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Worship IX Day 7 Acceptable Worship: 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!

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The Questions

1) What does it mean to present “your bodies as a living sacrifice” as means of worshipping God? (verse 1)

2) What does it mean to “be conformed to this age”? (verse 2)

3) How are we to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”? (verse 2)

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.  2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Original Intent

1) What does it mean to present “your bodies as a living sacrifice” as means of worshipping God? (verse 1)
Part of Old Testament worship rituals involved priests presenting animal sacrifices to the Lord. People would bring different animals according to the type of offering they needed to make and according to their economic status. Author Fred Zaspel explains that this “sacrificial system established the structure and frame of reference with regard to God’s redemptive purpose: Sinners may obtain divine favor if an acceptable substitute could be found to offer to God in sacrifice.” New Testament citizens were still familiar with this system, and Paul used the concept of a living sacrifice to get their attention. Author, Jerry Flury, notes that “The Old Testament worshiper brought animals to the temple, to be killed and laid on the altar. Paul reversed the imagery. Bring yourself to the altar. But do not DIE for God: LIVE for Him!” God wants us to love Him with everything we have: body, heart, mind, and soul. (Mark 12:30) For us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God, we need to follow His ways (Proverbs 21:3), and abstain from doing those things that go against His holiness (Ephesians 5:11). Paul urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices because he knows God gives us the grace to obey Him. (Romans 1:5) God wants our surrendered love in following Him more than anything. (1 John 5:3) Giving Him everything we are by loving Him through obedience is our true worship of God.

2) What does it mean to “be conformed to this age”? (verse 2)
Paul implores his readers, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2) The Greek word for conformed, suschematizo, means to form or mold one’s behavior in accordance with a particular pattern or set of standards.” (preceptaustion.org) Paul warns Roman Christians to be diligent against adopting the ways of the culture they live in with its many ungodly customs and traditions. J. B. Phillips expresses this caution as “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould…”. Paul knew how easy it is to let the ways of the world we live in negatively influence our words and actions. This applies to us today as our word choice, manner of dress, media consumption, and spending habits are all shaped by the customs and norms of the age we live in. It is easy to let the movies, music, and pastimes we enjoy crowd out God’s Word and God’s ways in our lives. It is tempting to agree with the culture’s perspective on sin and pleasure because these prevailing beliefs strike such a stark contrast with the Bible’s teaching. Speaking against them may bring us unwanted negative attention. However, God warns us that friendship with the world is hostility toward God. (James 4:4) This doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a night at the movies or wearing the latest trends. However, we should make daily decisions alongside a commitment to renew our minds by God and His Word, so we are guarded against embracing the things of this world that are passing away. (Romans 12:2)

3) How are we to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”? (verse 2)
The apostle Paul tells us that to remain unchanged by the ways of the world, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds; it’s our safeguard. (Romans 12:2) Paul contends that we can change our minds, and our pattern of thinking, by renewing our minds. Richard Chenevix Trench suggests that renewing our minds “is the gradual conforming of the man more and more to that new spiritual world into which he has been introduced and in which he now lives and moves…the restoration of the divine image.” Renewing our minds is becoming more like Jesus by spending time in prayer and in reading and meditating on the Word of God. The Bible even teaches us what to meditate on in Philippians 4:8 when Paul writes, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.” Spending mental focused energy on these subjects helps us effectively renew our minds and transform our lives. Paul also tells us in Romans 8:5 that if we live by the Spirit then we will set our minds on things of the Spirit. Turning away from a mind set on the flesh and choosing to think about things of the Spirit as a willful act requiring practice and discipline. I am so grateful God makes it possible for us to change the way we think and who we are by dwelling on His Word and allowing His truths to make us new!

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to present “your bodies as a living sacrifice” as means of worshipping God? (verse 1)
As a little girl, I heard a message from a missionary family at church. While I enjoyed their happy pictures and stories about life on the mission field, I felt slightly panicked that God would call me to make such sacrifices someday. I didn’t realize then that all Christians, not just missionaries, are called by God to worship Him by presenting their bodies as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1) My own service to God eventually came in the work of being a teacher and parent, and I quickly realized that things went much better when I surrendered my will to His. I wish that meant I quickly obeyed, but it was (and still is) difficult for me to unclench my tight grasp on my own grand plans and embrace what God has in store for me. That is why Paul likens this form of worship to sacrifice. I am giving up my will, my way, and my control to let God work in and through me to accomplish His much better plans. (Philippians 2:13) It is choosing to honor God first that pleases Him so well. Author, David Guzik, asserts, “The holiness we bring to the altar is a decision for holiness, and yielding to the work of holiness in our life. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice, God makes our life holy by burning away impurities.” When I open my hands and heart to give God full permission to be the Lord of everything, He forms me and fits me for the good plans He has for me. (Ephesians 2:10) Faith in God’s goodness requires us to let go and trust God’s gracious goodness. It can feel like loss, but true surrender brings much gain! (Matthew 16:24-26)

2) What does it mean to “be conformed to this age”? (verse 2)
My favorite author, Jane Austen, wrote only six complete novels. Recent writers have outdone themselves publishing prequels, sequels, and modern re-imaginings of her work, which I enjoy reading. However, it irks me when these authors try to write 21st century ideals and morals into a late 18th century author’s world. What we find acceptable today would have been shocking and unthinkable in Jane’s world. These attempts to conform present day morality into storylines from centuries ago usually end up as ridiculous. As it often does, the present age seeks to impose its standards on the world, even the world of a late 18th century novelist of manners and morals. The apostle Paul warns against this onslaught of conformity in Romans 12:2. He urges Christians to give themselves wholly to God and not let the customs of the culture seep into their hearts and minds. It can be the path of least resistance to accept what everyone else accepts, rationalizing that a broader appeal will attract more people and that alienating truths should be avoided. However, this is not the path to life. Jesus tells us the way that leads to destruction is broad, and many take it. (Matthew 7:13) In following God, we must accept His grace to help us adhere to His standards and refuse to become like the world in its sinful lifestyle. We can rejoice that His Holy Spirit empowers us to follow Christ and not conform to this age!

3) How are we to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”? (verse 2)
Sometimes I find myself getting off course in my spiritual walk. I veer off the mark gradually; each little step in the wrong direction doesn’t have much effect until one day I realize I’m not where I want to be at all. What often sets me off on the wrong path is what my pastor calls stinkin’ thinkin’. I allow subtle lies about myself, or the nature of God, to affect my mind and my perspective. Getting back on course is possible once I first recognize that my thoughts do not reflect God’s truths. The Bible tells us we can demolish those thoughts that are against God and take all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) I can change my thoughts and renew my mind by learning and recalling what God says about me and Himself in His Word. Christine Caine asserts, “To do what God has called us to do and be who He made us to be, we need to let His Words frame our thoughts, influence our hearts, and be the power that propels us forward.” The more His truths become ingrained in our hearts and minds, the less likely we are to get tripped up by that which contradicts His Word. We are less likely to believe the lies of Satan when we are living out the truths of Christ in our daily lives. We will notice a little misstep sooner, and correct our thinking, before we go very far in the wrong direction. This is living a life transformed by the Word of God!

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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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Worship IX Day 5 Holiness & Humility

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ezekiel 8:1-18
Psalm 24:3-10
Romans 12:1-2
Psalm 95:6-11

Worship IX, Day 5

For far too many years, I sat on the sidelines of Sunday morning worship. While the people around me lifted their hands and wiped away tears, I shifted uncomfortably, praising the Lord with my lips but questioning Him in my heart.

It took me years to confront the disconnect I experienced. When I finally did, the Holy Spirit revealed that my inability to connect with a hymn on Sunday morning was merely a symptom of a much larger heart issue. A heart issue that was affecting not only my ability to worship God with my words, but my ability to worship Him with my life.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, we learn God never intended worship to be confined to a fifteen-minute interval during a Sunday morning church service. Instead, worship was meant to be an all-encompassing attitude and way of life! We were meant to worship God with every act of our body (Romans 12:1), every word of our mouth (Hebrews 13:15-16), and the very breath in our lungs (Psalm 116:2).

Worship, in its purest form, is living our lives completely surrendered to, and in step with, God. This requires both holiness and humility.  Through the story of Ezekiel, we see how powerfully God will use a life fully surrendered to Him, and how devastating it is when we choose pride and sin instead.

A Look at Ezekiel

I love the opening lines of Ezekiel, as they set our scene much like a play. In them, we find Ezekiel sitting alone on the banks of the Kebar River, which runs through the land of Babylon. In the very first verse, we learn this day is Ezekiel’s 30th birthday. As a member of the Levite tribe, this should have marked the year Ezekiel was initiated into his priestly duties (Numbers 4:2-3); instead, he is denied his destiny and lives in exile, thousands of miles from Jerusalem and the Lord’s Temple.

While Ezekiel is sitting on the riverbank, imagining all that should have been, the Spirit of the Lord seizes him and Ezekiel experiences a vision. (Ezekiel 1:2) In his vision, Ezekiel sees God, sitting on His throne, set upon a sparkling crystal platform. The platform is propelled by four turning wheels and held up by four fearsome creatures he later identifies as Cherubim. From within His cloud glory, the Lord speaks to Ezekiel, who is to be called into God’s service after all; this time, as a prophet and messenger to His people, the Nation of Israel. (Ezekiel 1:4-2:2)

The Lord’s Indictment

Fast forwarding to Ezekiel 8, we see the Spirit of God transporting Ezekiel back to God’s Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Once there, he is taken on a tour, where a guide shows him scene after scene of Israelites worshiping other gods and performing sickening pagan rituals in the very house of God.

This flagrant display of sin and pride not only incurs God’s righteous wrath and jealousy, it actually forces the Lord out from the temple and pushes His presence away from His people. (Ezekiel 10:18)

Angered and heartbroken (Ezekiel 6:9), God calls Ezekiel to warn Israel of the destruction they are bringing upon themselves. He instructs Ezekiel to put on a series of prophetic plays before all the people in exile. Many of these ‘plays’ demand Ezekiel endures a level of humiliation and suffering, laying on one side and then the other, bound for months on end (Ezekiel 4:4-8), eating bread which had been baked over cow dung (Ezekiel 4:9-15), and shaving his head and beard (Ezekiel 5:1-4). Fully surrendered to the will of God, Ezekiel obeys God’s call on his life and body, faithfully demonstrating true worship in the face of the blazen idolatry among his kinsmen.

What This Means For Us

The book of Ezekiel serves as a sober warning to the people of God, as well as a reminder of what true worship requires.

Worship requires an intimacy, a closeness with God that can only be achieved through holiness. Because our Holy God cannot be in the presence of sin, we must purify our hearts and hands in order to draw near to Him. (Psalm 24:3-4)

For the Nation of Israel, holiness was earned by strictly adhering to God’s Laws and regularly performing animal sacrifices. As modern-day Chrisitans, however, holiness is not something we achieve on our own. Instead, it is imputed to us by Christ, as He covers us through His sacrifice on the cross and washes us in His blood if we will surrender to His love.

Worship requires humility, a willingness to lay down our pride, our rights, and our very lives at the feet of the only One who is worthy of all praise. In this place, nothing is off limits to God, as we live fully surrendered and available to His call.

As I look back on those years where my love for God was stifled, I can see the sin and pride choking my heart. Just as He did through Ezekiel, God called out the darkness in my life and drew me back to Him through an attitude of holiness and humility. Sisters, I invite all of us to live every day in surrendered worship to Him, for through God’s great mercy, He will peel back the layers of death surrounding us and regain our hearts for Him!

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If Day 5 Without Sin

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If Day 5 Without Sin

Mary Kathryn Tiller

July 16, 2021

Character,Faithfulness,God,Good,Hope,Love,Perfect,Scripture,Sin

Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 18:22-26
Deuteronomy 32:1-4
Job 34:10-15
James 1:13-18
2 Timothy 2:11-13

My six-year-old daughter is full of questions. If she’s not asking what set the sun on fire, she wants to know why our noses point down instead of up. It’s a fun and exhausting season as I find myself trying to explain ideas I’ve taken for granted. My favorite questions, though, are the ones she asks about God. 

One such question came up as I tucked her into bed the other night, “Mama, can God sin?” 

“No, Baby, God is wholly good; He can’t sin.” I quickly replied, hoping this wouldn’t delay her imminent bedtime. Seemingly satisfied, she rolled over and fell asleep; leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts, wondering . . . 

But, What if God Could Sin?

Throughout Scripture, the prophets and saints tell us with passion and certainty that God is without sin.

In Deuteronomy 32:4, Moses declared God to be “[t]he Rock–His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, He is righteous and true.”

During his diatribe to a grieving Job, Elihu said, “It is impossible for God to do wrong, for the Almighty to act unjustly.” (Job 34:10)

In his letter to the early Church, James warned, “No one undergoing trial should say, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ since God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.” (James 1:13)

It’s clear then, according to Scripture, God is without sin, He could not possibly act unjustly, or fall into the temptation of evil. 

But what if God could sin? What would that mean for His character? What would that mean for us? What if, just for a moment, we considered the impossible? Perhaps, it would lead us to love the Lord just a little bit more than we already do.

Daring to Engage With the Possibility
First, we need to understand what sin is. In his book, Systematic Theology, Dr. Wayne Grudem asserts, “Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature”. (p. 491)

Sin violates God’s law either by action (ie: physically stealing someone’s belongings) or attitude (ie: coveting someone’s possessions). But it’s also anything that violates God’s law by nature. What does that mean?

When Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit, they ushered in a new human nature. Their “DNA” was altered, so to speak; it became corrupt. Therefore, every human thereafter is born into this world bent toward sin and destruction, in direct opposition to the will of God. 

This is what makes our situation so hopeless without Christ. We come into this world inherently opposed to God, with no way to reconcile ourselves.

Uncovering The Real Question
Now that we’ve defined sin, we understand “could God sin?” really means, “could God violate His own moral law?”

According to 2 Timothy 2:13b, the answer is NO: “if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.”

In other words, God cannot be anything other than Who He is. 

So who is God? 

Well, among many other things, God is omnipotent, righteous, and holy.

God is Omnipotent (all-powerful). God’s omnipotence means He can do anything, right? But if He can’t sin, is He truly omnipotent? 

Yes. You see, when we sin, it is often because our will fails and we bend to Satan’s power. So, in order for God to sin, He would have to give in to temptation; His will would have to bend. But because God is all-powerful, His will can never fail. No temptation can overpower Him. If God could sin, it would be a sign of weakness, proving He is not all-powerful, and therefore, no god at all.  

God is Righteous. In His letter to the Romans, Paul considers human nature and declares, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). God, however, is righteous, meaning He always does what is right and just. (Psalm 119:137-144) If God was able to sin, He could act unjustly or even cruelly. An unjust (and all-powerful) god would be a terrifying reality.

Finally, God is Holy. To be holy means to be untainted by sin and set apart for the service and glory of God. If God could sin, He would no longer be holy. And no longer holy Himself, He would have no power to make us holy, leaving us without hope and without a savior.

After consideration, I am compelled to agree with Scripture: God is, indeed, without sin. 

He cannot act unjustly or cruelly. 

He cannot deny Himself. 

I’m so thankful for these truths. And I’m thankful to serve a God who invites us to come to Him as a child- a crazy, inquisitive child- and seek His truth. For when we do, our hearts cannot help but echo Jeremiah 10:7 in exclaiming,

“Who should not fear You, King of the nations?
It is what you deserve.
For among all the wise people of the nations
And among all their kingdoms,
There is no one like You.”

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All-powerful,holy,If,law,Lord,Nature,Omnipotent,questions,righteous,rock,True,What iF,Wholly,Without
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If Day 1 One God?

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If Day 1 One God?

Marietta Taylor

July 12, 2021

Deliver,Faith,God,Holy Spirit,Jesus,Kingdom,Salvation,Scripture,Worship

Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 9:2-7
Hebrews 1
Colossians 1:13-22
Daniel 7:9-14

Years ago, a certain talk-show host sometimes used his show to attack the faith he’d abandoned. During one show he asked, “If God the Father is so ‘all-loving,’ why didn’t He come down and go to Calvary?” This man traded the truth he knew for a what-if question. I myself have heard it in several forms. 

What if Jesus was just a prophet or a great teacher? What if Jesus wasn’t really God? Honestly, I’ve asked myself these questions. It wasn’t from unbelief, but a desire to be able to explain my faith to others.

Those questions have one answer: Jesus was fully God and fully man. Therefore God did come down, teach as only God could, and then endure the cross so we could obtain salvation and eternity in heaven with Him. 

Want to know what’s good about my answer? I can back it up. 

If Jesus isn’t God, then He and John the Baptist would be liars. John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and “the Son of God” (John 1:34). Jesus said of Himself, “before Abraham was, I am,” (John 8:58), echoing God the Father’s statement in Exodus 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM.” But let’s go one step further. 

If Jesus isn’t God, then God Himself would be a liar.
And let’s be clear.
God is holy.
He cannot lie. (Numbers 23:19)

When John the Baptist was baptizing Jesus, the voice of God from heaven proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17) We know from Genesis 1 that the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) was present at creation. They work in tandem with each other. We see an example of this in John 14:16, where Jesus asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit to the believers. Three persons, yet one God, working for our good and our salvation.

Salvation means God working on behalf of man to deliver us from sin and death and give us eternal life in heaven. How does Scripture support this? What a great question! I started in Isaiah 9:6, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us.” Then it lists His names, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Who is this Son who is also Mighty God?

Matthew 1:20 says this, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Look, we found Mighty God. It’s Jesus!

You might be wondering why this is important. Well, it speaks directly to several assertions people make about Jesus. Let’s review, shall we?

  •     Jesus was just a prophet or a great teacher
  •     Jesus was a great man, but not God

Colossians 1:13-22 addresses these assertions. Verse 13 reveals God has rescued us from darkness and “transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.”

Who’s the Son God loves? Jesus. 

Who possesses kingdoms and has authority over everything within them? Kings. 

So Jesus was clearly not just a prophet or great teacher. 

He was, and is, an eternal king.

I confirmed this in Daniel 7:14, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” 

Well, what about the “great man but not God” statement? Colossians 1 says this:

  •     “He is the image of the invisible God” (verse 15)
  •     He created everything (verse 16)
  •     He is the head of the church (verse 18)
  •     God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him (verse 19)

Friends, Jesus was a great man. But He was also fully God. 

But not just any “god.” Jesus is the One True God. He’s the God who reconciled His people to Himself by defeating sin and death. Defeating sin requires a perfect, sinless life. In other words, a person would need to be perfectly and absolutely holy. No human fits that bill. But God, presenting Himself in human flesh could and did, in the form of Jesus. Then, He went one better. He took on all the sin of the world so we could be considered clean before God the Father. We should sit with that for a moment.

To defeat death, we’d have to die and resurrect ourselves. Humans can die, but we can’t resurrect ourselves. But Jesus’ human body died and then was alive again. He, Himself, resurrected. No smoke and mirrors. Just the power and authority of God. Thus, Jesus earned the title of Savior. 

God said this about Jesus, “And let all God’s angels worship Him.” 

I say, let all of us worship Jesus, our one True God. He is more than worthy!

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Authority,Fully God,holy,If,One,questions,Savior,True,unbelief,What iF,worthy
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Paul’s message to anyone who will listen is that the omnipotent God, because of His great love for us, came to earth as our Redeemer and covered our sins. (Colossians 1:14) It is astonishing to realize that the God over all creation longs to be in relationship with the finite, sinful beings He created and for them to each be reconciled back to Him! (Colossians 1:22)
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Word Day 2 Do You Believe?: 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 Do You Believe?!

The Questions

1) Being a Jew and knowing the culture, why would Jesus ask this woman for a drink? (verse 9)

2) How does the water Jesus gives keep us from getting thirsty again? (verse 14)

3) What is meant by “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth”? (verses 23-24)

John 4:7-15

A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 because his disciples had gone into town to buy food. 9 “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” 11 “Sir,” said the woman, “you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this ‘living water’? 12 You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.” 13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” 15 “Sir,” the woman said to him, “give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and come here to draw water.” 16 “Go call your husband,” he told her, “and come back here.” 17 “I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’ ” Jesus said. 18 “For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.

Original Intent

1) Being a Jew and knowing the culture, why would Jesus ask this woman for a drink? (verse 9)
Jesus was never one to let a teaching moment pass Him by. During this encounter at the well, He was simply doing what He always did regardless of the audience, engage with love on purpose. He took an everyday situation and flipped it into an impactful lesson for many. Jesus came to destroy the old way of thinking with strict laws as means of coming to God. Ordinary people, like this woman, were easily bogged down with all the rules and had lost focus from the main point of having a relationship with God. Jesus took the opportunity that presented itself in the flow of His normal life, and used the fact that He was physically thirsty, to open this woman’s mind to her own spiritual thirst. First, he spoke directly to her. Men of her culture would have completely ignored her. With His words alone, Jesus demonstrated that He saw her and cared enough to engage in a conversation. Secondly, he guided this woman to understand that even though He had asked her for water, He was offering something far greater, eternal life. Jesus was a risk taker and never allowed cultural norms to stop Him accomplishing His mission and share His message of love with everyone He encountered.

2) How does the water Jesus gives keep us from getting thirsty again? (verse 14)
Jesus was a master at teaching in a way that others could relate to and understand. In this story, the woman’s interest is piqued and she asks some clarifying questions. “Where does this water come from?” “Are You saying You are greater than our father Jacob?” As the dialogue continues, understanding begins to dawn on this woman. The water Jesus spoke of wasn’t literal water, but eternal life. For this woman, a known adulteress and public sinner, she initially desired a way out of a daily struggle. Her life choices had resulted in consequences that made her life difficult and shameful. She didn’t want to go to the well each day to get water, she didn’t want the knowing looks, ridicule, and judgement of those who saw her. Ultimately, she comes to understand how this man Jesus is different; He’s even greater than a prophet. In fact, she gets so excited that John 4:28-29 records her leaving her water jug and running back to town to bring others saying, “Could this be the Messiah?!”. For this woman, the realization that she could be free from her past by simply accepting the free gift being offered her in Jesus was life changing!

3) What is meant by “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth”? (verses 23-24)
Jesus is teaching that regardless of being Jew or Samaritan, He welcomes all to trust Him. He isn’t looking for a particular race, gender, or culture, instead He is seeking hearts who will take Him at His word, believe Him, and worship the Father. Culturally at this time, the Jews viewed themselves as superior to the Samaritans. The Jews were God’s chosen people, descendants of Abraham, while the Samaritans were considered less than because they were only half Jewish. The Samaritan race came from marriage between Jews and other races following the Jews’ return from exile. Everyone knew the Messiah would be of Jewish lineage, specifically from the tribe of Judah. This knowledge led the full-blooded Jews to look down on everyone else. While the Samaritan people worshiped God, they did not have the same “inside knowledge” as the Jewish people, in many ways they worshiped a God they did not know or understand. Additionally, the Jewish people believed you could only worship God in Jerusalem, which furthered the divide between these two people groups. Beginning in verse 21, Jesus breaks down that old belief system by saying it doesn’t matter where you worship or who you are, but that “true worshipers” (regardless of their nationality, history, or past) will worship “in Spirit” (a matter of the heart vs. the keeping of the law) and “in truth” (believing Jesus and embracing Him as the promised Messiah). By having this conversation with a Samaritan, who was also a woman, Jesus broke down several cultural stumbling blocks. He came for everyone, even this woman who was currently living in sin and, from all accounts, could never live up the standard of Jewish law.

Everyday Application

1) Being a Jew and knowing the culture, why would Jesus ask this woman for a drink? (verse 9)
There is no question that tensions run high when it comes to race, culture and even our moral belief systems. As much as we’d like to believe these are new things, we learn from this passage that respecting people with different colors of skin or cultural upbringings has been a source of tension since the beginning of time. At first glance, it can be tempting to think of this passage as a good moral lesson with some interesting history, but having little impact on our lives today. In reality, this true narrative is still as relevant today as it was when Jesus first had the conversation. Jesus refused to let the cultural standard or current belief system stop His work of meeting and loving people where they were. He took a risk and talked to someone most people would have avoided. He engaged in a conversation, which included listening to and responding to her questions as well as asking His own. He used a normal daily task, drawing water from a well, to teach, convict, and ultimately change this woman’s life and those around her. Every Christian today needs to follow Jesus’ example. None of us need to look far to find someone different than ourselves, we have look up and see them, be willing to engage in conversations, and look for opportunities to share Jesus’ message. In verse 26 Jesus says, “I am He” (meaning the promised Messiah), we must ask ourselves, just as this woman, do I believe Jesus is who He says He is? If our answer is yes, then we are compelled to share that knowledge with those around us, just like this woman.

2) How does the water Jesus gives keep us from getting thirsty again? (verse 14)
In this story, Jesus gives the woman what she needs instead of what she wants. She is looking for physical water so she wouldn’t need to face the shame of judgement when she comes to the well. Instead of giving her more isolation, Jesus gives her what she really needs, the way to eternal salvation and a transformation so deep it changed her life. Once we come to a place of accepting Jesus for who He is and the salvation He gives, we can stop searching for other things to fill us up; He is enough! You only need to acknowledge and accept Jesus as your Savior one time in sincerity, and He will faithfully rescue you for eternity. The analogy Jesus makes with water and a well doesn’t make as much sense to us today since most of us simply go to the faucet and turn the handle for water. For the people in our story, getting water was a daily chore requiring advance planning. Drawing water meant physically walking a dusty road with a heavy earthen jar. It was something that had to be done day after day after day. Much like following the law of the old covenant, it took repeated effort, day after day, all the while knowing you’d need to do it all again the next day. An unending cycle of trying to live up to an impossible expectation, failing, and working to atone or pay for those failures with the appropriate sacrifice. With Jesus, none of that is required! He has done all the work; all we need is to go to the faucet (Jesus) and turn the handle (pray in faith) that allows the water (eternal life) to flow.

3) What is meant by “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth”? (verses 23-24)
Plain and simple, true worship comes down to the heart. Nothing else matters. Regardless of your skin color, your family’s ancestry, political party, church membership, or anything else, God desires the full worship of our hearts. True worshipers take Jesus at His word, believe He is in fact the Messiah, and did come to save each and every one of us from the deadly consequence of our sins. True worshipers follow Jesus from the heart, because they know it impossible to earn or work their way to salvation. True worshipers live all out for Jesus every single day, not those who simply spin their wheels trying to check all the right boxes. True worshipers have “tasted and seen that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8) and can’t imagine life without Him. We worship God in “Spirit and in truth” by allowing His Spirit living inside of us to teach us as John 16:13 says, “when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth”. The beautiful thing about life with Jesus is that He knows us and loves us for who we are, right here and right now. Even if our words and thoughts are a jumbled-up mess, He knows and sees what is in our hearts; this is what matters!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Do You Believe?!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

Worship VIII Day 7 Our Beautiful Jealous God: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

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

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Our Beautiful Jealous God!

The Questions

1) What does it mean for God to be a jealous God? (verse 5)

2) What is idol worship? (verse 4)

3) How does God bring the consequences of iniquity on the generations? (verse 5)

Exodus 20:3-5

3 Do not have other gods besides me. 4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me

Original Intent

1) What does it mean for God to be a jealous God? (verse 5)
The Hebrew word for jealous, qanna, “combines the ideas of zeal and jealousy.” (Preceptaustion.org) When used to describe Jehovah in the Old Testament, qanna “reflects zero tolerance for the worship of other so-called gods. (Preceptaustion.org) God’s jealousy is not like human jealousy, which can be selfish and ugly. Author, David Guzik, explains that “God is jealous in the sense that He will not accept being merely added to the life; He insists on being supreme and does this out of love.” God is jealous because He is above all.  He is “God of gods, Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God.” (Deuteronomy 10:17) Author Richard Strauss argues that since God is the “highest and greatest being there is, infinitely holy and glorious, He must be passionately committed to preserving His honor and supremacy.” His great love for us makes Him jealous for us, wanting us to have all the benefits and protections of following Him and serving Him. When we worship idols, or turn to other gods, He is jealous for us and what we are missing by being outside the will of the only true God. He alone deserves praise, and He longs to reside in the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3)

2) What is idol worship? (verse 4)
In Exodus 20 God gave His people the Ten Commandments to follow. God Himself spoke the words, engraving them with His finger (Deuteronomy 9:10) saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Do not have other gods besides me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.” (Exodus 20:1-4) The Israelites lived among people who worshipped many gods, so the admonition in the 2nd commandment was necessary. Author David Guzik explains, “In the days of ancient Israel, there was great temptation to worship the gods of materialism (such as Baal, the god of weather and financial success) and sex (such as Ashtoreth, the goddess of sex, romance, and reproduction), or any number of other local deities.” Idol worship is seen primarily in eastern cultures today (like statues of Buddha or Mary). Though it is less common in the western hemisphere to see carved idols in homes or people worshipping physical idols at a temple, the practice of idolatry is still prevalent across the globe no matter where you live. John Currid explains, “For us to trust in anything more than the Lord is to make that thing a god. And idolatry can take many different forms, whether it be riches, glory, wisdom, or one’s physical appetites—it is giving homage to anything but Yahweh!“ When we promote anything or anyone above God in our lives, we are practicing idolatry. Even if they are good and positive people, pastimes, or possessions, when they reign above God in our hearts they are idols and must come down if we are to be obedient to God.

3) How does God bring the consequences of iniquity on the generations? (verse 5)
When God gave Ten Commandments to the Israelites, He warned them not to worship other gods or make idols to worship, “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” (Exodus 20:3-5) He equated idolatry with hating God; He warns that the consequences of idol worship would fall on the sinners and their ensuing generations. Far from being a generational curse from God, this is a warning that actions have consequences. God is not condemning generation after generation to punishment, rather He is cautioning them not to continue in the sinful ways of their ancestors. Author Rod Mattoon explains, “Even though children are not responsible or guilty for their father’s iniquity, they are influenced and affected by it. Sons and remote descendants inherit the consequences of their fathers’ sins, in disease, poverty, captivity, with all the influences of bad example and evil communications.” The consequences will not fall on children who do not hate God. Frequently, the sinful practices of one generation influence the lives of the next generation; this is what God is warning about. If people love God and turn away from the sin of the previous generation, they will not receive the wrath God saves for those who hate Him.

Everyday Application

1) What does it mean for God to be a jealous God? (verse 5)
It is odd to think of God as jealous, because jealousy is such a negative human emotion. It is easier to think of the word zealous, which author Richard Strauss describes as being synonymous for jealousy in the Bible when referring to God. He argues that “God is zealous—eager about protecting what is precious to Him.” I think about it in terms of how I feel for my daughter as she is choosing colleges. She has a scholarship to a good school, but she keeps looking at other schools that will cost more and require her to take on debt. I am zealous in my promotion of the choice that will give her a quality education and keep her from owing lots of money for many years to come. I know the harm that could come, and the good she might miss, if she chooses to go into debt for her education, so I advocate for her to make the choice that will save her future problems. This is how I see God in His jealousy, or zeal, for us. He promises that choosing to obey His commands and follow His ways will bless us. (Psalm 128) He warns that turning from Him will bring destruction. (Romans 6:23) He longs for us to worship Him and commune with Him, and He is jealous for us to make the right choice and avoid calamity. When you consider your everyday life choices and circumstances, how can you begin worshipping the One worthy of all your worship?

2) What is idol worship? (verse 4)
If you know me at all you are not surprised that I am a fan of all things Jane Austen, but you might not suspect me to be an old school Star Wars fan. I also collect vintage valentines, love old Hollywood movies, enjoy copious amounts of cinnamon tea and slim volumes of British poetry. As much as I love my eclectic pastimes, I could give any of them up if needed. While it’s true they are important to me, God is number one in my heart and though I occasionally spend too much time or energy indulging other things, the Lord’s Spirit draws me back to Himself and I am quick to return. Idolatry, in its many forms, is still a source of temptation for me. D.L Moody defined it this way, “Whatever you make most of is your god. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.” For me that temptation is to put my own will above God’s will. Sometimes when I see what God is asking of me, I rebelliously assert that I know better. I fear uncertainty and I selfishly cling to my own plans, loving my own way more than God’s. I haven’t considered this idolatry before, but it boils down to worshipping my own will and wisdom over God’s, and that definitely fits the definition. So my prayer is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” I know He is trustworthy and true (Deuteronomy 7:9), so I purpose to choose His will over mine, breaking down my false idols.

3) How does God bring the consequences of iniquity on the generations? (verse 5)
I love watching programs about ancestry that help people create a family tree. It’s interesting to discover how families stay for generations in one place or pursue one occupation. Occasionally one enterprising person will pull up stakes and move across the country, starting a new family line for generations in a new location. Many people live in the same area where their 5th great-grandfather settled without even realizing his decision impacted their present situation. God describes a similar situation in the Bible, but with dire consequences. He tells the Israelites in Exodus 20:5 not to worship other gods, “Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.” The decisions we make impact those around us, especially our families. Children learn what we teach them, and when we model hating God by worshipping other “gods” like wealth, entertainment, materialism, or comfort, we are impacting their lives in significantly negative ways. If they don’t change and turn towards God, then we have also impacted their children. God not only warns us what can happen if we teach our children the wrong way, but He also tells us the positive consequences of teaching them to follow Him. Proverbs 22:6 gives us a wise principle; if we teach our kids to love God and follow His ways, even when they grow old they won’t digress. If we love God, even the mistakes we make can be worked out for our good and God’s glory in our lives. (Romans 8:28) We aren’t expected to be perfect, just to offer ourselves wholly to love and worship God alone. Our families will catch what we model!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Our Beautiful Jealous God!

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

Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

Memorize It!

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

The GT Weekend! ~ Ten Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) It’s a lie the enemy has used from the beginning of time, “you don’t have enough.” It was good enough to lure Eve away from a rich, perfect relationship with her husband (wow! Can you even imagine?!) and the Lord God (mind blown!). Nothing would surely be worth that trade, yet she did it in a moment. What if God is holding out on me? What if there’s something He isn’t giving me? What if He is actually stingy? Second guessing the nature of God and the relationship she enjoyed with Him, ended up destroying well, everything. How easily we do the same! This hunger for more seeps into our marriages, our friendships, and of course, our relationship with God. Always, the result is death and destruction. Jealousy and comparison flow easily from the lie that what we have is “not enough”. We think God says, “don’t steal”, so we relegate that to taking a physical item that doesn’t belong to us, but the heart behind it is so much more! Spend some time speaking with the Lord about where you might be stealing, and where your heart is incurably hungry for what you do not have.

2) I recently sat with one of my kids as we walked through a circumstance where their lies had caused damage they didn’t foresee to someone else. As we talked it out, the one who lied kept insisting they didn’t see how they had actually lied. It was such a small stretching of truth. The lie was “almost” true. But that “almost” had seriously hurt someone else and their reputation. Without a clear line of distinction on what is truth, any variation of reality can be manipulated on a whim. We must have truth in our lives, anchoring even the small decisions we make. I often tell my kids, “sin always hurts someone.” Even if it’s your own heart and relationship with God, sin always hurts someone. We cannot expect to play with lies and manipulate truth to our own advantage and walk away unscathed. That is a lie itself! Journal about a recent time when someone’s deception hurt you, then write about a time your deception hurt someone else. Ask the Lord to give you a soft, repentant heart and keen awareness of truth, so you can walk far away from lies!

3) Yesterday, Merry challenged all of us (or maybe it was just me!) to reconsider how we have viewed the last commandment, do not covet. It’s easy to get bogged down in “don’t covet your neighbor’s manservant or maidservant”. Okay, got it, God. Check! Not so fast. Merry invited us to peel back the layers, and squirm. According to this command, we are called to, daily, hold up before the Lord our wants and desires at any point of our everyday, and ask ourselves, “Why am I chasing this?”.  Are our motives focused on gratifying ourselves? Jesus summed up all of God’s laws by commanding us to love God and love one another. Why? Because if I first loved my friend, I wouldn’t be earnestly wishing for her wardrobe, her job position, or her anything. Instead, I would be celebrating her because I loved her. Use this gauge of love and think through those things you have been deeply desiring or earnestly wishing for. Where can you ask the Lord to renew your heart of love?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Hebrews 13:5-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or abandon you.” Therefore, we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Prayer Journal
If You alone are my fullness. If You alone are the complete satisfier of all my needs, my hungry longings, and my aching empty places. Then I have no need to look farther than the richness of knowing You more deeply and more fully than I have just a moment ago. You are endless and hold more than enough mystery and unconditional love towards me to captivate me for an eternity. Hold me fast, Lord God, here with You. If you are for me, I need no other. If you are with me, I have no need to fear. For, bound up in Your perfect demonstration of on-going, never-ending love surrounding me on all sides, is perfect peace with no room for fear. Your perfect love casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18) Speak these truths over me again and again, Lord Jesus. Remind me to declare over my heart, my emotions, my circumstances, and my relationships, “Jesus is enough!”.

Worship Through Community

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

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Shielded Day 12 Certain Rescue: 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 Certain Rescue!

The Questions

1) What is Paul referring to when he “urges” us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”? (verse 1)

2) How is true worship defined and what does it look like?

3) What is Paul’s call to action for the believer in everyday life?

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Original Intent

1) What is Paul referring to when he “urges” us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”? (verse 1)
Paul is writing his longest preserved letter and it’s packed full of solid truth for what the gospel is, and how we are to live in the reality of that glorious truth. Paul’s urging here to his readers at the house churches of Rome isn’t about a one-time offering to God, or a single moment of sincere surrender. Following God equals offering ourselves fully to Him in willful obedience. Every day. All together in unity with believers everywhere. In accordance with the time, Paul’s exhortation to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”, would have been a foreign concept to the Greek audience. A Greek would never say this. According to William Barclay, a prevalent Greek philosophy was “only the spirit of a person mattered, the body was only a prison cell, and was something to be despised and even ashamed of.” Paul’s calling was counter-cultural to the individualistic Greek, as he urged them to view their bodies, fully connected with other believers, as daily, living sacrifices to the Lord in response to His sacrifice for them. Paul is answering his audience’s question of how to live everyday lives in light of all God had accomplished for them through in Christ’s sacrifice. In the Old Testament, sin was atoned for, or forgiven, when an animal was sacrificed on behalf of the person who sinned. When Christ sacrificed Himself for us, once and for all, on the cross, animal sacrifices were no longer needed. His sacrifice purchased our freedom from sin’s penalty of death, our response to such lavish love is surrender to the One who loved us enough to die for us. That surrender doesn’t consist of taking the life of animals, but in giving up one’s own. The sacrifice of obedient lives is the only reasonable response to the grace of God.

2) How is true worship defined and what does it look like?
The Greek word we read in this verse simply as “worship” carries the deeper idea of “reasonable service”. Paul had spent the first 11 chapters of Romans explaining the magnificence of God, His vast, unending love for us, and our own impossible situation of death brought about by our own sin. In light of these blatant realities, the redeemed believer’s “reasonable service” IS worship. Worship includes a spiritual offering by mind and heart and a physical offering as we use our bodies, our time, talent, and treasure to Him as a gift of love. Worship is the act of attributing reverent honor and homage to God with everything we have. Worship overflows from our lives when we remember how magnificent He is, how worthy He is, and how good He is, regardless of our circumstances. Worship acknowledges He alone is the One True Living God and worthy of all honor and praise. He is worthy of our whole life sacrifice of worship!

3) What is Paul’s call to action for the believer in everyday life?
A dedicated life of surrender is also a transformed life, deeply committed to God with a heavenly calling for obedience on earth as He builds His eternal kingdom through us. While the believer has been promised rescue from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4), which has Satan for its god, we still live here until that day when we finally experience our full rescue and are welcomed home to glory. We offer ourselves as living sacrifices while we reside in this world of brokenness and sin. God could instantly take us to Heaven when we become Christians, but He keeps us in this world to call more to Himself through our sacrifice of worship. He has called us to proclaim Him, through our physical bodies and spiritual hearts, declaring with bold worship of the magnificence of Him who “called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) God makes this proclamation of His glory through us as He transforms us through the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We are called to stop living like we once did, before we were made new in Christ. We have been given a new identity, and we are to submit to the Spirit as He entirely transforms us. We must constantly renew our mind, feasting on the life-giving word of God (the Bible). (John 17:17) As we do, we delight ever more so to submit to the work of the Spirit in our lives as He makes us new, declaring God’s glory through our sacrifice of surrendered worship.

Everyday Application

1) What is Paul referring to when he “urges” us to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice”? (verse 1)
Because of God’s rich mercy towards us in Jesus, Paul urges us, you and me as believers in Jesus, to offer the whole of who we are in continual, everyday sacrifice back to Him. Our physical bodies with our hands, tongue, eyes, arms, and mind, all given over to be used by God in our ordinary, everyday life. All of our daily tasks, the way we drive our cars, speak to the cashiers, interact with our spouse, serve our neighbors, and care for our children, everything we do can be given as an offering of worship to the God who offered Himself for us. He does not desire a portion of our lives, for He is a jealous God who knows we will never be fully delighted in Him until we give Him every aspect of our whole selves. Rather than living by the standards of the world, and at a constant unharmonious discord with God, believers are to let the renewing of their minds by the power of the Holy Spirit transform our lives into unity and conformity with God’s will. Saying yes to Jesus is an entire way of life, and it will always involve offering ourselves as living sacrifices as God continues to build His kingdom in and through us. God intended our surrender to not simply be something we verbalize or nod our head to, rather it is to involve the whole of who we are in body, mind, and soul. After all, God did not begrudge taking a human body upon Himself to live in it and work through it, offering Himself wholly as a sacrifice for us! What will you offer Him today?!  

2) How is true worship defined and what does it look like?
We often say we are going to church to worship God, but we should also be able to say we are going to work, school, caring for the family, staying at home as a mom, or going to the grocery all to worship God. We worship Him in how we act, what we say, where we go, and what we do, both alone and in the presence of others. Worship isn’t merely a hand raised at church, or a song on the radio, but an entire life given over in surrender. THIS is the worship Paul was conveying to his audience. Our lives are ready instruments intended to be offered in everyday worship, this is the only reasonable response to God. The offering of EVERY MOMENT and EVERY ACTION to God is our sacrifice of whole life worship. Sometimes it’s hard to worship God, (hence the sacrifice part), but true, reasonable act of service back to God, requires our minds and hearts to shift from circumstance to His unchanging character, His lavish love, and His constant presence with the believing heart. How will you worship Him today?!

3) What is Paul’s call to action for the believer in everyday life?
When we believe and truly receive Jesus as our Savior, trusting that His work on the cross paid the debt for our sin that we could never pay, His Spirit is given to live within us. This Spirit of the Living God is the power of transformation at work in us. This work is not something we can manufacture on our own ability; it is only from God!  (2 Corinthians 3:18) From that first moment of initial surrender to the rest of our days on earth, we are learning the depths of surrender, becoming more like Christ, and Jesus becomes ever sweeter to us as we journey the path before us, following Him, and becoming transformed by Him. This is a radical change from the moment we say YES, LORD, I BELIEVE. We are saved from sin and death in a moment, but we are transformed to be like Jesus over a lifetime. This transformation is not without daily, sometimes moment-by-moment struggle as we fight against being conformed to the world, instead choosing our surrender to God’s powerful Spirit working in us. If we conform to the ways of the world, we are dominated by human nature. When Christ comes into a man’s life, he is a new man, his mind is different, for the mind of Christ is in him. “The old has passed away and the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) The glorious result of this amazing continuous transformation is that God displays His glory through our renewed lives to people around us who desperately need His salvation and transformation for themselves!
How will you surrender today?!

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1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
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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