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Surrender Day 14 The One We Seek: Digging Deeper

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Surrender Day 14 The One We Seek: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

February 9, 2023

Christ,Discipleship,Faith,Follow,Sacrifice

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 "The One We Seek"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 14:25-27

25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) To whom was Jesus speaking in verse 25, and why is this important to understand?

Verse 25 tells us “great crowds were traveling with Him.” It is important to note that Jesus’ teachings were not only directed to His disciples in this scene, but widely to the large crowds who were following along with Jesus. Crowds were often found “with” Jesus, even pressing in on Him at times. (Matthew 4:23-25)

People followed Jesus for all sorts of reasons: His miracles (John 2:23-25), because they were hungry (John 6:24-27), to accuse Him (John 6:61-64), and some because they genuinely believed Him (Luke 5:27-32).

As Jesus made His way to Jerusalem He understood His brutal death lay ahead. (Luke 13:33) His mission of rescuing those who would trust Him, carried a heavy price, His life. He wanted those around Him to understand there would also be a cost to believing Him and following Him, surrender. Surrender required submission to His teachings regarding the only way to God being through Himself.

Though He knew many would reject Him, Jesus responded with compassion by weeping over those lost in their sin. (Luke 19:41) He loved the crowds because He loves the individual people who create the crowds. He always saw them through His merciful eyes, and He always desired to draw them into a relationship with Himself. (Luke 13:34)

The Everyday Application

1) To whom was Jesus speaking in verse 25, and why is this important to understand?

The crowds following Jesus were much like fan-seeking crowds today. Some may read the Bible or attend religious meetings as skeptics, waiting to pounce on a perceived contradiction. Frankly, the prospect of them genuinely believing Jesus is quite low without a heart shift to begin authentically exploring the claims of Christ.

Other explorers of the Christian faith are less skeptical, seeing themselves as curious onlookers. They aren’t sure Jesus actually is who He says He is, but they sure would love to receive God’s blessings as long as it doesn’t cost them anything.

They listen closely for the ‘requirements’ Jesus presents. They watch even more closely those who have chosen to follow and wonder: Is this real? Are these people genuinely believing in Jesus? Is it worth it?

Eventually, many of these find themselves unwilling to make such a long-term pledge to Jesus Himself. Some encounter hypocrites who deter them or witness the hardship involved for those who truly follow Jesus. For many, the passages of Scripture announcing sacrifice and obedience are repulsive.

Though they may acknowledge a deep longing to be satisfied, they lack faith to see Jesus as the Supreme Satisfier. They miss the Counselor and Comforter found in the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promises for all who genuinely trust Him. This Helper indwells and empowers the believer to follow Him into the great unknown of the surrendered life! (John 16:7-13)

Sweet Sister, joining Jesus is a surrender to His purposes while knowing He is with us. It’s a step toward His wisdom and away from selfish desires. For many in the crowd, this call to relinquish control is a stumbling block, a hurdle, even foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:22-24) In Proverbs 8:32-36 we see the beauty of answering the call to wisdom; it’s Jesus Himself.

The Original Intent

2) Most believe the Bible tells us to love everyone, including our enemies. So how are we to understand Jesus’ instruction in verse 26  to “hate” our families?

Making sense of whole passages is as valuable as translating specific words and interpreting sentences and verses. Like expanding concentric circles, we begin understanding the Bible best when first study the context of words within sentences within passages within books within the testaments within the whole Bible. (Got Questions)

This pattern of discovery is effective because the Bible is more than an instructional history book. The unique priority of the Bible is its one message about Christ which is woven through every page. Whatever the right answer is regarding our question around Jesus’ words to hating our families, we must never misinterpret who Jesus IS. Herein lies the crux of discovering the original intent of any passage.

Since Jesus is the One who perfectly fulfilled the greatest commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:28-34), most certainly Jesus is not commanding us to do something out of harmony with what God has revealed. He is the One who perfectly fulfilled (Romans 5:6-8) the call to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

Therefore, we must dig deeper to define and interpret “hate”. Since Jesus affirms the 5th commandment which instructs us to honor parents (Mark 7:9-13), He is not commanding something different to the crowd (Luke 14:25). What He is describing is the cost of ultimate allegiance to Him.

The depth of allegiance to Jesus, when placed side by side with other loyalties, will look like the stark difference between love and hate. The New Living Translation of the Bible (NLT) offers a helpful interpretation. “If you want to be My disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life.”

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the contrast between “love” and “hatred” was used to communicate preference or favorites. Exploring the translations of Deuteronomy 21:15-17 will shed some light on Jesus’ meaning in this passage. (blueletterbible.org)

The Everyday Application

2) Most believe the Bible tells us to love everyone, including our enemies. So how are we to understand Jesus’ instruction in verse 26  to “hate” our families?

Oh friend, do you cringe at this verse? It sounds so unlike the Jesus we thought we knew or that we’ve come to know! But we must not give in to doubt or despair, thinking He must not be as good as we thought He was.

While it’s true that following Jesus is a remarkable commitment, He has promised to provide for us everything we need to make the sacrifices He calls us to make. And what we need most is His grace. Grace to understand that Jesus is not asking the crowd to prove their love for Him by hating their families.

We know this because, as a God of love, His very reason for coming was to teach us how to receive and give love. (1 John 3:15-18, 1 John 4:7-11) Jesus calls us to is a love for Him that is so deep, all other loves pale in comparison.

The more I study this passage, the more I realize this wasn’t an indictment on those who loved their families. It was a shocking statement to those who loved themselves most!

In the previous verses, Jesus had shared a parable about people who tried to justify themselves. (Luke 14:16-23) In pursuit of their own plan, they missed the banquet and gave poor excuses. To follow Jesus is to hold very loosely the people we love and the plans we make, so we can run quickly to Him when He calls us!

The Original Intent

3) How does someone “bear his own cross”?  (verse 27)

To understand this phrase, we must learn the meaning of the cross in the time and culture of Jesus. Remember, He had not yet died on the cross. To the first hearers, the cross only represented a gruesome symbol of death.

Jesus’ audience knew all too well how the Romans reserved crucifixion for the worst criminals. It was a form of humiliation that led to a long and excruciating death. Here was Jesus telling them the cost of following Him equated this kind of suffering! It seems clear that Jesus intentionally uses a horrific symbol to get the crowd’s attention.

Following Jesus could cost them their very lives. (verse 26) Shocking words coming from someone who constantly drew a crowd. Clearly, these are not the words of a leader desiring to gain popularity.

Because Jesus was always full of grace AND truth (John 1:14), He simply couldn’t soften a hard truth just to keep followers. When Jesus’ ministry went from feeding crowds (John 6:5-14) to talking about eating His flesh (John 6:53-58), He lost some people! I guess so, right?! This kind of teaching was too much for many who had followed Him for miracles and blessings. (John 6:66)

His following-fan-crowds eventually turned into crowds of angry people calling for His death. Some disciples became afraid as they began realizing Jesus’ arrest and death could bring suffering for them. (Matthew 26:47-55) One of His closest friends denied him (Luke 22:54-61) and several went into hiding (John 20:19). The calling to become a follower of Jesus was one that should be considered only after becoming willing to accept a possible reality of losing your own life – the cross kind of death. (Pause VI)

The Everyday Application

3) How does someone “bear his own cross”?  (verse 27)

A cross symbol has lost much of its original meaning in today’s culture, as it has become many things—from a religious icon to a fashion element. Even though for many it is a symbol of faith, particularly the Christian faith, it still doesn’t always reflect the horrors of crucifixion and what a cross meant for those who watched loved ones die there.

To understand the teaching of Jesus, especially these difficult verses, we must be willing to search the Scripture and find Him. Friend, I am sure of one thing: Jesus wasn’t calling us to walk around with a self-pitying demeanor while bemoaning our hard life.

Discomfort, trial, and suffering color every human experience in one degree or another, but the distinction here is that Jesus is calling His genuine followers to a death.

Death of our hopes and dreams and possessions and people; yes, even our own lives if necessary. These are all to be held with open hands accompanied by a humble prayer of trusting surrender.

Jesus’ promise isn’t a guarantee of ease; it’s much better than that. Sister, the promise is Jesus’ presence WITH us! (Matthew 28:18-20) Yes, following Jesus may cost us, but not following Him costs us so much more.

In all my sorrows, Jesus is better!! Make my heart believe!
In every victory, Jesus is better!! Make my heart believe!
Than any comfort, Jesus is better!! Make my heart believe!
More than all riches, Jesus is better!! Make my heart believe!
Our souls declaring: Jesus is better!! Make my heart believe!
Our song eternal: Jesus is better!! Make my heart believe!
Jesus Is Better by Austin Stone Worship

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cost,death,gain,reward,sacrifice,surrender
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Surrender Day 13
Journey Study

We are sinners who have not remained faithful to God, yet His love for us remains steadfast. While Gomer’s freedom cost Hosea a monetary sacrifice, Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice to restore our spiritual freedom and restore our relationship with God. (Romans 8:1-4)
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Pause VI Day 10 With Tears

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Pause VI Day 10 With Tears

Melodye Reeves

January 13, 2023

Pause,Service,Together,Unity

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philippians 3:7-21

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.<br><br>

12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

Read More Of His Words

Paul’s words to the Philippians are chosen with deliberation and intention. He says he is actively viewing everything that once seemed important to him before knowing Jesus through the lens of now having Christ. From that perspective, he now considers everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ.

Paul had suffered significant loss, but compared to knowing Jesus, it was nothing more than a bunch of manure or smelly garbage containing rotten food; it had no appeal! Paul had a new perspective about what was once so valuable to him. He had a new focus and future, to know Christ and be conformed to His death.

“My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Philippians 3:10)

Sister, the gospel (Jesus’ sacrificial death and literal resurrection) is not just one part of our lives. When we get to know Jesus, everything changes. The gospel applies to everything and every aspect of our lives. There really is no power of death to separate us from Love in Jesus when we know Christ and His power to kill our old sin nature along with its desires!

Twenty years before missionary John G. Paton went to the South Pacific Islands, a group of missionaries were killed by cannibals there. When Paton decided to go, a friend warned him of the danger likely awaiting him. Bluntly, Paton replied, “Sir, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms.”

Paton had been drenched in the same grace of which Paul wrote. He understood what was and was not truly valuable. It brought him to tears as he prayed for the believers to know Jesus in the same way.

What’s the motivation for this kind of faith?
The power of the cross! (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
What caused Paul to grieve?
The destruction and the destiny of the enemies of the cross. (Philippians 3:18-19)
Paul’s focus was no longer earthly but heavenly.

Sister, we have been given a promise. Like Paul, we look ahead toward our sure future.

“Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Today's Pause Challenge

1) Read Philippians 3:7-21 out loud today, twice. Slowly. Linger over those words that stick out to you, slowing and listening as God’s Spirit speaks to your heart! Write out verse 12 on a notecard and place it somewhere you won’t miss its message. If you are able, add it to the verses you’ve been memorizing this week. Rehearse verses 12-14 this weekend.
 
2) This weekend, put Pause VI Week Two playlist on repeat and be reminded of the rich truths God has shown you this week in Pause! Know that we prayed for you as we prepared this study!

3) Read Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian leaders in Acts 20:17-31 to fully grasp how much Paul loved the believers and wanted them to know Jesus!

4) Continue your memory work: Philippians 3:13-14

Tags :
Christ,Goals,honor,reward,serve
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Pause VI
Day 9

Paul exhorts (biblically, that’s earnest advice) the reader to be aware of anyone who would lead them to add anything to their salvation. As if anyone could add anything! Paul certainly never preached grace for his own benefit! He was persecuted harshly precisely because he preached the truth that we can only be rescued from our death sentence earned by our sin if we solely trust in Christ alone through faith alone, without a drop of our own work. (Ephesians 2:8-9) He was demoted from respected teacher of the Law to imprisoned apostle. All for one reason: Jesus crucified! He had reminded them that everything else was useless for salvation. It was all Christ.
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Jan 2 - Jan 20, 2023 - Journey Theme #112

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Follow Day 14 Faith To Stay: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Faith To Stay!

The Questions

1) What does it mean to lose our lives because of Jesus? (verse 25)

2) In honesty, I can think of many benefits to not losing my life to Jesus, what it His point in these questions? (verse 26)

3) How are rewards tied in to Jesus’ questions? (verse 27)

Matthew 16:24-28

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. 26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to lose our lives because of Jesus? (verse 25)
We often have the wrong idea about who God is at His core. We might see Him as vengeful, waiting for us to mess up so He can mock us, condemn us, or ruin our lives. Some view Him as disengaged and entirely uninterested in the affairs of humanity. In transparency, I struggled for years with the idea that just because God “made us”, doesn’t mean He actually “loved us”. He is infinite while we are finite mortals, what could we bring to the God of all to cause Him to love us?! Before we can talk about “losing our lives because of Jesus”, it’s absolutely imperative we know exactly Who this Jesus really is. If I surrender to Him, am I giving Him free reign to be a dictator? If I lose my life to Him, will I hate my life and become strapped into stringent lists of “holy performance”? Who is the Jesus we are surrendering to? The disciple John answered this concisely for us in three words, “…God is love…”. (1 John 4:8) Preacher Paul helps us define what love looks like in everyday life as he penned a letter to the church in Corinth, “Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) When we realize the God who is calling for our surrender to Him is good, kind, loving, and trustworthy, we can “lose our lives” to Him with full confidence that He is for us and not against us. (Romans 8:31-32)

2) In honesty, I can think of many benefits to not losing my life to Jesus, what it His point in these questions? (verse 26)
“For what will it benefit someone if they gain the whole world….”, Jesus asks His audience. (verse 26) Perhaps like them, and me, I imagine His voice trailing off and my own mind running away with just this snippet of conversation. I quickly build reasons I feel are worth “gaining the whole world”. Wealth. Fame. Power. The allure for more, the lie that I don’t have enough, and the sick temptation to only satiate self, fuels me into reasoning away why I just can’t follow Jesus. At least not right now. I have things I want to do. I have my kingdom to build. Ladies, that isn’t just a collection of words right there, they are lies I have purchased and owned and fought hard to protect, even after I surrendered to Jesus. But this poignant question from the Lord isn’t a snippet in an overheard conversation. He doesn’t leave us to our imaginative interpretations. “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it.” (verse 25) Not perhaps. Not ‘by chance’ if the odds are against you. It’s a dead certain guarantee. If you want to save your life by yourself, live it your way, and build your own kingdom, you will lose it in the end. Jesus said it like this to a man who visited him under the cover of nightfall so no one would see him stepping outside the kosher norm, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6) There are not countless ways to “get to God”. There is one. Total surrender to Him, allowing Him to kill and remove our sin nature and ushering us into a new birth as new creations, born with His righteous DNA in place of our sinful set. Only here, in the sacred space of surrender, do we find the deeply radical truth fleshed out in real life, “…whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.” (verse 25)

3) How are rewards tied in to Jesus’ questions? (verse 27)
Jesus asks another question to help us think through the value of surrendering to Him and the rewards only He can offer, “What will anyone give in exchange for his life?”. Even if we had the whole world given on a silver platter and somehow achieved “it all”, when the blinking vapor of our life is over and all of eternity begins, what could we possibly give in exchange to the God of the Universe to “buy back” our souls? All of our wealth, knowledge, and possessions? What a mockery that would be to the God who owns all, knows all, and sees all. Jesus’ point is for His audience to fully understand how inescapable it is for us to save ourselves from the coming wrath we deserve because of our sin. No, the only possible way we can “earn” the rewards Jesus speaks of in verses 27-28 are by acknowledging that we truly are impoverished. We have absolutely nothing of value to buy back our souls, except one thing. Our soul itself. Our souls were crafted with tenderness, masterful creativity, divine love, and abundant joy, then given to us, in the hope we would surrender them back to the Lord God that we might experience life to the fullest. (John 10:10) Is there a grander dichotomy?! In laying down our life, we find it. In keeping it to ourselves, we lose it. Only in its surrender are we freed to live our lives in adoring love to the God who unshackled us from our sin. It’s these acts of love that are divinely rewarded.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to lose our lives because of Jesus? (verse 25)
We can lose ourselves easily to a myriad of important and worthwhile pursuits. Family. Raising children. Higher education. Career. Being the best version of ourselves. None of these, however noble, will save us from the consequence we have rightfully earned because of our sinfulness. Only faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross to crucify our sin nature and pay the penalty required for our sin will save us from an eternity of endless death, shame, and condemnation. To lose our lives for Jesus is to “lose ourselves” to the law of love. The simplest description of God is that He IS Love. (1 John 4:8) Every other aspect of His character and every action He takes is deeply anchored in radical, divine love. Therefore, to surrender ourselves fully over to Him, to lose our lives to Him, is to be ruled by Love. Every word we speak, action we take, body language we give off, or thought we think is to be ruled by this same radical, divine love of the God who broke our bondage to sin through His own death and resurrection. This is surely an impossible feat to accomplish on our own! Ask anyone who has “tried hard” to simply be consistently loving in only one instance of everyday life! Yet, because of His love, God graciously gives us His Own Power to live out His kind of radical, divine love every moment of every day through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we surrender our everything to Jesus, agreeing with Him that yes, the only way to save our lives is in giving them up to Him, then He gives us His Holy Spirit to live inside each of us for eternity. Living everyday lives governed by the law of love is precipitated by losing ourselves entirely within the love of Jesus. Who rules you?

2) In honesty, I can think of many benefits to not losing my life to Jesus, what it His point in these questions? (verse 26)
I have the gift of 3 teenagers living together with us in our current parenting season, and more on the way as time seems to move faster and faster. We have always encouraged our kids to “own their own faith”, whatever that looks like. Sometimes it means deciding to save up and pay their own way to attend summer church camp because they see the value of investing in their faith walk. Sometimes it means having random conversations about the inner workings, and honest messiness, of church, marriage, and real life through the lens of a good God who redeems. And sometimes, it means letting our kids wrestle with, and push against, the faith we have taught them since they were small. Being a millennial teenager certainly gives ample reason to ask hard questions. Ones that punch my gut, making me ache for weeks at their depth and heavy implications. “I want to follow Jesus, but I don’t want Him to, you know, take me to Africa and make me poor.” Or “I just don’t think there actually is a God, or if there is, we can each choose our own way to make Him happy.” Or, “There’s just a lot of ‘fun’ things I want to do that God wouldn’t approve of, so I’ll wait to follow Him until I’m older.” Each of these are real statements from my kids at varying stages, and they break my heart because they have missed the deep, unshakeable, utterly complete goodness of God. We have the conversation, and I praise God for the safety of our relationship that allows the “push back”. I listen compassionately, permitting their words to flow unhindered, knowing I do exactly the same to God in different scenarios and with different words, but I still wrestle against Him. Here’s the incredible thing, He always allows my wrestling. I cannot say the right words to “force” my children to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, but God is the author of every story. He will keep pursuing them, just as He has faithfully pursued me. Go ahead, girl, ask the big uncomfortable questions. Lay them out there. Know the Lord God is listening, attentive, and is pursuing you with love!

3) How are rewards tied in to Jesus’ questions? (verse 27)
Following Jesus comes at a high cost, total surrender. This kind of following guarantees discomfort, struggle, and persecution, but Jesus wants to remind us the benefit far outweighs the cost. In yesterday’s Journey Study, the man Jesus healed begged to follow Jesus far away from his hometown, but Jesus told him to stay and share what Jesus had done for him. Following Jesus is often unexpected, and when we face trial in the unexpected, we can begin to lose heart and become tempted to “go back” to living our own lives instead of continuing to daily surrender to Christ. Jesus’ words press in on our hearts, urging us to stay focused on truth. Christ will come again, and He will bring judgement with Him for all of us. No amount of our actionable effort to “do good works” will matter one bit if we have not first surrendered the whole of ourselves to Him for safekeeping. When we remember that our surrender is earning for us a life that cannot be lost and eternal rewards, we are encouraged to keep the running the race ahead of us in this life, difficult as it is, because our “momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (1 Corinthians 4:17-18)

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Follow Day 11 Question, Follow, Faith

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:26-56
Isaiah 55:8-11
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
1 Corinthians 1:20-31

Follow, Day 11

Questions are a part of our worlds. At the restaurant, it is “How may I help you?” At the doctor’s office, it is “What are your concerns today?” In school, it is “What are you learning?” At home, it may be “What’s for dinner?” Or if you have a young toddler it may even be the beloved “Why?” question.

Throughout a day I find myself asking questions often. Sometimes they are to myself and sometimes they are verbalized to others. Occasionally they are rooted in frustration as I try to figure out why I just made a choice I did or what a coworker was thinking in hers.

Most recently I have found myself echoing the toddler’s cry in talking with the Lord as I have asked the “Why” question regarding His timing and plans in my life, especially in light of the reality that is the year 2020.

Oh how grateful I am that the Lord made us to question. We are made in His image and the Lord first introduces His use of questions in Genesis. I believe the Lord welcomes our questions, especially when we are truly seeking to know Him and His character better. For anyone who has been told that asking God questions is a sin I would encourage you to ask the Lord His thoughts on that.

That being said, questioning the Lord CAN lead to sin. They way in which we ask the Lord, our heart postures in the process, and our response to the outcome of our questions are all arenas in which we can find ourselves running rampant in sin. In my own life I have found myself sinning when lashing out at the Lord in my questions and asking the Lord for answers and then rejecting the one I receive because it was not the one I wanted. Questions are a sweet gift the Lord has given to us to build relationship with Him. They are also a solid litmus test for the status of our hearts.

A prime example of a woman who succeeds in questioning the Lord and honoring Him in the process is Mary, the mother of Jesus. I can picture the look on Mary’s face and the tone of her voice as she asks the angel how exactly she, a virgin, would bear a child. This was a childlike inquisitiveness and a subsequent response filled with obedient submission. After asking her question, Mary’s next words accepted the role she would play.

She said yes and began a journey that would simultaneously wreck her life and reward it with life beyond her wildest imagination. Because Mary said yes she experienced earthly rejection; more than likely days of doubt; the battering only a mother’s heart could experience as Jesus Himself grew, faced rejection himself, and ultimately was crucified; and countless other details that could be inferred by imagining her life.

However, at the very onset of the story, as Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, speaks to her, Mary’s ability to follow the Lord’s leading shines through. She asks how this would become reality and her next words were ones of acceptance. Jump ahead a few weeks and Mary’s words have moved from acceptance to thankfulness for the part she would play in this love letter the Lord was writing to the world. Scripture does not show that Mary heard directly from Gabriel again nor were we told that a manual for navigating the upcoming days, weeks, and months was provided for Mary. She accepted her role, celebrated the blessing that it was, and walked closely with the Lord.

Isaiah 55 declares that God’s ways are not our ways. More often than not, His ways require levels of faith that challenge us. Mary was no different. Where Mary stands out from so many of us lies in her posture to say yes and rejoice in all that yes included. How often have I failed to experience the fullness of what the Lord has for me since I refused to say yes, did so with grumbling, drug my feet in obedience, allowed the fear of man to paralyze me, or treated the entire process as a trial to endure rather than an entrustment to find joy in throughout?

Mary demonstrated the effectiveness and freedom of using questions in her relationship with the Lord. She also displayed the beauty of following the Lord with a surrendered and humble heart. She modeled the faith and fortitude required to follow when the path leads into counter-cultural regions, through hard seasons of many kinds, and with rarely more than the next step to take illuminated. I pray that I can live my life with a similar grace, joy, tenacity, and contentment.

Let’s use our questions to draw closer to the One who knows all the details and writes the best stories. Let us also respond well to the answers to those questions, dear sisters, for His glory and our gain. When we follow His guidance, we may just discover immeasurable joy and adventure amidst all the unexpected twists and turns.

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

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Follow Day 1 Trust Through Tears

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Job 1-2
Job 42
John 9:1-7
Romans 8:26-39
Romans 9:14-24

Follow, Day 1

Conventional wisdom says following God is easy when life is going well. We can trust Him when our circumstances seem to confirm God is good.

But what happens when life doesn’t go as we expect?
What happens to our faith in God when our circumstances seem to push back on our idea of the “goodness” of God?
Can we still trust Him?
Can we still follow God in the midst of suffering?

Job and his friends wrestled together with these questions (sometimes well, and sometimes poorly) throughout the Biblical book of Job. Job’s experience can be difficult for us to read; I find myself asking uncomfortable questions.

Why did God allow all of these terrible attacks against Job?
Why did Job lose everything after he had lived a blameless and upright life?
Didn’t Job deserve better treatment from God?

Job and his friends asked these same questions. Job maintained he was innocent of any wrongdoing, while his friends insisted he must have sinned to deserve the suffering to which he was subjected.

While I am often too afraid or embarrassed to ask these questions, Job was not. He asked and asked why he was suffering. He asked his friends to help him see his wrongdoing, but they could not.

Finally, Job was so discouraged by his circumstances that he began questioning God directly.
“I will say to God, ‘Do not declare me guilty! Let me know why you prosecute me. Is it good for you to oppress, to reject the work of your hands and favor the plans of the wicked?”
(Job 10:2-3)

Overwhelmed by his suffering despite his innocence, Job began to question God’s character. He was honest before God about his struggles, and sought to find answers. He never denied God, but he did question His plans.

When life beats us down, and we wonder where God is, it can be tempting to think we have done something wrong to deserve this hardship. We might consider suffering as a “sign” we have gotten off-track, just as Job’s friends believed his suffering to be a punishment for secret sin.

But this is not how God has revealed Himself. In fact, centuries later, Jesus and His disciples have a conversation about this very idea! The disciples see a man born blind and assume his condition is a direct result of someone’s sin. Jesus corrects their thinking, explaining, “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Jesus reveals the man’s blindness was not a punishment for sin, but a tool God was using to declare His glory.

This is where we can get uncomfortable again.
We ask those troubling questions.

Is God unjust?
Does He inflict pain just because He can?

Of course not! Paul addresses these questions in Romans 9.
“What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For He tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.” (Romans 9:14-16)

When Job questioned the purposes and wisdom of God, God Himself came down to speak to him. The Lord answered Job, but with more questions. He revealed to Job his own limitations and ignorance.

God asked Job, “Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself?” (Job 40:8) He asked Job to explain the whole of the universe, from the stars of the sky, to weather patterns, to the behavior of the animals. God did this, not to be cruel or harsh, but to remind Job of the vastness of His knowledge and power.

We have a limited view of the world. We only see, know, and understand a sliver of His plans, but the Lord knows all. He purposes all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), and we can count on this truth.

So, when life is confusing, and doesn’t seem to be going our way, we have a choice. We can choose to question God and wonder if He cares about us. Or we can choose to follow the Lord, trusting His ways are good, even when we can’t see how.

As wise followers of the Lord, we can maintain our devotion to Him even when life seems unfair. God’s vast wisdom is far superior to our own plans.

In the end of the story, Job repented of his self-righteous questioning. Job did not suffer perfectly, but he continued in his faithful pursuit of God’s character, even in his brokenness and despair. Job knew how to follow, because he knew the character of God.

Finally, God not only forgave Job, but also restored to him his fortunes, wealth, and position in his community. While we are not guaranteed a “happy ending” in this life, if we faithfully serve the Lord, we can trust we will receive our reward of eternal life with the Father.

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Reveal Day 14 We Have This Hope: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check outWe Have This Hope!

The Questions

1) What is the “new birth” Peter refers to in verse 3?

2) What is the “inheritance that is… kept in heaven” in verse 4?

3) Why does Peter tell his readers to “rejoice” in spite of “suffering grief in trials”? (verse 6)

1 Peter 1:3-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials.

Original Intent

1) What is the “new birth” Peter refers to in verse 3?
This isn’t the first time in Scripture a new birth is mentioned. Jesus and Nicodemus discuss this very subject when Nicodemus visits Jesus in the night in John 3. Peter is referring to salvation and becoming reborn when we become believers. It is the same concept Paul writes about to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where he reminds the believers there they are a new creation in Christ. Peter is reminding his audience that, when they accept the salvation Jesus offers, they are a new creation in Him. They have now been included into God’s family.

2) What is the “inheritance that is… kept in heaven” in verse 4?
Inheritance is not a new tradition. In the ancient days of Israel, inheritance was bestowed to a father’s sons upon his death. It consisted of all that belonged to the father including his land. The eldest son typically received the greater portion while all other sons received a smaller portion. God had also promised the Israelites the inheritance of the Promised Land; a gift He bestowed on them as His chosen people. Peter is using Israel’s common understanding of an inheritance to remind his audience of an eternal, incorruptible inheritance promised to all believers whether Jew or Gentile. Jesus spoke of a treasure stored up in heaven where moth and rust will not destroy (Matthew 6:19-20) and Paul spoke of an inheritance in several of his letters. Peter is referring to this same inheritance that will never fade. (For more in depth study on this incredible inheritance, check out the Journey Theme, Incorruptible!)

3) Why does Peter tell his readers to “rejoice” in spite of “suffering grief in trials”? (verse 6)
Rejoicing while suffering trials sounds absurd. However, that is exactly what Peter intentionally writes. To understand it fully, we must keep reading. Peter is clear that suffering reveals a character only found in Christ, a character that shows an unbelieving world what only Jesus can do in spite of terrible trial. Peter wrote as one who knew suffering well. He walked through the three days before Jesus rose fully knowing that in Christ’s last moments he had betrayed Jesus. Although Peter preached a strong message, it was a message which met opposition along the way. Peter suffered many trials, eventually giving his life, for the sake of the Gospel so that an unbelieving world would have the opportunity to know Jesus.

Everyday Application

1) What is the “new birth” Peter refers to in verse 3?
When we accept the salvation offered through Jesus’ sacrifice we become a new creation. We are born into the family of God and forever have a place within it. Peter is referring to this as he writes about a new birth. Just as we were born into our earthly family the day we were physically born; the day we choose to place our faith in Jesus, we are born into God’s family. This new birth solidifies us as heirs with Christ. In his book, “The Knowledge of the Holy”, theologian A.W. Tozer explains, “Self is so subtle that scarcely anyone is conscious of its presence. Because man is born a rebel (to God), he is unaware that he is one. His constant assertion of self, as far as he thinks of it at all, appears to him a perfectly normal thing. He is willing to share himself, sometimes even to sacrifice himself for a desired end, but never to dethrone himself.” When we are willing to allow Christ to remove ourselves off the throne of our lives, giving Him rule and reign, we are reborn with His nature instead of our selfish one.

2) What is the “inheritance that is… kept in heaven” in verse 4?
An inheritance is bestowed on a member of the family when someone else dies. Even today the idea of an inheritance is familiar. Peter is writing not of an earthly inheritance but a heavenly one; this coming reward will surpass all sin, death, and even suffering in this world. The inheritance available through Christ is guaranteed to us when we become members of God’s family at the moment of salvation. If we trust in the work Jesus did to die in our place, taking the punishment for our sin upon Himself once and for all, we are welcomed as His and given His own great reward as our inheritance. It will outlast this world because it is founded in our relationship with Jesus, who beat death and conquered the grave, and therefore it’s an inheritance which is kept in heaven with the promise of our receiving it for eternity. Take heart! Christ has overcome the grave and gives Himself to you for now and for eternity if you take Him as your own!

3) Why does Peter tell his readers to “rejoice” in spite of “suffering grief in trials”? (verse 6)
Peter knew what facing trials felt like. Yet, time and again he chose to continue forward in the mission of the gospel, rejoicing in the Lord for what He had done and continued to do. Our lives are not promised to be free of suffering or trials. However, just as Peter could rejoice so can we! As believers, we have a hope found in Christ that is a gift like nothing the unbelieving world knows. When we choose to rejoice in Him regardless of our circumstances, we look different than those of this world who haven’t experienced the rebirth of Christ. While we live in this world, we are no longer of this world because we have a hope in what is to come. We know the end of the story, and we know the joy of knowing Jesus. Therefore, regardless of our circumstances we can choose to live in the hope promised to us and rejoice even when we walk through suffering and trials just like Peter.

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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Blessed Day 15 Celebrate In Persecution

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 15:18-19
Acts 4:29-31
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Philippians 1:12-14
Romans 5:3-5

Blessed, Day 15

In the 1950s, a young missionary pilot had a passion for the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador. This tribe was suspicious of, and known to kill, all outsiders. But Jim Elliot felt called to reach them and share the Gospel. Step by step, he made inroads to reach the tribe.

Finally, he and his team built a camp not far from the Huaorani people. They made contact and even took one of the tribespeople for a plane ride. Later, a larger group of tribesmen came to the base expressing interest in the plane, instead, they turned and killed all five missionary men.

Jim’s wife, Elizabeth, and the other widows continued the work to reach the Huaorani people, despite the great danger they faced. She persisted in the belief that, as her husband was often quoted to say,

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Eventually, the women reached the entire Huaorani tribe for Christ, including those who had killed Jim and the others.

The Elliots experienced what Jesus promised would be true for all believers in this world, we will be hated and even killed (John 15:18-19, Matthew 10:22). The world rejected Jesus and attempted to end His work; we are to expect the same. So rather than being surprised and caught off-guard when we face persecution, let’s prepare ourselves so we can endure to the end.

The apostles certainly experienced persecution! But they persevered to spread the Good News. They prayed for each other, not to be removed from trouble, but to seek boldness to continue speaking the Word of God and performing miracles. As they prayed for endurance, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31)

In my own life, there have been many trials and tribulations, and my ministry team has encountered persecution. But this opposition has drawn us even closer to God! We were made stronger in our faith and able to encourage others. Looking to Jesus kept us from becoming distressed and gave us boldness in ministry.

This boldness in kingdom work comes from equipping ourselves with the armor of God. Each piece of armor, fueled by the Spirit of God, adds strength and courage to our fight. As we don our armor daily, we are prepared for battle.

Paul wrote of his many trials in his epistles:

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our bodies.”
(2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

Rather than complaining about his poor treatment, Paul praised God in his suffering because it advanced the Gospel. (Philippians 1:12-14)

Yes! Because he was sent to prison, he testified not only to prison guards, but to the great leaders of the day. He would not have been allowed in their presence except to stand trial. In presenting his defense, he shared the Gospel with judges and counsels and great men, such as King Agrippa (Acts 26:1-32); Paul was even prepared to testify before Nero, who was Caesar at the time (Acts 27:4).

Paul, and other saints of old, surely experienced fear as they faced persecution and declared the Gospel to hostile leaders. Similarly, we are still human and may become fearful when confronted with opposition to the Good News. But, just as the prayers of fellow believers gave Paul courage to boldly speak the Word of God, we too can be strengthened and encouraged through prayer (Philipians 4:6-7).

We can even rejoice, not only because the Gospel is being spread, but also because of the transformation within our own spirits. As Paul explains,

 “We also rejoice in our afflictions,
because we know that affliction produces endurance,
endurance produces proven character,
and proven character produces hope.
This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Paul’s words encourage us even today! We can rejoice because our suffering produces character and hope within us. Hallelujah! God’s love is poured out into our hearts and we are able to share His Gospel Story.

Finally, the Bible promises reward to those who persevere through trials: the crown of life!

“Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

Therefore, sisters, let’s endure persecution covered in the armor of God and shrouded in prayer; let’s rejoice in our suffering, ever keeping our eyes fixed on the promises of God to further the kingdom, transform our character, and bless us with the crown of life!

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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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

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

Blessed Day 14 Blessed Are The Persecuted And Reviled: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Blessed Are The Reviled And Persecuted!

The Questions

1) What does Jesus mean when He talks about persecution?

2) How are we able to be glad and rejoice during times of insults and persecution?

3) What is the great reward in heaven awaiting those who suffer persecution because of Jesus?

Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Original Intent

1) What does Jesus mean when He talks about persecution?
The word ‘persecution’ in the Bible can refer to the idea of pursuing someone, to oppress and harass someone, and also to bring judgment or punishment. In this instance, Jesus is referring to persecution as the consequence of following Him. Jesus knew that every single person who would carry their own cross and follow Him, would eventually face some sort of persecution. If the world hated Christ, who came to die as a sin offering for them, of course the world would hate His followers as well. (John 15:18-25) All His disciples, but one, were literally persecuted to death. They were stoned, beaten, whipped, imprisoned, crucified, and beheaded. With these words, Jesus warned His followers of what would happen if they chose to follow Him. Yet, at the same time, He tells them they will be richly blessed if they continue to follow Him despite the suffering. Even better, He has a great reward for them!

2) How are we able to be glad and rejoice during times of insults and persecution?Jesus reminds the disciples here that persecution isn’t something new. The prophets who came before, suffered insult and persecution as well as they spoke truth. Let’s have a look at one example in the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. (Daniel 6) During the reign of King Darius, several men couldn’t stand that Daniel had achieved such a high position of influence with the king as a direct result of his loyalty to God. They decided to persuade the king to make a decree that would command the people to pray only to King Darius. Of course, God’s law forbids such worship (Exodus 20:3) and Daniel faithfully continued praying three times a day to God as had been his habit. The men saw this and arrested Daniel who was thrown into the lions’ den. No one believed he’d survive, but because Daniel had remained faithful to God, even in times of persecution, the Lord sent His angel and sealed the lions’ mouths. When looking at the prophets from the past, we find courage and hope. Jesus will reward His faithful people and be with them, even unto the end of the world! (Matthew 28:20)

3) What is that great reward in heaven that awaits those who suffer persecution because of Jesus?
Jesus uses the word ‘reward’ quite a few times throughout His ministry on earth. He wanted His disciples to know a reward would be waiting for them in eternity, where “real life” begins. In Matthew 16:27 we read, “For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done”. It’s clear from this verse that the reward will not be received in this present life, but in the future kingdom of heaven when Jesus returns. Then, will He reward everyone according to the works they have done. In His time on earth, Jesus didn’t say much about what exactly the reward of eternity would look like, but He gave future generations more information through His beloved disciple John and his visions which are recorded in the book of Revelation.

Everyday Application

1) What does Jesus mean when He talks about persecution?
Even though it may be hard to believe that Christians could face persecution in our western culture that would even come close to a death like the first disciples experienced, it does still happen. The Church is widely persecuted in many ways the majority of western believers can’t even imagine or consider. In some countries, Christians are severely punished even for spreading the Gospel to a single person. In other countries, there are people who face being bullied and discriminated against because of their belief in the Bible, the resurrection, and the second coming of Christ. We might ask, is persecution something to fear? Is persecution a reason to turn your back from Jesus? Definitely not! Because Jesus tells us in the same sentence that those who suffer persecution for His sake are blessed, and the kingdom of heaven will be theirs. Temporary suffering will one day be exchanged for eternal reward! What a wonderful promise to cling unto!

2) How are we able to be glad and rejoice during times of insults and persecution?Feeling happy, and rejoicing in a state of suffering and persecution, doesn’t sound easy at all. How quickly do we murmur and complain if things don’t go right? Even something small! Yet, Jesus tells us ‘to be glad and rejoice’ in the midst of hardship. But how are we able to do so? Not only can we remember the prophets from the past who endured persecution, we can also look at the cross. Our own personal Saviour, the very Son of God, suffered tremendously, and this only because of your sin and mine. Jesus was crucified and died on the cross, but He conquered death! He overcame the world! (John 16:33) In this same verse, Jesus tells us, “… in Me you may have peace”. In order to be glad and rejoice during times of insult and persecution, we need only look straight to Jesus. He will bring us peace in the midst of our trials, but also strength (Philippians 4:13) to stand strong and keep going. Need some more encouragement to be glad during persecution? Remember the words of Paul, “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

3) What is that great reward in heaven that awaits those who suffer persecution because of Jesus?
In Revelation, we find a list of several rewards that will be granted to faithful followers of Christ. Here is a list of the rewards Jesus mentions to seven specific churches:

In 2 Timothy 4:8 we also read of a crown of righteousness reserved for “all those who have loved [Jesus] appearing”. The crown of life is not only mentioned in Revelation, but also in James 1:12. In this verse, we are reminded of the trials believers will endure, the blessing that comes from these trials, and our reward, “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him”. Finally, Peter mentions a crown of glory we’ll receive when our Shepherd appears. (1 Peter 5:4) Regardless of our trials, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and remember we are blessed!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Blessed Are The Reviled And Persecuted!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Hallel Day 12 For All Peoples: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out For All Peoples!

The Questions

1) What is the reward that is yet to come?

2) Who will receive the reward?

3) What does the water of life represent?

Revelation 22:12-17

“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.

Original Intent

1) What is the reward that is yet to come?
Christ’s return is a guaranteed promise. Signed, sealed and soon to be delivered; Christ will indeed return. (John 14:1-3, Revelation 22:7) With His coming, Jesus says He will reward “each person” according to their works. The phrase, “My reward is with Me”, is a direct quote from Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy stating, “See, the Lord God comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule. His wages are with Him, and His reward accompanies Him.” (Isaiah 40:10) Christ’s promised return incites great joy for those who have trusted Him for their salvation, placing on Him the full weight of their life. In contrast, for those who have not trusted Him fully, or those who have only “appeared” to trust Him superficially, Christ’s assured return brings dreadful fear. (Matthew 7:21-23) The reward for “work” is clearly coming, but a correct understanding of “work” is critically imperative to note. Kistemaker, a New Testament theologian, underlines the correct understanding of “work” by saying, “In Scripture there are no “works of righteousness” man can accomplish on his own, “no counting of good works to outweigh bad”. The term “reward” here in this passage has NO connection with the concept “treasure in heaven”.” There are only 2 types of “reward” spoken of here. One is the earned wages of eternal separation from a loving and holy God; these wages are earned by committing sin. The other reward is the grace-gift of eternal life which is granted to all who have trusted in Christ for their salvation. The “work” here is simply an act of faith, trusting that Jesus has accomplished our victory and rescued us from eternal condemnation. Revelation 11:18 speaks into this saying, “Your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to Your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

2) Who will receive the reward?
Everyone, across all of time, will be involved in this future event. There will be no escaping the reward of Christ in that day of return, whether for eternal life or eternal judgment. There is a due wage, a reward of punishment, which will be righteously given to the wicked for their sin. They chose to trust themselves, reject the Holy God, and oppose His gift of grace. They have rightfully earned eternal separation from Him. (Hebrews 2:2, Isaiah 3:11) There is also a reward of grace, a reward of inheritance, which is the gift of eternal life, in which God, of His free grace, gives to His people freely when they choose to trust Him for their salvation. He has given them His own righteousness because they had no righteousness of their own. (Colossians 3:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21) Christ has the authority from God, as mediator to inflict vengeance on the wicked and to give eternal life to His people, both of which He will do. Because God is loving, He offers the free gift of grace to all peoples through the sacrificial work of His Son, Jesus Christ. Because God is just, He will punish all who reject life and the offer of righteousness. He will not force His gift of grace on anyone, each must choose, this choosing is the “work” that determines the reward received. Consider Paul’s words from Romans, “For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11-12) One day, when Christ returns, all choice will be removed and all peoples will indeed acknowledge Christ as sovereign ruler with all authority, but at that point, our opportunity to choose Him of our own volition, will be gone. Judgment will be present and the reward will already have come.

3) What does the water of life represent?
Throughout Scripture, a place of barrenness and unquenchable thirst is an apt description for life apart from Christ. For the woman at the well in John 4, whom Christ encountered, she came to understand that without Jesus, the source of living water, she would always experience empty thirst. A dry and thirsty land where there is no water represents very well this world, to the one who doesn’t have the constant presence of the Savior dwelling in their hearts through the Holy Spirit. He is the fountain of life, He is the living water. He is the source of our eternal hope, having raised us from death to life, spiritually speaking, as He took away our sin and gave us His righteousness. As the Israelites would have perished without the flow of water from the rock as they wandered in the barren wilderness, so does every soul perish for eternity without Christ. In our physical world, water is commonly associated with life, without water we will quickly die! Water is mentioned many times throughout the Bible in association with life, not just temporary, but eternal! “But whoever drinks from the water I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, ,the water I give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” (John 4:14) With this living water of life, there comes a grand invitation, “COME! Let him who is thirsty (for true life), come and take the water of life freely!” (Revelation 22:17)

Everyday Application

1) What is the reward that is yet to come?
The entire chapter of Revelation 22 is phenomenal! It is the end of the Bible, and is a beautiful summation of what God has been drawing us to throughout His Word.  Having run the race of following Christ in this world for Jesus, our great reward is coming in His hand! We, who have placed our faith in Jesus, may eat of the tree of life and enter into the Holy City, the New Jerusalem! Not because we have worked hard at righteousness on our own, but because Christ has completed our work and given us His Own Righteousness in place of our sinfulness. However, there is not only one reward because there are two groups of people. Of all peoples, we are either inside the gates of the Holy City because our names are in the Book of Life as a result of trusting Christ (Revelation 3:5) OR we are outside the gates of the Holy City never to enter in, but to be in Hell for all eternity and separated from God, the author of life and love. (Matthew 18:5-9, Matthew 25:31-46) This is a very clear statement of the only two possible places we will spend in eternity, either Heaven or Hell. Christ is coming soon (verse 12), His reward is with Him to repay us whether we have chosen to trust Him or trust ourselves. He holds all authority, existing for all eternity as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. (Matthew 28:18, Revelation 22:13) Because it is true that “salvation exists in no other name” (Acts 4:12), our opportunity to choose Christ now, at this moment, is the single most important decision we will ever make. In 10,000 years from now, Christians will still be rejoicing in knowing the eternal God of love in deeper ways. Those who rejected Him now will continue in their unfathomable suffering as they live out eternity under the full wrath of God. Where is your reward?!

2) Who will receive the reward?
Verse 14 is very descriptive and straight forward as to who the rewards are designated for, “Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter into the Holy City by the gates”. Those who have followed Jesus, those who are All in for Christ no matter the cost and whose names are written in the Book of Life, finally after running the race on earth, will find their eternal home is heaven. This is their great reward! To be with Christ! The second group of people are those who chose not to follow Christ, rejecting the offer of life and righteousness. These folks are described as being OUTSIDE the city gates, and their sinfulness and immorality is clearly described (verse 15). These sins once characterized those who have trusted Jesus for salvation too. (Ephesians 5:8, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) The only thing separating one group from the other is the precious blood of Jesus who covers all sin when we ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 1:18-19) All forms of wickedness and unrighteous persons will be shut out of heaven forever. There is no middle ground! This should be a wake-up call for all of us. We’re talking about eternity, forever and ever! What side are we on? Where will we freely choose to live eternally? If we’ve already trusted Christ for our own salvation, I urge you my sister, to share this living hope with all gentles, respect, and urgency with those around you! (1 Peter 3:15)

3) What does the water of life represent?
Jesus has freely offered this living water to all peoples, and given many warnings so all would know that now is the time to choose to accept that gift of life for themselves. When Jesus calls out, “Come!”, His offer is extended to all who thirst. The promises and the rich inheritance of the freedom found only in Christ is offered to all! We all experience thirst, and dry emptiness in this life. Loss, hurt, illness, and many others, but with the living water of Christ flooding our hearts through His presence by His Holy Spirit, we are made alive, we are sustained and upheld. We are carried and preserved, and will one day, see our redemption face to face in the lovely countenance of Christ Himself as He brings His reward to us! Jesus calls us to come and freely take of the living water so we may abundantly live while serving here on earth in HIS name as we await the coming day of Christ’s magnificent and most glorious return. If we can just picture in our mind the absolute beauty of God’s restoration of Eden as depicted in the first five verses of Revelation 22, that alone should be a huge catalyst in pulling us nearer to the Father and increasing our thirst for Christ, and Christ alone! The more we drink of Him through feasting on His word in Scripture, the more we are rooted ever more firmly in truth, and encouraged to boldly share this hope of life with all those around us, calling aloud, “Come!”. The account of Revelation assures us God is in control. History is moving toward the consummation of His purposes. His plan is unfolding according to His schedule. Christ will return and win the final battle against evil and injustice. He will reign in victory forever! Believers will be rescued and live forever in the sweet presence of God. I’m in! How about you?!

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2) Read it, and the verses around it,
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3) Write down your questions
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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.

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Study Tools

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

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

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