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The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 1

Rebecca Adams

July 15, 2023

Believe,Christ,Family,Glory,Jesus,Life,Mercy,Perfect

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 14:15-17

“If you love me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us to pray to the Father, calling Him Our Father, beckoning us to share in the rich relationship You came to sacrifice Yourself so we may enjoy Your family.

Thank You, Spirit, for making the heart of the Father known to us through Jesus. Thank you for comforting our hearts with truth and Your constant presence. Thank You for being coequal to Father and Son as the very Breath of God!

Abba, Father, Your compassion is endless and Your love unfailing. I stand in speechless awe at Your unfathomable authority and lavish grace that brought me near, and the price you paid because of love that I might call You Abba. 

May I live my everyday breathing, speaking, and moving in overflow of this love You’ve poured out into my heart! In the Name above all other Names, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Jesus, God the Son, taught us to enter the sacred space of intimate prayer by uttering the unthinkable term of love, endearment, and familiarity with the Almighty God by calling out, “Abba Father.”  

In our culture, we can tend to jump to the far end of Abba by solely focusing on God as close, intimate, gentle, and tender. While these are all true and necessary for our understanding of God as Father as depicted in Scripture, we must also refuse to neglect the other, equally important aspect, of Abba.

He carries all authority over us as His children if we have committed ourselves to Him and entered into father-child relationship with Him through the sacrificial blood of Jesus. What Abba says, is what goes.

 In Hebrew tradition, the calling of “Abba” by a child meant, “Father, I will obey you.” In the context of love and safety and awe-filled respect, I will obey what you say because you are my Abba.

How does your view of God line up with these realities from Scripture? Do you find yourself leaning more to one side or another?

JOURNAL TWO

We know the Father because of the Son. (John 14:7) Christ provides the clarity about what God looks like, sounds like, and demonstrates to us “in person” how God acts. Never are the two out of sync. (John 5:19-20)

Sometimes, our view of Jesus isolates Him from the Father God. We think of Jesus as the “nice” version of God, but not as the actual “full picture” of what God looks like in the flesh. (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is the big, giant “picture window” through Whom we begin to comprehend the very essence of God.

Get honest with your view of Jesus and pull out a blank sheet of paper. Fill it with as many descriptions of Jesus as you can imagine without any filter. Every adjective goes on the sheet.

Now, go back through and mark with a 1, 2, or 3 how much you personally fully agree with these descriptions. Can you find Scripture evidence for the ones you agree with? Go on a quest this weekend to discover how much of your view of God the Son aligns with His Word about Himself!

JOURNAL THREE

Just as the Son shows us the Father with brilliantly painted strokes of awe and beauty, so the Spirit points us repeatedly back to Jesus, back to Jesus, back to Jesus, so we can see the Father. Every teaching, every reminder, every ounce of comfort provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit of the Living God is meant to speak of Christ that we might come to know more deeply the Father, and therein, the whole of the Triune God. (John 14:16-17)

Similar to the “adjective challenge” for Jesus in prompt #2, do the same for the Spirit of God. Do the number of answers you were able to provide surprise you? Alongside those adjectives, jot down the first 3 questions that come to mind about the Spirit of God. How might you go about finding answers to those questions? Could you start this weekend with your exploration?!

Considering this is the Triune God who has come to earth in the Son for the purpose of being revealed to us through the Spirit that we might know the Father, what better use of our study could there be than to explore the Trinity?! A simple first step is prayer.

Ask the Triune God to make Himself known to you through His Word by His Spirit, then apply yourself to knowing Him more deeply! Consider exploring with the help of this easy-to-read book “Delighting In The Trinity” by Michael Reeves.
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Known Day 5 Parakletos: Digging Deeper

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Known Day 5 Parakletos: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

July 14, 2023

Adoration,Faith,Fruitfulness,Hallel,Holy Spirit,Hope,Lord

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Parakletos"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 14:16-20

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

19 In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What does verse 16 teach us about a triune God?

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you Another …” Three persons are mentioned in this verse. Jesus tells His disciples He will pray to the Father to send the Spirit. Though not a biblical term, these three Persons are often referred to as the Trinity.

In studying other religions, you’ll discover Christianity is the only religion which believes God is triune existing as a singular deity in three persons who are equally God. If you’re unfamiliar with teaching about the Trinity, it may be a confusing concept, but Scripture clearly teaches God exists in three Persons or Beings. (Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:26-27, Acts 10:37-38, Titus 3:4-6)

Tim Keller refers to this relationship of three-in-one as “the Divine Dance. The Trinity means that God is, in essence, relational. Three persons in dynamic orbit about each other, a dance of love, delight and adoration. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit glorify each other. At the center of the universe, self-giving love is the dynamic currency of the Trinitarian life of God. The persons within God exalt, commune with, and defer to one another.

When early Greek Christians spoke of perichoresis in God they meant that each divine person harbors the others at the center of his being. In constant movement of overture and acceptance each person envelops and encircles the others.” (Tim Keller, The Reason for God)

There is no perfect human illustration of how the triune God functions; what we do know is the eternal nature of God. He is the One who would be with them forever via the Spirit’s presence. (verse 16)

The human nature of Jesus would no longer be with the disciples, but He was sending them a spiritual Person who would never leave them! Interested in further study of the Trinity in easy to read language? Try “Delighting In The Trinity” by Michael Reeves!

The Everyday Application

1) What does verse 16 teach us about a triune God?

It is impossible to rightly apply Scripture’s teaching regarding the Holy Spirit without a proper understanding of its teaching about the three-Persons God. Though it is not an easy doctrine to wrap our minds around, it is an essential one if we want to understand the work of the Spirit in our lives.

There are misunderstandings about the authority of the Spirit as it relates to the Trinity. This has led to a wrong view of the very nature of God, eventually leading to a skewed perspective concerning authority and submission in other areas of the believer’s life. The Trinity is not comprised of three greater and lesser gods. Though we may not be able to completely understand or explain it, there is one God who exists in three distinct but equal persons. (Philippians 2:5-6)

Confusion has led many to see the Spirit in a 3rd place position  of inferiority within the Godhead. We must not think of the Trinity as company heads with a President, His VP, and the secretary. In doing so, we have neglected the authority of the Spirit: God Himself!

Francis Chan writes with anguish, “From my perspective, the Holy Spirit is tragically neglected and, for all practical purposes, forgotten. While no evangelical would deny His existence, I’m willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives over the past year. And many of them do not believe they can.” (The Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit)

The Spirit is not less powerful than either the Father or the Son. The Spirit of God has always been in existence. Sister, if you’re spending time with God, you’re spending time with the Spirit! (Jude 1:20-21)

The Original Intent

2) Who is the Spirit of truth and how will they recognize Him? (verse 17)

Verse 17 says of the One who will come, “He is the spirit of Truth.” The term “Another” in verse 16 translates a Greek term (allos) that means “another of the same kind.” This counselor, “one called alongside to help,” is like one who would serve as an advocate in the Roman legal system. (studylight.org)

Jesus had been their Helper, Friend, and Advocate physically present in the flesh. They had even seen Him speak to the wind and waves on their behalf. (Mark 4:35-41) Jesus is saying He will send Another Counselor (Greek, “paraklçtos“) who is like Himself. One full of truth just like Him. (John 1:14, John 14:25-26) This is how they will know He is the Spirit of God. A form of this same Greek root (parakalço) is used of God the Father in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

The verb form of this word (parakaleô) is found in several places in the Old Testament. For example, the psalmist and prophet spoke of this kind of comfort and rescue by God. (Psalm 69:20, Isaiah 35:3-4) Jesus told His disciples they would recognize Him. And while the Spirit’s presence brings comfort, courage, and truth, we know Satan’s presence brings the exact opposite!

He pits himself against the Spirit by bringing confusion, doubt, and lies. (Genesis 3:1, Job 1:9-11, 1 Peter 5:8) The world is blinded by these, but Jesus assures them they will know the Spirit because He has been with them, making Himself known. (verse 17)

To know Jesus is to know the Father and the Spirit. Now, when Jesus physically leaves, it will be even better because the Spirit will dwell with them permanently. Jesus may not be in the boat with them, but the Spirit will!

The Everyday Application

2) Who is the Spirit of truth and how will they recognize Him? (verse 17)

From beginning to end, the Holy Spirit is active in the big story of the world. At the beginning of the story, He was there creating us. At the end of the story, He is there calling us to Home with Him.

The Spirit of God came and went in unique ways in the Old Testament, but His presence is both evident and undeniable. (Genesis 6:3, Numbers 27:18, 2 Samuel 23:1-2, Ezekiel 2:1-2) It’s unlikely that talk of the Spirit was totally new to Jesus’ disciples. They had likely read or heard the passages of Scripture referring to the Spirit of God.

We don’t know how much the apostles understood in that moment, but they would come to understand the Spirit was also their Lord and their God. He was not merely a vague vapor or mist. He was not a force or an energy. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God personified! (bible.org)

“If you or I had never been to a church and had read only the Old and New Testaments, we would have significant expectations of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we read and believed these accounts, we would expect a great deal of the Holy Spirit. He would not be a mostly forgotten member of the Godhead whom we occasionally give a nod of recognition to, which is what He has become in most American churches. We would expect our new life with the Holy Spirit to look radically different from our old life.” (The Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit)

Since we have read #HisWordsBeforeOurs and believed Him, let us boldly ask for our lives to be radically changed by the Spirit.

The Original Intent

3) How will Jesus be with His disciples if He is leaving them? (verses 18-20)

Jesus is sharing with His disciples on the day before His death. It seems they kept missing exactly what Jesus was saying to them about His departure. (John 14:1-5,  John 13:33, John 14:12, John 16:4-5) Though it appears they weren’t really listening, Jesus is reassuring them again. (verse 18)

There will come a time when it would all sink in, and they would need to remember these comforting words. Jesus demonstrates the kindness of a parent by telling them He will provide for them when He’s no longer there. (verse 19) Jesus doesn’t mention His death at this point, though He has before. (Matthew 16:19-21, Luke 9:21-22, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 26:1-2)

In the next few days, He would die and be raised to life and return to Heaven. (Acts 1:7-9) Though He’d be absent in body, Jesus would be present with them by His Spirit; and though He was going back to heaven, He would return again to gather them. (Matthew 25, Mark 13:26-27, Acts 1:11) Putting all this together, we can understand why the disciples were probably a combination of confused, troubled, and dismissive. They could not possibly fully grasp all that was to happen to Jesus, nor did they want to think about Jesus leaving them.

What comfort these words would eventually bring “in that day…” (verse 20) Jesus had a nature which could not die. As God, His presence would never leave them. Thankfully, they wouldn’t need to remember all this by themselves. To comfort them with this truth, the Holy Spirit would come to stay forever and He would continue to remind them of everything Jesus had taught them. (John 14:25-26)

The Everyday Application

3) How will Jesus be with His disciples if He is leaving them? (verses 18-20)

Have you ever considered the significance of having a counselor who is just like Christ? Sister, imagine what it would be like to have Jesus walking beside you in the flesh, functioning as your personal guide through life.

What peace would come from knowing we would have constant access to perfect truth and flawless guidance. I can’t fathom the benefit of having Jesus here physically. I rejoice and wonder at the glorious thought! But, oh sweet Friend, did you see it in all these verses? The disciples had Jesus’ presence. Every day.

And somehow it just wasn’t enough to keep them from sin. What is even more amazing is that when Jesus told them about His departure, He said the Spirit’s coming would be better for them! (John 16:7) I’m not sure believers have internalized and applied this truth as Jesus intended.

It seems it is mostly head knowledge to many of us, and we have not owned the reality of the Spirit within us. I know there have been many days I have “forgotten God” and the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. “Many Christians, you see, function as deists. They act as if God rules from the heavens and has spoken in his Word, but does not act on earth or move in their souls — at least in any way that they can sense those movements.” (J.D. Greear, Jesus, Continued: Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better than Jesus Beside You)

Oh, how I want to consistently recognize God the Spirit in my daily life and take note of the ways He’s working which may not be visible to the human eye, but very visible to my heart! As believers and followers of Jesus, let’s hear Him clearly and trust Him entirely: Don’t let your hearts be troubled!! (John 14:1)

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Known Day 5
Journey Study

“Yada, yada”
A Hebrew phrase meaning to know and be known on the deepest, most intimate levels.

Perhaps you’ve heard it colloquially as “etc, etc, etc,” or perhaps, closer to its true definition, you’ve heard it means “to be familiar with.”

But Truth? It means to know God and be known by Him in the deepest of ways. Nothing hidden. Nothing secret. All things known.
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February 12th - March 3rd, 2017 -- Journey Theme #11

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Known Day 5 Parakletos

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Known Day 5 Parakletos

Carol Graft

July 14, 2023

Believe,Beloved,Daughter,Faith,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Luke 4:16-21
John 14:16-17
1 John 2:1-2
Isaiah 11:1-2

“Yada, yada”
A Hebrew phrase meaning to know and be known on the deepest, most intimate levels.

Perhaps you’ve heard it colloquially as “etc, etc, etc,” or perhaps, closer to its true definition, you’ve heard it means “to be familiar with.”

But Truth?
It means to know God and be known by Him in the deepest of ways.
Nothing hidden. Nothing secret. All things known.

Wait, we might say. What about those times when we are deep in sin, or just stepping into the shallows of sin? What about when we feel impossibly far away from Him, separated by oceans of shame and fear?

Even in those moments, He knows us. 

And perhaps more astonishingly, even in those moments, He loves us. (Romans 5:6-11)
Did you know your name is written in the palm of His hand? (Isaiah 49:16a)

Poet, warrior, and eventual king of Israel, David, even wrote about God knowing humankind as we are formed in our mothers’ wombs. (Psalm 139)
God knows us. 

This Journey Theme is focusing on several traits, characteristics, and attributes of God as revealed through His names. Learning His names, characteristics, and attributes deepens our understanding and experience of knowing God and being known by Him.

Parakletos is a Greek word encompassing several attributes of God: 
Comforter (John 14:15-17)
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Advocate or Intercessor (1 John 2:1)

In one of Jesus’ last conversations with His disciples and followers, He promised to send a Comforter, and instructed them to wait in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-49) Acts 2 relates how, true to His word, the Comforter was faithful to come to the waiting disciples; He remains readily available to every believer today, as well! 

Did you know this incredible encounter isn’t the first time God as Comforter is mentioned in Scripture? Upon hearing Jesus’ promise of the Comforter’s arrival, the disciples may have recalled Isaiah 61:1-2:
“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 captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn[.]”

In fact, Jesus read much of this passage aloud and proclaimed its fulfillment in His own self. (Luke 4:16-21) When we find ourselves adrift, grieving, or simply saddened, we can bring our hurt to the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3) His comforting spirit will overshadow us, lifting our hearts and our spirits. 

  Just as Isaiah, an ancient prophet who spoke God’s word to the people of Israel, prophesied God’s nature as Comforter, he also declared God is our Counselor. 

“For a child will be born for us,
A son will be given to us, 
And the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)

As we come to know the LORD our Counselor more deeply, we learn to recognize His guidance. 

Sometimes, we might go to God with a question, a concern, a “what is my next step, Lord?” and something sinks into our spirits from Him. Perhaps a word or a phrase or the nudge to read a certain passage of Scripture. 

Sometimes, we might also seek counsel from a trusted friend or mentor, always remembering to weigh their advice against the truth of God’s word in Scripture.

This is God the Counselor at work. 
These nudges are holy. 

Finally, God is our Advocate. Ever sin? Ever repent of that sin? When we repent (commit to changing our thinking and behavior) and ask for God’s forgiveness, God our Advocate works on our behalf:
“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ the righteous one. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours, but also for those of the whole world.” 
(1 John 2:1-2)

Jesus already paid our sin-price; the debt of sin to a perfectly righteous and holy God that should condemn us has been paid by God Himself, in Jesus. 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
(Romans 8:1)

Sisters, God is our Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate.

Today, as He perfectly fulfills each one of these characteristics, He is inviting us to know Him and be known by Him in a deep and intimate way.

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Known Day 5
Digging Deeper

It’s unlikely that talk of the Spirit was totally new to Jesus’ disciples. They had likely read or heard the passages of Scripture referring to the Spirit of God.

We don’t know how much the apostles understood in that moment, but they would come to understand the Spirit was also their Lord and their God. He was not merely a vague vapor or mist. He was not a force or an energy. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God personified!
Dig Deeper!

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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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Explore This Journey Theme!
July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121

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Authentically living out a life of worship to the God who rescued us from darkness requires accountability and intentionality. Join a GT POD and take the next step in your faith journey!

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Sketched XI Day 13 Unpopular Justice

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Sketched XI Day 13 Unpopular Justice

Rebecca Adams

July 5, 2023

Encourage,gentle,Impatient,Preparing,Relationship

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 21
Philippians 3:18-21
Deuteronomy 32:1-9
Romans 2:1-16

The fire blazed in the hearth as I sat with my brother, Elisha, whom the Lord had given me. He would take my place when my ministry to Israel ended. His friendship encouraged my heart as if the Lord Himself was walking beside me.

Following my runaway cave experience when I was nearly consumed by the black waves of depression, the Lord gave me the gift I didn’t know I needed, a brother in partnership for this ministry, Elisha.

We had just finished our evening meal together, swapping stories of the afternoon, laughing, and prodding for the other’s thoughts around Ahab’s latest ridiculous antics. Reflective quiet engulfed us for a few moments before Elisha broke, “It’s so frustrating!”. His comment was laced with disgust as he gripped his mug of water.

“Ahab saw the Lord’s fire on Carmel. He saw the Lord send rain. His own chariot wheels got stuck in the mud the Lord made!”, Elisha’s voice emboldened emphatically with each point. Elisha paused, and his burdened eyes wandered to the window, watching the movement of fellow Israelites preparing for evening.
I waited. I knew there was more he wanted to say.

“They are the ones who pay the heaviest price for Ahab’s rebellion”, he voice was thick with emotion as he jutted his head in the direction of our people outside our walls.

The truth of his words settled around us both.
True, God had proven Himself as
Sovereign,
Enough,
Omnipotent,
Truthful, and
Jealous.
He had Revealed Himself to mere humanity and proven He would Sustain those who trusted Him.
But where was Yahweh’s justice?

The question eked into the corners of my heart despite my best attempts to thwart it. Inside, my flourishing faith fought against my doubt-soaked question that begged an answer.
My faith fought back my doubts with truths I had come to know.
“No, the Lord is good.
The Lord is faithful.
The Lord sees all.
The Lord knows all.
The Lord sees Ahab.
He will bring justice.
We just need to wait.”
 
“How long will we wait, Elijah?”, the question jolted me.
It was as if my brother had been made privy to the wrestling of my heart.
I caught his gaze, knowing the Lord desired truth in the inmost places (Psalm 51:6),
“I don’t know, Brother. But I know He’s worth waiting for.”

A child’s cries and mother’s call carried through the window, seeming to draw out our hearts even more with the ache for justice. Will the Lord hear their cries for mercy? Will the Lord save them from plunging headlong into greater rebellion as Ahab recklessly led them astray again and again?

In a moment, time seemed to freeze and my heart soared with the joy of intimacy and the trembled in awe as again I heard the voice of the Lord penetrate me through to my bones and marrow, “Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel, who is in Samaria. He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered and also taken possession?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’” (1 Kings 21:18-19)

Just as quickly as it came, the Voice left. I looked up to see Elisha’s eyes locked intently on mine, “What has Yahweh said, Elijah?”, he queried.

“We are to go to Ahab. He will be in Naboth’s vineyard. He has murdered Naboth and stolen his vineyard.” I stood quickly, but the younger man was already ahead of me grabbing our water skins, packs, and walking sticks.

“What else, brother? Something else is inside you from the Lord, isn’t it?”. I was taken aback by Elisha’s sensitive awareness of the moving of the Lord. It was a good reminder to me of the Lord’s wise choice in providing Elisha as my successor. He would do well in listening and obeying the voice of the Lord. (1 Kings 19:19-21)

I gripped my staff more tightly and thrust myself through the door’s opening. It was no small matter to speak of the justice of Yahweh, especially regarding the death of the Lord’s appointed ruler.

“Ahab’s death is near”, I finally managed to speak after several minutes of heavy, silent walking.

Elisha’s arm stopped my forward momentum as he turned hard eyes on me,
“It will be dishonorable, won’t it?”.

I closed my eyes against the scene the Lord had given me of dog’s licking up Ahab’s blood. (1 Kings 21:19) He was intended to be Israel’s king, leading us to worship Yahweh, but instead his death would be a mockery just as his life had been.

The righteous justice of the Holy One of Israel was about to be carried out not only to Ahab, but also to his Queen Jezebel who had incited him to wholly devote himself to vile wickedness.
(1 Kings 21:23-25)

Our casual conversation over bread and meat earlier came rushing back with immediacy.
We both longed for justice.
But did we really understand that the Lord’s justice meant
recognizing we were all sinners? (Romans 3:23)
Every heart rebelled, including mine and Elisha’s.

No, not all of us murdered and thieved and led an entire nation astray as the royal couple had, but Elisha and I both knew our hearts were still tempted away from trusting the Lord. We still grew impetuous and angry, impatient for the Lord to carry out justice.

Warmth of understanding swept over me and I could not stop the tears racing down my cheeks,
“It is the kindness of the Lord to delay His justice, Elisha.
But the time for Ahab’s repentance is about to expire.”
The king lived as an enemy to Yahweh and his just punishment was nearly here.

The fact that the Lord’s Justice was coming, stirred up urgency in me to plead with all of Israel to turn back to the Lord while there was still time to repent. (Philippians 3:18-19, Romans 2:4)

I stepped forward with renewed urgency to follow the Lord’s word exactly as He had spoken it,
“Come, Elisha, let’s worship the Lord together
by obeying His commands
while it’s still called today.”
(Hebrews 3:15)

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Sketched XI, Day 14
Digging Deeper

The Son was struck not by the rod of Moses, but by the Father’s rod of wrath concerning sin. It is our unchanging Rock who perfectly completed the work of redemption and satisfied the justice of God. (Romans 9:30-33 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Sweet Sister, as a result of this, we have been given, not the promised land of Israel but a promised life with God! God's love lasts forever!!
Dig Deeper!

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June 19 - July 7, 2023 - Journey Theme #120

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Sketched XI Day 5 Faith Forward

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Sketched XI Day 5 Faith Forward

Meribeth Schierbeek

June 23, 2023

Amazed,Glory,Handiwork,Help,Trust,Waiting,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Kings 17:8-16
Hebrews 11
Psalm 73

Just as the Lord foretold, savage drought was upon the land, a result of Israel’s abandonment of the LORD their God.
Yahweh revealed Himself as sovereign.

Just as the Lord foretold, He cared and provided for me, Elijah, near the brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan.  
Yahweh revealed Himself as enough.

As the wadi dried up, the Lord continued to guide me…a widow will feed me on my next leg of the journey. 

Today I am moving, at the Lord’s command, to Zarephath: 
“Get up, go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.” (1 Kings 17:9)

As I hear these words from my God, I’m reminded of the weight of my calling as a prophet. Following Yahweh rarely means staying in one place, which often feels wearing. Still, I am reminded of the truth. I dwell with the Lord, the God of Israel, MY God; my home and my comfort are in Him. He will be enough. My rest comes from knowing He sees; He knows and He alone is ALL things wherever I dwell…I am with Him as I walk.

I begin my travels wondering about this widow, her name…her story… 
The Lord knows it but I do not…I trust she, too, will follow the Lord’s command.  

As I walk toward Zarephath, I see vile wickedness all around. These are sacred, and sometimes scary, times. I have seen the Lord prove Himself faithful time and time again, and yet my humanness perceives the brokenness around me and wrestles with faith.  

In these moments, I recall the faith of my forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I’ve heard of their lives from the Torah, our holy Scripture; while each man was undeniably caught in sinful humanity, Yahweh drew them again and again to faith in Him. (Hebrews 11:6-22) Bolstered by remembering God’s empowering work in their lives, I ask Yahweh for the gift of faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

As I come to the gates of Zarephath, I lay eyes on a woman in widow’s clothing, gathering sticks. My thirst is unbearable, and I immediately ask for water. She turns to bring it willingly and I add a request for bread. 

Her first words landed on my ears sweetly. “As the LORD your God lives [. . .]” (1 Kings 17:12a) She, a foreigner, knows my God! 

Then, I hear her heart cry as she continues, “I don’t have anything baked–only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.” (1 Kings 17:12b)

I am struggling. 

Struggling with loneliness as I bear the crushing burden of survival for myself and my sweet boy. 

Struggling with a society that leaves us scraps at the best of times, dust and searing hunger and the looming specter of death during this time of drought and famine.

Struggling with fear, which snarls in my ear and prods me to clench tight the handful of grain I have left. Who does this stranger think he is? What does he imagine I, who have nothing, can give him?

And struggling with the gentle nudge I feel in my spirit, like the first rivulets of rain slipping along the cracked earth of my soul. Trust Me, I seem to hear. I have not abandoned you. I have sent My prophet to you. Heed his request, for I can bring bounty from nothing. 

I watch the battle between faith and fear play across the widow’s countenance.

I encourage her in her obedience, trusting the Lord alone to be sufficient: 
“Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the surface of the land.’” (1 Kings 17:13-14)

As long as I live, I’ll always remember the day my mother returned from gathering wood for what we thought would be our final meal. Hearing her enter our home, I barely had the strength to lift my head from the place I layed curled in a ball, quaking with hunger and fatigue, my mouth too dry to ask what she was doing. Consciousness slipped away.

I awoke to the smell of baking bread as my mother pressed a cup of water to my bleeding lips. As I swallowed and sputtered, unaccustomed to such bounty, I caught a glimpse of a stranger seated nearby. He ate a small loaf of bread as he watched me, kindness in his weary gaze.

That day and beyond, the widow chose to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), as she shared her flour and oil. The Lord, in His great power, kept her supplies full. She fed her household and me, knowing Yahweh was sovereign, enough, and in control of her life, in His way and His time. 

A Note About Sketched

In Sketched themes, we imaginatively step 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 viewed God, themselves, and the world around them.

Perhaps we will find parts of our story reflected in theirs!

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Sketched XI Day 5
Digging Deeper

If the widow’s pantry had been full, all Elijah would have gotten was a meal. Instead he reaffirmed he could hear God and trust what He said.

Elijah also became the means of blessing a faithful servant of the Lord who would have starved to death had he not come.
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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XI Week 3

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The GT Weekend! ~ Worship XI Week 3

Katelyn Palmer

June 17, 2023

Adoring,Affectionate,Captivating,GT Weekend,Hope

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

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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

Psalm 119:149-154

In keeping with Your faithful love, hear my voice. Lord, give me life in keeping with Your justice. Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction. You are near, Lord, and all your commands are true. Long ago I learned from Your decrees that You have established them forever.

Resh
Consider my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your instruction. Champion my cause and redeem me; give me life as You promised
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Yahweh, You are the greatest teacher. (Psalm 32:8) You are wise (Proverbs 3:19); You are loving (1 John 4:8), You are honorable (Revelation 4:11); You are just (Psalm 89:14). Yahweh, You taught me to learn from other godly people, as well; to leverage their tough seasons of life in order to avoid similar mistakes and to understand that I am not alone in my struggle. Hear our voices as we cry out to You, Lord, for help and in praise! 

My strength is so weak, unbelievably weak, and yet I still try to do it on my own.
Forgive me.

God, I need You desperately. I want You to use me, grow me, keep me humble.
Please help me obey.

I don’t deserve the blessed life I live; I am overwhelmed with gratitude!
You are so kind.

Lead me in Your ways today, Lord. Keep me from wandering away distracted from the path You have laid. (Psalm 16:11) May I follow You more closely (Matthew 16:24), love You more dearly (Matthew 22:37), obey You more willingly (John 14:15), and trust You more fully.

Lord, I am filled with thanks as I consider the blessings and lessons You have bestowed upon me. I am overwhelmed by your relentless pursuit of me.
In Your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Psalm 139 tells us God knows our thoughts from afar and our words before we utter them. While this may feel intimidating or even shameful, because we know our thoughts are not always pure, it provides a fuller picture of God’s vast love for us.

There is none who knows us like He does, still He sacrificed His Son on the cross to redeem us. (Isaiah 43:1) I cannot imagine a love greater than this. God is with us in every moment of this life; we have only to turn to Him. The image of turning away from a neighbor offering kindness, slamming the door in her face, is heartbreaking.

How much more so, then, when we realize that neighbor has God’s face? Yet He does not leave. (Isaiah 43:2) In fact, He invites us over and over again to give Him our pain, our questions, our doubts, our fears, our frustrations in return for His peace, love, grace, mercy, confidence, and strength.

He whispers love into our dark places, because shouting is for fools. His magnificence speaks for itself. (Isaiah 40:26) The devil shouts, he puts on a show, because he has no real power. Thus, his greatest influence is in distraction. How is the prince of darkness distracting you from God’s truth, today?

JOURNAL TWO

This week, our study on Qof and Resh, verses 145-160, hit me like a ton of bricks in the most wonderful way. Sara brought me to tears with her transparency and vulnerability, a very scary thing to do indeed. Oh, but how I could relate to her story in so many ways! This is the beauty of our testimonies!

We are oftentimes more alike than we are different, but when we use filters and choreographed poses and select only the most pristine pictures to share with the world, we abandon those opportunities to connect with others, cultivating our own loneliness.

In addition to a beautiful example of vulnerability, we were shown the power of divine perspective and the power of hope, both of which are anchored in God’s Word. In using a divine lens to assess our lives and analyze the situations in which we find ourselves, we are better able to see God’s purpose in allowing a particular trial.

He could be teaching, protecting, exercising judgment, refining, preparing, and more. Sometimes literally clutching His Word to our chest, figuratively tucking it into our hearts is all we have strength to do, but through His Word, the Spirit comforts our very souls. He is mighty in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

JOURNAL THREE

To understand the treasure that is God’s Word (Psalm 119:162), we must choose daily to seek Him, to study Scripture, and let the Holy Spirit soften our hearts. In Psalm 119:164, the psalmist says, and not for the first time, that they praise God many times a day (7 to be exact!).

The beautiful thing about regular, authentic worship is that it not only brings glory to God, but it changes our perspective. There are days when praising God even once seems like a hardship, but what we must realize is that in the act of praising, the act of worshiping, we find healing, peace, and joy. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Just as God doesn’t need our prayers in order to know our need (Matthew 6:8), He also doesn’t need our praise to know He is the great I AM. Yet again, His instruction is for our good and His glory.

Furthermore, when we intertwine our cries for help with gratitude for God’s character, we align our hearts with His, allowing us to recognize that God is good even if our circumstances aren’t and reinforcing our faith and confidence in His promise of deliverance.

Our expectations are then founded in God’s character rather than our own desires and ideas of how a prayer should be answered.
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Worship XI Day 15 Shin & Tav: Digging Deeper

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Worship XI Day 15 Shin & Tav: Digging Deeper

Rebecca Adams

June 16, 2023

Attention,Captivating,Covenant,Freedom,Fullness,gentle

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Shin & Tav"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:161-176

שׁ Shin
161 Princes have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears only your word. 162 I rejoice over your promise like one who finds vast treasure. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction. 164 I praise you seven times a day for your righteous judgments. 165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble. 166 Lord, I hope for your salvation and carry out your commands. 167 I obey your decrees and love them greatly. 168 I obey your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.

ת Tav
169 Let my cry reach you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. 170 Let my plea reach you; rescue me according to your promise. 171 My lips pour out praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172 My tongue sings about your promise, for all your commands are righteous. 173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, Lord, and your instruction is my delight. 175 Let me live, and I will praise you; may your judgments help me. 176 I wander like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commands.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is to be consumed in “Shin”? (verses 161-168)

The Hebrew letter “Shin” denotes “consuming, devouring, or eating” as the shape of its letter “resembles flames of fire and teeth”. (Tanya Remkiv)

Unique from the other octets of Psalm 119, Shin records no specific prayerful pleas whatsoever. In the absence of requests, we glimpse the beauty left in the wake of our desires being consumed by the God who is Himself Satisfaction and Delight.

Shin is marked by the quiet, calm, yet firmly decided insistent knowing and shared intimacy with the One for whom every octet has been written.

Listen for this sweetness in the psalmist’s carefully chosen words, “…My heart fears only Your Word.” (verse 161) “I rejoice over Your promise like one who finds vast delight.” (verse 162) “I love Your instruction.” (verse 163) “I praise You seven times a day.” (verse 164)

Go read the remaining 4 verses of this octet and see the pattern the psalmist models of quiet, decided delight! Fear, anger, anxiety, pride, the desire for control, insistence on one’s own way, complaint, and all other forms of self that actively fight against perfectly satisfying love have been consumed and drowned out by the Lord’s ways, wisdom, and good presence.

Praise, rejoicing, adoration, peace, and delight have taken their place; there is secret joy here!

The Everyday Application

1) What is to be consumed in “Shin”? (verses 161-168)

In reflecting on these delightful verses of praise, I recognize four responses in myself.

1) I feel drawn in to the intimacy found between the psalmist and the Satisfying Savior.

2) I feel encouraged and urged forward to continue seeking the depths of relationship available to me in the Lord.

3) I’m convicted to use my prayers not only for pleading and interceding, but also for praising and rejoicing.

4) I’m reminded of the pure delight and peace found in simply basking in knowing and trusting the goodness of the Lord.

One of my favorite verses in the psalter is little known and rarely quoted, but it speaks volumes of the relationship that is readily accessible to all who would give themselves to knowing the Lord God through His Word. “I do not get involved with things too great or too wondrous for me. Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child.” (Psalm 131:1-2)

This level of depth in trusting relationship with the Lord does not come overnight or by reading snippet verses on social media or even regularly attending church or listening to excellent biblical podcasts. It is only slowly discovered over time of intentioned pursuit of the Holy One by meeting regularly, daily, yes, but moment by moment, in the secret place of the soul known only to the Holy Creator and the Beloved Creation.

Have you met Him here? He’s waiting to be known and consume your fears, your sin, your vile things, and draw you into blissful satisfaction that knows no bounds!

The Original Intent

2) What is the theme of “Tav”? (verses 169-176)

“Let my cry reach You, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Let my plea reach You; rescue me according to Your promise.” (verses 169-170) Do you hear the psalmist’s urgent fervor in his pleading? Do you feel his desperate longing for the One he has learned to love and trust with all that is within him?

Read his plea again until you’ve connected with his prayer in a way that mirrors some part of your own desperation. Have you ever felt as if your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? Have you ever begged the Lord for His ear and attention while sobbing on the floor or screaming at the sky or with shoulders shaking and fists clenched? The psalms are filled with moments of raw honesty when the one praying is pleading for justice, begging to be seen, grasping at Hope that the Lord will be faithful to answer, but this is not the theme of this octet.

It isn’t desperation that drives the author’s words, it’s trusting dependence. The author knows exactly what is on the other side of the door on which he bangs, and he can’t wait for it to open because of the deep love he has found in knowing the Lord God.

There is none who satisfies, as the previous octet declares, but there is none other in all creation on whom the psalmist would rather lean for utter dependence in every season the Lord God, His Word, and His wise ways. On the heels of his pleas, “Let my cry reach You… Let my plea reach You…”, (verses 169-170) the author can’t stop the grin spreading across his face or the joy shooting from his hands, “My lips pour out praise… My tongue sings…”. (verses 171-172)

The Lord and His ways have proven a faithful anchor and steady harbor in which to moor his life and he chooses praise and worship for the gracious goodness of the steadfast Lord.

The Everyday Application

2) What is the theme of “Tav”? (verses 169-176)

Where does your heart lean when you think of the Lord? How have you seen Him prove faithful, steady, and true? When was the last time you banged in His “door” just to shout His praise and declare His goodness and pour out your heartfelt praise? When was the last time you shared His praise on whatever platform the Lord has given you whether it’s social media, friendships, or simply standing in line at the check out stand?

Jerry Bridges is quoted as saying, “And yet who of us are fit to praise, except those whom God has taught? The ‘new song’ ill accords with the old heart.” The psalmist spent 176 verses declaring what he had been taught by the Lord’s Word, commands, statutes, precepts, and ways. The end result was a giddy tongue that delighted in singing of spontaneous praise that could not be held back.

Herein is rich encouragement for each of us regardless of where we are in our faith journey. If you’re looking for more joy and delight, no matter how much you have or have not already experienced, the answer is found in allowing the Lord to teach you more of His ways.

How to begin? By reading His Word! (Psalm 119:9) Want an excellent place to start? Try Psalms! Read 1 to 150 and then start again!

The Original Intent

3) What tension exists in the final verse of the psalm? (verse 176)

Have you ever felt caught between “both and” or the often difficult and murky “time between”? For me, I most often find myself in the “now and not yet” where I often cry out “I believe! Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

This tension was also the dwelling place for the psalmist of 119, and as he closed his alphabet song intended to teach and train and remind himself and his son of truth, he grew reflective of this reality.

He had penned 175 verses declaring the kind, gracious goodness of the Lord and His ways, but also spoke frequently of his own passionate desire to follow those ways and be forever marked by them. He often boldly declared how much he loved the Lord and His wisdom while others spurned God. (verse 161)

Yet, in the very last verse, in keeping with the Tav theme of utter dependence, the psalmist states, “I wander like a lost sheep.” He recognized his own very desperate need for a shepherd God.

No amount of love for God, no matter how great or impassioned, could keep him from straying from the Lord. He was human. He erred. He wandered. Though claiming a love that would outlast all others, he knew in his heart, he was still prone to wander.

His final plea is stunning, “seek Your servant”. He cast himself wholly upon the Person of God. Not even God’s laws could seek him out and bring him home to the heart of God, only the Shepherd could seek what was lost.

Turning full circle, knowing with confidence that he would surely wander, but would certainly be sought after and brought home, he penned his final words in light of his assured reinstatement and continued growth in deepening relationship with the Holy One, “for I do not forget Your commands.”

The Everyday Application

3) What tension exists in the final verse of the psalm? (verse 176)

Doesn’t this raw, tender testimony give you hope and comfort?! It surely does for me, because, sisters, I know I’m a wanderer.

Oh, I’ve learned there is nothing sweeter or better than my Jesus. I will trust Him for all my days and want nothing more than to sit and know Him more and more; He is that precious. But, like the psalmist, I also wrestle grievously.

With doubt. With fear. With lust for (perceived) control, or (my version of) perfection, or worshiping my schedule, or my children’s wants, or the stability of my marriage relationship or 100 other idols that deserve absolutely nothing compared to the Lord God. Still, I know I will wander, chasing them down only to be left empty handed, disappointed, and frustrated.

How encouraging it is to know my status with the Lord, and the stability of our relationship doesn’t heave and sway based on my ability to follow all the magnificent, wonderful ways of the Lord I truly love so much.

The Lord knows I will leave Him. He also knows I will long to be back at His side, but not as much as He longs for me to be more fully His. He loves me enough to chase me down, not recklessly mind you, for nothing the Lord does is reckless, but with a passionate pursuit that refuses to relinquish His relationship with me.

With Yahweh, Sisters, breathe this gracious truth in with me, I am safe. You are safe.

Every single time I’ve wandered away and the Lord has brought me home, I’ve sung His praises all the louder and decided a little more firmly that He alone is worthy of my worship and, like the psalmist, I’m intent to “not forget Your commands”!

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Worship XI Day 15
Journey Study

Faithful and dedicated servant.
A wandering sheep needing rescue, understanding, and assistance.

Which one am I?
Both.

Though redeemed, my flesh still wins some battles. This makes me grateful for God’s Word, which is “profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
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Worship XI Day 2 Alef & Bet: Digging Deeper

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Worship XI Day 2 Alef & Bet: Digging Deeper

Merry Ohler

May 30, 2023

Gospel,Know,Lord,Relationship,Repent

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Alef & Bet"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:1-16

א Alef 1 How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! 2 Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart. 3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. 4 You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. 5 If only my ways were committed to keeping your statutes! 6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all your commands. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.

ב Bet 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. 10 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. 12 Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes. 13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is the significance of the Hebrew words interjected between stanzas in Psalm 119?

The Bible is a bound collection of Holy Spirit inspired writings about the Hebrew God and His ways, all pointing directly to God’s ultimate plan for humanity: salvation from sin through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The entirety of Psalm 119 is a masterful work of poetry; it is specifically focused on the value, importance, and usefulness of God’s law. The flowing poem consists of 22 stanzas, composed of eight verses each. Every stanza is preceded by a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet; every line or verse therein begins with the same preceding letter, encompassing the psalmist’s love for God’s Word from beginning to end.

Alef is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which can also mean “oneness with God.” Every verse within the Alef stanza of Psalm 119 declares obedience to God as the pathway to oneness with God, and also speaks of the psalmist’s personal relationship with God.

Bet, the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is the beginning letter of every verse within the Bet stanza. Bet can also mean “house.” The Bet stanza begins with the psalmist’s question about how a young man can make his way pure. (Psalm 119:9)

The rest of the stanza provides the answer to his question in first person form, indicating the psalmist is the young man in question who desires to keep his way pure. He goes on to espouse the wonderful glory of God’s Word and proclaim his love for it. This first person account of worshipful devotion to God and his ways provides a clear picture of one who chose to make their “home” with the God of Israel, by obeying, keeping His laws, and treasuring His ways and Word. (Psalm 119:11)

The Everyday Application

1) What is the significance of the Hebrew words interjected between stanzas in Psalm 119?

When I pause to meditate on and consider the intentionality of the psalmist’s poem, I am convicted that I have not loved God’s word as I should. The mosaic law in Scripture, as delivered to Moses, seems so far removed from our modern daily lives. However, we must continually remind ourselves that the Bible is not a book about us.

It’s a book about the only holy God, history and His plan of salvation for humanity. The law is not irrelevant; it is essential! It had and has great purpose! Jesus highlighted its importance in saying, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18) 

The deliberate inclusion of each Hebrew letter in the psalmist’s praise demonstrates an immersive, intentional love for God’s law and ways. Every part of the law shows us more about who God is, and what he is like.

As we begin to understand more about him, we are confronted with how very un-like Him we are in our flesh.

The psalmist’s expansive praise to God through every letter of the Hebrew alphabet reminds us this walk with Christ was never designed to be a thing with boundaries or dedicated “hours” of performance.

The call has always been a whole-life, fully surrendered, offering-every-resource, constant-and-forever kind of thing. 

The Original Intent

2) What does the psalmist mean by “precepts” in verses 4 and 15?

The whole of Psalm 119 is written as an all-encompassing tribute showcasing the psalmist’s love, appreciation and dedication to God’s law. When Psalm 119 was written, the specific portions of Scripture it referenced were called the Torah. The Torah consists of the five books Moses wrote, which are included in our modern Bible today: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Among other things, these books include the historical accounts of Creation, mankind’s original fall and sin, the history of the family God chose to use in the earthly lineage of His son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the law God gave to Moses to show people how utterly unlike God they are, and to demonstrate humanity’s need for atonement and salvation.

The word “precepts” refers to the guidance, instructions, and specific direction God provided to His people through the Torah. The nature of the word is not a fluid term, but instead lends itself to the overarching, specific guidelines God gave to Moses and called good for His people.

The Everyday Application

2) What does the psalmist mean by “precepts” in verses 4 and 15?

The law was given to the Jewish people to display God’s character, holiness and righteousness, and to show them their urgent need for a Savior. The same is true for us. When we read the Mosaic law (delivered by Moses) and learn about God’s ways and commandments, we draw the only logical conclusion and conviction: we need a Savior.

The law points us straight to Jesus Christ. Because of this truth, we too, should love the law! Any gift the Lord has given to teach us about Him and His ways is worth our time, study, and faithful attention.

Days are busy; life can be chaotic. Little voices will clamor; little mouths will be hungry. Projects have deadlines, and emails must be answered. On days when there is little time for a bathroom break, let alone time to read or study God’s word, are we investing our mental and emotional capacity on holy things?

Do we grumble and “roll with the punches,” or do we grab hold of what is true and good, and meditate on God’s word even as we wipe noses, walk the dog, and file paperwork?

If love isn’t about how we feel in a given moment, and is instead a humble demonstration of willing obedience in all things, do we create space in our days to meditate on the perfect, holy law of God? 

The Original Intent

3) What is the difference between “precepts” mentioned in verses 4 and 15, and “statutes” mentioned in verses 5, 8, 12 and 16?

While “precepts” may describe the broad direction of the Law God gave to Moses, the word “statutes” points to the specifics given within the Law, from commands not to do certain things, to seemingly smaller picture guidelines God provided for particular “if-then” situations.

Throughout Psalm 119, and specifically in Alef and Bet, there are various words used to describe God’s law and each is used to imply various nuances and communicate a more complete picture: instruction, decrees, ways, precepts, statutes, commands, judgements, word.

Each of these words are used to give glimpses of a different part of the whole, all working together to point out the value, significance, necessity, and relevance of God and His word to the psalmist and all people. 

The Everyday Application

3) What is the difference between “precepts” mentioned in verses 4 and 15, and “statutes” mentioned in verses 5, 8, 12 and 16?

The law God gave to Moses provided both broad and specific directions for His people that outlined a standard of holiness and righteousness while giving intentional guidance regarding specific situations. The purposeful way God provided a path for His people to have a right relationship with him before Jesus Christ came exemplifies how much He loves us and all people.

Just as the psalmist covered everything from “a to z” in his expression of love and gratitude for God’s law, God’s law provided for all. In God’s perfect timing, Jesus, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13) and the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17-20), would come to earth to live a perfect, sinless life, then lay down His life as the sacrifice and atonement for all sin, for all time.

Jesus was fully God and fully man; He alone could perfectly fulfill and satisfy every stroke of the law, paying the price for sin and providing salvation for all who would repent from sin and put their trust in Him.

Thank God for His law, and the fulfillment of the law we could never achieve on our own! 

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Confidence Day 3 Confidence In Fellowship

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Confidence Day 3 Confidence In Fellowship

Marietta Taylor

April 19, 2023

church,Spirit,Suffering,Together,Truth

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-31 
1 John 1
Mark 12:28-33
Acts 2:36-47
Hebrews 10:19-25

One of the first verses I memorized as an adult was 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It was the quickest I’ve ever memorized a verse and it has never left me.

Over the years, I studied the surrounding verses and realized those words stuck with me because they help me connect to God and people. This is our mission as God’s girls.

Jesus said the two greatest commandments were to
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
and
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) 

We can be confident that having and maintaining fellowship with God allows us to do the same with people; this is God’s design! In fact, 1 John 1:7 tells us that walking in Christ’s Light through fellowship with God naturally demonstrates Christlikeness in fellowship with people. 

So how do we go about fellowshipping with God?
I’m glad you asked!

Let’s start with God Himself, noting He has always existed in a community of fellowship as Father, Son, and Spirit. (John 1:1-5, 1 John 5:7-8)
Are we not called to be like Christ, imitating Him?
Absolutely, we are!
(1 John 2:6) 

If we are to be Christlike, then we too must exist in fellowship, both with God and others who belong to God’s family (fellow believers in Jesus). This brings us back to “my” verse, 1 John 1:9. To maintain good fellowship with God, we must confess our sins.

Unconfessed sin places a barrier between us and God.
“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
The one who does good is of God;
the one who does evil has not seen God”. (3 John 1:11)

We’ll call it “un–fellowship”.
The antidote of confession cleans us, breaks down barriers, and closes the distance between us and God. Praise!

Along with confession, we must walk in truth. (3 John 1:4, Galatians 4:19)
We know the truth by knowing God’s Word.

Jesus prayed to the Father on behalf of all believers, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) So we read the Word and study the Word, treasuring it in our heart. Then we do what it says, otherwise we aren’t walking in truth but in the darkness of deceit. (James 1:22)

How do we fellowship with others?
Another good question!

Fellowship with the Trinity is what equips us with the ability and confidence to fellowship with others. (2 John 1:1-3)

Some aspects of this fellowship are:

When we actively pursue fellowship with other believers, the love and grace of the Lord will abound within that fellowship, binding us together! (1 John 4:7-12) 

Friends, we are either working for fellowship or un–fellowship.
We are either pursuing truth and love or deceit and destruction.
As believers, we must be aware of who we choose to fellowship.
What are they pursuing?
2 John 1:10-12 warns, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.” 

I won’t lie. Sometimes being active in fellowship feels hard, because it is hard.
But it’s always worth it. Take a little field trip to Love Lived Out. I’ll wait (smile).

Wasn’t that a great little journey?
What Jesus did for us wasn’t easy.
It was hard.
It was sufferable.
But, most importantly, it was love. (1 John 3:16)

Christ’s sacrifice of Himself on our behalf to pay for our sin while He was sinless was an act of love by our most faithful God. This same God invites us into fellowship with Him because of Jesus. If we place our confidence in Christ alone, He will fill us with His love, freeing us to share this same love and fellowship with others.

Even when it’s hard.
Even when fellowship with people is painful.
Yet, because our fellowship with God is always fruitful,
our fellowship with others is always worth the investment.

Over the years, I have experienced both the hard and the wonderful of fellowship, but I’ve never experienced the Lord’s abandonment. God’s fellowship with us is always perfect and loving, sustaining us in all things, because that’s who He is.

I have confidently placed my trust in Him, asking Him to teach me to love like Him.
You know what?
He will grant this because,
“This is the confidence we have before Him:
If we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us.
 And if we know that He hears whatever we ask,
we know that we have what we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15) 

Sisters, let us place our confidence where it will increase and do good by choosing fellowship with the Lord and others.
Our faithful God will never fail! (Isaiah 26:3-4)

 

 

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