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If Day 2 One God?: 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!
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The Questions

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18)

Colossians 1:13-22

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 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. 21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him…

Original Intent

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)
Colossians 1:15 states Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” The use of the term firstborn has been problematic for some readers. It would seem to indicate that Jesus was created first, implying He is a created being, similar to an angel, and not co-existent with God before time began. According to author Arthur Peake, “there have been some false doctrines who assert that “angelic mediators usurped the place and functions of the Son in nature and grace.” Author David Guzik explains, “The Greek word for firstborn, prototokos, “can describe either priority in time or supremacy in rank. As Paul used it here, he probably had both ideas in mind, with Jesus being before all created things and Jesus being of a supremely different order than all created things.” Calling Jesus firstborn in the original language was a way to describe Him as being above all, not born or created first. There are several other Scriptural instances of the term firstborn to indicate exalted state or rank, including God telling Pharaoh that Israel is His firstborn son (Exodus 4:22) and God calling David, Jesse’s youngest son, His firstborn, “greatest of the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 89:27) Author William Barclay also points out that the word firstborn is “a title of the Messiah.” The Bible tells us clearly that Jesus is God, not just an angel or some other marvelously created being. Colossians 2:9 declares, “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ.” We can be secure in knowing that the Jesus who came to save us (John 14:6) is the same God who created all things (Colossians 1:16).

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)
We read in Colossians 1:17 that God “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” If God is before all things, then He existed before creation. We read the truth of this in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Before the beginning, there was God. The “beginning” was when time began! Author and researcher Ken Ham explains that before the creation, there was “God existing from everlasting to everlasting—God existing in eternity.” God was there, before all things, being “I AM” (Isaiah 48:12) He also holds all things together. Author Albert Barnes states that God keeps all things “in the present state; their existence, order, and arrangement are continued by His power. If unsupported by Him, they would fall into disorder, or sink back to nothing.” Hebrews 1:3 makes a similar statement, that God “is sustaining all things by His powerful word.” As author James Coffman puts it, “Not only did Jesus Christ create the universe, He sustains, upholds, and supports it!” God is the Author of all things and the maintainer of all things. Without Him, we would have nothing, and without Him, nothing we do have would hold together. We are divinely blessed that not only did God create everything, but He also continues to support everything He made.

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18) 
When Paul called Jesus “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” in Colossians 1:18, he was referencing Christ’s resurrection. Calling Jesus the “firstborn” was a way to say that He was pre-eminent, the highest of those ever to come back from the dead. He obviously didn’t mean he was the first to come back from the dead, because Jesus Himself had raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11:42-44. Author Don Stewart explains, “Jesus was the first person in time to come back from the dead never to die again. In addition, He is preeminent over the dead and death itself. Jesus said that He has the keys, or the authority, to death and Hades.” Paul alludes to Jesus’ resurrection, but He also refers to a beginning, a new age, ushered in by the resurrection. R. C. Sproul explains that people redeemed by Jesus “now experience a taste of the power of the age to come through the ability to resist sin by the Holy Spirit. This future age will arrive in its fullness when all are raised from the dead, and our union with Christ assures us that we will then be raised unto eternal life just as He was.” The resurrection of Jesus points to the day when all Christians will have eternal life with Christ. What a day of rejoicing that will be!

Everyday Application

1) How is Jesus the “firstborn over all creation”? (verse 15)
When Paul called Jesus “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,” (Colossians 1:15), he was declaring Christ’s supremacy over all things God (as Father, Son, and Spirit) had created. It was part of his teaching about the power and purpose of Jesus on earth. Jesus is our Creator, and He desires to help His creatures. Paul reminds us that Jesus is not just a great moral leader created by God, as some false teachings suggest, but that He is Almighty God Himself, one part of the triune Godhead. Author R.C. Sproul says of Jesus, “We are called not simply to follow His guidelines but to throw ourselves at His feet in adoration and praise. Consequently, if we want others to have a proper view of the Messiah, then we need to be careful and always speak of Him as God incarnate, who rules over all.” This is why Paul declares Jesus to be pre-eminent over all things. Paul’s message to anyone who will listen is that the omnipotent God, because of His great love for us, came to earth as our Redeemer and covered our sins. (Colossians 1:14) It is astonishing to realize that the God over all creation longs to be in relationship with the finite, sinful beings He created and for them to each be reconciled back to Him! (Colossians 1:22)

2) What does it mean that God is “before all things, and by Him all things hold together”? (verse 17)
My friend taught at a school where the longtime secretary retired at the end of the school year. The next school year was quite chaotic for my friend because folks in the office didn’t seem to know what to do, or when to do it. The teachers received last minute requests to submit paperwork, schedules were revised multiple times, and annual events were forgotten or cobbled together at the eleventh hour. When the secretary who held the office together retired, everything fell apart! I think of this situation when I read Colossians 1:17, stating that God “is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.” Not only did God create everything, but He holds it all together in ways we don’t even suspect or understand.  If He suddenly stopped holding things together, nothing would be the same and everything would come crashing down. David Guzik describes Jesus as “the personal sustainer of all creation.” Not only does He hold all things together, but the verse also says He is before all things. I have sometimes wondered about that time before creation, before God spoke the world into being. Author Adam Clarke calls Jesus “the unoriginated and eternal God.” He is outside of time as we understand it. R.C. Sproul proclaims that God’s “Eternality goes in the other direction as well. There will never be a time in the future when God will cease to be. His being remains self-existent for all eternity.” It is both awe-inspiring and comforting to know that the eternal God is the One sustaining all creation, including you and me and all whom we hold dear.

3) What does it mean that Jesus is the “beginning, the firstborn from the dead”? (verse 18) 
I bought a book for my friend about the names of God because he liked to pray using the various names given to God in the Bible. The cover featured Immanuel, which means “God with us,” Jehovah Jireh, “God provides,” Prince of Peace, and Light of the World, among others. Nowhere on the cover did I see the name Firstborn From the Dead, though that is one of the names of Jesus in Colossians 1:18. It doesn’t sound as dazzling as Alpha and Omega, but the meaning behind it is just as powerful. The name firstborn indicates that Jesus is above all and over all, and in this case, it means He has power over death. He is the only one to come back from the dead and not die again. Author Scott Hubbard explains, “Only Jesus, the second Adam, has gone from dust to dust to glory. Jesus is the first human to have a heart that will never stop beating, lungs that will never stop breathing, legs that will never stop walking, eyes that will never stop seeing.” When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered death (Romans 6:9) and sin (1 Peter 2:24) Because of His victory over death, we have the opportunity to live forever with Him in Heaven when we repent of our sins and accept His forgiveness (John 3:16) While Firstborn From the Dead might not sound like a great name, it conveys the best news ever shared…Jesus died to set us free from sin!

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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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Ready Day 6 Laboring Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1Thessalonians 3:1-13
Colossians 1:24-29
Jude 20-25

Ready, Day 6

During my daughter’s first years of university studies, my mind was always with her.  I knew that university lifestyle was quite different from secondary school. I was praying for her almost every day, calling to know how she was doing, and sending her text messages to encourage her.

Two things prompted my actions.

  1. I love her, and wanted her future to be good.
  2. I was afraid lest she fell into a bad company and ruin her life; I didn’t want my labor to be in vain.

I see a similar relationship between the Thessalonian Christians and the apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy, who traveled together to encourage churches. (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Having suffered great opposition, they persevered to preach the gospel to the believers in Thessalonica together. After being forced to leave the city, they were keen to know how the new believers were growing in their faith. Paul’s team made several attempts to visit, but were hindered by Satan (through aggressive persecution). At last, they resorted to sending Timothy to go and encourage the churches on their behalf.

Recalling his labor among them, Paul said,

“We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” (1Thessalonians 2:8)

As a result, Paul’s team was afraid, lest the new believers become weary and give up their faith because of affliction. Therefore, they sent Timothy to “strengthen and encourage” them, so no one would be shaken by afflictions. (1 Thessalonians 3:2)

Wow! That pricks my heart; I ask myself again and again whether I am committed to loving the Church this way. How often do we pray for the Church, especially new believers? What about those who have backslidden? Are we making efforts to restore them back into Christ’s fold? I am afraid that instead of reaching out in empathy and support, sometimes others’ failures become a topic of discussion to us. In our hypocrisy, we talk of it with pleasure, as if to say, “it serves them right.”

There’s a hymn that usually keeps me in check; as I sing, I am reminded of all I owe Jesus:

“Must I go and empty-handed?
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him?
Must I empty-handed go?”

Are we prepared to meet our Savior?
Will our life’s work reflect His heart of passion for each person?
We must return to this first-love question throughout our lives.

Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20) We must not take His command for granted; it calls us to action! The immediate receivers of His command (His disciples) obeyed it.

Now it is our turn.

How committed are we to making disciples?
Do our hearts yearn with love, the way Paul and his team did for the Thessalonian Christians?

His deep care for them compelled Paul to say,

“When I could no longer stand it, I also sent him [Timothy] to find out about your faith.” (1Thessalonians 3:5)

Paul was afraid Satan might have tempted them to abandon their faith, and thus Paul’s labor would have been in vain. I am deeply challenged by the attitude of Paul and his team; overwhelmingly, it is dominated by caring for and nurturing the Thessalonians’ faith. Similarly, our concern must be to prepare the world for the coming of Christ.

When Timothy returned with a positive report about the Thessalonian Christians, Paul describes how the team celebrated with joy:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction we were encouraged about you through your faith. For now, we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience?” (1Thessalonians 3:7-9)

To Paul and his team, the steadfastness of the faith of the Thessalonian Christians was life; he explained, “Now, we live.” What a passion!

Such celebration is for us, as well!

Jesus describes the incomparable joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7); should there be anything for us to celebrate more than the increase of God’s kingdom?

The report of the Thessalonian Christians further spurs Paul and his team to deep and fervent prayers.

“[A]s we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and complete what is lacking in your faith.” (1Thessalonians 3:10) What a commitment!

Doesn’t this kind of zeal challenge us?
Sisters, it’s time for us, like Paul, to step into Jesus’ commission and commit ourselves to disciple-making. Like Paul and his team, may our hearts burn in prayer “day and night” for those we know are perishing without Jesus.

What joy shall it be, when we see such people repenting and growing strong in their faith! Such great rejoicing will be ours when, at last, Jesus says to us,
“Well done, my faithful servant!”
(Matthew 25:21)

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Worship VIII Day 11 Authentic Worship

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 13
Psalm 103
John 4:23-24
Romans 12:1-2

Worship VIII, Day 11

What do you think of when you hear the word “worship?”

Though a popular topic among Christians, worship can be difficult to define. For many, our minds immediately turn to music. Whether it’s through classic hymns or modern songs, we often associate worship with gathering together to sing praise to God.

That’s certainly one aspect of worship, but I’ve come to realise there’s more. Because I was a musician, I’ve often been asked to “lead worship” in different contexts . . . but to be an effective leader, I had to discover the fuller, deeper meaning of worship.

It turns out, while music is often an expression of worship, it’s really more about our attitudes and our hearts.

My favourite definition of worship comes from William Temple, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1942-44:

“Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose – all this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable.”

Worship is so much more than just singing! In fact, Isaiah revealed how unimpressed God was with His people’s “worship” when their words did not reflect the attitude of their hearts:

“These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13)

Generations later, Jesus explained that true worshippers “worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23)

So, we’re called to authentic worship, but what does that mean?

First, the object of our worship matters, because we all worship something. What is most valuable to us? We might be tempted to devote ourselves to a relationship, career, wealth, or success, but true worship is valuing God above all else.

“As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.” (Psalm 42:1)

Next, authentic worship means responding to the truth of who God is, coming to Him in reverent acknowledgment that He is God, and we are not. It is recognising His holiness and our sinfulness.

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.”  (Psalm 29:2)

True worship is also honest. It entails coming as we really are, rather than pretending or putting on a show.

It can be tempting to judge our worship by our feelings. How strongly do we feel our connection with God, how clearly do we sense God speaking, or how intensely do we feel the emotion behind our words. But God doesn’t judge our worship this way.

Instead, He invites us to come as we are, through Jesus (Ephesians 2:13), regardless of our feelings.

The psalms provide examples of people approaching God in all kinds of situations and a variety of emotions. Sometimes, the people of God turn to Him rejoicing and praise bubbling forth effortlessly. (Psalm 103)

Other times, they come weeping, pleading for help or justice, fearful or angry about their circumstances, and full of doubts and questions. (Psalm 13)

The common thread woven into their worship is God’s children coming as they are. Their worship does not deny the challenges they face or the turmoil they are feeling, rather
they choose to turn their focus to God in the midst of hardship.  

Many psalms begin in anguish, but as the writers bring their situations before God, they come around to a place of praise. Nothing has changed about their situations, but authentic worship moves them to the place of finding hope in God, and reasons to praise Him, even in difficult times.

Worship is not measured by our feelings, but it does involve bringing our feelings, in all honesty, to God.

Finally, true worship is not confined to church gatherings or focused times of prayer. Authentic worship lives not only in our words, but in our actions, in the way we live our lives.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Worship leader, Matt Redman, sums it up well in this quote from his foreword for R.T. Kendall’s book, Worshipping God,

“The song God loves most of all is the one that is not merely found on our lips, but is echoed by our thoughts, words, and deeds.”

Together, let’s turn our hearts to God alone, approaching Him with gratitude in joy and honest vulnerability in suffering. May the hope and peace we find in declaring His transcendent goodness lead us into lives defined by authentic worship.

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Questions 2 Day 13 More Than A Bargain

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 55:1-13
Hebrews 11:1-40
John 15:1-17
Philippians 4:4-9

Questions 2, Day 13

I prayed for a husband for years.

I waited.

And waited.

I waited as my friends fell in love. I celebrated at their wedding receptions, rejoiced over baby announcements, and clicked ‘like’ as baby bump pictures chronicled pregnancies. The pictures then shifted to first steps, first days of school, and so many other milestones . . . while I continued to wait.

In the midst of the moments of rejoicing, heartache existed, too. Even as I prayed for my husband, I watched other marriages fall apart. Parents or children were lost through the finality of death. Other relationships persevered through challenging circumstances, and growth took place as time marched on.

As I waited, I continued to ask for my husband in the Lord’s timing. Sometimes, I succeeded in asking with a healthy mindset, motivation, and heart posture, while other times, I failed miserably. Regardless, the Lord remained faithful, and I learned how true surrender to the Lord’s plan improved both my prayer life and my everyday life.

The Lord invites questions, but I have discovered a fine line between asking and attempting to strike a deal. Here are a few key lessons I am grateful the Lord has taught me through the years.

1. It’s about the Giver rather than the gift.
During the season of waiting, the more I focused on my desire for my husband and bargained with the Lord, the more I lacked peace.

With the valuable gift of hindsight, I can see how the Lord acted, for my benefit, to lovingly deny my pleading requests. What I wanted most was a husband; what God wanted most was my heart’s full attention and surrender. When I sought Him, the Giver (rather than pleading for my gift), He graciously supplied peace with His quiet “not yet.”

My sadness and tears were consistently met with the Lord’s tenderness. (Psalm 56:8) He taught me to trust His heart over mine as He held me close. There in the ache of waiting, I fell more in love with the Lord as He shaped my heart and lifted my gaze to my true Gift, the Giver Himself!

Whatever you’re tempted to bargain for, God’s desire is for you to know HE is your full satisfaction and delight!
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17)

2. Ask with wisdom.
Assessing our heart posture and motives are critical when we bring our requests to our Father, who loves to give generously. Though an often-painful process, it teaches us to seek wisdom as we pray. When asking for my future spouse, my self-assessments revealed I pleaded most intensely when loneliness seemed strongest.

I would love to say I consistently asked with a surrendered heart, but that would be untrue. Instead, I sometimes let my emotions rule my prayers, thinking I could evoke the response I wanted from the Lord. But prayer is not a business transaction, and these prayers lacked a willingness to submit to God’s wisdom.

When emotion and fear take the lead, they send us blindly stumbling off the path of God’s Wisdom.
Therefore, let us begin our prayers by first seeking wisdom.
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

3. Receive with grace.
The Lord is faithful. I do not always understand His ways, but I do know He has a plan and purpose far better than mine. His answer may be no, it may be wait, and sometimes it is even yes. Whatever the response, receiving His answer with grace has consistently proven to be in my best interest.   

Waiting is not easy. Surrendering to wisdom is not easy. Yet both are necessary to receive the sweetness of His fullness.

Whatever you’re praying for, set your heart on loving Him more than the answer you’re after. He is the better.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of His strength.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Nearly a year into my marriage, I can already see how the Lord’s choice for me is far better than any storyline I had written in my mind over the years of waiting.

Attempting to strike a deal with the Lord accomplishes little more than robbing our peace and diffusing our joy. We can’t use religious language or even Scripture to outfox Him, manipulate Him, entrap Him, or buy Him off.

When we’re nakedly honest, we realize our prayers of
“If You would just . . . then I PROMISE I will . . .”
are wild, heartbroken efforts to offer anything to appease a God we feel is stingy.  We simply have no power to hold the Lord hostage.

When we willfully grasp the truths that He needs nothing from us and loves to give us good gifts, our bargaining position evaporates.

Let’s fix our gaze upon His tender, Father’s heart for His beloved child. Let’s bring Him our desperation, our loneliness, and our fear. Let’s admit, “If You don’t . . . I am afraid . . .” and allow Him to fill the void of our inability with His faithfulness, provision, power, and love.

I encourage you (and myself!) to continue to be satisfied with the Giver over the gift, to embrace His wisdom, and to trust His grace at work in our lives while we wait for Him.

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Ten Day 2 Only One Worthy: 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!
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The Questions

1) These verses contain a detailed description of making idols. Why?

2) Why the call to return in verse 22?

3) Verse 23 holds a description of the universe praising God. Why?

Isaiah 44:9-23

9 All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure benefits no one.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image
that benefits no one?
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.

12 The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
13 The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human form,
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
14 He cuts down cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.

15 A person can use it for fuel.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
17 He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
he prays to it, “Save me, for you are my god.”

18 Such people do not comprehend
and cannot understand,
for he has shut their eyes so they cannot see,
and their minds so they cannot understand.
19 No one comes to his senses;
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
Should I make something detestable with the rest of it?
Should I bow down to a block of wood?”

20 He feeds on ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot rescue himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
21 Remember these things, Jacob,
and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you, you are my servant;
Israel, you will never be forgotten by me.
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like a mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.
23 Rejoice, heavens, for the Lord has acted;
shout, depths of the earth.
Break out into singing, mountains,
forest, and every tree in it.
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
and glorifies himself through Israel.

Original Intent

1) These verses contain a detailed description of making idols. Why?
After rescuing the Israelites from Egypt, God almost immediately provides Moses with His commands for His people. The first two command God’s children to have no god other than Himself and to make no idol (Exodus 20:1-6). Yet, before Moses even came back down the mountain with the commands, Israel had already made themselves an idol to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). Their choice to worship false gods did not stop there. Time and again in Scripture we see Israel choosing idols over the One True God. Isaiah eloquently shows Israel how ridiculous worshipping idols is through this description. Here they make idols from the material God Himself created, yet what have these idols ever created? Nothing. Isaiah is pointing Israel back, yet again, to why only Yahweh deserves their praise.

2) Why the call to return in verse 22?
Isaiah urges Israel to return to their first love, to return to the Lord. If they simply choose to return, they are promised redemption. In Genesis 12:3, God told Abram, “all the peoples on earth would be blessed through him.” As Isaiah writes, this promise remained unfulfilled. However, through their return, they would be redeemed. God had not forgotten them in their sin, neither did He forget the promise He had made to Abraham. He is their Redeemer and is calling them home. Matthew Henry says, “He has pardoned their sins, which were the cause of their calamity and the only obstruction to their deliverance. Therefore, He will break the yoke of captivity from off their necks, because he has blotted out, as a thick cloud, their transgressions.”

3) Verse 23 holds a description of the universe praising God. Why?
This verse is a beautiful picture of the rejoicing following redemption. It incorporates all of creation. Psalm 69:34 and Psalm 98:7-8 provide another picture of this praise. The God of the Universe, the Only One who could redeem, is deserving of worship. “The whole creation shall have cause for joy and rejoicing in the redemption of God’s people; to that it is owing that it subsists (that it is rescued from the curse which the sin of man brought upon the ground) and that it is again put into a capacity of answering the ends of its being, and is assured that though now it groans, being burdened, it shall at last be delivered from the bondage of corruption.” (Matthew Henry) The curse is broken and the universe rejoices.  (stars actually sing! Check out this amazing video!)

Everyday Application

1) These verses contain a detailed description of making idols. Why?
Lest we get ahead of ourselves by thinking we are different than Israel, the sad truth is we, like Israel, choose idols over the One True God repeatedly. Our idols may not be made of wood, stone, and metal, but we have them. Many of us constantly choose to place money, success, power, and people, just to name a few, over God. We choose our desires over the Lord, by which we communicate, “I’ve got this, I’m in control” i.e. “I don’t need you God.” Just like that, we’ve elevated ourselves in the place God belongs. We, just as the Israelites did, need reminded that only Yahweh is deserving of our worship.

2) Why the call to return in verse 22?
We have the privilege of living on this side of the cross where Jesus paid the price of redemption in full as He died in our place, taking our punishment for our sin on Himself.  The work of redemption is complete! Just as God called the Israelites to return to Him, He extends the same offer to us. However, it’s not forced upon us. The gift is given, the invitation to return is extended, but we must choose to return. When we do, we have the assurance that we are redeemed, our transgressions forever swept away. He is our Redeemer; Jesus has paid the price no idol ever could! The question is, will we accept it? Will we receive the freedom given when He paid the price on the cross? Will we return?

3) Verse 23 holds a description of the universe praising God. Why?
Creation sings the praises of our God. What an incredible picture! God has saved us! He has provided a way out from our sin, and there is rejoicing when we take it. When we experience the transformation only He can give, our response should be to praise Him! However, He does not force us into worship. While the crowds were praising Jesus, they were confronted by the Pharisees. Jesus told them if the crowds were silent in their praise, the rocks would cry out (Luke 19:37-40). Creation would do what man would not. The reality is everyday creation is singing the praises of our King.  The question we must answer is, will we choose to add our voice to the chorus of praise?

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Only One Worthy!

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 Ten Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

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 The Groom & His Bride!

The Questions

1) What is the “business” God has given for us to do?

2) How do we better understand God as a Groom through this passage?

3) How does God’s eternal character comfort His Bride, the Church, in verses 14-15?

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

Original Intent

1) What is the “business” God has given for us to do?
The phrasing in verse 10, “I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with” refers to the scene from Genesis 3 when the curse is laid on Adam as a result of his sin in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:17-19) The curse details how, even though Adam had previously been given work as a gift, now the work would carry a burden, it would be difficult, and produce only a fraction of what it would have before the effects of sin. The work God intended to bring us life and satisfaction in the doing of it, will now be twisted with sin and death. The Genesis passage also references life itself, which was a gift given to humankind, but now because of sin, all life will return to dust. If this were the end of the story, life itself is utterly meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

2) How do we better understand God as a Groom through this passage?
Verse 11 immediately follows up the meaninglessness of verse 10 with hope, “He has made everything beautiful in its time”, which also references the finishing of Creation in Genesis 1:31 when God declared that everything He had made was very good. All of creation, in its original design, was very good, flawless without a hint of imperfection, but man chose sin, destroying the beauty. (Ecclesiastes 7:29, Genesis 3:6-7) Yet, the God who made everything beautiful at creation’s inception, is not impotent when it comes to sin and its decay. The same all-powerful God who formed atoms at the beginning of time and space, is the same all-powerful God who “has put eternity into man’s heart”. There is more beyond the “now”, there is eternity, and an eternal God who, in His own creation, shaped the heart of all people to long for eternity, to seek out the eternal God…to look for HOPE beyond themselves. This is the heart of a Groom who longs for His Bride. This is a picture of a pursuant God who intentionally designed His Beloved to hunger for Him, to ache to be made whole.

3) How does God’s eternal character comfort His Bride, the Church, in verses 14-15?
The teacher of Ecclesiastes notes that “whatever God does, endures forever” (verse 14) His purposes are sure and His plans cannot be thwarted, even in spite of our sin! The teacher further goes on to explain that this eternality of God and His immutability, is for our benefit. He set up creation that humanity would perceive the character of God (Romans 1:20) in order that we might fear Him (meaning to stand in absolute stunning awe of Him), come to know Him, and call Him Lord for ourselves. He is the pursuant Groom, and we are the ones He is seeking that He might call us His Bride! “God seeks what has been driven away.” (verse 15)

Everyday Application

1) What is the “business” God has given for us to do?
The “business” God has given is the gift of work. Whatever your work is, this is the gift of God. How do you spend your days? What fills them? What is your work and when was the last time you saw it as a gift? What makes our work a gift, even now living in a fallen world with the effects of the curse pervading every aspect of life, is Who we do the work for. Work is redeemed when we see it as a means to glorify God and love others. (Colossians 3:17) Verse 12 notes, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.” Enjoy your work (Ecclesiastes 3:22), honor the giver of work, and love others well (Psalm 34:14, Psalm 37:3).

2) How do we better understand God as a Groom through this passage?
As you consider your everyday life, your work, your relationships, your joys, and your sorrows, where are you longing for Hope? What would begin to shift in your perspective and your heart when you consider that God intentionally designed for you to seek and know and be found by Him and He uses your everyday scenarios to draw you closer to Himself? What if you began to see your everyday, real life situations as invitations from the Almighty to come to Him, to seek Him, and be known by Him? Would you reach for Him more willingly? Would you call out for His help more frequently? Perhaps your heart would even become more quickly stirred to aching for His return when He will make all things new and beautiful once again. (Revelation 21:5)

3) How does God’s eternal character comfort His Bride, the Church, in verses 14-15?
I’m a mom of 7; nothing I do lasts for 5 minutes, let alone for eternity. Laundry, dishes, tidy beds, or a stocked pantry last only moments, but what God does never fades. God Himself is eternal, and because He loves His Bride, He has created a future for her to dwell with Him for eternity. His Church, the Beloved, made up of all those special and unique lives that have surrendered their all to Him, will finally find fullness and sweetness as it was designed to be from the beginning. We will inherit a life of purpose, a life of productivity, a life of intimacy with God, a life that will last for eternity! This kind of hope will never fail!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with The Groom &His Bride!

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 Bride Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Esther Day 14 A Story For The Ages: 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 A Story For The Ages!

The Questions

1) Who is the “we” and why were we helpless?

2) Why is it important that Christ came “while we were still sinners”?

3) What should the response be to these verses?

Romans 5:6-11

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Original Intent

1) Who is the “we” and why were we helpless?
Paul opens chapter 5 by addressing those who are declared righteous by faith, that is, all believers who have fully trusted Christ for their salvation after recognizing their own sinfulness and inability to save themselves from the consequences of sin. He is writing specifically to believers in Rome, a group of mostly Gentiles although there were some Jews as well. The “we” he is addressing are those who believe in Jesus and have been saved through faith. That leaves the question why were those who believe helpless. Paul is referring back to their lives before faith. He is reminding them Jesus came with the plan of paying the price for their sins when they were still helpless and unsaved.

2) Why is it important that Christ came “while we were still sinners”?
As Paul addresses the believers in Rome, he reminds them Jesus came to pay the price for their sins while they were still in the midst of their sin. God knew they would never be “good” enough on their own, but because of the love He had for His creation He sent Christ to show that love and redeem them even when His creation was not expressing love back to Him. He knew many would come to Him and accept His gift of love, but He also was willing to die while knowing that many would still choose to reject Him. He was willing to pay the ultimate price of death in our place, a sentence He did not deserve, God’s perfection and holiness required justice and Jesus came to be that justice. Christ’s humble willingness to lay aside His rights as God (while still maintaining His absolute divinity) and sacrifice Himself while we still chose sin, emphasizes how there is absolutely nothing we can ever do to earn our own salvation. Every part of it is God and His work, not ours.

3) What should the response be to these verses?
Paul states pretty clearly in verse 11 what our response should be. The sacrifice of Jesus should lead to rejoicing. Paul wants his readers to remember what Jesus did for them and be overwhelmingly grateful. He is reminding them their sins have been paid for and their relationship to God is restored. They are a new creation and reconciliation has taken place! He literally saved their lives and redeemed them from the death they should have been responsible to pay by allowing Jesus to die that death in their place. Now all that is left to do is rejoice and live a life honoring to that truth.

Everyday Application

1) Who is the “we” and why were we helpless?
While the immediate “we” was the believers in Rome, believers today also fit into this word. Paul is addressing all believers and so his words are just as important to us as they were to his first audience. We are helpless, just as those original believers, because without the grace of Jesus paying the price for our sins, we are left without hope. That’s an important realization! You and I are completely helpless to save ourselves. There is nothing we can pay in our own merit that will cover our sins and repair our relationship to the Father. Ever! We are absolutely helpless if left on our own because each of us are sinners, which means we will never be flawless and holy. We are helpless. We need Jesus and the gift He offers in salvation in order to have a restored right relationship with God; the gift of His death in our place is the only way to be made right with God because God’s justice requires a perfect sacrifice. Only Jesus, as fully God and fully man, who never chose sin, but always chose obedience to God’s will, is the only one who can possibly fulfill all of God’s righteous requirements as a holy sacrifice.

2) Why is it important that Christ came “while we were still sinners”?
“While we were still sinners…” Let those words sink in for a moment. Christ came, willing to die for our sins and redeem us, while we were still sinners. There is such incredible news in that statement! So often we think we must clean ourselves up and become “better” people before we can be worthy of the love of Jesus. We feel there is work we must do. However, that is completely untrue! Paul reminds us Christ came in the midst of our sin in order to pay the price we could never pay. He didn’t wait for us to realize our lostness or to try and fix ourselves on our own. He didn’t even wait until we realized how desperate we were or the despair we were in because of our sin. He did not wait for us to cry out to Him, He first loved us by giving Himself for us! (1 John 4:19) God knew from the beginning of Creation that Adam and Eve would choose to sin and He already had a plan to redeem His creation back to Himself. His plan was always Jesus, but Jesus came in the midst of sin to take on the consequence of sin He did not deserve, but we did. All we need to do is accept the gift of salvation being offered to us no matter where we are in life or what our life looks like. For such a rich gift, we should be utterly grateful, and give our lives to Him and His service because He has been so good and kind!

3) What should the response be to these verses?
We were given the ultimate gift. We owed death and Jesus paid it. There isn’t anything better to receive than life itself! Our response should be nothing less than complete rejoicing! There should be a thankfulness that pours out of our souls for the gift we have been given. We deserve to spend eternity separated from God, and instead, Jesus provided complete reconciliation through His death. We now have a new life and the ability to live in relationship to God! When we live in this understanding, it creates both a thankfulness and obedient action. We should not be able to contain the joy in our lives that stems from this restoration and we should desire to share it with any and all who will listen. As we live in this right relationship with God, others begin to see we are different from the world. We should be jumping to share this amazing news with them! Our response is rejoicing, but this rejoicing should lead to action to bring salvation to a lost world. I challenge myself, and each of you, to ask who are you sharing this amazing truth with?

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with A Story For The Ages!

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 Esther Week Three!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Esther Day 4 Trash Or Treasure: 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 Trash Or Treasure!

The Questions

1) Much like Esther, Isaiah was raised up for a certain time and purpose. How do we know that?

2) What is being contrasted in verse 3 and how is it important to the message Isaiah was conveying to the people of God?

3) Who are the captives, the prisoners, and the poor (verse 1), and how will they be renewed (verse 4)?

Isaiah 61:1-4

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to proclaim liberty to the captive and freedom to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify him.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

Original Intent

1) Much like Esther, Isaiah was raised up for a certain time and purpose. How do we know that?
Digging into a passage of Scripture by going deep into its context gives us perspective. As we study, we begin to recognize how a story or teaching fits within a book, which is contained within one of the two Testaments (or eras), which make up the Bible. We constantly zoom in and zoom out through its pages. As we do, we learn that a timeless Creator set up the universe and “time began.” (Genesis 1:1-5) Once sin entered the world through Adam (Romans 5:12), God began using a time frame He had ordained to rescue mankind. He has had a specific time and purpose for everything He’s done and for everyone He’s created. God used prophets to proclaim His story of redemption. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) Approximately 700 years before Christ appeared (Matthew 1:22-23), the prophet Isaiah declared that God had “anointed” him to bring the good news. The Hebrew (mashiach, meaning “messiah”) denotes “one chosen and equipped to fulfill the task assigned to them”. (preceptaustin.org) The prophets declared God’s active presence in the lives of the Jews, foretelling the news of THE Messiah to come. (2 Chronicles 24:19, Acts 3:19-26)

2) What is being contrasted in verse 3 and how is it important to the message Isaiah was conveying to the people of God?
For “those who mourn in Zion” (that is, Israel), three things are being contrasted to communicate that a bright future is coming for them. “The favorable year of the Lord” in verse 2 is likely a reference the reader would recognize. The year of Jubilee was the time of year that included a release from debts and a return of land to original owners.  Although they had experienced captivity and suffering, there had also been a history of God’s provision to the Jews. Isaiah reminds them that there will again be a great exchange: In the place of the ashes that the Jewish people would put on their foreheads during times of mourning, there would be a “crown of beauty,” demonstrating a festive occasion fit for “splendid clothing”. At this affair, they’d be cheerfully greeted with a “festive oil”. This glorious banquet filled with rejoicing, praise, and comfort, would take the place of the mourning and despair one would see at a funeral filled with hopelessness. (Allen Ross, bible.org) In the Old Testament, the story of God’s redemption was foretold by the prophets. In the New Testament, we clearly see it unfold in Christ Himself. (Luke 4:16-21) God promises to take our suffering and, in time, turn it into something victorious and beautiful. (Esther 9:1-3, Psalm 30:11-12)

3) Who are the captives, the prisoners, and the poor (verse 1), and how will they be renewed (verse 4)?
When Isaiah originally prophesied in 720 BC, there had been no exile yet. Through God’s revelation, he predicted what would eventually occur. The Old testament story of the Jewish nation reveals a God whose instruction was always for the good of His people. Years after Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 61, the Jews who chose not to make the journey home are living in Susa, distant and disobedient from God’s spiritual calling. But because He is a covenant-keeping God, the Jews’ continual disobedience doesn’t thwart God’s plan. This good news of Isaiah, in its historical setting, told the story of release from the bondage of exile into a freedom to worship their God – a day of true jubilee! In the New Testament, the bondage spoken of is sin and death. No matter what the historical application might have been in Isaiah’s prophecy, we know that the ultimate and fullest meaning is that the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus to declare the good news that He was THE Redeemer for all the prisoners held in captivity to Sin and Death. (Luke 4:18) The captives, the prisoner, and the poor are ultimately represented in the New Testament by those who have no hope of freedom except to trust in the finished work of Christ. (Psalm 69:30-36, John 19:28-30)

Everyday Application

1) Much like Esther, Isaiah was raised up for a certain time and purpose. How do we know that?
The Bible tells us the big story of God’s plan to bring about the redemption of man using His prophets to tell of Christ. (Hebrews 1:1-2) When Babylon fell to the Persians (recorded in the Old Testament), the Jews were released to return to Judah. However, not all of them returned. Centuries after Isaiah’s words to the Jews (Isaiah 44:28-45:3), we read in Esther about those who did not answer God’s call to return to Judah. With no mention of God in the entire book, the author of Esther records the story of a likely secularized Jewish people living among the pagans of Persia. Hundreds of years after King Saul disobediently spared the life of Agag (1 Samuel 15:3), God mercifully worked behind the scenes to rescue those Jews from Haman, the Agagite. He used an obscure Jewish woman named Esther to destroy one of Israel’s most ruthless enemies. (Esther 4:14, Esther 9:20-22) By the end of the Old Testament, God has a people who are poised to receive the one true Messiah, their Redeemer, the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Every day since the creation of time, God has kept every promise He made, fulfilling His purpose of redeeming us. (Micah 7:18-20, Malachi 4:1-2)

2) What is being contrasted in verse 3 and how is it important to the message Isaiah was conveying to the people of God?
Years ago, on the evening before Christmas Eve, our house caught on fire and much of it was destroyed. Thankfully we weren’t home, and as we rebuilt, God provided for every need through friends and family. In those months after the loss, we found ourselves saying more than once that we had gained so much more than we’d lost. The year following the fire, my sister handed me a small gift for Christmas. The look on her face told me it was going to be one I would remember. Now, twenty years later, on my wall hangs a small picture which displays these words typed in a script font, large enough that you can see from across the room: HE GIVES BEAUTY FOR ASHES. Under it are these words: “When sorrow seems to surround you, when suffering hangs heavy o’er your head, know that tomorrow brings wholeness and healing; God knows your need, just believe what He said.” Outlining that print is a border that repeats the chorus line: “He gives beauty for ashes, strength for fear, gladness for mourning, peace for despair” (music by Crystal Lewis), and the reference to Isaiah 61:3.
This life is met with struggle. But one day, the saints of God will exchange all our sorrow for His glory! (John 16:19-33, 1 Peter 5:6-11)

3) Who are the captives, the prisoners, and the poor (verse 1), and how will they be renewed (verse 4)?
If someone asked you personally about the story of the Old Testament, Isaiah and Esther would likely be characters you would highlight. God’s plan to redeem humanity after the Fall (Genesis 1-3) was prophesied to and demonstrated in the lives of His people, the Jews. Isaiah had seen the glory of Yahweh (Isaiah 6), and received the message of salvation. Years later, God worked subtly but surely through Mordecai and Esther in the rescue of the Jews living in the land of Susa. Generations after that rescue, John tells the gospel story from his perspective. In John 12, the Apostle explains how Jesus’ ministry fulfills the message we read in Isaiah 6:9–10, declaring “the prophet had actually seen the pre-incarnate Christ in His vision”. (Ligonier.org) Isaiah’s predictions are referenced in the New Testament more than any other prophet. This means his message of rescue and redemption is for us too – the ones grafted in to God’s rich inheritance along with the Jews. (Isaiah 42 & 49, Romans 11) The God of the Old Testament is the same One we see in the New Testament Who became flesh to pardon and free us. We were the prisoner, the captive, and the poor. His death has rescued us for all eternity! (Hebrews 2:14-17, Hebrews 8:7-12)

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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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This is Esther Week One!
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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 :-))

Memorize It!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Kaleidoscope Week 3

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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)The Lord shows His love by rejoicing with truth. He celebrates when truth is shared, when it is embraced, and when His children choose to walk in this truth, anchoring their lives on it. Where do you celebrate and welcome truth? When someone confronts you with truth, this is love! When the Holy Spirit brings Scripture to mind to teach and train you, celebrate this act of love! Ask the Lord to make your lips and life and conduit for love to speak truth with grace!

2)Audra wrote of God’s “bearing up” love, His love that “believes”, “hopes”, and most importantly “endures”.Where do you see Christ’s love displaying these traits in your life? How does that reality of His present love encourage you for the future you face? Be specific as you think of your answer, refusing to give a glib response. Where do you desperately need Christ’s love demonstrated with these traits in your life? Thinking differently, who do you know who needs these traits demonstrated to them? Pray specifically over the names the Lord brings to mind, asking how you can extend His love to them.

3)Sister, where are your broken places? The ones coming to mind as you read this.The sore spots that ache with wounds going deeper than most, if anyone, realizes. Scripture reminds that because God’s essence of love, He Will Never Fail. Never fail to redeem the broken, never fail to stay committed, never fail to always be present. How does this picture of God re-frame how you see your circumstances? What if you took the Lord at His faithful promise to never ever ever fail on His love for you? Who loves you as the Lord does?!

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 Romans 8:38-39 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer Journal
Father, Your love is vast. Too wide, too deep, too limitless to even begin to comprehend. Yet, somehow, I still manage to place Your love in a very small box. Too small for my broken relationships, too small for the huge tasks in front of me, too small to comfort my aching heart, too small to bring real comfort. And as I dwell on “small love” lies, my love for others shrinks also. Lord, pour the truth of Your unconditional, never-ending, grace-filled,all-patient, good, kind, generous, hope-filled lavish love over me! Remind me I can never outrun Your love. Fill me up with these truths that others might experience Your love through me! With the smallness of my love, just as a small child would mimic back love to a parent, ‘how I love Thee, Abba!”.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

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Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched V Day 10 Paul, The Torch Carrier

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Acts 9:1-19
Galatians 2:11-21
Philippians 3

Sketched V, Day 10

Overwhelming light.

 An unfamiliar voice.

 I dropped to my knees. 

Before I knew what happened, all went dark. My eyes were open, but I saw nothing.
All was night around me, but somehow, everything inside was lit up.
That was the day Jesus of Nazareth stopped me in my tracks.
It was the day He became my Lord, my Light, my salvation. (Psalm 27:1)

My traveling companions led this blind man into the city because that’s where Jesus told me to go.  For three days I saw nothing, ate nothing, and drank nothing until a stranger, Ananias, was sent by God to restore my sight.
Light held a new meaning for me now.

Having spent time, a long time, studying Scripture and experiencing community, I began boldly preaching in the synagogues that Jesus indeed was the Son of God. Barnabas, a true brother, trusted what God had done in me, and helped the apostles to believe this too.
The Light begged to be shared!

Everywhere I preached, some believed, and many hated, spurning me, forcing me to flee for my life just as I had once made others do. The more I shared, the more persecuted I was, but the more pressing the mission of sharing Light began. I was coming to truly understand that I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) That life is the same light that continues transforming me and others as I preach Christ crucified!

Barnabas and I, like fellow torch bearers, eagerly carried this news to many areas including Antioch, Cyprus, and cities throughout Asia. We so desperately wanted our Jewish brothers to understand a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, and that even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 2:16) Faith made possible by Light entering the world. Faith for which I carry this torch, no matter the cost. (John 1:4-5)

It quickly became apparent that the degree of rejoicing and freedom many brothers and sisters were experiencing would also be equally matched with severe opposition against our bodies, our plans, our message – ultimately, we knew, against Jesus Christ.
Yet, the Spirit of God strengthened us for each mission,
each task, each opportunity to preach this good news.
In fact, we couldn’t contain it!
The gospel of Jesus Christ was a fire set ablaze by the Spirit of God
to build His church – His people!
Joy in our hearts fueled our eagerness to lay down our lives to be a part of this incorruptible flame.

So, I pressed on that the message given to me when I opened my mouth would make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19). And oh how I loved the church Christ was growing!  They became to me like children, so that whether I was present with them or apart, it was my joy to teach, instruct, correct, discipline, and pray that their joy in Christ might be full!

The Sovereign Spirit led me all the way to Rome, and to eventual imprisonment, yet by the grace of God this did not limit my ability to preach the gospel – it only made it flourish!
For this Light shines in the darkness, and darkness cannot overpower it! (John 1:5)
The churches throughout Asia were growing while experiencing intense persecution. Some speculate that this suffering will squelch us, but I know better.
The more we carry the Torch, the stronger the flame will grow.  

I fervently wrote while on house arrest, urging them to hold firm to the word of life, so that I could boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. But even if I was poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of their faith, I was glad and rejoiced with all of them. In the same way I so desired that they would also be glad and rejoice with me! (Philippians 2:16-18).

I desired that my imprisonment would be a source of encouragement to the saints in their own suffering. I boldly reminded them to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4), and that this would be possible for us as we acknowledged that to live is Christ, and to die would be gain (Philippians 1:21).

Carrying the light of Christ is worth it, infinitely more so than the “meaning” my former life brought me. It’s worth it because Christ is my life. (Colossians 3:4)

Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).

I have certainly lost much
But this I fully know and believe that everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3:7)
But, the treasure of the Light, the honor of carrying it, is worth everything, even my life.  

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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 Sketched V Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

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