opportunity

Focus Day 1 Do I Really Want To Follow Jesus?

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Read His Words Before Ours!

I Kings 3:3-15
Proverbs 1
James 1:1-18

Focus, Day 1

If you could be granted one wish,
for what would you ask?

King Solomon was given such an opportunity.
He encountered God in a dream where the Lord asks, “What should I give you?”

We don’t know if Solomon pondered this for some time, or if he just came out with it, but we know he asked God for wisdom. Of all the things Solomon could have requested, he asked for wisdom: something intangible and internal versus a thing of earthly value and external form. 

The Lord granted his humble (and wise!) request and Solomon went on to wisely rule God’s people while increasing in wealth and fame, he then penned Proverbs, taking truths given him by the grace gift of God and making them available to everyone. In the opening chapter of Proverbs, Solomon directs us to both the Source of wisdom and the path on which to find it: “the fear of the Lord.”

God is the Source of wisdom;
fearing Him is the path on which we find it. 

Fearing God can be a biblical concept with much confusion surrounding it. I appreciate the way R.C. Sproul draws from Martin Luther’s explanation of biblical fear of God when he quotes Luther:

[The one who fears God] has a fear or an anxiety of offending the one he loves, not because he’s afraid of torture or even of punishment, but rather because he’s afraid of displeasing the one who is, in that child’s world, the source of security and love.

Fear of God is a grasp of both God’s love AND His power that informs the kind of respectful, awe-filled fear we are to hold for Him. This posture toward God is the starting line on the path of wisdom.

The book of James, which we will be studying for the next several weeks, fills in the proverbial skeleton Solomon sketched for us on what wisdom from God looks like in the everyday life of the believer.

In the first chapter, James describes how the quest for wisdom begins by asking for it, just like Solomon did. And, just as God gave to Solomon, so He will give wisdom to us.
Only here in James, God provides qualifiers on how He will give wisdom: generously and without finding fault to the one who asks in faith, without doubting.  (James 1:5)

If you’re anything like me, you are pumped when you read God’s promise to give you wisdom generously, but nearly immediately sink, crestfallen, when immediately following, you read how the one asking must not waver in faith.

I tend to expect the worst while hoping for the best with fingers crossed for extra, superstitious good measure. Not exactly the poster-child for God honoring faith. 

I think part of my finger crossing comes from my own double mindedness as James references in verse 8. I have divided loyalties. God’s wisdom vs mine.

You see, the goal of the world’s wisdom is to avoid pain and be promised prosperity.
The goal of God’s wisdom is a steadfast abiding with Him no matter what our lot holds.

When James exhorts wisdom seekers not to be “double-minded,” he is telling us not to vacillate between the world’s wisdom and God’s wisdom.

Later in the book of James, we will see how peace accompanies God’s wisdom.
One of the qualities of a peace-maker, something God calls all His children to be, is wisdom. The two work in tandem. 

Many know James to be a book of “to-do’s.” If that’s the case, I make the case that here in the first 18 verses, he is essentially saying,
“In all that you do, do wisely that which promotes peace.
And, as you seek to apply God’s wisdom to pursue peace,
it is going to take you through trials, in which you’re going to need a
whole lot of endurance!”

If like Solomon, I was given the opportunity to ask for anything from God, I must admit my default is asking for a pain free life.
My divided loyalties are showing….

I ask God, but I move forward shakily NOT because God has withheld wisdom, but because
I don’t always want the wisdom HE supplies.

Because God’s wisdom, while promoting peace, does NOT always promote a pain free life.

Divided loyalties.
And I must decide….

Do I really want to follow Jesus?

Do I want my comfort more than I want to look at the cross and remember why walking in the fear of God, the beginning of wisdom, is worth it every time?

More often, I want my ease more than I want God to be glorified.
I want success as the world defines it, not a steadfast spirit.
I want escape from trial, not endurance within it.

As we delve deeper into the book of James,
I pray our minds will be renewed and our hearts transformed
to see the lasting beauty and goodness of pursuing wisdom that comes from God.

I’m praying His Spirit will gently, yet definitively, reveal where and how we are being double minded, holding onto our divided loyalties.
These divisions that steal life despite their promise of comfort, peace and ease.

Only one can give those gifts.
Jesus.

Do we really want to follow Him?

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Open Day 12 Messy Hope: 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 Messy Hope!

The Questions

1) What are the rights Paul is referring to?

2) Who is Paul preaching to and what does it mean to preach?

3) What is the prize at the end of the race?

1 Corinthians 9:15-27

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Original Intent

1) What are the rights Paul is referring to?
In the beginning of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul goes into detail about the rights he has given up. Paul, even as an apostle, didn’t walk with Jesus while He was on earth. After Jesus had been crucified and risen and ascended back to Heaven, Jesus appeared to Paul (then Saul) as he actively persecuted Christ followers. After his conversion, Paul stopped at nothing to preach the gospel, even though it meant giving up everything. Paul gave up his freedom in many ways and at times, even gave up food and drink to reach those who were dying without a Savior. He didn’t seek financial support from local churches to supply his monetary needs and he also surrendered his right to be married.  He lived out his days as a servant of the Lord, never reaping the harvest of his efforts, not being paid, but rather, doing it all so others could experience the joy of knowing Jesus. These are the rights Paul is referring to, and he willingly gave them up for the opportunity to see the Gospel advanced. To Paul, sharing the Good News of Jesus was worth giving up every right he had.

2) Who is Paul preaching to and what does it mean to preach?
Paul is literally referring to preaching or sharing the Good News of the Gospel with the words he uses. He is preaching of Jesus and what He did for all of humanity by sacrificing Himself and surrendering His rights for us in our place. We deserved death as just consequence for our sin, but Christ took on our punishment at the cross by dying our death for us. This is the good news of the gospel! Paul realized the call to preach this beautiful truth was not only to those He knew or was like, but to the world. 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 lists who Paul preached to. He preached to Jews, to those under the law, to those not under the law, and to the weak. He also states, “he became all things to all people.” In other words, there is no one Paul was unwilling to share the Gospel with. All are lost without Jesus and all need to hear about the eternal hope and life offered through Christ!

3) What is the prize at the end of the race?
The Corinthians were no stranger to races. They would have been familiar with them due largely to the Isthmian games. Typically, at the end of the race the winning runner was awarded a medal. During the games, the Corinthians would have been familiar with the winner receiving a crown made from plants or trees. This crown would eventually fade and die as the leaves withered. Paul, instead, says his efforts are not for nothing like a crown that shrivels in a few days, rather Paul races for a crown that will last forever. Paul is running a race and he already knows what the end holds, he knows his future. He knows he will eventually be welcomed into the presence of God. Paul is telling his audience he will continue to run the race God has called him to run the best he can regardless of the cost because he knows what the future holds. He rests assured in his salvation and the fact that he will one day be welcomed home.

Everyday Application

1) What are the rights Paul is referring to?
Paul gave up many of his rights in order to see the Gospel furthered, but what does that mean for us? Are we expected to give up our freedom, our food and drink, the opportunity to marry, etc.? God does not call every believer to give up the exact same rights Paul gave up, but He does call us to give up rights. In each believer’s life, the call to follow Jesus will look different. Some of us will literally be called to move away from the comforts of our lives in order to live in another place to share the Gospel. Some of us will give away our time and resources in great capacity, while others may be asked to literally give up their freedom. We turn over or give up the entirety of ourselves to Jesus when we surrender our lives to Him. We give Him full control and follow Him where He leads. I can’t tell you what rights you will give up to follow Jesus, but I promise that if you are following Him there will be sacrifices and you will often be pushed outside your comfort zone in order to share the Good News of Jesus. It won’t always be comfortable, but it will always be worth it!

2) Who is Paul preaching to and what does it mean to preach?
Often, when we hear the word “preach” we think of what the pastor does on Sunday morning at church and we automatically disqualify ourselves because “we are not a preacher”.  However, this is not the preaching Paul is referencing. Paul preached, or shared the Gospel message of Jesus, with anyone and everyone he could in whatever way he was able. He wrote letters to churches, he shared with jailers who were in charge of him, and he spoke of Jesus to countless others who God put in his path.  We are called to do the same. There isn’t a person on earth who is unworthy of hearing the message of Jesus. Jesus came and died for all and we are to share that hope with all those God puts in our path. I challenge you to look around and see who you have the opportunity to share Jesus with. It may be the new student at school, a friend whose been in your life for years, a co-worker, a family member, or someone God puts in your path during a service opportunity or mission trip. The day we accept Jesus as Savior from our sin, we become preachers of the Gospel. Who is it God is calling you to preach to?!

3) What is the prize at the end of the race?
When we think of races today we tend to think of medals to be won. The winner always receives a prize. However, Paul talks about a prize we can all achieve. During our race as believers we are all called to keep running the race before us. Our race is not going to look like another believer’s race because God equips and uses us all in different ways. However, the point of the race is to keep going and striving for the end. Paul encouraged the Corinthians, and us, to keep running “to get a crown that will last forever”. Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “The brightest jewel in the incorruptible crown is the joy of having become all God made us to become, of perfectly fulfilling the end of our creation, of being able to find happiness in goodness, in closest fellowship with God, in promoting what Christ lived and died to promote.” It’s the day we finally stand before our Father in Heaven and hear the words the master said in The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:23, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.” That moment when we are finally home and welcomed into His presence for eternity, this is the crown for which we run! Sisters, are you running your race well with the end in sight?!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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