Category: From the Insideout

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Be Patient and Courageous

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Week 4, Day 5 of Come, Lord Jesus, Come (A Love God Greatly Study) The Return Is Near

Scripture Reading: James 5:7-12(SOAP: James 5:7-8)

So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.

James 5:7-8 NET

Observations – Past and Present

James spent the first six verses of this chapter speaking to unbelievers. He warned them about the judgement that was coming their way because of how they were treating the believers. Now, he speaks to the believers who were being treated harshly; he encourages them to be patient and strengthen their hearts (or to be courageous as translated in the NLT) as they wait on Jesus’ return. James wants them to remember that their reward of eternity with the Lord will be worth the wait.

I love that James doesn’t just say be patient but he guides them in their patience with an analogy of a farmer waiting for the rains to water his crops (7). He knows that their suffering will wear on them and warns of turning on one another (9). He points them to the prophets and to Job, those who had waited and suffered before them, reminding them that they had seen that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy (10-11). Then finally, and somewhat out of context with his other words of encouragement, he instructs them to make sure that they maintain trustworthy reputations so that when they speak their words and promises are trustworthy and require no oath to be sworn (12).

Application – So, What Does This Mean For Us?

As believers, if we truly are living for the Lord, we will suffer not only the normal troubles of this life but at the hands of unbelieving oppressors. Therefore, we must heed James’ warning and –

  • be patient
  • be courageous, standing firm despite who or what comes against us
  • not turn against one another in our anger or frustration
  • know and remember God’s Word and the examples of those who served and waited patiently and courageously in the midst of their suffering
  • finally, but above all, live above reproach or question – so that our yes is yes and your no is no1

1We might think of saying to someone, “I swear on a stack of Bibles that I’m not lying,” or “I swear on my mother’s grave that I’ll pay you next Thursday.” Jesus forbid Christians from doing this, and James confirmed that teaching. The issue appears to be about honesty. Truthfulness should be the absolute norm for those who trust in Christ. Our simple yes or no should be completely binding since deception is never an option for us. If an oath is required to convince someone of our honesty or intent to be faithful, it suggests we may not be known for telling the truth in other circumstances.

BibleRef.Com on James 5:12

Prayer – Response To God’s Word

Father, waiting isn’t easy and waiting on Your return is even more difficult! Strengthen us in our waiting – help us to be patient, as were the prophets and others, like Job, who have gone before us. And in this knowledge, may our hearts be courageous and firm in our faith as we wait on You. Let our minds be on You and the examples from Your Word rather than the chaos, confusion, and troubles that surround us. Finally Father, we live in a world where lying, manipulation, and questionable propaganda are the norm but if we are to be Your representatives we must be trusted. Help us live above reproach or question, so that people do not doubt our words. Let our yes be yes and our no be no – In Jesus’ name – Amen!

But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 1 Peter 3:14-16  NLT
Your Turn – Reflections

How can we strengthen our hearts and live courageously while we wait on Jesus’ return? Why is this important?

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Be Ready –

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Taken, One Left Week 4, Day 3 of Come, Lord Jesus, Come (A Love God Greatly Study)

Scripture Reading: Luke 17:22-37 (SOAP: Luke 17:34-35)

 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

Luke 17:34-35 NET

Observations

The entire passage leads up to Jesus’ conversation with the disciples about the end times. In telling them that they would not know the day the day or hour, He used the comparison of “The days of Noah and the days of Sodom to make the point – “One will be taken and the other left” – which we find in our soap passage.

Application – So, What Does This Mean For Us

In regards to the soap passage, the obvious answer for this question is that we must be ready, so that whether we are in the field working or asleep in bed we will not be left behind. We must be prepared for His return, irregardless of when it occurs. I also think it is important to understand verse 33, where we read: “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.” in other words, we must let go of the things, places, and people that bind us to this world. Or to put it in the words of Joshua, “choose this day whom you will serve”, Joshua 24:15.

Prayer – Response To God’s Word

Father, I don’t fully understand this passage, except that Jesus’ return is known only by You and that we (I) should not hold tightly to the things (people/places/things) of this world. Please help me to die to self daily, choosing You over the world – in Jesus’ mighty name!

Your Turn

What is one way that we can be ready for Christ?

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Marvelous Grace

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Week 4, Day 2 of Come, Lord Jesus, Come (A Love God Greatly Study)

Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-15 (SOAP: Titus 2:13)

 – as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:13 NLT

Observations of Grace

Jesus came in the flesh bearing God’s grace to a world in need of salvation. He came not just to the Jews but to all people who, by faith, would believe in the One God had sent. His grace doesn’t just save but it trains and equips us to live in a manner pleasing to God and to wait patiently for His return. I love the vivid illustration in verse 14 that God, by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), not only gave His Son to save us (John 3:16) but Jesus gave Himself to set us free from the law of sin and death (Galatians 5:1; Romans 6:1-2 and 14-15) and to purify us for Himself. This passage makes it clear that He did it to specifically have a people who are surrendered to Him through faith and eager to do good because of the grace (unmerited favor of God) that was lavished on us through His life, death, and resurrection.

Application – So, What Does This Mean For Us

As we wait for Jesus to appear 1we are to reject godless ways and worldly desires. 2We are to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives 3keeping in mind that He gave Himself for our freedom and to purify us for Himself – so that we can 4live fully surrendered to Him and 5eagerly seek to do good. Like Titus, we are God’s chosen representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, so, 6we are to teach or urge others concerning these things being careful to not let others disregard, the message of Hope.

Prayer – Response To God’s Word

Father, thank You for the GRACE that is ours in Christ Jesus – for it is Your power to save us from our sin, to set us free and cleanse us, and to transform us – from slaves to sin to righteously clothed representatives of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Colossians 3:17); and it is Your grace that sustains us while we wait. May we be faithful to share these truths with others – our lives a stirring testament to Your sustaining grace. May our devotion to Jesus and our eagerness to do good light the way for others and may the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey – rather than to disregard Your Truth. In the name and power of Jesus I pray and wait – AMEN!! (words in italics are from a song that came to mind as I prayed … Find Us Faithful, by Steve Green)

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Caught Up Together

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Week 4, Day 1 of Come, Lord Jesus, Come (A Love God Greatly Study)

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (SOAP: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. 1Thessalonians 4:16-18 NET

Observations

  • the Lord will come down
  • there will be a shout of command
  • the trumpet of God will sound
  • the dead in Christ will rise first
  • those who are alive will be taken up with them
  • we will always be with the Lord
  • we are to encourage one another with these truths

Application – So, What Does This Mean For Us

The HOPE we cling to and the encouragement of our FAITH is that we will always be with the Lord! – Me, from the InsideOut

We are to encourage “one another” with the truth and the HOPE that whether we are dead or alive – Jesus is coming back for us and we will live with Him forever!

Prayer – Response To God’s Word

Father – thank You again and again for the HOPE of eternity with our Lord, forever in Your Presence! Yes Lord come for this is where I want to be – forever in Your Presence – Amen!

Posted in From the Insideout, God is good

Music From Heaven

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When I got in the car after leaving mom in her room at the rehab center where she is recovering from her broken femur and spinal injury, I sat for a moment in the silence of the dark night sky. Tears beckoned to fall again, prayers of praise were whispered for how well the conversation went – considering I had just told my mother that she isn’t going to be able to come home yet. I sat staring, hurting for my mother and missing my father and brothers, trying to pray – yet no words came – so I started the car and began the drive home in silence. After a difficult day of information and emotions – I chose to turn music on to drown out the fiery darts that were beginning to assault my mind with fears and worry and sorrow. Typically, when I press play my Spotify opens and begins playing the mix where I left off, but this time another app, one that I never use any more, actually one I’m not sure I’ve even seen before, opened and started in the middle of Lauren Daigle’s, “Trust In You”. I started to change it but realized the song was exactly what I needed to hear, as were all that followed it and serenaded me for the 25-minute car ride home, a complete playlist centered on trusting God, clearly this was His doing, It was what He knew I needed to hear, just as the quiet office day, and Angela’s words of encouragement, and Barbara’s aptly timed phone call, and all of the other text or messages throughout the day were what He knew I needed. I drove in tears and surrender as Heaven came down and His presence and peace not only filled my car but every essence of my being. Check it out and tell me if you don’t think this was a music interlude from heaven – I know it was the sweetest I’ve ever heard.

The first song picked up in the middle of “Trust in you”, by Lauren Daigle, I confess I hit replay on this one at least twice and sang and cried along with it, surrendering all of my apprehensions to what I know to be His perfect and loving control.

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So in all things be my life and breath
I want what You want, Lord, and nothing less

When You don’t move the mountains
I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust
I will trust in You
I will trust in You

This was followed by “Amen”, by I Am They – The exact expression of my thoughts just moments before and so often over the past two weeks …

I have no words to say
Don’t know what I should pray
God, I need You
God, I need You
O Lord, my faith is tired
And tears fill up my eyes
But I will trust You, I will trust You

The next one was just a short stanza but what a beautiful reminder to “Turn [My] Eyes Upon Jesus”, by Hillsong

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full, in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

Next up was, “I won’t be shaken”, by Building 429 and this needful phrase that is still playing in my mind –

I know You go before me
and I am not alone
This mountain rises higher
The way seems so unclear
But I know that You go with me
So I will never fear
I will trust in You

and finally, as I rounded the bend to home, “Carry Me”, by Josh Wilson started playing.

I try to catch my breath
It hasn’t happened yet
I’m wide awake in the middle of the night scared to death
So I prayed God, would You make this stop
Father please hold on to me, You’re all I’ve got

Carry me, carry me, carry me now
From my sinking sand to Your solid ground
The only way I’m ever gonna make it out
Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now
God carry me, carry me, carry me now

Jesus calm my heart
Come near me please
Lord don’t let these worries get the best of me
Oh I believe, that You’re still here with me
Cause You meant what You said when You said You’d never leave

So carry me, carry me, carry me now
From my sinking sand to Your solid ground
The only way I’m ever gonna make it out
Is if You carry me, carry me, carry me now
God carry me, carry me, carry me now

Beautiful, right? They may not have been on my Spotify playlist before but, I can promise you, they are at the top of it now. Whatever caused that app to open, whatever caused those particular songs to play in that order – they were without question a blessing from God to me. I pray they will be a blessing to you as well, for regardless of what fills your life right now – mountain top experiences or valley deep trenches – trusting God is the key to walking by faith and not by sight and trusting God is the key to being light in the darkness around us.

Blessings – from the InsideOut

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

I Am Going Away and Coming Back Again

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Come, Lord Jesus, Come: Week 2, Day 2 (A Love God Greatly Study)

Today’s Reading: John 14:15-31(SOAP: 27-28)

 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.”

John 14:27-28 NLT

Real and Lasting Hope Brings Peace

I love that Jesus, who is getting ready not just to die but hang on a cross for sins He did not commit, is so compassionately concerned about the effect of His leaving that He promises the disciples a gift. The gift is peace of mind and heart, so they will not need to be troubled or afraid. His is a peace that comes from more than just words, it is a peace that is distinctly different than the world offers because it comes with real and lasting hope in the promise that He is coming back!

A Repetitious Warning and A Personal Connection

Again, in conjunction with Jesus’ impending departure, He encourages the disciples not to be troubled [distressed] or afraid. The encouragement is always the same and meant to carry a lot of weight – “I am coming back.” I love reading this particular conversation in the NET which translates it with a much more personal tone, using the pronoun ‘you’ nine times in the two short verses. To me, this emphasizes that this was not an open message to just anyone but rather specifically for His disciples, which we are.

““Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.”
‭‭

John‬ ‭14:27-28‬ ‭NET‬‬

What Does This Mean For Us?

The promise of His return and the promise of His peace being different than what we can find in the world means that…

  • I don’t have to be troubled or afraid.
  • I can choose peace over fear and distress.
  • I need to choose God/Christ over the world.
  • I can/will be glad that He is with the Father.
  • Because He is with the Father, I have the Spirit 24/7, 365 days of the year.
  • Because He gave His life for me, I can count on His promise to come back for me.

Response to the Word:

Father, How great You are! Even greater than we truly understand, for even Jesus says You are greater than Him. Not only have You given us the Spirit in Jesus’ absence, but Jesus offers us peace – indescribable and everlasting – so that as we wait for His return, we are not alone and have no need to fear or be distressed – but rather we can stand firm in the courage that comes from knowing He will return!

Your Turn: Reflection Question

How can we experience God’s peace in our lives?

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

I will Come Back

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Come, Lord Jesus Come: Week 2 – Day 1 (A Love God Greatly Study)

Today’s Reading: 14:1-4 (SOAP verse 3)

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

John 14:1-4 NLT
Distressed

Do you ever let your heart get distressed, which according to the oxford language dictionary, means extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain? – Before you answer too quickly, let’s look at some other synonyms for the word, such as worried, fearful, troubled, sad, tortured, and miserable. Please note that all of these fit the conversation of our text, where Christ has been talking to His disciples, telling them that one of them would betray Him, Peter would deny Him, and then that He would be leaving them.

Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 

John 13; 31-33 NLT
Jesus’ Encouragement

Naturally, their hearts would have experienced at least one of these emotions. He was their friend and teacher whom they undoubtedly, trusted but had also come to depend on. No doubt their hearts would be distressed at the news that He was going away. Without question, fears, sorrow, anxiety, and pain would arise. Given time to dwell on it, their minds would become troubled, even tortured and miserable at the thought of it – and unable to think of anything else. So Jesus, knowing that they would have these emotions but not wanting them to dwell there, speaks out of love and compassion to encourage them. His encouragement is the promise that while they can’t go with Him now, He would be preparing a place for them and would return and take them with Him so they would always be together.

… I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 

John 14:2b-3 NLT

While some of the synonyms and the word itself are defined, in part, as extreme sorrow or pain, I do not believe that Jesus is asking or encouraging them to be happy, but rather, He is calling them to be brave. It would be near to impossible to wear a facade of happiness in the death of one so loved and important to them, but they must rise above all of the emotions and be brave enough to continue on in His mission. I dare say without this encouragement (repeated until they finally understood it), they would have wallowed in depression rather than bravely pressing on as He called them to. Easier said than done? Without question! However, don’t miss that in His opening words of this passage, He gave them the answer to the bravery they would need. “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God: also believe in me.” In other words, ‘you trust God; therefore you trust me,’ for they knew Him to be “God.” John made this clear in his unforgettable statement in the first verse of His gospel, which reads: “In the beginning the Word already existed! The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Their bravery, and ours, depends on knowing and trusting Jesus as God.

Jesus not only told them how they could be brave but just after telling them He was leaving them, He explained why they needed to be brave with these words, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Jesus had just called them to prove to or show the world that they were His disciples. Why? Because it would prove that they knew Him, which means they knew the way to the Father – which was the mission, showing the world the “WAY” to the Father.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35 NLT

What This Means For Us

As believers, we are Jesus’ disciples waiting for His return. Therefore, we are called to the same bravery and should, despite these tumultuous times in which we live, not let our hearts be distressed – overcome with fears and anxiety or the torture and distraction that can come from waiting on Him. Instead, we should bravely press forward to carry out His Mission to make the Father. and the “Way” to the Father, known. For, to quote the words of Paul, “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14

What do we know that we can share?

  • We know the WAY.
  • We know the love of Jesus and that it is meant to be imitated so that others will know Him too.
  • We know that He died, rose from the grave, lives with God in Heaven, and WILL COME AGAIN!
  • We know that when He returns, He will take believers to be with Him.
  • We know that we will forever be with Him, where He dwells.
  • We know that the “wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“ Romans 6:23
  • We know that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel 2:28)

Response to the Word:

Father, how very good You are to provide Jesus as the payment for the penalty of our sins. How awesome is His encouragement to the disciples that He is coming again and will take us to live with Him, where He dwells with You! We are blessed to be a part of this promise and look forward with HOPE to that day. We take strength from the HOPE in this dark and sinful world, where your Word is trampled on and Your ways mocked and ignored. We long to be with You Both, but we know Your agenda is that all would come to know You and that our agenda is to make You known. May we be found faithfully loving others as Jesus has loved us, proving to the world that we are His disciples and ultimately leading them to You. And in all of this, may You be praised and glorified as we wait on You! – AMEN!

Your Turn: Reflection Question

When Jesus was speaking about returning to Heaven, what did He say He was going to do there?

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, From the Insideout, LGG Study

One Who Holds Evil Back

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Today’s Reading: 2 Thes 2:1-17 (SOAP: verses 7-8)

 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 2 Thes. 2:7-8

Considering the amount of evil and “lawlessness” that is in the world today, would it surprise you to know that God is restraining evil even now? Well, that is what this passage is saying. Until the Holy Spirit, the only one who can truly hold back sin, is removed there is a restraint in force. Bibleref.com explains it like this:

Currently, the restrainer holds back lawlessness, but he will be removed someday. When he is out of the way, lawless activities will culminate through the man of lawlessness. But who is the restrainer? Only the Holy Spirit has the power to hold back sin from becoming full blown. He does this through His convicting ministry. Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). He will do so through Jesus’ followers, but at the rapture Jesus’ followers will be removed from the earth, and the earthly influence of Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, will be greatly diminished. While the Holy Spirit will still be on the earth, His unique sin-restraining ministry through saved believers will be gone: He will no longer convict the world of sin through believers. Therefore, lawlessness will reach an unprecedented manifestation.

https://www.bibleref.com/2-Thessalonians/2/2-Thessalonians-2-7.html

Paul warns the Thessalonians, as he has others, not to be easily shaken by false messages. He encourages them that the last days and the events that have been described will all happen in God’s timing and that the “lawless one” will be destroyed. We would be wise to hold on to this same encouragement from Paul. How much easier will it be to hold on the hope we have in Christ when we know that He is going to one day destroy His enemies.

Response to the Word

Father, again – help me – help us – not be shaken by false messages. And keep us faithfully living as salt and light in Jesus’ Name!

Your Turn:

Reflections
  • Based on 2 Thes 2:7-8, how will the Lord destroy the lawless one mentioned in these verses?
  • What does that show you about our Lord?
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time
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So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4 ESV

In this portion of his letters to the Philippians believers Paul was encouraging them to live in unity with each other. So important was their unity that he equated it with completing his joy, as one who had mentored them in the faith. When believers are motivated by the same love, the love of Jesus Christ – when they are motivated by the same purpose or cause, salvation for those who are lost – when they are full of compassion and affection for each other …. when we think more about someone else more than we do ourselves – only then will there will be true joy in the midst of us all, and perhaps especially for those who are teaching or shepherding us in the faith. This type of unity won’t always be easy but Paul gives the perfect pattern for success as he encourages the believers to consider their attitude … namely, the same attitude of Christ (vs 5-8) who, though He was God, didn’t consider equality to God something to be grasped … instead He took on human flesh, and in the form of a servant He humbled Himself – even to the point to death on a cross +

Me, from the Inside-out💙

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Change is Beautiful

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For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify [praise and worship] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:4-6

I recently purchased a sign for my home with a saying that is now engrained in my mind and is etching it’s way into my heart. “Fall is proof that change is beautiful”. Perhaps you’ve heard it before but it is new to me and I love it. While I am a creature of habit and don’t necessarily go looking for change, it has never really bothered me – with the exception of senseless or absurd change – but that’s a discussion for another day. I think the reason this statement grabbed at my heart and ended up in my shopping cart is because many people in my life either battle change or are weathering the storm of age and change can almost be detrimental to them. Somehow this writes a different story though, maybe not for all change but it is certainly true of the change that comes with fall, especially here in my native West Virginia. God bedazzles the hillsides and the mountaintops year after year with extraordinary colors that are great competition for my beloved green buds of spring or the flower filled yards of summer. I’m not a fan of snow. However, despite the chaos it can cause, I must admit, even it can be beautiful when it is stretched out across the hills and valleys like a down-comforter piled high upon the earth.

As I have contemplated the truth of the statement on my new sign, I began to realize that in actuality it could be said of every season – for to those who adore the snow, or the beautiful colors of spring and summer the meaning would no doubt take on the same wonder it has for me when applied to fall. However, it also strikes me that God’s Word offers the same truthful reality that change is beautiful. After all, was it not His spoken word that brought creation into being?1 The dark sky lit with stars and a captivating full moon, or the blue sky and its dazzling display of fluffy clouds, or the billowing waves of the ocean riding in on the shore. John refers to Christ as being the Word that was with God in the beginning and then later says that same Word became flesh and dwelt with man on the earth – and boy, did that bring some beautiful change and hope to a lost and dying world. Because, as John goes on to write, “we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.”2 That grace and truth changed everything!3 It set the captives free4 and has turned darkness into light,5 and death into life 6– for those who believe.7 Which brings us to our verse for today – and the written Word of God, which Paul says was given for our instruction and our encouragement through the Scriptures to not only help us endure but so that we might have HOPE. For me, the change that comes with the seasons is the constant reminder for believers that God, our God, is radiantly beautiful and this is made clear through His creation8. Likewise, the change that comes through His written Word in us9 changes us from the inside-out10 and by it we grow into radiant lights11, living testimonies12, savory salt13, and beautiful messengers of the good news14 that brings faith, hope, and love to the world.15

 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Romans 1:19-20

1Genesis 1 … 2John 1:1-18 … 3Ephesians 2:8-9 … 4Romans 6:14 … 51 Peter2:9, John 8:12, & Ephesians 5:8 … 6 Romans 6:23 … 7John 3:16-17 … 8 Romans 1:19-20 … 9 Romans 15:4-6 … 10 2 Corinthians 5:17 & Jeremiah 15:6 … 11 Matthew 5:14 12 Matthew 5:16 … 13 Matthew 5:13 … 14 Romans 10:15 … 15 John 3:16-17