reach

Open day 2 Unlikely Reach: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

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 Unlikely Reach!

The Questions

1) How can I live at peace with everyone?

2) Why should I bless my enemy?

3) How can I pursue hospitality?

Romans 12:13-20

 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.
20 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him
something to drink.
For in so doing you will be
heaping fiery coals on his head.

Original Intent

1) How can I live at peace with everyone?
The Bible contains many references to living a life of peace in both the Old and New Testaments.  The apostle Paul recognized peace as an essential element of the life and message of Jesus, who Himself is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)  Proverbs 12:20 tells us to “promote peace”, and Psalm 34:14 encourages us to “seek peace and pursue it”.  Hebrews 12:14 also admonishes Christians to make every effort to live in peace with one another and be holy. Peace is imperative to Father God.  Author John Piper points out that “God is a peace-loving God, and a peacemaking God. The whole history of redemption, climaxing in the death and resurrection of Jesus, is God’s strategy to bring about a just and lasting peace between rebel man and himself, and then between man and his fellow man.”  God encourages us to be at peace with others because it reflects the peace of a loving relationship between God and his children.  One reason He wants us to extend peace to others is because in so doing, we extend God’s love to others.

2) Why should I bless my enemy?
When the apostle Paul wrote in Romans12:14 for us to bless and not curse those who persecute us, he was echoing a common message from the Old Testament that we are to love and not hate our enemies.  The book of Proverbs tells us in 20:22, “Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the Lord, and he will rescue you.” In Romans 12:20, Paul even referenced Proverbs 25:21-22, “ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” The editors of the Messianic Bible Project suggest the reference of heaping burning coals on your enemy’s head is “a metaphor for providing a fire for his basic survival needs.” (free.messianicbible.com.) Paul reminded His readers that, even though our human nature wants to get revenge on our enemies, the Lord would have us treat them kindly instead, loving them, and providing for them. God wants us to do more than just not repay evil for evil; He wants us to do the unexpected and love our enemies.

3) How can I pursue hospitality?
The word hospitality comes from the Greek word philonexia, which literally means “love of strangers or a friend of strangers and thus one who entertains strangers or demonstrates hospitality or kindness to strangers.” (Barclay, William.)   As the NIV Woman’s Study Bible points out, “For the people of the Bible, hospitality was not merely a matter of good manners but a necessity in the harsh desert regions.”  For early Christians, pursuing hospitality was more than having a family from church over for a meal, though it certainly was that as well.  It also included showing kindness to strangers and opening their homes to travelers and passersby in need of shelter and nourishment.  Paul, the author of the letter to the Romans, encouraged the Christ followers in Rome to share their homes and lives with strangers because it provided a good opportunity to share the Gospel, which Paul called the “power of God for salvation to everyone who believes….” (Romans 1:16) Paul viewed hospitality as a means of sharing the love of Jesus with those living in the community and those passing through the community.

Everyday Application

1) How can I live at peace with everyone?
There really is no way to live at peace with everyone, because some people just don’t want to make peace. The apostle Paul acknowledged this fact when he said, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)  By saying, “if possible,” he alluded to the reality that sometimes it is not possible to live at peace with some people.  His use of the phrase “as far as it depends on you” also recognizes that peace is a two-way street and you can only do your part.  But we, as believers, are expected to do exactly that. We are called to live in harmony with others, making every effort to do so as much as possible within our ability.  Peace lived out looks like not instigating fights, including mild fits of road rage and exasperation with rude, selfish people in the check-out line. We can live at peace by seeking out reconciliation and humbling ourselves rather than striving to be proved right, or arrogantly keep insisting we are right.  Of course, this isn’t something we can do without Divine help, but God graciously enables us to follow this exhortation as He gives us power through His Spirit.  He tells us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” In Philippians 4:7 He promises, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  His peace is already dwelling with us, and He will enable us to extend this same supernatural peace to others, even those we are in conflict with. I’m so grateful the Holy Spirit empowers us to do our part to live at peace with those around us!

2) Why should I bless my enemy
One day a friend of mine, who is a black man, and his family were out to dinner when a couple at a nearby table started making racist remarks about them.  My friend called the waitress over, but instead of complaining or asking for her intervention in some way, he asked if he could have their ticket so he could pay for their meal.  That is what I think of when I read the admonition of Romans 12:14 to bless those who persecute you and not curse them.  It is so easy and natural to come back at someone with equal malice when they say or do mean things, but it pleases the Lord when we intentionally choose love instead.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:43-44 to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors.  He goes on to say we do this to be like our Heavenly Father. Jesus asks a challenging question, “If you love only those who love you, what reward will you have?” (Matthew 5:46) Loving those who already love us well costs us nothing and doesn’t reflect Christ’s love. When we love the unlovely, those who reject and mock us, then we are loving like the God who sacrificed everything for us while we were His enemies. (Romans 5:8) When I remember His mercy and forgiveness to me, it is a little easier to love those I consider unlovable.

3) How can I pursue hospitality?
I know a few women who have what I would call the gift of hospitality.  They can make any room feel spacious, make any meal seem special, and make perfect strangers feel at ease as soon as they meet.  I am not one of those women!  But I can pursue hospitality even though I am not the hostess with the most-est.  I pursue hospitality by helping the mom with the screaming baby at the grocery store while she struggles with the grocery cart.  I pursue hospitality when I take the time to talk to the neighbors walking past my house.  Anytime I extend kindness to strangers or Christian friends, I am cultivating hospitality. When I extend myself in small, loving ways, it encourages me to open my heart and home in larger ways as well.  I like the way author Jen Schmidt describes hospitality in her book Just Open the Door: “Extending hospitality is about freely giving of ourselves while granting others the freedom to be themselves. Shifting our focus from us to them removes all unnecessary expectations.”  When I think of hospitality as another way of sharing the love of Jesus, it seems less daunting and more like a natural rhythm of life.

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

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Open Week 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.

Open Day 1 Unlikely Reach

1 Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 14:12-14
Matthew 25:34-40
Romans 12:13-20
Isaiah 58:6-12

Open, Day 1

As a child, I loved the story of Zacchaeus, and as an adult I am still intrigued by this short man who had an amazing experience with Jesus.

His encounter is recorded in the Gospel of Luke 19:1-10. We don’t know a lot about Zacchaeus, but he is an interesting character, the kind that is fun to cast in the Sunday School play or Jesus movie.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Actually, he was the Chief Tax Collector. He was wealthy and powerful, but hated among his own people, the Jews. Zacchaeus was a traitor of his own nationality, working for the Roman Empire who had overthrown and occupied the country. Zacchaeus not only collected taxes from his Jewish countrymen, but he also exploited and stole from them.

Zacchaeus was wealthy, not because he was a skilful businessman, but because he was a criminal. His people hated him. He didn’t have friends outside of his team of tax collecting crooks.

But there was something in Zacchaeus that drew him to find out more about Jesus. Being a short man, he climbed a tree along the way of Jesus’ travel plans so he could get a good look at Jesus. Perhaps there was something in Zacchaeus’ heart that was soft to the Spirit of God; something drawing him to seek a deeper meaning to life than wealth.

No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The Father is not willing that any should perish (Matthew 18:14). Even Zacchaeus, a man who was hard and powerful and rich, felt the need in his soul to explore a Saviour.

When Jesus passed by the tree that Zacchaeus was hiding in, He stopped, noticed him, and invited Himself over for a shared meal. Jesus showed acceptance and grace to Zacchaeus. He wasn’t deterred by Zacchaeus’ reputation, his criminal activity or the aghast reactions of the good people he was with. Jesus opened His schedule and His heart to Zacchaeus.

I don’t know what was spoken about over dinner. I don’t know if Jesus spoke directly to the elephant in the room and challenged Zacchaeus about his exploitation. I don’t know if there was a deep theological or apologetic debate. Nothing is recorded. But I imagine not. I imagine Zacchaeus’ heart was transformed by the love and acceptance he experienced in the company of Jesus.

Zacchaeus’ life was completely transformed by his encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus made a public declaration, announcing his change and promising to bring restitution for the wrongs he’d committed. Zacchaeus lost his wealth that day, and gained a personal relationship with Jesus.

Jesus made his intentions very clear. “For the son of Man has come to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10

This challenges me!
I grew up a pastor’s kid in a loving Christian family, and have raised my kids in a similar way. The guests at our dinner table were most likely to be missionaries and deacons, not ‘sinners’. The people I am friends with, the ones I am comfortable to share my life and my home with, are people who have similar beliefs to me.

How can I be like Jesus and live an open life?
How can I demonstrate generous hospitality?

Just as Zacchaeus was drawn to discover more of Jesus, there are people in our communities who are living in dark circumstances, are hurting and lost. It may appear on the surface they are far from God, but He is at work in our broken world, drawing all men to himself!

Jesus noticed Zacchaeus.
Who can you notice today? A mum in the school pick up line looking sad or distressed? The server in the grocery store with red, swollen eyes?
Who is looking for a touch from Jesus that we can notice?

Jesus opened up His life to the sinners no one else wanted to spend time with.

Jesus opened his calendar for Zacchaeus.
Like me, are you too busy for sinners?
Do you have time in your day-to-day to spend with people who are far from God?
Often, I don’t.
I’m too busy at church! I’m running Bible studies and attending prayer meetings. The precious spare time I do have, I save for family and friends, not difficult people.

Jesus opened his heart to sinners.
The gospel stories tell over and over of Jesus’ compassion for the crowds, loving people who were lost and hurting.

Why did Zacchaeus change his life?
Was it because Jesus preached to him or because Jesus loved him?
Genuinely loved him.
All of him.

Jesus shared a meal with Zacchaeus. I love how He just invited himself over.
“I’m coming to your house today!” (Luke 19:5)
Who can you open your home to? A neighbour? Your children’s school friends and their families? This takes courage! But it is a powerful picture of acceptance, of love in action.

We can expect some opposition and raised eyebrows from the religious establishment when we begin to live open lives, when we open our hearts, calendar, and homes to those far from God. But it’s exciting to contemplate the way Jesus can completely transform someone’s life as we share Jesus’ love with open hearts and hands.

Who will you open your calendar, your heart, and your home to?
Who will you invite to experience the love of Jesus in your home as you offer generous hospitality?

I’m going to go and knock on my neighbour’s door.
I think Saturday evening just opened up.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join our Facebook Community!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

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

Palette Day 6 All The Colors

Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 67:1-6
Matthew 28:16-20
Revelation 22:1-5

“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

This sweet little Sunday School song was something I grew up singing. It’s a beautifully simplistic view of God’s design for His people.
He loves all man-kind.
The end.
No exceptions.
No one unlovable.
We are all deeply and passionately loved by Him.

Similarly, the Psalmist pens these glorious lyrics:
“May God be gracious to us and bless us…that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.”
The Lord desires the free gift of salvation to be received by all.

A natural response to receiving the gift of salvation; praise.
“May the peoples praise you oh God; may all the peoples praise you.”
Not only does God long to be reconciled with everyone,
He longs to hear us praise Him collectively.

As humans, we have plenty of trouble loving people,
particularly those who don’t look quite like us.
This is something I’m guilty of as well.
It’s much more comfortable for me to walk up to someone who looks more similar to myself ethnically than someone that I might have very little in common with outwardly.

My husband is Korean, born in Korea and has lived in the States for 5 years this fall. We have two biracial children, one born in Korea, one born in the States.
For as much as we stay on top of racial issues in our family,
can I be real for a moment too?
Last week, I was returning my cart at Aldi, and I specifically did not offer it to the black lady that was walking towards the carts.
Ouch.
I always offer my cart to the next person and that day, I didn’t offer it.
I got in my car and cried, wishing I could go back and at least make eye contact.
Sadly, I couldn’t.

Having married outside my race, I observe people and situations with a different lens than before. I’ve noticed that when a new person meets my husband Joonseok and I, more often than not, they will not hold eye contact with my hubby. They will look to me as the leader of the conversation and start talking to me first. When Joonseok is out with the kids, they are often ignored. Nobody tries to make unnecessary conversation, nobody looks at them, in fact it’s as though people often look through them not even noticing them at all. Those subtle undertones are taxing for people outside of the ethnic majority to interact with on a daily basis.

Our family’s ethnic design has really pushed me to find ways for my children to use their “white privilege” for someone else’s benefit. In a group of other white children, I want my kids to be prepared to stand up for people teasing another child. We role-play these situations. We read books with girls in hijabs being made fun of, children of color feeling left out, or the Asian kids being mocked for their smelly foods.

Our favorite place to come back to in regard to racial teachings is the Great Commission. The disciples have just witnessed Jesus being crucified, buried, resurrected and walking among them in the flesh.
The emotions, questions and musings must’ve been plentiful!

Moments before Jesus would physically leave them, He declared His authority and then commissioned his disciples,
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
There’s no mistaking that, as believers, we are to share the love of the Father with all people, whether they look like us or not. Having these conversations with our kids isn’t fun or really all that easy.
The cost of not having them, and sweeping the issue under the rug, is just too high.

One of the easiest ways to start being intentional with people outside your ethnicity is to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to move in your heart about making genuine relationships with people you don’t naturally gravitate toward. It’s easy to view this as a project instead of a friendship, but just do normal, everyday life together – go for coffee or share a meal.

Our family partners with a local ministry that loves on international students. This sub-group of college students are ready to experience all that Americans are doing. Since our faith, intentionality and love flow from our family-life, it’s natural to have students along to share in that. The Lord has literally brought the Nations to us in this ministry! It also provides the exposure of “weird foods”, people speaking different languages and unusual customs to our kids. Whatever you choose to do, I’m confident that Lord will bless both you and your new friends for intentionally choosing love over fear!

That situation with the shopping cart in the Aldi parking lot was a great reminder to be on guard for the little places the enemy is whispering lies.
I’m ready to fight those out of my heart, will you join me?

Lord, let my eyes see people as You do, created in Your perfect image. Give us a taste of the River of Life and the healing that will come to all nations. Embolden me to stand on the side of loving people, even when it’s not popular. For Your Glory, Lord.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

Join the GT Community and share your thoughts!

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

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

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