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The GT Weekend! ~ Shofar, Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Shofar, Week 1

Rebecca Adams

January 24, 2026

Reveal,Scripture,Thankfulness,Worship

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

His Words Before Ours

Revelation 2:8-11

8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.
Read More Of His Words

Praying #HisWordsBeforeOurs

After reading today's passage a few times, find one verse or a small section to use as your guide in praying His Words Before Ours back to God!

Pray aloud in shout or whisper, inside your mind, with tears, or pen and paper. Cling to #HisWordsBeforeOurs and pray honestly, letting His Spirit guide and instruct your heart!

May you be refreshed, dear sister, as you speak with, and listen to, the Almighty God!
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

What Do You See?

After reading the passage several times, summarize in your own words what is happening. Use pen and paper or talk it out as if describing it to someone younger than you. (this is harder than it may seem!)

What do you see if you step into the passage? Who is involved? What hits your senses? Do you know any other parts of Scripture, or cultural background that might help you understand this passage more?

It's a great time to do some research with trusted sources to help answer your questions, but please read the surrounding passages and cross-references first!
Monday & Tuesday

What Sparks Your Heart?

When we humbly and prayerfully read God’s Word, the Spirit is ready and eager to teach us, convict us, and help us grow deeper in Him!

As you read this passage, where do you sense the Spirit sparking your soul to pay attention? Pray over those portions as you read and re-read them, asking the Lord what He wants you to DO in real life.

Write down in your journal, or on a sticky note, (or on your arm in ink!) the actions the Lord is leading you to live out today. Tell a friend how the Lord is challenging you; following Jesus is meant to be lived in community!
Wednesday & Thursday

What Will You Sacrifice?

Lay out a sacrifice of praise, worship, and intercession for others through prayer. Praise Jesus for His work in You, for His Word, for His work in the world, and pray for those people the Spirit brings to your mind.

Don't leave God's Word unchanged and unchallenged, Sister! How will your life today reflect a Sacrifice for Christ? Whether it's praise, turning from sin, or following a prod to step into a faith action, sacrifice from your heart!

When we bring a sacrifice of praise through prayer and adoration, the Lord is glorified and made much of in our everyday lives while Kingdom work advances in the world through prayer! Be sure to write out your prayers; soon, you’ll have a log of sacrificial praise to look back on the reflected goodness of God in your life!
2-for-1 Friday

This Week's Journeys

Join Us On The Journey!

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

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Jan 19, 2026 - Feb 6 - Journey Theme #141
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Tags :
listen,read,reflect,scripture,shofar
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The GT Weekend! ~ Lowly Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Lowly Week 1

Katelyn Palmer

December 14, 2024

Comfort,Community,Faith,Gospel,Life,Peace,Perfect

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

His Words Before Ours

Matthew 5:3-9

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Bless are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

Yahweh, As I sit and write to You, I am a mixture of joyful surprise and comfort, and reverence and frustration.

I’m joyfully in awe in watching Scripture leap to life to tell me Who you are when I study alongside my sisters globally. I’m astonished to consider You, Creator of everything, did not view His Creation as too lowly for your kind attention. Rather, You joined us and lived among us, then sacrificed Yourself to save us. Inconceivable Christmas Wonder!

I am comforted by the Prince of Peace and invigorated by the Lord of Armies. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

I share honestly with You, Lord, that I feel frustrated too, amidst this joy, when I consider the pieces of my life that seem to wage in conflict against Your peace. Am I waging war with You, Lord, in any way? Expose my sin, this Christmas season, so every aspect can fall peacefully under Your sovereign rule and reign.

As I consider obedience in my life, I am reminded of Jesus. Your humble heart (John 13:1-17) obeyed the Father (Philippians 2:5-8) and centered on God (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), even at the cost of Your life.

Father, You showed the Son what to do with plain clarity, and I know You will do the same for all Your children, called under the Name of Your Son, and indwelt by Your Spirit. Through Jesus’ name I joyfully celebrate You and expectantly wait for Your conviction and clarity, Amen.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

This week, Bri launched our Christmas theme, Journey Into Lowly, by examining Jesus’ birth and life as a manifestation of God’s promise to reconcile the world to Himself and bring everlasting peace to a fallen world. Bri reminded us that Jesus didn’t bring peace with Him, rather He was, and still is, real peace.

Jesus humbled himself into our form and gave Himself to us, first in a manger then on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8), all so we might experience divine peace through him. In John 14:19-20, Jesus tells His disciples, “In a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.”

Skip ahead to verses 25 and 26, “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” Finally, we look at John 14:27 where Jesus tells His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

In all three of these instances, the Triune God of Peace rules and reigns as Father, Son, and Spirit.
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Before Jesus came to us in the flesh, we were guided by the Law (Galatians 3:23-26), a testament to the righteous standards of God and the irrefutable acknowledgement of sin within all of us. Furthermore, Romans 3:9-19 teaches that no man, save Jesus, is righteous and can stand before the Law.

How, then, could some biblical characters like Abraham (Genesis 15:6) or Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-7) be righteous in God’s sight before the death and resurrection of Christ? Difficult questions like these require further digging into Scripture.

First, God is the ultimate judge over all Creation (Isaiah 33:22, 2 Corinthians 5:10). Second, a closer look at Abraham tells us he was credited with righteousness because of his faith. (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:1-13)

This is great news because we can never achieve righteousness on our own power! God has the power and desire to establish us in His love, make our hearts blameless, and gift us the righteousness of His Son when we come to Him with faith. (Romans 5:1, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 2:15-16)
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

We ended a powerful week of Christmas study with the bold reminder of God’s gracious compassion. It can be easy to forget that God was so compassionate and merciful, that He “emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when He had come as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even to death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:7-8)

He did not view us as too lowly to rescue, so He stooped low to save us from ourselves. How do we learn to love the broken world and its broken people (like us!) through the lens of God’s merciful love? We allow the Spirit of God to reshape our hearts and minds, following the example of our Savior. (Philippians 2:5, Romans 12:1-2)

The shape of Christ being formed within His children looks like the authentic worship described in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

These three disciplines help us focus on God’s heart, reminding us of His merciful compassion and humble love so we don’t mistake ourselves as being greater (or lesser) than those around us.
2-for-1 Friday

This Week's Journeys

Remade Day 15
The Remade Life

January 20, 2017 No Comments

We’ve talked a lot during this Journey Theme about what it means to live this redeemed life that Jesus has so richly given us, but what does the “box top” look like? What does my everyday look like as I’m chasing after this God who longs to continuously remake me

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Remade Day 14
The Law of Love: Digging Deeper

January 19, 2017 No Comments

The pharisees asked a lot of questions, but they didn’t truly want to know Jesus’s heart. When we study the Bible or look for answers to our questions, let’s not go looking for evidence to support our pre-determined ideas, rather let’s seek to understand the original intent of the Scriptures,

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Remade Day 13
The Law of Love

January 18, 2017 No Comments

If we really are living out and doing exactly what Jesus tells us are the two most important commandments, then everything else He tells us to do will fall into place… because, by living out these commandments, we are allowing transformation.
When our minds are transformed, then our actions

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Remade Day 12
No Going Back: Digging Deeper

January 17, 2017 No Comments

Are you stuck in the past, attached and grasping for things leading to death, or are you clinging onto and sinking into the things of life? God is a good God, even on days when our past stops us in our tracks or a situation cements our feet. Be reminded

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Remade Day 11
No Going Back

January 16, 2017 No Comments

As fun as it is to “remember when”, there’s danger there too. Either we can romanticize the past and wish for it all over again, or we begin to drown in its sorrows and become perpetually stuck in its cycle. God wants neither for us!

God told Lot’s family

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The GT Weekend – Remade Week Two

January 14, 2017 No Comments

Lord, You have provided perfectly for us. You have given us a means for relationship with You through Jesus. You’ve given the Holy Spirit to keep us walking in step with You, yet I still think I can hide the real me from Your face. Father, forgive me for putting

Read More »

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

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Dec 9 - Dec 27, 2024 - Journey Theme #135
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Tags :
Christmas,hope,joy,peace,reflect
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Pause VII Day 1 Preparing To Pause

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Pause VII Day 1 Preparing To Pause

Rebecca Adams

January 22, 2024

Adoring,Dwell,gentle,Humility

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
Selah

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah
Read More Of His Words

At Gracefully Truthful, our Pause themes are an invitation to slow down and lean into the Word of the Lord. They call us to actively choose to “clear the clutter” of our lives and become willing participants in silencing the incessant cacophony of distractions, whether loud or just, persistent.

For an effective Pause, where our souls can slow down long enough to freely feast on the delights of God’s nourishing Word, we encourage you to set aside these three weeks as sacred, an offering of worship to the Lord. Be intentional with your rhythms and set up a routine that provides space to meet with the Sovereign King who sacrificed everything to redeem your soul, your life, and your everyday moments of messy mayhem.

Interesting note, He can’t redeem what we won’t surrender.
And if we are just too busy to let go of a handful of minutes each day, it’s no wonder we feel disconnected from Him and can’t hear His voice or see Him at work.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray by “go[ing] into your private room and shut[ting] your door”, it wasn’t a metaphor. He was serious and meant His instruction to be taken literally. (Matthew 6:6)

I know all the excuses because I said them for years on end.
“This is a busy season right now.”
“Every time I sit down, a child needs me.”
“I’m too exhausted to get up earlier and too tired at night to stay up later.”

I lived in the land of “I can’t surrender” and my result was a desert of loneliness, fatigue, and weariness that went far deeper than my body.

Three Weeks.
Just Three Weeks.

Doesn’t a Pause sound refreshing?

It won’t cost you the price tag of a massage, and your dirty “whatevers” that “need” your attention, will still be there waiting when you open your door again in a few minutes.

Take the time to make a sacrifice of worship,
close your door to your room,
open His Word,
and pause.
Every day.

As we’ve studied together as sisters and a GT Team, we’ve discovered some tools that have significantly helped us hear more from the Lord, and be distracted less, as we’ve come to His Word during Pause Studies. Here’s what we’ve learned…

1) If you’re blessed to be in a season with little voices and tiny toes, and they just keep clamoring for you, it’s okay to let them in and see you sit with Jesus. It’s also okay to let them make a horrible mess for a few minutes outside your door while you sit in the shade of the God who sees you.

2) Leave your phone outside your room.

3) Bring a candle and read His Word while warming your fingers and soul with a small glow.

4) Level up the Pause challenge and memorize our focal passage, Psalm 46. Even if it takes you the rest of the year to memorize it in full, trust us, it’s worth it. Rewards you can’t even fathom are waiting for you on the other side of memorizing God’s Word!

Don’t complicate it.
Just sit and open His Word with a heart longing to know Him.
Come away, Sister; pause with us!

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read Psalm 46 quietly and prayerfully. Then circle back, re-read it, and write down every word that sticks out to you as significant. This is the Holy Spirit drawing you in with His tenderness. Wait with expectancy to see what the Lord will teach you through His Word by the power of His own Spirit in the coming weeks!

2) Close your time by praying for these truths to take root in your heart and for the Holy Spirit to remind you and teach you more about these things today. Be sure to write out any questions you have as you read! If you’d like to send your questions to us, we’d love to study with you!

3) Put your headphones in and listen to strong encouragement and practical wisdom from Pastor David Platt on meeting regularly with the Almighty! 

Tags :
pause,quiet time,reflect,silent,worship
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Journey Into Pause VII!

Be Still. And Know. That I Am God. Cease your fighting, silence all your distractions, and be captivated by the stunning glory of the God who has come to you, making Himself known.

Jan 22 - Feb 9, 2024
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The GT Weekend! ~ Melody, Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Melody, Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

December 30, 2023

Adoration,Daughter,Faith,Fear,Giving,God,Joy

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

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

John 15:18-20, 25

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.

However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours.

[…] But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: “They hated me for no reason.””
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, build in me a faith like Mary’s; like Elizabeth’s; like Miriam’s; like Anna’s. Pour Your strength and love into me until I am overflowing, so I may give it to those around me. Lord, my words fall short today. All I can do is give Your words back to You and wrap myself in the warmth of their love and promise.

“Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26) Lord, let the words that flow from my lips be of praise to You and for the good of those around me.

“Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth” (1 John 3:18) God, please teach me how to reflect Your love through my daily living and not let my faith die within my words.   

“One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim Your mighty acts. I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wondrous works.” (Psalm 145:4-5) Yahweh, write within me a praise song that sings of Your greatness to the generation after me, a melody of my own redemption story that glorifies Your love for each of us.

As always, Your words suffice where mine fall short. Hear my heart’s prayer, Lord, and let me become a stronger reflection of You just as the great women of the Bible exemplified.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE


As humans, we are inherently sinful (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10-18) Though we may desire to choose righteousness, we still find ourselves falling into pesky traps of sin as we are tempted by the way of sinful desires. (Romans 7:14-15)

One such trap is the lie we can be trusted to run our lives better than God. Control is a lucrative lie! It’s much easier to believe in something we can see with our own eyes rather than the unseen power of the Almighty, so we conjure a convincing illusion that we have control. The reality is, God created everything we can see and everything we cannot see. (Colossians 1:16) He IS life. (Colossians 3:4)

When we focus on the truth of His attributes, we more readily relinquish our façade of control with open hands of total surrender to His goodness. As we head into a new year, maybe you’d like to study the character of God with GT! “Character”, “He”, and “Kaleidoscope” are great options!

When we surrender our false sense of control to the God who calls us by name, we can expend our energy on praise while resting in the joyful life Christ offers.

When facing difficult seasons, we can find encouragement in the narratives of women who practiced regular praise. Consider Sarah, Ruth, Elizabeth, and Miriam to name a few!

Find solace with the Savior through His Word as you replace your sorrows with singing. Christ, who knew suffering would be our reality (John 15:18-25), promised us peace through His victory (John 16:33)!

JOURNAL TWO

On Wednesday, Carol highlighted several important lessons from Mary’s praise-song. (Luke 1:46-55) First, she provides a glimpse of the power of memorizing Scripture. In Mary’s song, she quoted God’s words back to Him, highlighting His sovereignty and never-ending love for His people.

Though Mary was young, the lyrics of her song indicated a childhood immersed in the teachings of God. Regardless of whether we grew up rooted in Scripture, we are presented with the opportunity to read a verse, a chapter, or even a book in the Bible every day. We are given the opportunity to join Mary’s song and pray God’s Word back to Him! (Matthew 4:1-11)

Second, Mary rejoices over her role in bringing about the fulfillment of God’s promises. We each have a role to play, even if it doesn’t look like Mary’s. Will we steward our opportunities with worship?

Third, in death we also find life and Jesus’ death and resurrection ensured that eternal life would be available to each of us if we choose to place our faith on Jesus as the Son of God. Fourth, our heart posture can either bring us closer to God as it did for Mary when she humbly submitted to His will, or it can blind us to who God really is as it did for the Pharisees. (John 8:1-11)

In the end, our heart posture is what God cares about most, so we must be vigilant in centering our hearts on Jesus every single day. (Proverbs 23:26)

JOURNAL THREE

When we consider Mary’s story, it can be easy to overlook the practicalities of her daily life in the beginning. In Mary’s culture, virginity at the time of marriage was the expectation, so Mary and her husband would have endured much ridicule and contempt from a society who likely struggled to believe her story of an immaculate conception.

This illustrates the importance of having a faith community when we face difficult seasons.

We read of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth in the first months of her own pregnancy and last months of Elizabeth’s, a visit that strengthened both women and filled them with encouragement for the battles ahead. Additionally, as we see throughout the Bible, God chooses to raise the lowly and meek so none may boast apart from Him (1 Corinthians 1:26-30), but how loving He must be to have chosen two faithful cousins who could walk their difficult paths together!

We also witness how our own obedience brings blessings to others. In this case, Mary’s obedience offered Elizabeth and her unborn child the opportunity to experience the Holy Spirit, a rare blessing prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection!

Mary showed us the power in humbling ourselves to the point of surrendered obedience just as her Son would do even unto his death upon the cross. (Mark 14:32-42) In her faith, she found the words to her song of praise, leaving behind an example of humble worship for generations to come who would write their own songs of praise.
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on the daily?
Registration gives you free, every day access to encouragement, weekly worship prompts, and daily Bible study that applies to real life.
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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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Dec 11 - Dec 30, 2023 - Journey Theme #126
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The GT Weekend! ~ Sketched IX Week 2

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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) When Peter saw the beggar at the gate, he saw a man in need. It was apparent to all who saw him that this beggar had a physical problem which could only be fixed by divine healing. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, satisfied his need for physical healing, but he didn’t stop there! Peter invited everyone who saw this man’s healing to receive healing for their hearts. Because of Peter’s own experience, he knew their spiritual need was much more pressing than any physical need. Peter did not sweep their wrongdoings under the rug, but neither did he withhold mercy from them because of their sin. Peter told the crowds the good news of Jesus, inviting them to repent and find true healing for their hearts. What about you? Have you repented of your sins? Have you trusted in Jesus for spiritual healing? If not, what is holding you back? If you have received this healing, have you shared it with others? When we are healed from our physical ailments, we are quick to share with others our good news. Who can you tell today about your spiritual healing? Consider sharing your story with a neighbor, coworker, or even your social media friends. Go forth walking, and leaping, and praising God!

2) What drives you? Doubt? Fear? Passion? Truth? When Jesus calls you, how do you answer? When the world asks why you call yourself a Christian, how do you respond? Who do you say Jesus is? Peter walked with Jesus, answering His call day in and day out. Peter declared the truth of Jesus’ identity, and then denied Him. But in the end, Peter risked his very life to proclaim the Good News that Jesus is the Messiah, the Healer of the world. As you look at your life, are you walking with Jesus? Do you know who He is? Are you obeying His call on your life, and declaring His name to the people around you? Take some time today to write down who Jesus is to you. Look to Scripture to see what it reveals about His identity and how this lines up with your definition. Then, consider how His identity can change you. What does it mean to follow Jesus, and how can you grow in your walk with Him? Write a prayer to God asking Him to help you grow in your understanding of Jesus, and in your ability to follow His leading.

3) In yesterday’s journey, we were reminded of Peter’s continual struggle to obey. Even after walking with Jesus, seeing Him resurrected, and hearing directly from the Holy Spirit what was expected of him, Peter fell short. Part of living in a broken world is falling short of perfection. We desire to follow Jesus and we long to serve Him faithfully, but our human nature holds us back from perfect obedience. I read recently that the Holy Spirit enables us to obey, but He does not do the work for us. James 2:17 tells us “faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.” Where in your life are you struggling to obey God? Is there an issue in your life where you are putting your trust in earthly wisdom or the approval of others rather than trusting God’s way? Write a prayer of confession to God, and ask Him to enable you to trust Him and be obedient. Then take a step towards obedience. Maybe obedience looks like giving more generously to your church or having a hard conversation with a friend or family member. Whatever it is, show you believe God by walking in obedience to Him.

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 Isaiah 53:4-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Yet He himself bore our sicknesses,
and He carried our pains;
but we in turn regarded Him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on Him,
and we are healed by His wounds.
We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished Him
for the iniquity of us all.

Prayer Journal
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for telling us the true stories of Your followers. How comforting to know I am not alone in my struggles to follow You. As I consider the life of Peter, I see a man who was excited and ambitious to follow You, but still fell short. He wanted to obey, and even did miracles in Your name, but he was not a perfect man. Thank you for showing us that Your love for us is never ending. Help me to walk in obedience to You. I know on my own, I cannot follow or obey You. Lord, I believe in You. I believe Your plans are better than mine. Come and heal my heart. Transform me into a person who is driven by obedience and love for You. And when I fall short, as I often do, remind me of Your great love and compassion. Enable me to show Your love and compassion to those around me. Please help me to obey Your commands and to love my neighbor as myself.

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

Follow Day 4 Entering The Extraordinary: 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 Entering The Extraordinary!

The Questions

1) In studying the Bible, repetition is significant. Abram is mentioned 9 times in this passage, the most of anyone. What is significant about him?

2) Who called Abram?

3) What was Abram called from? What was he called to?

*Note: In Genesis 17, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham. Both names will be used in this study.

Genesis 11:24-12:4

11:24 Nahor lived 29 years and fathered Terah. 25 After he fathered Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and fathered other sons and daughters. 26 Terah lived 70 years and fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. 28 Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah’s lifetime. 29 Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child. Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years and died in Haran.
12:1 The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Original Intent

1) In studying the Bible, repetition is significant. Abram is mentioned 9 times in this passage, the most of anyone. What is significant about him?
Genesis 11:26 contains the first reference to Abram. Abram/Abraham is mentioned 312 times in 272 verses in the Bible. He is the most notable man of the Old Testament and, except for Moses, no other Old Testament character is mentioned more in the New Testament than Abraham. Moses gives us the record of the lives of three early Jewish patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But Abraham’s son, Isaac, serves mainly as a transitional figure rather than a prominent one. Therefore, the early patriarchal record divides history between the two lives of Abraham and Jacob. The New Testament authors signify for us Abraham’s importance and impact in Scripture’s redemptive history. Believers in all generations are called Abraham’s sons (Galatians 3:7), and the Bible author James refers to him as “God’s friend.” (James 2:22-23) Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, James reiterates the Lord’s message to the prophet Isaiah regarding Abraham as his friend. (Isaiah 41:8) This specific title is used of no one else in Scripture, although Exodus tells us Moses and the LORD spoke face to face as friends do. (Exodus 33:11) While we don’t meet Abram until he’s 75 years old, his role in the story of our own redemption is pivotal.


2) Who called Abram?
Abram’s story begins in Ur, an ancient Chaldean city. Joshua describes his earlier history for us in his record. Before God called him, Abram had no knowledge of the one true God. (Joshua 24:2) He had no idea the God of the universe would choose a special people for Himself, nor that He would bring Abram into His plan to redeem mankind. Like He often does, God called an unlikely man from a family of idol worshippers, who himself was probably one. Following the information regarding Abram’s lineage, we are introduced to the first part of God’s call to him. In Genesis 12:1, several translations aptly translate the verse as “the Lord had said” instead of “the Lord said.” This is important because according to Acts 7:2-4, Abram received his call in Ur before his father died in Haran. We see in these Genesis verses it was God who called Abram to go to a land where the promise would be fulfilled for him and his descendants.

3) What was Abram called from? What was he called to?
Abram was called to leave his home and was called to go to an unknown place. God called him to this unseen promise as an example for those who would come after him, choosing to follow Christ though we cannot yet see our eternal promised hope in Heaven. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8) God was not only calling Abram to a land, but to a promise. In verses 2-3, God says “I will” five times. In chapter 11, we see man’s plan, but in chapter 12, we see God’s. (blueletterbible.org) God’s plan was bigger than Abram could ever have imagined! God called Abram to blessing in three ways: He would make him into a great nation, He would give Abram and his descendants a great name, and He would prosper and protect him. The apostle Paul offers insight into the promise God gave Abram as he guided the Galatians to understand that the blessing of righteousness in Jesus comes from faith, even for the Gentile, just as it had for Abraham. (Galatians 3:7-9)

Everyday Application

 

1) In studying the Bible, repetition is significant. Abram is mentioned 9 times in this passage, the most of anyone. What is significant about him?
According to Old Testament scholar Gordon Wenham, no section of Genesis is more significant than this passage. Abram was called by a God he had never known to leave his familiar environment and go to a land he had never seen. Since the beginning of history with Adam and Eve, man’s sin had resulted in God’s curse. Yet now God promises to redeem humanity and call out a people for Himself who would experience blessing and hope. Abram’s extraordinary faith is a foundation for all those after him who will enter into the story of God’s redemption with him. The significance of Abraham’s obedience is that it links every believer to Abram’s faith; all those after him who would trust God for salvation are impacted by Abraham’s obedience tied to his faith. (Acts 13:26). The birth of Christ was the culmination of that faith. Abraham was a living example of faith and hope in the promises of God, though unseen (Hebrews 11:8–10). Dear sister, may our lives so reflect this kind of faith in the unseen future that we pass on to those who come behind us a lasting hope.

2) Who called Abram?
It is the LORD who called Abram! It is Yahweh, the divine Creator who desired to have a relationship with His people. God’s call and promise to Abram in Genesis 12 focus on the hope that secures our sure future through His grace. It is the LORD God who called him out, and it is this same God who has called us out from our sin and saved us from death. (2 Timothy 1:9-10) The kind of faith God blesses is the kind willing to leave everything behind for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as God called Abraham to leave, He calls us to leave the familiarity and comfort of sin and enter to the promise of eternal life. Jesus called people to follow Him, but some were unwilling. (Matthew 19:16-22) Paul reminded the believers in Philippi that it was God who called them to salvation and they were to only believe and obey, “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12)

3) What was Abram called from? What was he called to?
Abram’s call from God reminded Moses and the Israelites that God had a plan for Abram’s life long before Abram had done anything for God. God had called Abraham as His humble servant simply because it pleased God to do so, thus revealing the amazing grace of God! God’s rich grace towards us is a theme woven throughout the life story of Abraham. God showed mercy to the patriarch at every moment of his life because he needed God’s mercy all the time. Abraham’s saving righteousness was a gift of mercy from the God who called him.  “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) As heirs of Abraham’s faith, we can follow his example. We are called out of sin and into God’s promise of eternal life. We are called out of disobedience and into the abundant life of Christ. We are called out of our temporary dwelling and into an eternal and better one; an extraordinary one!! (Hebrews 11:13-16)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VII Week 2

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship VII Week 2

Erin O'Neal

November 7, 2020

Christ,Faithfulness,God,GT Weekend,Hope,Power,Praise,Prayer,Rest,Scripture,Strength,Trust,Worship

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

His Words Before Ours

Jude 1:24-25

Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God above all. You are great and mighty, yet You choose to care for the weak and lowly. You are faithful, even when Your people are faithless. Thank You for Your loving kindness towards me. Thank You that my life has meaning, not because of who I am or what I do, but because of who You are and what You have done for me.

Even when my days are hard, and my weakness is on display, You are constantly faithful. It is only by faith in You and through Your faithful work that I have any hope of salvation. While the world around me seems shaky, when I don’t know who or what to believe, when my future feels uncertain, thank You for holding me fast.

Thank You that I do not need to fix myself or my circumstances. Thank You for sustaining the world. Help me to lay down my need for control and certainty. Help me to trust in Your unending goodness.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

What a glorious thought! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His family. For those who believe in Jesus, there is an eternal home waiting for us without tears or pain or suffering. We will dwell forever in the house of God! When was the last time you thought about what heaven will be like?

Have you spent time contemplating the majesty and wonder of a God who is pleased to be with His people, creating a place for them that is perfect and beautiful? What will it be like to live in a perfect world, in perfect relationship with God, with no sin to get in the way? Sit with these questions today. Imagine deeply what God has promised us in the resurrection.

Look back through the verses Quantrilla referenced in our Journey Study yesterday and visualize the glory awaiting God’s people. Write a prayer thanking God for His good plans and telling Him what you are most delighted by as you consider the “sweet by and by.”
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

Throughout Scripture, our life in Christ is referred to as a race or some other physical competition. Running a race requires stamina and endurance, determination and discipline. How often do we become weary in our day-to-day life between the demands of others and seemingly endless checklists? At times, it can feel more like we are running in a hamster wheel than actually pressing on toward a goal.

Regardless of our feelings, our sure hope is we do not need to run this race in our own strength! We can put our faith in Christ and trust in His faithfulness to sustain us. As Lesley pointed out, “faith is a matter of focus.” Are you trusting in your own will power, strength, or ability to “finish your race”? Or are you turning your eyes to the faithfulness of Christ, resting in His power, strength, and ability to carry you across the finish line? Is there an area in your life where you have not fully turned your fears over to Him?

Take some time today to consider where you are struggling and reorient your focus in those areas to Christ. Ask God to show you His faithfulness, knowing He does great things.
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

Jesus Christ is the great King of Kings! If we really believe this truth, our response should be one of worship and praise for the great work which He has done.

Marietta reminded us that Jesus came to Earth at the end of a period of four hundred years of apparent silence from God. The people had been waiting for a promised Messiah; yet, many did not know or recognize Him when He finally arrived.

Have you ever gone through a season where it seemed like God was silent? What was your response in that time? How did God come through for you in the end? Reflect today on the faithfulness of God in seasons past, and let this reality encourage you right now. Perhaps you are currently in a season where God seems quiet. How are you responding to His quiet? Are you continuing to walk in faith, even when God seems distant?

How can you press into the waiting season and trust in God as King of Kings, and believe He will be faithful to you? Talk to God honestly today about your struggles, big and small. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and help you remember His goodness.
2-for-1 Friday

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The GT Weekend! ~ Calling Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Calling Week 3

Erin O'Neal

October 24, 2020

Faithfulness,God,GT Weekend,Holy Spirit,Prayer,Relationship,Scripture,Truth

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

His Words Before Ours

Psalm 138:3,7-8

On the day I called, You answered me;
You increased strength within me.
If I walk into the thick of danger,
You will preserve my life
from the anger of my enemies.
You will extend your hand;
Your right hand will save me.
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.
Lord, Your faithful love endures forever;
do not abandon the work of Your hands.
Read More Of His Words

Reflective Prayer

To you, oh God, I lift up my voice. Father, Son, and Spirit, Three in One. You are the source of all good things. You are the One who answers prayers and provides Your people with all strength and sustenance.

Remind me of my need for You. Remind me of my need for Your goodness and grace. Help me to submit, in spite of my own stubborn will, to the authority and needs of those around me. As I remember my need for You, help me to be drawn into conversation with You. Let my prayers to You be as natural to me as the very breath I breath.

I confess I am easily distracted by the cares and values of the world. I often desire my own will and my own way. Help me to be so delighted by you, I cannot help but worship. Thank You for Your consistent and assuring presence in my life and for Your answers to my prayers.

Let me be ever more aware of Your desires. Help me turn away from the false stories and messages the world is so quick to offer and listen instead to Your Word of truth.
Pray Scripture

Worship Through Song

Reflection One

Merry took us really deep, really fast in Monday’s Journey Study. Paul is calling Christians to be people of light who speak truth in love. He is challenging Jesus-followers to not be blinded by lies and darkness, but to call out evil and walk in truth. Merry asked a series of questions that bears repeating, “Beloved, what drives you? Are you ruled by your feelings, or by your Father? Are you more vested in the things the world holds dear, or the things of your Father’s Kingdom?”

Every day we hear messages from the world about what we should value and believe. Do those messages line up with Scripture? Could these messages be clouding your vision and darkening your eyes to the truth? Make a list of ways you hear messages from the world that don’t reflect God’s truth. (think Instagram, Netflix, the news, romance novels, etc.)

Make plans to fast for a period of time from one or more of those sources of information, and intentionally repurpose your time to seek out God’s truth. Set a specific time frame for your fast (one day, one weekend, a whole week), and then at the close of your time, reflect on the truths you have gained from the Lord.
Monday & Tuesday

Reflection Two

What comes to your mind, when you first hear the word submission? Our culture sees submission as a dirty word as it seemingly goes against some of our deepest and oldest values of liberty and independence.

In Ephesians, Paul says those who follow Jesus ought to submit to the authorities in their lives and to one another in love. As people who seek to honor God, we should look different from the rest of the world. Does your spirit push back on this idea like mine does?

Submission is uncomfortable and leaves us open to vulnerability, but biblical submission born of love is one aspect of the Christian life we are invited to rest in. Take some time to evaluate your life. Where do you need to practice submission? Do you have a boss who really grinds your gears? Or maybe you are struggling to make a decision with your husband? What about a family member or friend whom you are butting heads with as you each want your own way?

Write down one specific, actionable step you can take this week to mend a damaged relationship by submitting your will to another. Ask God to give you courage and humility to take the first step in faith.
Wednesday & Thursday

Reflection Three

The full armor of God is our toolkit to help Christians in our battle against darkness. As people who follow Jesus, we are told first to “be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.” Only then are we to put on the full armor of God. Without the power and strength of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, our efforts to make ourselves faithful will fall flat.

We need to be “plugged into Jesus” as we were told in yesterday’s journey. How can we do that? The spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and meditation along with prayer are a great place to start. Ephesians 6:18 tells believers to “pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request…”

As you go through your day, problems arise. You will experience difficulties and discouraging circumstances. Pray about them. You will also experience joyful times and blessings. Thank God for them!

You don’t need to wait until you have your journal and a cup of coffee to talk to God. Slip your conversation with Him into every spare moment of your day. Make a list of concerns you are praying about right now. Post them in a place you will see them like above your kitchen sink, as the background of your phone, on your bathroom mirror, or on your steering wheel. Watch expectantly to see how Jesus strengthens you for each task you set your mind to.
2-for-1 Friday

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on the daily?
Registration gives you free, every day access to encouragement, weekly worship prompts, and daily Bible study that applies to real life.
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Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!

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Oct 5 - Oct 23, 2020 - Journey Theme #78
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Tags :
called,fasting,Full Armor,humility,light,love,reflect,speak,Submission,You're Father
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Ten Day 7 Family On Purpose: 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 Family On Purpose

The Questions

1) Why are there so many “do nots”?

2) How does this passage demonstrate honor?

3) Why did God continually say, “I am the LORD” throughout these commands?

Leviticus 19:9-37

9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien; I am the Lord your God.

11 “Do not steal. Do not act deceptively or lie to one another. 12 Do not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God; I am the Lord.

13 “Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages due a hired worker must not remain with you until morning. 14 Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you are to fear your God; I am the Lord.

15 “Do not act unjustly when deciding a case. Do not be partial to the poor or give preference to the rich; judge your neighbor fairly. 16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor’s life; I am the Lord.

17 “Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. 18 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

19 “You are to keep my statutes. Do not crossbreed two different kinds of your livestock, sow your fields with two kinds of seed, or put on a garment made of two kinds of material.

20 “If a man has sexual intercourse with a woman who is a slave designated for another man, but she has not been redeemed or given her freedom, there must be punishment. They are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21 However, he must bring a ram as his guilt offering to the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 22 The priest will make atonement on his behalf before the Lord with the ram of the guilt offering for the sin he has committed, and he will be forgiven for the sin he committed.

23 “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you are to consider the fruit forbidden. It will be forbidden to you for three years; it is not to be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit is to be consecrated as a praise offering to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way, its yield will increase for you; I am the Lord your God.

26 “You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or witchcraft. 27 You are not to cut off the hair at the sides of your head or mar the edge of your beard. 28 You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the Lord.

29 “Do not debase your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity. 30 Keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary; I am the Lord.

31 “Do not turn to mediums or consult spiritists, or you will be defiled by them; I am the Lord your God.

32 “You are to rise in the presence of the elderly and honor the old. Fear your God; I am the Lord.

33 “When an alien resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. 34 You will regard the alien who resides with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

35 “Do not be unfair in measurements of length, weight, or volume. 36 You are to have honest balances, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure; I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Keep all my statutes and all my ordinances and do them; I am the Lord.”

Original Intent

1) Why are there so many “do nots”?
It is important to remember that God creates order and purpose. His purposes always flow from a heart of deep love because He is love. (1 John 4:16) He does not operate from the stance of “controlling dictator”, so we must drop this supposition when we study His words. His purposes for Israel were for them to multiply and live a long life of honor and worship towards Him so other nations would see that Yahweh was the true God. The rules He laid down here in Leviticus were God’s Code of Conduct. In reading Leviticus 19:9-37 it seems as if God thought of everything imaginable His people could, or would, ever consider doing. He created humans, He created the world, He knew the human heart and just what we are capable of. He established His law as a standard to clearly remind Israel to turn aside from the things of the world and “be holy as I (God) am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2) God’s Law drew a clear line of distinction between the practices of surrounding pagan cultures and how Israel was to live. Sin had ruled them, keeping them in slavery since the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden and their choice to sin against God. (Genesis 3) The standard of God’s holy law reinforced their need for redemption and forgiveness from a kind God who could, and would, make all things good and ‘clean’ again. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, they witnessed a culture that reflected the pagan gods Egyptians worshiped. When the Israelites wandered in the Wilderness, they were witness to many people groups whose cultures also reflected pagan worship. God established His Law so the Israelites would show themselves as set apart while they reflected they were indeed God’s chosen people.

2) How does this passage demonstrate honor?
Living our lives after the pattern of God’s wisdom and loving boundaries is the very best way to live life! Because God is the author of life and is Himself love, we can trust His ways to be the wisest above our own. This Levitical law of honoring is still something to heed today. Although the word “honor” is technically only tied to the command “Honor your mother and father” (Leviticus 19:3), the idea of honoring God and others is woven throughout every command listed in this passage. Honoring neighbors. (Leviticus 19:15-18) Honoring elderly. (Leviticus 19:32) Honoring our children. (Leviticus 18:21, 19:29) Honoring our bodies. (Leviticus 19:27-28) Honoring foreigners. (Leviticus 19:34) All of these actions honor God! Honoring your children means you won’t give them up, by selling them into a lifestyle that will harm them. Honoring your neighbor, and your community, means you will seek their good, and give generously as you care for the poor and the needy. Honor the elders who have come before you. Respect and care for them. As we honor others, we will bring honor to the Lord God as we reflect His heart of love.

3) Why did God continually say, “I am the LORD” throughout these commands?
When you see “Lord” in all capital letters, it signifies the personal name God, Yahweh. It was deeply intimate, and regarded as so holy that Hebrews would not even write all the letters, instead abbreviating it as “YHWH”. Using the phrase “I am the LORD” throughout this passage in Leviticus is God’s way of grounding the Israelites and continuously reminding them of God’s personal love and His mighty character. As they lived out this lifestyle of love and honor, they were representing the very name and character of the God who passionately loved them, Yahweh. He alone brought them out of slavery in Egypt. It was Yahweh who sustained, provided, and led them as they wandered in the wilderness. God did not create these laws to be a dictator and make life difficult, He created them as a pattern for the best way to reflect His heart of love. God wanted His people to always be aware of Him.

Everyday Application

1) Why are there so many “do nots”?
Sinfulness was not an ancient Israel problem, but runs just as rampant in our own hearts and cultures today. Jesus knew we could never attain to the perfect standard of righteousness set out by the Old Testament Law. Our nature is to sin. Our DNA is to choose self over a Savior. One only needs to begin comparing ourselves to even a handful of commandments to see our sinful bent. Have we ever lied? Have we ever lusted (Jesus’ equivalent to committing adultery in Matthew 5:27-28)? Have we ever been angry (Jesus’ equivalent to murder in Matthew 5:21-22) One slight step away from the commands, is our own condemnation, resulting in eternal separation from the Holy God because we are not blameless before Him. When you read of God’s “do nots” let them remind you of His holiness, our own nature to sin, and our desperate need for a Savior, which God graciously and lovingly provides in Jesus Christ. The Lord’s list of “do nots” are also meant to safeguard our lives by creating wise boundaries. Our welfare, our physical health, our mental and emotional state require adherence to most of these “do nots” even today. God’s wise pattern for living is intended to show those around us that we are set apart (1 Peter 2:9-11) as followers of Christ just as Israel was set apart as God’s chosen people. Though we still have this Code of Conduct for righteous living, our only hope in attaining righteousness is found in Jesus Christ who came and perfectly fulfilled every requirement of the Law for us! He became our righteousness!

2) How does this passage demonstrate honor?
Honoring God and others isn’t solely an Old Testament concept; even Jesus talked about esteeming others above yourselves and giving to the poor. He elevated the idea of honoring others when He said loving your neighbor as yourself was the 2nd greatest commandment, second only to loving the Lord Himself. (Mark 12:31) We often think of Leviticus as different than the Ten Commandments, and wonder how those laws all relate to Jesus Christ and His life, or the times we are living in now. All the laws can feel overwhelming or obsolete. In Jesus’ day, Jews observed all regulations of the Old Testament, but Jesus brought the focus on two laws that encompassed every other one. Keeping God first and loving your neighbor as yourself. To love and honor are similar concepts. If you love someone (even yourself), you will honor and respect them. Paul reiterated the Levitical command when he wrote in Ephesians that by honoring parents, a long life was given. (Ephesians 6:2-3) To some of us, honoring our parents feels difficult and complicated as relationships often are. Perhaps we were mistreated or conflict constantly raises its voice in the relationship dynamics. However, if we are born again and have come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit will give us the power to forgive and supernaturally love those who have mistreated us or are difficult to communicate with. When we seek to love the Lord first, He will empower us to love others.

3) Why did God continually say, “I am the LORD” throughout these commands?
While God’s name carried more heavy significance in the Old Testament culture, we can begin cultivating the same awe and respect for His name. Read through today’s passage and speak out loud the four words, “I am the LORD.” Or maybe say, “I am Yahweh”, and remember this name that carried such significant intimacy for ancient Israelites is the exact same for us! All who come to Christ and trust His work on the cross for our salvation are still God’s chosen people just like Israel! In similar fashion, we become set apart to reflect His name, His character, and His love to the world around us. Peter applied the Old Testament command to New Testament believers like us, “Be holy as I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) We can only be made holy and new in deeper ways by coming to Him in repentance and seeking Him daily.  He deserves to be honored and prioritized first in whatever we do whether it’s in our long-term goals and dreams or our day to day moments. The more we submit to His Holy Spirit to reshape our hearts, the easier it becomes to live in such a way that we more clearly reflect the depth and intimacy of our relationship with Yahweh!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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