repent

Follow Day 3 Entering The Extraordinary

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Read His Words Before Ours!

 

Matthew 3
Genesis 11:24-12:4
Romans 4:1-11 

Follow, Day 3

Voices mingled together and eyes turned toward one focal point as fingers pointed and fathers lifted small children to their shoulders for a better view. A voice interrupted everything, somehow arching above all the whispered talk circling around those gathered by the water’s edge. The rhythmic splashes of people being dunked beneath the water, only to rise again, punctuated his booming speech.

“Repent!” The voice called aloud.
“The Kingdom of God is near!”
Urgency undergirded every syllable, leaving a nearly tangible sensation ringing in the ears of all who heard.

Suddenly, like an electric shock wave, the wild man pointed a hairy finger and with unmistakable clarity, spoke in an awe that captured rapt attention,
“Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Collectively, a gasp went up from the crowd as Jesus, the Christ, moved with purpose through the crowd. For the first time, the prophet’s voice trembled,
“I need to be baptized by You, yet You come to me?”
Jesus insisted, and joined the countless people humbled beneath Jordan waters and raised out, but as He did, the Spirit of the Holy God descended upon Him and the magnificent Voice of the Almighty echoed for all to hear, “This is my Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”

Stunned, the crowd slowly dispersed as Jesus slipped away into the growing evening. The events at the Jordan would mark each of them forever, but for Andrew, whose curiosity demanded more, the following day’s events would take him deeper. Was it happenstance that Andrew and his friend saw Jesus walking along the road the next afternoon?
Who was this man for whom the heavens opened?
What was His invitation?

As Jesus walked past the two men deep in discussion, they suddenly paused and exchanged glances. As if readily understanding the other, they swiftly moved in, surreptitiously following several paces behind Jesus. Sensing their presence, Jesus half-turned and asked with a wide grin, “What are you looking for?” 

Insistent curiosity overcoming his stuttering tongue,Andrew stammered, “Oh! Rabbi! Well…”
“What he means is,” interrupted his friend, “Where are you staying?”

Jesus laughed and motioned with His arm for them to join Him. “Come and you’ll see.”

~~

“May the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanītu the queen, look with joy upon the work of my good deeds and order the prolongation of my days, and discuss my years to be many; may they decree as my fate the protection of my offspring, the increase of my progeny, the expansion of my family so that they branch out widely….” (Ancient Prayers to Marduk)

Abram mumbled the familiar words, as he had countless times before. The discontent in his heart grew stronger, reaching to his hands as he tightened them into fists. He had wealth. He had influence. Offspring he lacked, and his heart seemed to die within him more each day at this knowledge.

How tired he was of accruing good deeds. How weary he had become of returning to his tent each evening to look into the eyes of his bride, Sarai, knowing she felt useless without children. What more could he do?! What else could he sacrifice? Why would Marduk refuse him? The anger inside threatened to overtake him, and he quickly stood, as if trying to flee from himself.

“Abram, go from your land…”

The voice seemed to fill his entire being, yet cut right through him at the same time.
Abram sucked in his breath and every hair stood on end.

“… go from your relatives and your father’s house…”

In all his years of bowing and sacrificing to Marduk and the numerous other Assyrian gods, not once had Abram felt enveloped in this all-surpassing Presence. As Abram stood frozen in the moment, the Voice swirled around him, commanding his attention, yet without force or pressure, simply as invitation. As the Voice spoke, Abram felt alive as if for the first time. Hope was kindling in dead places within him.

“… go to the land I will show you.”

Yes. Yes, I will go. Abram’s heart already beat with new passion. Joy gurgled up where anger had thrived. The more the Voice spoke, the more Abram knew he would never again bend his knee to Marduk. This invitation captivated the entirety of his being like nothing else.

~~

Both Abram and Andrew were living ordinary lives, yet the God of the Universe met them exactly where they were with an invitation to enter into the extraordinary. The moment of decision was unexpected for both men, but for the One who called them out of their mundane and into purposeful living, it was perfectly timed.

Following the Lord often looks a lot more like waiting with expectation in our mundane than searching for signs in the sky. The Lord knew each man. He alone knew the deep longings in their hearts. And He alone knew both how to meet them, and when.

For Andrew and Abram, their humble acceptance of God’s invitation opened the door for much more than they dared hope or imagine.
God alone was more than enough for all their searching.

Jesus came to us without pretense, humbly submitting to the Father’s plan of sacrifice and through Him, the way was cleared for every heart to choose to follow. Whether you’re sitting at a crossroads of big life decisions, feel stuck in a place you never intended, or wavering at the threshold of total trust in Jesus or choosing to keep living life your way, the Savior invites all of us to humbly follow.

Trust His heart.
He knows where He’s leading.

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

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

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

Chase Day 9 Not Like Us: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s
Journey Study?
Check out Not Like Us!

Jonah 3:10-4:3 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it. Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious. 2 He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I thought while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster. 3 And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

The Questions

1) What does it mean that “God relented”? Does God change His mind?

2) What does Jonah’s anger display?

3) How does the grace shown to Nineveh tie into the New Testament?

The Findings for Intention

1) What does it mean that “God relented”? Does God change His mind?
To properly understand more difficult passages, we have to hold tightly to the clear, solid truths already made very plain in the rest of Scripture because Scripture does not contradict itself. Like holding a flashlight into a dark room, these plain texts can help us understand the unclear ones. One might wonder based on reading these verses if God changes His mind. Perhaps He is fickle. But consider these passages as a very small sampling, all plainly teaching that God is most definitely not a fickle, changing God: James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6. If God does not “change His mind”, the focus should rightly shift to the other party for doing the changing; namely, the Ninevites. God chose to relent of His intended consequence because they changed. According to verse 10, God saw not only their changed actions, but the wording in the next phrase implies a deeper, heart level of repentance saying, “they had turned from their evil ways.” Rather than this being a question of whether God changed, it should reinforce God being true to His own character of grace and mercy, which He extends based upon a genuine, heart-felt repentance and casting oneself entirely upon the mercy of the Lord. (See 3:9)

2) What does Jonah’s anger display?
Jonah was angry because mercy was shown and generosity was given where he felt it was undeserved. Which leads us to see the pride of Jonah in that He somehow felt he was indeed deserving of grace, while the Ninevites were not. We see Jonah’s anger growing from the beginning of the book until its abrupt end. And in such strong anger, we see hatred for others, inflation of self, and an increasing disrespect for the Lord God. At the beginning of the book, Jonah simply gave God the silent treatment and “ran away”, but by the end of the book, Jonah’s anger has grown unabated for so long that it is hot enough for him to have no problem railing at God for showing him mercy, multiple times, through God’s own powerful creation, and then removing that mercy. Jonah’s view of himself keeps growing, his view of others keeps decreasing, yet, remarkably, God patiently loves both Jonah and the Ninevites!

3) How does the grace shown to Nineveh tie into the New Testament?
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, who were about as extremely different as you can possibly be from the Yahwistic Hebrews who followed the Lord God and served Him only. God has set the Hebrews apart as His special people because through the line of Abraham the Redeemer would be born and He would save the people from their sin (Isaiah 53:5-6, Matthew 1:21), this is Jesus! Not just the Hebrews would be saved (as they thought), but we know from the New Testament that Jesus came to tear down the dividing wall that separated Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:13-14) because the freedom from sin was being offered to all. In Jonah’s book, we see this beautiful portrait of God’s heart, not just for the Hebrew, but for the Gentile. More so, we see God passionately pursue even the cruel, vile Assyrians who committed heinous acts against all people in their day. In the story of Jonah we see the gospel!

The Everyday Application

1) What does it mean that “God relented”? Does God change His mind?
Isn’t it encouraging to see the gospel on display even in the Old Testament?! Because of our sin, our natural position before the Holy Righteous God is condemned to Death. Nineveh was facing the same sentence. But God! God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! (Ephesians 2:4-5) This is exactly the story of Nineveh! Death was at the door, Mercy was offered, Repentance was real, and Grace walked in to bring Salvation! Where are you in this lineup? What are your thoughts on the reality of Death (spiritual and literal) as a consequence to your sin? In what ways have you wrestled with the mercy of Jesus offered by His sacrificial atonement at the cross? If you have questions about these, what’s holding you back from asking someone? If you’ve given your heart to Jesus, are you still quick to see this gospel in your everyday life? Eternal salvation happens at a single point in time, but our need for the gospel happens every moment of every day!

2) What does Jonah’s anger display?
Jonah’s portraits of growing anger clearly display the truth James teaches, “But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) We should take this opportunity to hold the mirror up and look closely, Sisters. Where is our anger rearing its head. Where is its root in our lives? Do we feel we deserve better? Is pride growing in a dark corner that we are happy to ignore? Repent and turn away from anger, instead find satisfaction in knowing that the God who still pursued Jonah, despite his childish-tantrum-throwing-anger, is still pursuing you!

3) How does the grace shown to Nineveh tie into the New Testament?
If God, faithful and un-changing, slow to anger, patient, and forgiving, ready with mercy and grace, could extend Himself to the least likely thousands and thousands of years before Jesus was even born, let alone went to the cross and to bear our sins, how much more so should we love and forgive others? Especially those we feel are unworthy of our forgiveness? What better way to put the love of God on display to a lost and hurting world, who themselves are sentenced to Death without Christ, than to seek to live with forgiveness at our ready?!

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

I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

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

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

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

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Chase!

Remade Day 7
True Repentance: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s Journey Post? Check out True Repentance!

Acts 3:11-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

The Questions

1) Who is clinging to Peter and John and why is the crowd gathering?

2) Peter’s opening statement seems verse 13 pretty bold and offensive, is this how we should share the gospel?

3) Why does verse 16 seem to emphasize “faith” “name” and “Jesus”?

4) I found a “therefore” in verse 19. What does it refer to?

The Findings for Intention

1) Who is clinging to Peter and John and why is the crowd gathering?
The previous verses in chapter 3 describe a man who had been lame from birth. He had spent his life on the ground, begging for food and money. He was at the very bottom rung of his societal ladder and he knew it, as did everyone else who saw him sitting in the same spot everyday. As with most homeless persons, his eyes were downcast and entirely hopeless, but Peter invited him to more. He healed the lame man by God’s power and as a result, the man leapt up and began dancing and praising God. Don’t let the man’s disability distance you from stepping in his shoes. This man is the picture of humanity without Jesus. Homeless, ashamed, hopeless, feeble, bound up with the chains of sin, but Jesus comes to set us free!

2) Peter’s opening statement in verse 13 seems pretty bold and offensive, is this how we should share the gospel?
Peter pointed out that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was crucified at the insistence of the same people standing before him. A hard truth, but reality nonetheless. While it’s absolutely true that Jesus loves us and died to redeem us, without our recognition of sin we have no need for a Savior and no need to truly repent. If we aren’t confronted with the reality of our sin, we won’t see a need for salvation and that’s exactly what Peter wanted the people to see that day. When sharing the gospel and all that Jesus has done, and the future He holds, we cannot skip over sin. We don’t have to be rude, offensive, and judgmental, rather we can talk gently about the reality of sin and how it points to our need for Jesus!

3) Why does verse 16 seem to emphasize “faith” “name” and “Jesus”?
When a verse or chapter of Scripture repeats itself, it’s to signify extreme importance. Here, Peter is making clear that the lame man was healed not because of something he did or deserved or because Peter and John had super powers, but it was only through faith in the Name of Jesus. Later in his sermon, Peter emphasizes again that salvation is found in no other name than Jesus Christ.

4) I found a “therefore” in verse 19. What does it refer to?
“Therefore” always means back up and re-read the reason why the author is making his statement. Here, Peter is calling for true, heartfelt repentance based upon who Jesus is. Holy, Righteous One, the Author of Life, Healer, the Son of God, and the perfect sacrifice who had been foretold of centuries beforehand through the prophets. Because Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be, the blameless Son of God, and because we are sin-wrecked beings hopelessly condemned to eternity apart from God, Peter calls his audience, and us, to repent!

The Everyday Application

1) Who is clinging to Peter and John and why is the crowd gathering?
The crowd had gathered that day because they had either witnessed or heard about the healing of a lame man. Sisters, what Jesus does in our hearts and lives is just as incredible as the healing of that lame man! Peace in the storm, comfort in distress, focus and clarity, wisdom, genuine love are all outflows of being made new in Christ and others are drawn to it. Take the opportunities in regular life where Jesus is remaking you, to talk about Him! Proclaim Christ in your actions and your words! When was the last time you let your joy in Christ overflow into your everyday, enough that the people around noticed?

2) Peter’s opening statement verse 13 seems pretty bold and offensive, is this how we should share the gospel?
The gospel is offensive to people lost in their sin, but to those who are being remade, it is the full essence of life. Knowing the depth of the transformation of Jesus’s sacrifice for us personally, motivates us and makes us bold enough to share Christ with those who are dying an eternal death without Him. Next time you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to say something about your faith or what Christ is doing in you, don’t back down. Remember the boldness of Peter and John. Because of their bravery in the Spirit as they kept their eyes fixed on the eternal, about 5,000 people came to know Jesus as their personal Savior!

3) How can I practically emphasize “faith” “name” and “Jesus” in my everyday?
Opportunities for talking about Jesus are much more abundant than we probably realize and the more you talk about Him, the easier it becomes. You can turn almost any conversation towards Christ in a very gentle, natural way simply by sharing what He has done in your life. People are drawn in by authentic personal stories and no one can argue with your own experience. The other night my husband was telling me how he just couldn’t go to sleep because he was so pre-occupied. I took the opportunity to practice sharing my “faith in the name of Jesus” and told him how, when I’m feeling the same way, I pray for the first person I think of with a name starting with each letter of the alphabet. I shared that praying for others in Jesus’s name gives me the peace to fall asleep. These examples of everyday, real life chances to talk about your faith are happening all the time! Jump in!

4) How does “therefore” in verse 19 impact my everyday life?
If you’re a Christ-follower, do you ever feel bored in your relationship with God? Or maybe you’re curious about the claims of Christ and would like to explore more. Either way, studying His character and looking at who Jesus said He was and is will push you deeper with Him. As you dwell on His righteousness and the fullness of life He offers, ask Him to show you more about Himself as you seek Him out!

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

I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
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!

The Community!

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

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

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. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? 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 :-))

The Why!

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.

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

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Remade!