well, friend, it all begins with prayer. When we pray for someone, our love for them grows, as does our Spirit-led guidance for how and when to share truth with them. (Romans 10:1)

1 Timothy 2:1-4 says, 
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”

So, friend, what are you waiting for? Let your knees hit the floor as you cry out to God for a Jesus-inspired love for your fellow image bearers and the opportunity to share with them about Jesus. Then get ready; God will do an amazing work in and through you! 

Tags :
hope,joy,mission,purpose,treasure
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Digging Deeper

If we don’t supplement our faith, the danger is that we might become useless or unfruitful. We cannot fulfill God’s plans and purposes for our lives if we don’t progress and move forward in our faith (Ephesians 4:11-15).

If we are stagnant, we are not growing more like Christ and our lives are not a good witness of God’s power.
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Posted in: Called, Faith, Glory, Hope, Joy, Purpose Tagged: hope, joy, mission, purpose, treasure

The GT Weekend! ~ Mission, Week 2

May 20, 2023 by Carol Graft Leave a Comment

The GT Weekend! ~ Mission, Week 2

Carol Graft

May 20, 2023

church,Clothed,Community,Faithfulness,Hope

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

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Philippians 2:5-8

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord, I come before you humble, I hope.
I come before you contrite.
Please show me any instances where I’ve lacked love for others today. I plead for conviction; increase my desire to be holy like You are holy. Forgive me, Lord Jesus, and teach me, Spirit, to follow Your ways.

Thank You for making my life on purpose to live on mission with You. Keep teaching me to daily lean on Your sufficiency by walking according to Your word. Show me how to serve others more than I serve myself. Show me how to link arms in mission with other believers so the world may know You.

Fill me with the sweet fruit of Your Spirit as Your love leads my heart to engage others with the same grace, mercy, and kindness You have shown me. May Your love be evident in me today, through my words, thoughts, and actions. I live for You!

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Jesus’ final words to His disciples instructed those who were gathered around Him to go. Those who had entrusted their lives to the Savior of the world were not just instructed to go back to their homes, but out into all the world. They were to live on mission, teaching others to follow Jesus just as they had been taught. As Bri and Carol reminded us on Monday, authentically fulfilling the mission Christ has commissioned us with means loving genuinely and sharing the whole of the gospel message without strong-arming others or condemning them.

Our mission for Christ is not a mandate to travel to a foreign country outside of our own, although the Lord of the Harvest may lead us there in His time and His way. Our mission begins at home with our neighbors, our friends, the strangers we regularly see, and even those who are hard to love.

Who are the ones Jesus wants you to truly see this week? What open door opportunities is He giving you so you can trustingly share Hope and Love with those who need Him?
JOURNAL TWO

Stacy led us through 2 Timothy 2:1 as she emphasized how Paul and Timothy’s family-like relationship wonderfully reflects the relationship we are to share with fellow believers in Jesus. Timothy lightened Paul’s load, Paul modeled following Jesus to his “son in the faith”, and both were deeply encouraged by one another. What a gift to belong to the family of God!

Though these two men differed in age, season in life, and experiences, they both shared the same Holy Spirit living inside them. I have experienced this precious gift of encouragement through teaching one younger than myself in the faith, as well as being encouraged and challenged by someone farther ahead of me spiritually.

When we choose to partner together with other believers in this way, the mission of Christ can only be blessed! Consider who the Lord might be calling you to live authentically alongside as a “Paul” or “Timothy” in order that the body of Christ might be strengthened and encouraged!

JOURNAL THREE

We are not designed to live out God’s purposeful mission for our lives alone. It is a gift and a blessing to work alongside others pursuing the same goal to reach others for Christ. True, God created us all different with a wide, beautiful variety of gifts, abilities, and experiences; these are purposefully intended in order to complement one another and reach more together than we would as individuals. (Romans 12:3-8)

Linking arms with other believers strengthens our faith when we feel it’s dwindling. When we work together with one another while keeping our focus on Jesus, we demonstrate the beauty of unity and love that Christ intends. If we are working alone, we can easily become caught up in the practicality of mission with plans and programs, derailing our focus from worshipping Christ.

When we serve with others, we are open to accountability as we remind one another to not make idols of the Lord’s mission. Who will you partner with this week on mission as the Lord has called you?  
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Posted in: church, Clothed, Community, Faithfulness, Hope Tagged: life, mission, power, purpose, spirit

Mission Day 10 The Light Of Mission

May 19, 2023 by Lesley Crawford 2 Comments

Mission Day 10 The Light Of Mission

  • Lesley Crawford
  • May 19, 2023
  • 2 Comments
Reflection, Rescue, Restored, Together, Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 28:16-20
Psalm 1
John 15:1-5
1 Peter 4:8-11
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

I wonder, what comes to mind when you think about mission? 

Maybe your thoughts turn to events and activities. These are certainly a part of a mission. Over the years, I’ve been involved in many missional activities like work in schools, youth camps, community meals and outreach events with my church, which have often been effective.

However, these activities are only one aspect of Christ’s mission. At its heart, the mission is fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples, baptise them, and teach them to obey His commands. (Matthew 28:16-20)

I’ve learned how important it is to keep a correct focus as we attempt to reach others with the Hope of Christ. It can be easy to get caught up in practicalities, planning, and programmes, or become overly-concerned with how much of a success our activities seem to be. The danger is becoming so focused on the activities, we forget the heart of the mission, or our experience makes us so competent in ourselves we end up relying on our own strength and wisdom instead of looking to God.

To correct course, we must remember this is not our mission, but God’s. As Tommy MacNeil expresses it in his book Sleeping Giant, “The mission of the Church is God’s mission, and we are His partners in that cause. Mission flows from the heart of God, through the people of God, to the world. This means that mission must shift in our thinking from being an activity the Church engages in (or not) to being the core of who we are as God’s people.” (pg 58)

When we recognise it is God’s work which we have the privilege of participating in, we realize we cannot accomplish it in our own strength. 

We must do it His way, in His strength, motivated by His love, and there are a few practical steps we can take to do that.

One is to look to Jesus.
When we consider His example of mission, it is striking that He genuinely cared about others. He was never motivated by a desire to prove Himself. He had real compassion for those who were struggling and lost. (Matthew 9:36) As we look to Him, we can embrace His compassion for us, which allows His compassion for others to flow through us, reaching the point where, as early preacher and teacher Paul puts it, “the love of Christ compels us.” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

Motivation matters.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes that whatever good deeds we may do for God, and no matter how gifted we may be, if we fail to love, our work counts for nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Paul’s fellow apostle, Peter, writes we should seek to maintain constant love “above all.” (1 Peter 4:8)

One must spend time in God’s Word.
Meditating on Scripture allows His light to shine on our hearts and our motivations before we attempt to share Him with others. The writer of Hebrews points out that God’s Word penetrates to the depth of our souls; “It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

A desire to see God glorified.
Psalm 1 describes those who delight in the Lord and meditate on His Word as being like “a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3) 
Jesus used similar imagery when describing Himself as the vine and His disciples as the branches. Just as the branches can only bear fruit if they remain joined to the vine, we can only be fruitful if we remain in Him. (John 15:4-5)

Prayerful Participation
A key component of Christ’s mission involves the essential step of prayer. 
We must pray for ourselves and our heart motivations, for God to be glorified,
for His Spirit to make our work effective for His mission, and for those to whom we hope to witness, that their eyes would be opened to God that they might call on Him, know Him, and walk in His light.

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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14