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Enough Day 4 Promised Land Lost: 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 Promised Land Lost!

The Questions

1) Why did the Israelites rebel so frequently against God? (verse 43)

2) Why did God continue to rescue and forgive His wayward people? (verse 10)

3) Why did God allow Moses and Phineas to intervene in His punishment of the people? (verse 23 and verse 30)

Psalm 106:1-48

Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
2 Who can declare the Lord’s mighty acts
or proclaim all the praise due him?
3 How happy are those who uphold justice,
who practice righteousness at all times.

4 Remember me, Lord,
when you show favor to your people.
Come to me with your salvation
5 so that I may enjoy the prosperity
of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your nation,
and boast about your heritage.

6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned;
we have done wrong and have acted wickedly.
7 Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp
the significance of your wondrous works
or remember your many acts of faithful love;
instead, they rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
to make his power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the power of the adversary;
he redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
11 Water covered their foes;
not one of them remained.
12 Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.

13 They soon forgot his works
and would not wait for his counsel.
14 They were seized with craving in the wilderness
and tested God in the desert.
15 He gave them what they asked for,
but sent a wasting disease among them.

16 In the camp they were envious of Moses
and of Aaron, the Lord’s holy one.
17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it covered the assembly of Abiram.
18 Fire blazed throughout their assembly;
flames consumed the wicked.

19 At Horeb they made a calf
and worshiped the cast metal image.
20 They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating ox.
21 They forgot God their Savior,
who did great things in Egypt,
22 wondrous works in the land of Ham,
awe-inspiring acts at the Red Sea.
23 So he said he would have destroyed them—
if Moses his chosen one
had not stood before him in the breach
to turn his wrath away from destroying them.

24 They despised the pleasant land
and did not believe his promise.
25 They grumbled in their tents
and did not listen to the Lord.
26 So he raised his hand against them with an oath
that he would make them fall in the desert
27 and would disperse their descendants
among the nations,
scattering them throughout the lands.

28 They aligned themselves with Baal of Peor
and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.
29 They angered the Lord with their deeds,
and a plague broke out against them.
30 But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stopped.
31 It was credited to him as righteousness
throughout all generations to come.

32 They angered the Lord at the Waters of Meribah,
and Moses suffered because of them,
33 for they embittered his spirit,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

34 They did not destroy the peoples
as the Lord had commanded them
35 but mingled with the nations
and adopted their ways.
36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
38 They shed innocent blood—
the blood of their sons and daughters
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
so the land became polluted with blood.
39 They defiled themselves by their actions
and prostituted themselves by their deeds.

40 Therefore the Lord’s anger burned against his people,
and he abhorred his own inheritance.
41 He handed them over to the nations;
those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were subdued under their power.
43 He rescued them many times,
but they continued to rebel deliberately
and were beaten down by their iniquity.

44 When he heard their cry,
he took note of their distress,
45 remembered his covenant with them,
and relented according to the abundance
of his faithful love.
46 He caused them to be pitied
before all their captors.

47 Save us, Lord our God,
and gather us from the nations,
so that we may give thanks to your holy name
and rejoice in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Hallelujah!

Original Intent

1) Why did the Israelites rebel so frequently against God? (verse 43)
We learn in Psalm 106:43 that God rescued the Israelites “many times, but they continued to rebel deliberately and were beaten down by their iniquity.” Throughout their history, Israel had a pattern of sin and rebellion, followed by captivity, then redemption and rescue by God. Why did they continuously put themselves in harm’s way by disobeying God and forsaking His commands? Author Matthew Henry explains, “the way of sin is down-hill: . . . One sin led to many more, and brought the judgments of God on them.”  Instead of obeying God, the Israelites chose to either ignore His warnings or blatantly rebel against Him. The Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament states, “God’s counsel was to make Israel free and glorious, but they leaned upon themselves, following their own intentions . . . wherefore they perished in their sins.” The Scriptures warn us against choosing our own way over God’s in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” Likewise, Proverbs 3:5 encourages, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” Still, Israel repeatedly trusted her own understanding over the counsel of the Lord. As a result, they repeatedly reaped negative consequences for their sin. Christians today face the same choice Israel did in the Old Testament. Will we trust in God and obey His commands or go our own way? Because He is the same today as He was to Israel, God allows us to face the consequences of our sin, and He also extends mercy to rescue us. My prayer is that we turn to Him for redemption every time we falter.

2) Why did God continue to rescue and forgive His wayward people? (verse 10)
Psalm 106 references Israel’s repeated rebellion against God. They grumbled and complained (Psalm 106:25), ignored God (Psalm 106:13), worshipped idols (Psalm 106:19), followed after sinful nations (Psalm 106:35), and even sacrificed their children to demons (Psalm 106:37). Repeatedly, God rescued and forgave them with incredible mercy! They suffered punishment, but God’s mercy always delivered them. Why would a just and righteous God continue to forgive such a rebellious people? Psalm 106:8 declares, “He saved them for His name’s sake, to make His power known.” Charles Spurgeon asserts, “The Lord very jealously guards His own name and honour. It shall never be said of Him that He cannot or will not save His people, or that He cannot abate the haughtiness of His defiant foes. This respect unto his own honour ever leads Him to deeds of mercy.” God saves to glorify His name and demonstrate His power. He also saved them because He had made a covenant with His people. “When he heard their cry, he took note of their distress, remembered his covenant with them, and relented according to the abundance of his faithful love.” (verses 44-45) Albert Barnes says God “had made gracious promises to the patriarchs; He had promised to be the God of their posterity; He had His own great purposes to accomplish through their nation in the distant future; and on these accounts, He came and blessed them.” His great love motivated Him to provide rescue. The author of this Psalm marveled at the goodness of the Lord by exclaiming, “Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.  Who can declare the Lord’s mighty acts or proclaim all the praise due Him?”. (Psalm 106:1-2) We can rejoice along with the psalmist that God’s love and mercy endure even unto today!

3) Why did God allow Moses and Phineas to intervene in His punishment of the people? (verse 23 and verse 30)
In Psalm 106:15 God sent a disease because the people tested Him. In verses 16-18, the people sinned again and were punished by the earth opening up to devour them and a fire that consumed them. Sometimes, though, God was swayed by the pleas of the righteous.  Verse 23 describes how God intended to pour out His wrath on the people, but Moses intervened and God relented. Another time, God sent a plague because of their sin, but Phineas intervened and the plague was removed. (verse 30) God intentionally allowed the prayers and actions of these righteous men to move Him to mercy. Author Charles Spurgeon argues, “Mighty as was the sin of Israel to provoke vengeance, prayer was mightier in turning it away.” Even when Israel’s sin set holy consequences in motion, there was still power in calling on God to save. Author John Gill suggests Moses was a type of Christ, “As Moses was a mediator between God and the people of Israel, so is Christ between God and his people.” John Gill also asserts that Phineas was a type of Christ “who, by doing righteousness, by the atoning sacrifice of himself, and by his intercession, has appeased the wrath of God. . .”  The salvation foreshadowed by Moses and Phineas would come to the world through Christ Jesus, who gave His life as a ransom for all so our sins would be forgiven and we would have direct relationship to the Father. (John 14:6) God used Moses and Phineas to demonstrate to us the importance of intercessory prayer while also pointing our hearts toward the One who would take our sins’ punishment for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), presenting us blameless to Father God if we surrender to Him.

Everyday Application

1) Why did the Israelites rebel so frequently against God? (verse 43)
Years ago a family with five boys showed up at our children’s church. They quickly gained a reputation for their creative ability to defy classroom rules and procedures. Even decades later, I whisper their last name to my husband, one of their teachers, to watch his facial expression! Our teachers redirected, gave warnings, provided think time, connected with parents, and, inevitably, followed through with consequences for unacceptable behavior. Each week the boys arrived with good intentions for following rules, yet, each week they received some kind of consequence. The Israelites in the Old Testament were similar to our lively group of boys; they started out intending to follow God, but frequently got off track. Psalm 106 summarizes Israel’s history as they escaped captivity in Egypt, wandered in the desert, entered Canaan, and endured oppression by their enemies. Every time they disobeyed God, they faced consequences, then repented and cried out to God, who rescued them. It’s not just the Israelites, or rambunctious little boys, who choose to disobey God in favor of their own selfish ways, this is the way of all humans. We know what to do, but we can’t do it for long in our own strength. (Romans 7:18) We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us obey God and refuse sin, we simply cannot do this without Him! Romans 8:12-13 tells those who have trusted Jesus for salvation, “we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” God graciously comes to our rescue when we fall, but He also gives us the Holy Spirit to equip us to follow Him!

2) Why did God continue to rescue and forgive His wayward people? (verse 10)
It is easy to read if Israel’s repeated sin pattern in Psalm 106 and conclude their rebellion was extraordinary. God led them out of slavery in Egypt and on a journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, yet despite His faithfulness, they rebelled and disobeyed. Time after time, God blessed and rescued them, and after a brief season of repentance and piety, they passionately returned to their sin. If our own “wilderness years” deeds and thoughts were all recorded, however, the failures of Israel may seem similar to our own. I know I’ve complained about my circumstances to the Lord right in the midst of answered prayers and an outpouring of blessings. It’s so easy to focus on discomfort and selfish desires and miss the miracles God is doing. There was a time my mother was sick in the hospital for nearly 2 years. I concentrated on the longevity of her illness and the hardships on our family, nearly ignoring how God saved her from death at least twice and answered our prayers for improvement on a near daily basis. My eyes were on the Promised Land of her recovery, but I was ignoring all the blessings of the journey. We are blessed that God does not give up on us when we complain or disobey. He pours out His mercy and saves us for the sake of His name. My prayer is to recognize His provision in my everyday rhythms and accept His grace and forgiveness when I go astray.

3) Why did God allow Moses and Phineas to intervene in His punishment of the people? (verse 23 and verse 30)
For many children, there is no greater advocate than a grandparent. When I was about to get in trouble with my parents at my grandparent’s home, I always knew that running to my “Papaw” would work in my favor. I generally deserved whatever punishment my parents doled out, but my grandpa could get my sentence repealed or reduced, or, if not, he would do something that would make me forget my troubles. I always felt so important and cared for (and relieved!) when Papaw would step in and save the day. Moses and Phineas provided this type of intervention for the Israelites when God was prepared to punish them for their sin and disobedience. Psalm 106:23 tells us God would have destroyed the Israelites if Moses hadn’t pleaded for them. Author John Butler describes Phinehas, “the grandson of Aaron, who made a gallant stand for holiness in a time of degradation to stop the judgment of God upon the people. It is an outstanding example of service.” This encourages me to pray for people when all hope seems lost or when I despair for their lives or their souls. The intercession of Moses and Phineas instructs me to pray for those who are choosing sin over obedience to God or who seem stuck in destructive behaviors. When righteous people pray, God promises that those prayers have a powerful effect. (James 5:16) We are blessed that God hears those prayers for mercy and honors them; pray on! (2 Chronicles 30:9)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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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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Enough Day 3 Promised Land Lost

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ecclesiastes 6:7-12
Psalm 106:1-48
Isaiah 53:1-12

Enough, Day 3

Have you ever rolled thoughts around in your mind, trying to sort them out? Almost like shifting the sides of a scrambled Rubik’s cube one way, and then another, until panels of solid color appear?

Last night, my thoughts were in just such a jumble as I’d begun praying over this Journey Study. My mind had verses, biblical concepts, and personal experiences scattered everywhere, and my heart cried out to the Lord for wisdom and direction.

Lord, what do You want to speak to me about promised lands? How are they connected to Your redemption story?

His answer arrived while brushing my teeth before bed. Oh, the Lord’s timing.

You’ve made an idol of your promised land. 

My mental Rubik’s Cube clicked into completion, and I stared at myself in the mirror, all brushing ceased.
Toothpaste crept towards the corner of my mouth as the truth of His words echoed powerfully within me. I couldn’t deny it.

I’d been so focused on seeing His promise come to fruition that it had become an idol in my mind and actions.
I’d taken my eyes off the Lord.
Instead, setting them squarely on what I desired to receive from Him.
All without realizing it. 

My body on autopilot, I finished brushing my teeth and climbed into bed. I lay staring at the ceiling, recognizing the proverbial ball was in my court in my conversation with the Lord.

Oh Lord, how did I get here? How did I take my eyes from You? I didn’t mean to. I thought it was faith to hold on to that promise so tightly.

The Israelites and their relationship with the literal Promised Land came to mind. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after doubting the Lord would give them the land. They doubted, even though He had miraculously freed them from slavery in Egypt, slavery that lasted 400 years.

Once they finally entered the Land God had covenanted to give them, their history became a tale of repeated rebellion, repeated reliance on self, and repeated failure.

My lips began to turn up as I remembered the self-righteous anger I felt when I first read and understood how the Israelites had so messed things up. Irony then flattened my smile as truth settled into my spirit: I had walked solidly in their footsteps.

The outcome of my sin was no different than the outcome of their sin, separation from the Lord. They failed to be obedient in settling their promised land, taking their eyes off of the Lord as Provider and Securer of their promise, instead relying on their own faulty ideas, wisdom, and schemes.

“Thanks, God, we’re good now,” I imagined them saying. “We’ve got our promise, and it’s enough. From here on out, we are enough.”

Similarly, I had so tightly gripped my promise that I exchanged it for the Lord.

“Thanks, God, I’m good now.” I recognized the echo of the Israelites in my own thoughts with sudden, gut-dropping clarity. “I’ve got my promise, and it’s enough. From here on out, I am enough.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I could feel the water tension threaten to spill over, and I knew the tears would slip down my temples and into my ears. I hate that feeling, but I knew the tears were justified.

Ultimately, the Israelites’ promised land would be lost, forfeited in rebellion and self-aggrandizement as they turned their hearts from the Giver of their promise.

They rejected His leadership, demanding instead a human king, like the pagan nations surrounding them.
They rejected His words and murdered His prophets.
They reveled in what was abhorrent to Him, prostituting themselves and sacrificing their children to false gods.
While they occasionally repented and returned to the Lord, their devotion never lasted. The seeds of sin embedded in the core of human nature in the Garden always, always, called them back to their own way.

Always, always call us back to our own way.

And so the fulfillment of their promise was lost
through repeated exile, occupation, and oppressive foreign rule.

Thus, we are left with a loving and generous Father, who has stretched out His miraculous hand to provide for and guide His children . . . and His children, slapping His hand away and snarling as they huddle in fear and self-sufficiency and oh so ironic scarcity.

Us, slapping His hand away and snarling.

Where lies the road back to the Father’s embrace?
When we have embraced the darkness, from where will come our light and life and hope?

“Without You, what am I to myself but a guide to my own self-destruction?”
–St. Augustine, Confessions

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Reveal Day 5 The Longest Night

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Zephaniah 3:18-20
Malachi 4:1-6
Luke 1:26-38
Romans 5:6-8
Revelation 22:6-21

Reveal, Day 5

As I tossed and turned in an unfamiliar bed, it seemed like morning would never come.

I was tired, but sleep eluded me. Away from home for the first time, in a dorm filled with unfamiliar people, in darkness far deeper than I was accustomed to at home, it was impossible to settle.

After lying there, trying to sleep for what felt like hours, I finally grabbed my torch (that’s a flashlight for my American friends) I drew it under the covers so as not to disturb the others, and checked the time only to find, to my dismay, just twenty minutes had passed.

There were still hours to wait until morning . . .

The Israelites faced an even longer night.

Throughout the Old Testament, God promised a Messiah, a Saviour who would come to redeem and restore, who would deal with the problem of sin and provide a way back to closeness with God.

Zephaniah spoke of an end to oppression and shame, a gathering of God’s people who had been scattered, and the restoration of good fortune.

Malachi described a day when wickedness would be dealt with, and assured the people of God’s promise that, “for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:2)

The promises were amazing . . . but then silence.

And waiting . . .

And still more waiting . . .

. . . Over four hundred years after Malachi’s words at the end of the Old Testament, the Israelites were still waiting for God’s promises to come true. Even worse, there were no more messages from the prophets. It seemed God had gone s i l e n t.

Perhaps this led to questions:

Would God’s promise of a Redeemer ever come true?
Had He forgotten?
Could He really be trusted?

And what about you? What are you waiting for just now?

The fulfilment of a long-held dream?
An answer to prayer?
Resolution in a situation of uncertainty?

Maybe, like the Israelites, you know God’s promises, but you’re struggling to see any evidence of their truth in your current situation. Maybe it feels like God has gone silent. It can be easy to lose hope, to wonder if God really will come through for us. Those times of waiting can be unsettling, uncomfortable, and often dark.

But what if God is at work in the waiting?
What if He is waiting, too . . .
For just the right moment?

Hundreds of years after Zephaniah and Malachi’s words, Jesus came, and the promise was fulfilled. It’s striking to note Paul, writing after the coming of Jesus, looks back on the fulfilment of the promise and describes both Jesus’ birth and His death as coming at just the right time.

“When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman.” (Galatians 4:4)

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

Suddenly, we realize the years of waiting were not caused by a delay, but were part of God’s design.

During those four hundred years, God may have been silent, but He was not inactive.
Various world powers rose and fell as predicted in prophecies in the book of Daniel. The Old Testament was translated into Greek, which was important for God’s Word being spread among the Gentiles. And Israel was conquered by the Romans, leaving the Jewish people desperate for freedom from oppression, recognising their only hope was in the coming of the Messiah.

The scene was set for Jesus to come.

Not only was God at work in the big picture of world events, but He was also preparing individuals for their part in His plan.

When the moment came, Mary was ready. She was ready to respond with faith and obedience despite the seeming impossibility of the angel’s message.

We can’t always understand why we have to wait; God’s ways and His timing are often not the same as ours. But we can trust in His goodness and His faithfulness. His promises will be fulfilled, sometimes (often!) in unexpected ways.

We can also trust He has a purpose in the waiting. Sometimes, while we are concerned with our circumstances, God is more interested in growing our character and our dependence on Him.

Often, the times of waiting reveal our lack of control and our inability to fix things for ourselves. They can drive us to God as they remind us our true hope is found in Him.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming, may it remind us, even when the situations troubling us are resolved, we are still waiting.

We are waiting for the day when He will come again, when sorrow and suffering will finally be gone forever, when our waiting will come to an end, when we see “the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16) and we know the longest night is finally over and the darkness is no more.

Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

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

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The GT Weekend! ~ Esther Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Call back to mind the last time you felt treated below your value. Maybe it was a few months ago, or even just a few minutes, but sitting with those feelings likely stirs something in you. Think through those stirrings as you slow down and process them. What brought you frustration in that scenario and why? Was the situation a trigger for something else living in your past, or a wound that hasn’t healed well? Where do you most often feel the need to defend your own value? Pray your thoughts and struggles to the Lord, asking Him to bring you healing and wholeness in your identity!

2) Can you relate to Amy’s statement from Wednesday’s Journey? “Either apply the beauty and win the comparison pageant, or be tossed aside as trash.” Where in your life do you feel this is more true than in other areas? Identify those circumstances or relationships where you feel most valued for who you are. Why do you think that is? What role does your own desire for control in those situations play in how you are feeling valued?

3) When you think of the vastness of God, His power, His sovereignty, and His all-knowing ability in comparison to the tiniest details about you, what is your heart response? Do you push back? Are you quick to discount your worth, even in the smallest of things? Do you find yourself filling in the blanks of what God surely must think of your freckles, your extra pounds, or your annoyance at finding that empty box of cereal in the pantry? Challenge yourself to keep in mind how God wastes absolutely nothing and He loves to both redeem and use the smallest details to amplify His glory. Consider placing a small pen dot somewhere on your hand today as a visual reminder of God’s loving attention to all things!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 2 Corinthians 4:7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Now we have this treasure in clay jars,
so that this extraordinary power may
be from God and not from us.

Prayer Journal
To be loved by You. To be valued infinitely more than we dare hope by You. To be known much deeper and sweeter by You than we know ourselves. To be hemmed in on all sides with grace, peace, and joy simply by being in Your presence. This is bliss, oh Lord our God!
I become so easily distracted, Abba. My high schooler frustrates me beyond words, I get angry, I get hurt, I can’t find enough coffee, I want a smaller pant size, or healthier relationships. Lord, I don’t have to look far to find frustration and dissatisfaction, but never when I cast my eyes on You and Your fullness. Help me to live authentically, with all my brokenness on display, so others can very clearly see how extraordinary You are inside of me! You are precious and beautiful, Lord God. I praise You for loving me so perfectly!

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Captivating Day 4 Community Calling: 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 Community Calling!

The Questions

1) What is Paul referring to in verse 16 when he uses the connecting word “then”?

2) What does it mean for us to be a new creation once we are in Christ (verse 17)?

3) Who and what is God reconciling, and how does this shape our present reality regarding our relationships (verses 18-19)?

4) What makes us “ambassadors for Christ,” and how should it affect our lives to be His representative (verse 20)?

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Original Intent

1) What is Paul referring to in verse 16 when he uses the connecting word “then”?
The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in Jewish culture. All the known authors of the biblical epistles were either an apostle (meaning they were an original disciple of Jesus) or a close relative of Jesus. These men were all uniquely inspired and equipped by the Spirit of God to relay messages to the people of God through their writing. It’s probable that Paul wrote at least three letters to the Corinthian church. 1 Corinthians 5:9 refers to a previous letter; and in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4, he references information which was not covered in the first letter. Bible scholars believe there was at least one other letter, probably written between 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians.
It is essential in the study of 2 Corinthians 5 to consider its context within the letter as a whole, as well as his original letter to the people in Corinth (1 Corinthians). As he often does, Paul is expressing one extended thought regarding the gospel’s work in the life of a believer. In these letters, he uses the words “for” and “therefore” and “so”. Paul’s use of “then” in verse 16 refers the reader to what he said in the previous sentences regarding our relationship with Christ (verse 15). Because of His death, believers are those “who should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.” This was the essence of all of Paul’s writing. And of his living. (Romans 8:9-11, Galatians 2:8-21 Ephesians 2:4-8)

2) What does it mean for us to be a new creation once we are in Christ (verse 17)?
Most dictionaries define a Christian as “a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion based on His teachings.” Unfortunately, the English dictionary falls short of communicating what being a Christian really is. The word “Christian” is used only three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:21-26 ; Acts 26:25-29 ; 1 Peter 4:13-16), and was not meant as a compliment. At the time, it was common for Greeks to mockingly bestow nicknames to specific groups. Therefore, those who had followed Jesus – the one claiming to be the Christ – in their behavior, activity, and speech, were identified with Christ and were dubbed “little christs.”
In verse 17, Paul gives a definition of what it really means to be a Christian. His writing, teaching, and his own life, focused on the truth that a person who was ”in Christ” most significantly demonstrates his new identity by inwardly rejecting the (old) self-absorption into which each person is born. As a “new creation,” the believer’s mindset/heart enthrones Christ, not self. Paul’s aim was to persuade the Corinthians to deny themselves and the sinful habits attached to a self-focused life.

3) Who and what is God reconciling, and how does this shape our present reality regarding our relationships (verses 18-19)?
Scripture teaches the believer’s life is not worldly (verse 16). Once someone has become a “new creation,” he or she is in union with God and His kingdom purposes, just as Christ is. Although there will one day be an ultimate reconciling of everything to God (Acts 3:20-22 Colossians 1:19-20), God sent Jesus to become human in order to redeem the human race He created. Paul mentioned this in his first letter. (1 Corinthians 1:28-31) Every person is in desperate need of being reconciled with God because sin broke the relationship God had established with man, separating us from Him forever (Isaiah 59:2). Humanity, which was once God’s good creation, became God’s enemy because of sin. Thankfully, unlike every other religion in the world which dismisses the requirements of the moral law for mercy’s sake, Christianity is the demonstration of God’s mercy through His justice. The very sin that alienated every person from the Creator was also atoned for through Christ’s sacrificial death. (Romans 3:24-26 ) Instead of counting the trespasses of man against him, which was justified action, God Himself took the punishment (through Christ) so those who believe can be reconciled to Him. In response, the reconciled become part of God’s work in the world to reconcile others to Him.

4) What makes us “ambassadors for Christ,” and how should it affect our lives to be His representative (verse 20)?
Merriam-Webster defines an ambassador as one who is “accredited to another sovereign state … as the resident representative of their own government or sovereign.” Referring to himself as Christ’s ambassador, Paul saw himself and all believers as representatives of The Sovereign Lord. (Ephesians 6:18-20). Constantly aware of the grace of God, Paul’s letters indicate urgency as he pleads with the Corinthians to know and proclaim Christ crucified. (1 Corinthians 15:9-10, 2 Corinthians 4:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 ) Paul continues his plea in Chapter 6, reminding the reader that God’s grace is to be received and applied to their lives, not ignored. As a new creation, a believer is intended to be a living gospel proclamation of Christ’s work on the cross on the sinner’s behalf. (Romans 12:1)
“Christ’s ambassadors come in God’s name, with His entreaties, and act in Christ’s stead, doing the very thing He did when He was upon this earth, and what He wills to be done now that He is in heaven.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible).

Everyday Application

1) What is Paul referring to in verse 16 when he uses the connecting word “then”?
Paul wrote the majority of books we have in the New Testament. In all his writings, we see two big themes which give us a sense of his calling. He was chosen to 1) preach Christ to the Gentiles, and 2) relay God’s purpose for the Church. (Ephesians 3:8-9 )We know from his letters to the Corinthian church that conflict and unresolved issues had escalated among God’s people.  Paul once again took time to remind them of the gospel he was called preach. 2 Corinthians is Paul’s appeal to the church to practice forgiveness and reconciliation. Paul connects it this way: “For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: ‘If one died for all then all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.’” (5:14-15)
Because of what Christ has done for the redeemed, we live for another world!

2) What does it mean for us to be a new creation once we are in Christ (verse 17)?
CS Lewis said, “Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. If we do, we shall then be sharing a life which was begotten, not made, which always existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life, we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us. He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has — by what I call ‘good infection.’ Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” CS Lewis
God created humanity in His likeness and “it was very good”.  (Genesis 1:31) We failed to respond to Him in the way we should have and lost the good relationship we had when we sinned against Him. In His mercy, God redeemed and restored mankind, giving us the opportunity to be remade into His likeness and to enter into a forever relationship with Him. Paul gives us a great description of what it means to walk in this new life in Ephesians 4.

3) Who and what is God reconciling, and how does this shape our present reality regarding our relationships (verses 18-19)?
Those of us who have been reconciled to God through the cross of Christ are called to bring others into the family of God.  Paul made a plea for believers to recognize their responsibility to share the message of reconciliation with others. Although it’s not clear how we will be “repaid for what we have done … whether good or evil” at the judgment seat of Christ (5:10), Paul connects it to our witness in verse 11. Bible Commentator Bill Vaughn helps us to understand this: “The nature of the judgment … is not to judge sin … [but to] judge each Christian’s service for possible rewards. Paul’s greatest ambition was to please his Lord. Christians should follow Paul’s example and let the judgment seat of Christ be the reason for their ambition to please the Lord Jesus Christ in all of their service.”
The prophet Ezekiel had a similar word from the Lord (Ezekiel 3:17-19). Charles Spurgeon paraphrased Ezekiel’s words by saying: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and un-prayed for.”

4) What makes us “ambassadors for Christ,” and how should it affect our lives to be His representative (verse 20)?
Believers are the ambassadors of the kingdom of God (that is, the rule of God over all the people in the world). As such, we represent Him to the world. He uses us to tell those not yet in Christ, that they can be reconciled to God through His Son. Paul’s plea to the church at Corinth is the same call on the life every believer. We are to sense the urgency of our mission of reconciliation. Because of His great mercy and love, God sent Jesus to pay the price for our reconciliation (John 3:14-17). The One who had never sinned became sin for us. (verse 21) This sacrifice compels us to share the message of reconciliation as bold ambassadors, doing so in love and compassion for those who have not yet experienced it.
“Our identity in Christ should be such an integral part of our lives that it is impossible for someone to know us well without understanding how our Christian faith informs our lives. By all means, build deep relationships with unbelievers. And be up front about who you and are and what you believe. Don’t go in cognito in order to be a better witness. Let people see Christ in you and let them know Who it is they’re seeing.” (Trevin Wax)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

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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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Cross Day 13 Two Men From Emmaus

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 24:13-35
Isaiah 9:2-7
Isaiah 53
John 3:14-16

Cross, Day 13

Our feet kicked up dust as we walked along the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It had been a long, strange, eventful week neither of us would forget and now we were grappling over recent rumors. Cleopas was sure it was possible, but I, on the other hand, was adamant it simply could not be. Both our hearts hung low in heated confusion, high emotion, and debate. We talked and argued for several miles, until we were joined by a strange fellow traveler. The heat of our discussion dawned on us when the traveler intrusively asked, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?”. (Luke 24:17)

Cleopas and I stopped in our tracks.  My thoughts went racing. Is this a foreigner? How can he not know what’s taken place? Everyone in Jerusalem, if not the entire nation, knows what has happened! Cleopas asked him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”. He replied, “What things?”. (Luke 24:18-19)

 What things?!
Only the most earth-shattering possibilities for our nation, people, and time!

We both took a deep breath, exchanging looks of wonder, and relayed what we knew to this aloof traveler. “What things? The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.” (Luke 24:19-20) Oh how our hearts were discouraged because we thought this Jesus was truly the one who would redeem Israel.  We thought He was the one who would be our King and fulfill all the prophets had told us concerning hope for our nation. Now, we didn’t know what to do with those thoughts.

Our traveling companion listened intently as we continued.
“Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. Some women from our group astounded us. They told us they arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find his body, they said they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.  Some of the other followers went to the tomb upon hearing this and reported finding it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see Jesus” (Luke 24: 22-24)

This was what we were in such disagreement about.
How could we believe such news?
Can we believe anything we hear at this point?
How could we entertain such heart-wrenching hope only to be let down again?

Our minds were spinning, and come to think of it, our hearts were burning as well.

As soon as the words left our lips, the traveler responded with shocking authority and knowledge. Here we thought this man was ignorant and foreign to our nation’s history and hope, yet he rebuked us for not understanding! “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 25:25-26)

We barely had a moment to process what our ears were hearing because he immediately began teaching and interpreting the Scriptures for us, shedding light on all we had been discussing. He seemed to be telling us that Jesus indeed was the Messiah, and that we were blind to be doubting this!!
Certainly, there was more to this man than first met our eyes.

Cleopas and I hung on his every word until we came to our village.  We begged this traveler to stay with us, and he agreed. After all, it was nearly evening. If we were honest though, it could have been mid-day and we still would have found a reason to convince him to stay with us.  This man had answers. Who in the world was he?! We still didn’t know, but he had something our aching hearts needed.  Was it hope?

With comforting anticipation, the three of us reclined at the table together to enjoy a meal.  Our new friend gave thanks, broke the bread and handed it to us. In that instant we were astonished to suddenly recognize this was Jesus! It was Him!
Then just as quickly as we saw Him, He disappeared before our eyes!
Oh how our minds and hearts flooded with thoughts!

How had we not known we were with Jesus this entire time?

Was this why our hearts raced with fiery energy?

Was it why we didn’t bristle at His rebuke, but were drawn into His words?

Or the reason we begged so fervently for Him to stay with us?

We leapt from the table, leaving behind our uneaten meal and raced back to Jerusalem in the middle of the night.  When we found the eleven disciples we feverishly blurted out “the Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34). Cleopas and I then took turns delivering every last detail of our day’s encounter with Jesus.  We shared all He had explained to us on the road.  As the words came tumbling out, God’s plan of redemption for Israel became clearer and clearer. Truly, Jesus was sent to the be the Lamb of God, to rescue His people from their sins.
We praised God He’d heard His people’s cries!
He had made a way!

Cleopas and I returned home on the Emmaus Road. This time, no longer squabbling, fighting and saddened, but instead unified and rejoicing over the risen Christ.

The One we had seen with our own eyes.

 The One who made our hearts burn within us. 

 Because of Jesus, we would never be the same.

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A Note About Cross
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters in Scripture and looked through their eyes as they saw the cross. We do our best to research the culture and times and all biblical support surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives as they watched the crucifixion, but we can’t be 100% accurate. These first-person stories are our best interpretation of how these characters viewed Jesus as He gave Himself up for us. Our hope is that by looking through their eyes, we will see the Cross differently as well, and be dramatically changed as we encounter the Savior!
Enjoy!

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

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

The GT Weekend! – Worship IV Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) What are your personal experiences with worship? Pause, reflect, and journal through those. What are the circumstances and surroundings where you come into deep worship the easiest? What defines worship in your experience? How much do your feelings play into the “how” of your worship time? Spend the next 2-3 minutes writing out unchanging truths about God’s character, then steal away to a quiet place and spend 7-8 minutes worshipping God for being exactly who He says He is. Grab a candle, a journal, your Bible, or just a willingness to speak openly as you worship even now.  

2) Who or what is the “glue” that holds you together? Who or what do you rely heavily on for stability? Maybe it’s the relational state of your marriage, likes on social media, the cleanliness of your home, or how you perform at the gym. Consider how often you turn to the anchor of Christ to be your center. When you think of where you would like to be in your daily relationship with Jesus, what practical piece is currently missing? Write down 1 easy thing you can begin doing today to make a shift, taking your walk deeper with the Lord. Then connect with a friend and ask her to hold you accountable to regularly taking that step! 

3) When was the last time you worshipped the Lord right in the middle of the mayhem of your everyday mess? What did you praise the Savior for? As Crystal shared yesterday, we are invited in to “sing Israel’s song” as our great Rescuer and Redeemer. Challenge yourself you to take notes, even just for this weekend, writing down the ways the Lord has been gracious, setting His kindness upon you. Maybe it’s a paper journal or a note on your phone, but actively choose worship by taking note of the gifts of the Father!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Colossians 1:19-20 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For God was pleased to have 
all his fullness dwell in Him, 
and through Him to reconcile 
everything to Himself, 
whether things on earth or things in heaven, 
by making peace 
through His blood, shed on the cross.

Prayer Journal
Making peace is something we all long for, Lord; it’s something I long for in my everyday life. My relationships need peace. My children need peace. My hurting friends need peace. My finances need peace. My workplace needs peace.  
 
But, these people and places need much more than I can possibly give or bring. As much as I grieve for the unrest, I know I’m at a loss to give anything but temporary emotional support, and even that isn’t possible in all cases. Lord, teach my heart to find peace in one place, Your shed blood for my redemption. Be my anchor, Jesus, and in that place of security, give me opportunities to extend Your peace to those around me. Remind me, Spirit, to lift my loved ones and my circumstances up to You for your perfect peace to surround. How I love you, Abba! How grateful I am for Your deep love and boundless peace!

Worship Through Community

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Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Worship IV, Day 2 Even When: 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 Even When!

The Questions

1) How are these verses connected? 
 
2) What is this “same love”? (verses 1-4)  
 
3) What is the “same attitude”? (verses 5-11) 
 
4) How can we have the same obedience? (verses 12-13)

Philippians 2:1-13

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.
9 For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Original Intent

1) How are these verses connected? 
Paul’s letter to the Philippian church was written while he was in prison, chained for preaching Christ. Yet, he continued ‘preaching’ through his letters. The letter is known most commonly for encouragement and Paul’s deep love for the Philippians is woven throughout, but tucked away here in the second chapter, some of the richest theology found in the entire Bible awaits us. Theologians often dig straight into the meaty description of Christ in verses 5-11, His equality with God, and how He humbly emptied Himself in order to redeem humanity. But taking a wider lens view from verses 1-13, we see how these verses come together in one beautiful 3-fold display of Christ’s love and His design for us as His children through the same love, same attitude, and the same obedience.  
 
2) What is this “same love”? (verses 1-4)  
Paul begins this section not with a description of Christ, but of His Body, His Church. It’s as if the Lord is saying, ‘Look at my beautiful Bride! Look how precious and priceless it is to enjoy the love and comfort and encouragement of my Church!’.  This affectionate fellowship, sweet tenderness, kind gentleness, and genuine caring for one another is God’s original design for us as His followers. His Church is intended to be characterized by these qualities because they have first existed eternally in the heart of God as He has existed in triune form of Father, Son, and Spirit. The model for Church was birthed from the community, the same love, that has eternally existed between Father, Son, and Spirit. Each of these precious, life-giving qualities were first lived out continuously and beautifully among the godhead, so it is only natural for these qualities to be intrinsic to the DNA of the global Church Body made up of every believer.  
 
3) What is the “same attitude”? (verses 5-11) 
Just as the Church is to mimic the same love found in God, so also are we to reflect His same attitude, specifically humility in this example. This goes beyond ‘generic humility’ as in letting others go first in line or smiling instead of snapping at them. This humility, modeled by God, is sacrificial at its core. It’s a humility that says, ‘I am God. I have all authority. But I will not allow my right as God to keep me from coming down in love to you.’ This humility carries a cost. For Jesus, it cost Him His throne, His community, and even His relationship with the Father as He bore our sin upon Himself, forcing the Father to turn away and forsake Him. But this humility was worth it. Jesus wasn’t constantly rolling His eyes annoyed at our humanity, frustrated that He was wrapped in flesh, or secretly exasperated at how dreadful it was to be tired, poor, or hungry. He was sacrificially humble as He gave Himself away for our redemption.  
 
4) How can we have the same obedience? (verses 12-13)  
When we come to a place of total surrender to living a sacrificially humble life because we want nothing more than to fully possess the same love and the same attitude of humility, then we are perfectly positioned walk into the same obedience. All of this, from beginning to end, is a work of the Holy Spirit in us as we submit to Him in ever increasing ways. It’s both Him and us, an intricate duo of our humble submission and His miraculous shaping. Paul passionately holds up Christ and His willingness to love and sacrifice for our good and then implores the church to obey Him because He is worth it! Prove your salvation, Paul says, put on display how Jesus is making you continuously new by having the same obedience Christ Himself displayed. Submit yourselves to Him, be disciplined, be sacrificially humble, and love well. In the same token, know that all of your work is only done because the Spirit of the Living God is alive and at work within you! He is making you new! He is bringing about your obedience as you submit to His lead!

Everyday Application

1) How are these verses connected? 
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, ‘oneness does not mean same-ness’, encouraging differentiation between people as they work towards a common goal or in a marriage. Sameness in that sense isn’t what Paul is meaning here, rather he is encouraging all believers to follow after the same pattern for living life. As followers of Jesus, the pattern for living isn’t up for discussion or interpretation. As the Master does, so do we as His followers. The disciple is not above the Master. This is exactly what Paul was writing about and its precisely why studying Scripture is so critical for every Christ-follower. The more we study, the clearer our model becomes.  
 
2) What is this “same love”? (verses 1-4)  
This letter was written to the churches in Philippi and was likely circulated to other surrounding churches as well, but its timeless teachings are for all believers everywhere. When you think of your local church, how are you personally contributing to the overall characteristics described here? Keep in mind the all-inclusive language Paul uses like “everyone” looking out for others and “nothing” done in selfishness or vanity. As you pray through these verses, lean in to how the Spirit is leading you. Are there people you avoid or are more likely to gossip about? How do those actions reflect God’s heart? God’s design for His Church, for us as believers, is to have the same love that God shares among the triune godhead. We as a community are intended to beautifully reflect Himself! 
 
3) What is the “same attitude”? (verses 5-11) 
If I’m being honest (which is kind of a core value of Gracefully Truthful…), then I am much more likely to associate with eye-rolling-annoyed-exasperated ‘generic humility’ than I am likely to see a consistent pattern of sacrificial humility in my everyday life. I have my things to do, my standards by which to do them, this amount of time allotted, and even a casual interruption of that mindset will test my patience, much less my humility. Jesus isn’t calling us to be doormats, quite opposite! He’s calling us to firmly hold on to who we are as redeemed daughters of the King, but not to allow our knowledge of Him or our relationship status to keep us from engaging well by loving others with His same attitude of humility. Love well, Sisters. Practice sacrificial humility as you remember to keep the same attitude of our Lord.   
 
4) How can we have the same obedience? (verses 12-13) 
Doesn’t examining the model of Christ’s love and extreme humility and extravagant sacrifice encourage and embolden your desire to become more like Him? Believing Friend, obey Him! His Spirit is ready to lead and speak to you, taking you deeper as you submit to following Him. Don’t worry about the process or the how or the end result, that’s the work of the Lord, your job is to listen and obey! And to my friends who haven’t crossed the line of faith and asked Jesus to rescue them for eternity from their sin, the call is the same, obey Him! Come, explore, roam free in His unfathomably deep love for you. He has much for you, much to do in you, it all starts with a willingness to surrender and listen to His voice as He’s asking you to trust Him. Obey that voice, it’s worth it! Don’t worry about the process or the how or the end result, just listen and obey!

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

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 Worship IV Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
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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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Screenshot Day 3 Treasured Kingdom

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 13:44-50
Philippians 1:18-26
Matthew 16:24-26
Philippians 3:7-8 

Screenshot, Day 3

It was the summer before my sophomore year in high school.  I trusted in Jesus as my Savior at a young age, but I had gradually given in to cycles of sin and hardness to the Word of God.  God had created a perfect storm between my heart and life circumstances.
It all came to a head at summer camp.   

By the final session, God had tendered my heart to listen to His calling on my life. When the speaker called those to the stage who were committing to give their lives to vocational ministry for the Kingdom of God, I stood up, tears streaming, and joined the small group on-stage.
I was emotional, but I was thinking clearly.
I knew I needed to lay down my future, devoting it completely to Him.   

Over the years, I’ve wondered:
“Did I even understand what God’s kingdom is and what I was committing to?”
“Is the Kingdom of God something only those in vocational ministry work for?”
“Maybe it’s something bigger than that?”
Regardless of where I was then, that moment began a series of opportunities throughout my life to give all I am and all I have for the glory of God and His kingdom purposes.  

But what exactly is the kingdom of God?
Simply put, it is where God rules and reigns.

And what does He do as He reigns?
He lovingly redeems and sanctifies His people,
always working for our good and for His glory.  (Romans 8:28) 

If you haven’t already read Matthew 13:44-50, go ahead and do so now!
Here, Jesus uses three short parables to help us think about the kingdom of God.   

Hidden In A Field
Verse 44 compares the Kingdom of Heaven, (synonymous to the ‘Kingdom of God’ in Scripture), to a treasure hidden in a field. Jesus explains that once a man discovered it, he sold everything to buy the field and obtain the treasure.
The point here is not that the kingdom of God must somehow be purchased, (impossible!). Instead, it teaches us the value of this kingdom.

The use of the word treasure is very strategic.
Jesus had already told His disciples in Matthew 6:21,
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. 
He’s urging us to let His kingdom rule in our hearts! 

Valuable Pearl
Verse 45 compares the kingdom of God to someone searching for a pearl of great value.
If God’s kingdom is where He rules and reigns,
and if we have eyes to see Him doing so in all of His perfect beauty and glory,
then we will value and treasure this kingdom work as highest priority in our lives.
Likewise, since God’s kingdom is about redeeming and sanctifying lost souls,
then the greatest pearl is Jesus Christ Himself! 

Casting The Net 
Verses 46-50 illustrates the sobering truth that what we treasure now on earth, will have eternal implications. The gospel of Jesus Christ is thrown out as a net over the entire world.  Those who hear the good news, and have eyes to see Christ as Redeemer, are covered with the righteousness of Christ.  Those who hear, yet turn away from Jesus, will receive the full punishment of their sins in eternity.  

So, what does this mean for my everyday life?  
Does a follower of Jesus have a choice to participate in this kingdom?  

In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus teaches that to be His follower,
taking up your cross isn’t optional.
Sufferings, celebrations, trials, burdens, joys, sickness, blessings, pain, brokenness, everyday life, are all intended as opportunities for us to follow His example.
What example is that?
Death to sin and self.
Jesus gave Himself up for a greater gain,
that we might be awakened to real life in every part of life. (Philippians 2:6-8) 

Does this internal work of God only happen on mission trips,
in ministry teams, and at summer camps?
Is it reserved for the local pastor, the Bible academic, or Sunday-School teacher?

As a follower of Jesus, the kingdom of God has been prepared for our participation
no matter our title, our role, where we live, or occupation.
Kingdom work is for all of us! 

Over the past decade I have been schooled in what God’s Kingdom looks like.
His Kingdom calls out for wisdom in the corners of my home, amongst crumbs on our van floor and whining in the back-seat.
It whispers patience to me in the grocery-store aisle with a defiant preschooler, and less than perfect family dinners.
It commands hope amidst a despairing heart, and gives vision for a fully redeemed future.   

I’ve been pressed up against a wall with the words the apostle Paul wrote,
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21)
I’ve had to choose to let go of things I thought were a gain; things I thought would be an asset, a help, a strength of mine, and have been shown that Christ is my greatest treasure. (Colossians 3:7-8)  

Treasuring God’s Kingdom means you and I will
seek Jesus as our greatest gain and
will die to our own kingdoms of self-love and preservation.

In this dying, He will make us alive to the work Christ will accomplish through us to redeem and sanctify others.
Let us press on to live, move, and breath for this Kingdom;
it will show itself to be the highest treasure!

To God be the Glory! 

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

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Screenshot 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 Screenshot!