Category: Know These Truths

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Importance of the Trinity

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Scripture and Observation

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17 and 28:16-20/SOAP: Matt 3:16-17

After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”

Matthew 3:16-17

Yesterday, we looked at God’s existence and explored the importance of believing (in faith) that He does exist and that He rewards those who seek Him. Faith in God and His existence are the bedrock of a firm foundation. –

Today’s journey will reveal that it isn’t just faith in God, the Father, but in the Triune1 God – Father, Son, and Spirit- as we will see emphasized through the baptism of Jesus and again in His command in Acts 1:4-8, first, to wait for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit and second, to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is clear that the Trinity is another foundational piece of our faith.

The Triune God is a Christian doctrine that states that God is one being that exists in the three divine persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are coeternal, consubstantial, and share a single nature. 
Christians believe that the three persons of the Trinity are intimately related, and that each person is omnipotent, omniscient, and wholly benevolent. The Trinity is also known as the Three-in-One.

Google/AI Overview
Application from the Journey

As with God’s existence, the doctrine of the Trinity requires faith. For how can we even conceive “three persons in one?” However, God’s Word is firm on the teaching and emphasis of the Trinity, the Father – Son – and Spirit. We see it in today’s passages as well as in Genesis 1:1, John 1:1 and 14, and others.

Consider with me Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 4:17-24, where Paul teaches not just the Ephesians but all believers, that our faith calls us to “live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness, they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him.” He goes on to say, “But that isn’t what you learned about Christ…” and then encourages them by instructing them to “let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes … Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”

Clearly, the Trinity is a foundational ‘piece’ of our faith, as baptism, the very act that identifies us as followers of Christ, is meant to also identify us with the Father and the Spirit.

  • We are made to be like God … Genesis 1:27
  • When we are in Christ, we are new creations; our old nature is gone – replaced with His righteous nature… 2 Corinthians 5:17
  • We are filled with His Spirit, who not only teaches us everything we need to know and remind us of all that Jesus taught … John 14:26, but He develops in us the characteristics we are meant to exhibit as God’s children: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. – As Luke taught us through the words of Jesus, The Spirit is God’s equipping power to live as God has called us to live.
Prayer and Worship Response to the Journey

Father, I have sweet memories of singing the doxology2 every Sunday morning at church when I was growing up. I didn’t realize its importance then, but I loved it and now realize that it was a call for us to praise You, Father-Son-Holy Ghost, the ONE –> The three in ONE from whom all blessings flow! I am so grateful for this memory flooding my mind – for the teaching of my youth and the foundations of my faith. – To You be all the glory and praise! Amen –

Reflections on the Journey

How does Scripture describe the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the work of salvation?

The More We Know

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

God’s Existence – Do you believe?

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Hey Friends 💕 Welcome to day 1 of our first journey in 2025! The LGG Study, “Firm Foundation,” is the perfect way to begin the new year, as the passages will help us build our lives on the unshakable truth of God’s Word. In this first week, we will be looking at “The Nature of God,” – starting with God’s Existence and the importance of believing what Scripture says about His existence.

Scripture and Observation
Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5; Hebrews 11:1-7/SOAP: Gen 1:1/Heb 11:6

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1

Now without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

What stood out in my mind after reading the familiar passage in Genesis was this one truth: It takes faith to believe what we have not seen and cannot even conceive to be possible. I’m sure that is why the study then directs us to Hebrews chapter 11 – where the author points out that it is only by faith that we can come to believe that in the beginning, before there was light or life, there was God, and He created the world.

The author of Hebrews goes on to make many other “by faith statements,’ including… the world being “put into order,” Enoch being “taken up to be with God without seeing death…” and “Noah building an ark when he saw no evidence of the need…” – It is why Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes that “without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

Application – of today’s journey

It is clear that our faith in God’s existence, as told in His Word, is an essential piece of a “firm foundation,” specifically that:

  • God exists – and that
  • He spoke the world into existence out of nothing

Without faith in this truth, we are like those who were condemned in Noah’s day. For. as the Scriptures say, without faith, we cannot obtain the righteousness of Christ1, which is necessary for us to be made right with God. (see Rom 3:22; 5:9; and 2 Cor 5:21)

Friends, it is so important to understand that faith is not just hoping that what the Bible says is true; as Hebrews teaches, it is being sure of what we hope for and being convinced of it – even though we have not seen it or understand how it could be true.

For we walk (live) by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Perhaps this is why Paul taught, “We walk by faith, not by sight” in 2 Cor 5:7, a verse that I use often when I am facing struggles or when I don’t understand where God is leading. According to Bibleref.com, the verse is a testimony to the faith of Paul and His fellow believers, that “they so thoroughly believe the gospel, including their own resurrection and eternal satisfaction, that the struggles facing them are not the most important concern. What they “see” includes death, pain, suffering, opposition, and challenge. They feel the burden of those things deeply (1 Corinthians 1:8), but they count the unseen things waiting for them with Christ as more real than the suffering of the moment (2 Corinthians 4:18).” – The same was true of Noah in his day and should be true of us today – “for without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Prayer in response to the journey

Father, it is good to be reminded of the importance of our faith – not just in Christ but in the ‘realness’ and existence of You. To believe that in the beginning, the world was dark and empty and without form until You spoke, saying: “Let there be light” is an essential element of our faith – for as we have been reminded, without faith it is impossible to please You, for the one who approaches You must believe that You exists and that You reward those who seek You. As we proceed through this journey, Father, continue to reveal Your truths to us and grace us with understanding so that individually and together, we might build our lives on the unshakable truth of Your Word.

The More We Know About the Journey

For more insight into today’s journey, be sure to check out today’s LGG Blog.

We will look specifically at the Trinity on day two, but in today’s passage, it is worth noting that in the beginning, when God created the world – Jesus/the Word was with God (Jn 1:1, 14) and that the Spirit of God was also present (Gen 1:2)

Today’s Footnotes
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Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

With Whom Is He Pleased?

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Scripture: God’s Roadmap for Our Journey/Luke 2:14; Romans 5:1-11; Isa 9:6

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

Oh, the utter beauty of God’s Word and love! How it shines through from the first words of today’s passages to the last. Or perhaps I should say from the last words to the first … as it was Isaiah who wrote about the child who would be born – and be called the Prince of Peace – long before Luke penned the words to the story of the virgin Mary giving birth to her firstborn son in a little town called Bethlehem, and laying him in a manger. It was a story that included not only the angel’s declaration to shepherds in a nearby field but also the song of the angel and the heavenly host “praising and worshiping God, and acknowledging His supreme majesty and sovereignty.1“

  • The Declaration: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
  • The Song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased!”

The child Isaiah prophesied would be called “the Prince of Peace” was the same child that Mary lay in the manger and of whom the angel’s song declared: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Paul writes of this peace in Romans chapter five, where we read: “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (again, the same child that Isaiah and Luke referred to) – What a wonderful thing to know and understand that faith in Jesus brings peace between God and man. We are no longer condemned as our sins deserved, but we are cleansed, set free from the law of sin and death, and given bold access to the throne of our God. The curtain has been torn in two, and we are covered by the blood of Christ, the lamb of God – the Prince of Peace – the baby born of a virgin, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and found lying in a manger just as the angel said.

Paul also writes some of my favorite words in Scripture concerning peace with God. They are found in Romans chapter five, namely verses 8-11. It is here we read that “God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” … being declared righteous through Christ changed our enmity with God to peace. Paul uses one other word that speaks of peace, and that is reconciliation, which infers peace by its very definition – which is the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement.

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10

As I observed the Luke 2:14 passage, I remembered something that I noted in an earlier post about the verse, specifically the words, “with whom He is pleased.” It is important to understand here that God’s mercy is available to all who please Him, or as one commentary explains, all who follow His will by believing in/accepting His Son, Jesus.2

  • With whom is God pleased?
  • How often do we declare, like the angels, declarations of praise and worship toward God?
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, my heart rejoices at the peace you have brought to me through Jesus! He truly is my Prince of Peace! May I, like the angel, tell others about Jesus and how to find Him. May I, like the heavenly hosts who appeared to the shepherds, be found giving You the praise and worship You alone are worthy of. May the peace that comes from Christ rule in my heart, for Your Word says that as members of Your body, we are called to live in peace. 💜 – Amen

The More We Know

So, what did Luke mean when he write: with whom is God pleased?” According to Bibleref.com: Most translations of this verse connect the “peace” being proclaimed to God’s pleasure with a certain group. This is alternately phrased as “those with whom he is pleased,” “those on whom his favor rests,” or “people He favors.” The King James translation inverts part of the phrase, indicating a broader “good will toward men.” While the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of reconciliation and hope (John 3:16–17), that hope is only accessible to those who believe in Him (John 3:18, 36). Accurately translated, the angels are not declaring God’s benevolence to all humanity; they are celebrating His mercy to those who follow His will by accepting His Son (John 6:28–29; Hebrews 11:6).

  1. Online source: churchleaders.com ↩︎
  2. Bibleref.com ↩︎

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Because He Has …

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice, Celebrating the Season of Advent

Scripture: God’s Road Map For Our Journey / Luke 1:46-49; Matt 11;25-30;1 Cor 1:18-31

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:48-49
Observations and Applications of the Journey

Just in case you’re thinking, ‘Wait, didn’t we just read this yesterday?’ and wondering if I put down the wrong reference … yes, we did read this yesterday, and no, I did not give you the wrong passage for today’s journey. We will actually be reading portions of Luke 1 throughout the week, ingraining into our minds and hearts the rich history of our Savior, born of a virgin, a lowly handmaid, to save an undeserving people. Why? Because, as Mary said, “God has looked upon the humble state of His servant…” and “because God who is mighty has done great things for us, and holy is His name.”

And Mary said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:46-49. NET

You see, Mary boasted in the Lord because she realized that God did not have to choose her. He could have chosen a woman of nobility, but instead, He chose her, a lowly handmaid/servant, to carry His Son – The Messiah – into the world. I don’t believe that Mary was looking down on or belittling herself here; I believe she was looking up to her God. Mary hadn’t just heard the words of the angel, Gabriel; she had believed them and given great thought to them. She considered what they meant about God, about herself, and about what it meant for the world both then and for the generations yet to come. So, when Elizabeth proclaims how blessed Mary is, Mary responds by exalting the Lord and rejoicing in Him because He is mighty and He has done great things for her. As was mentioned in the previous post, this is not about Mary, and she realizes it – this is about God and what He has done for her. Friends, we would be wise to realize this same truth in our own life.

After reading/dwelling on this for a bit, I was hit by a barrage of questions in my mind. They are both challenging and convicting to me – but such is the word of God: “For it is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”1 I am confident the Holy Spirit prodded me with these questions because I needed to hear them, but perhaps someone else needs to consider them as well.

  • IF I WERE TO LIST THE GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE, WOULD THE LIST START WITH AND CENTER AROUND HIM OR ME?
  • WOULD OTHERS FACTOR INTO THE LIST OF THOUGHTS?
  • DOES MY SOUL MAGNIFY/EXALT THE LORD?
  • DOES MY SPIRIT REJOICE IN GOD, MY SAVIOR?
  • DO I REALIZE MY “LOWLY ESTATE” AND UNDERSTAND HIS GREATNESS?
  • DO I UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS CHOSEN ME TO CARRY HIS SON’S MESSAGE TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD?

Have you, like Mary, come to know how exalted and holy God is? Do you know how small and sinful you are in comparison, and how much mercy and grace He has poured on you through His Son, Jesus Christ? Think about it: the infinitely great and perfect God has chosen you to be His beloved daughter. He has lifted you out of your sin and depravity. He has promised you eternal glory in heaven by your faith in Jesus. You are highly valued and infinitely loved by Him. May we, like Mary, rejoice in God’s holiness.

Rejoice Journal / p105
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Holy Lord, most holy Lord – You alone are worthy of my praise! Like Mary, I am captivated by Your beauty and filled with joy in Your presence. I do not forget who I was and how You have changed me from the inside out – making me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Because of Your love and mercy, I have been set free from condemnation. Because of Your grace, I have been set free from the chains of sin and the fears that once bound me. There is no end to Your faithfulness and no boundaries to Your greatness! Of this, I am certain, and therefore, I have hope. – Amen

The More We Know about the journey

Instead of being scared of this mighty, exalted, and holy God, Mary was captivated by His beauty and filled with joy in His presence. His greatness has not kept Him from doing great things for her. God could have chosen the daughter of the king or high priest to give birth to Jesus. He could have chosen a girl who was rich, beautiful, educated, and admired. But, unlike us, God is not impressed by these attributes. Mary herself says that she was a “humble state”, meaning she was probably a nobody in her community, overlooked by the important people, an insignificant servant. And yet, the holy God chose her, a peasant girl from Nazareth, to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was amazed that God would be so great and yet see somebody as low as her.

Love God Greatly, Rejoice Journal / p105

How do you see yourself? Do you think more of yourself than you should? Or do you see yourself in light of God’s greatness and realize your “humble state”? – Consider the words of Paul in Romans chapter twelve, verse three: Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Paul understood that unless we see ourselves as we truly are, we will struggle to trust that we can do what He has gifted/called us to do. – I encourage/urge you to click here to read the commentary by bibleref.com for Romans 12:3 – it’s a game-changer you won’t want to miss.

The Truth About Our Journey

God used Mary to deliver Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, into the world. Through Jesus, we are given the opportunity to have a relationship with the great and holy God that Mary proclaimed in her beautiful song of praise. Do you know know Him today? If not, I invite you to read Know These Truths and find out how you can share in this life-changing faith – If you do know Him, will you please help me share these truths with others who need to know the love of Jesus?

  1. Hebrews 4;12 ↩︎
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Posted in Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Waiting

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based on the LGG Advent Study, Rejoice / w2d1

Scripture for the Journey – Luke 2:25-32; Psalm 147:1-3(3); Isaiah 61:1-3

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,29 “Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: 32 a light,for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 2:25-32 NET

As believers, we wait today for that glorious day when Jesus will come and gather His people to meet Him in the air, but until that day – we are blessed with the presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, which means God with us1. Simeon and God’s people before him waited for the Messiah’s first coming. Keep in mind we have not been told how old Simeon is or how long he has been waiting. What we are told is that he was righteous and devout and eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. We are told that the Holy Spirit was not only upon him but had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s promised Messiah. We are told that the Spirit led him to the Temple, so he was there when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the Temple to meet the requirements of the law. Finally, we are told that Simeon had the privilege of taking Jesus in his arms, at which time he gave praise to God for the long-awaited gift that would allow him to die in peace and to see God’s salvation that had been prepared not just for the Jews but for all people. Simeon clearly understood and rejoiced in the fact that this child was the promised light sent to “give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide the feet of the people into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).

Oh, how I love the story of Simeon, who was not only waiting but was looking for the promised Messiah, the hope and restoration of Israel, and the light that would shine for all people to see their way out of the shadow of death into the glorious light of salvation. Jesus is that light, and as our Savior, He is also the one Who has united us with God; and because of this, we know Him as the One who “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds,” just as the Psalmist wrote about.

In full disclosure, I have grown a bit weary lately in waiting, but a fresh look at Simeon and the hope of God’s promises being fulfilled reminded me to lift up my eyes as I wait and to remember that I belong to the One Who binds up wounds and heals the brokenhearted. – Hallelujah and amen!

Prayer of Response to the Journey

God, help me to live a righteous and devout life, committed to You above all else – faithfully watching and waiting for that glorious day when Jesus will come and gather His people to meet Him in the air2. While I wait, help me to be alert and yielded to Your Spirit’s leading just as Simeon was – so that when You come, I am where You want me to be – Thank You for the hope of Your promises and for reminding me to lift my eyes up to You. Thank You that I belong to the One who binds up wounds and heals the brokenhearted. Thank You for the presence of Your Spirit with me so that I do not wait alone. Help me to follow the words of Paul and encourage others with the truths about the rapture, for these truths will help us to not grieve hopelessly but rather to anticipate the joyful celebration of being in the presence of Jesus our Lord! – In Whose name I trust and pray – Amen 💜

The More We Know
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

The Reputation of God

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w6d2

Scripture: God’s Road Map For Our Journey / Ezekiel 36:16-28 (26-27)

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.27 I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative, and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations. Ezekiel 36:26-27

Observations and Applications

Sometimes, God’s Word leaves us wondering why certain things happen, or – as we have seen in the book of Daniel – there are visions recorded that we can’t quite understand because some things are meant to stay hidden from us. As we see in the journal page below, this is not the case with today’s passage and the unfolding events in the life of Israel, the people of God. Clearly, God was very open with what was going to happen and why –

– God was very open with what was going to happen and why –

Through Ezekiel, God makes it crystal clear to the people that His anger had been poured out on them because they had defiled their land with their “evil way of living.” It was detestable to Him, and because of this, God scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they chose to live. One would think this would have awakened them and caused them to change their lifestyles, yet, from there, it seems to have escalated, as even in the faithless lands where they were exiled, they brought shame to God’s name – to the point that He was concerned about His reputation.

God uses Israel to reveal Himself to the nations – and the same is true of believers in Christ today. God not only uses us but He has called us to be His light to the world. 🦋

The people had failed God, falling short of His glory despite the teachings they were to remember and obey, as well as the warnings God sent them along the way. So, “for the sake of His holy reputation,” God moved to magnify His great name by restoring Israel and making the nations know that He was the LORD. However, we must not miss this vital truth: God did not restore Israel for their sake but for His own. He uses Israel to reveal Himself to the nations – and the same is true of believers in Christ today. God not only uses us to make Him known but He has called us to be His light to the world.

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 5:14-16

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God created man and that He created him for His glory. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of man, according to the Bible, is simply to glorify God. – Gotquestions.org

One of the ways we glorify God is by walking faithfully in a relationship with Him. Apart from God, it is impossible to glorify His name. As we saw with the Israelites, sin separates us from God (Isa 29:2), not only hindering His glory through us but jeopardizing His reputation. Be encouraged by these words from gotquestions.org: while “sin separates us from God and makes it impossible to glorify Him on our own. – through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, our relationship with God is reconciled—our sin is forgiven and no longer creates a barrier between God and us (Romans 3:23–24).”

Since God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26–27), man’s purpose cannot be fulfilled apart from Him. King Solomon tried living for his own pleasure, yet at the end of his life he concluded that the only worthwhile life is one of honor and obedience to God (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

Gotquestions.org
Prayer Response to the Journey

Father, thank You for the reminder that this life You have given us and all that You do in and through us, and the callings You have placed on our lives are not about us – but are meant to be all for Your glory. Help us never to bring shame to Your reputation but to live as lights in this dark world— Let us heed the words of Jesus and not let our light be hidden. Help us to walk with You and talk with You and to live and speak in such a way that radiates Your love and grace to the world around us so that everyone will give You the praise and the honor due Your holy name. – In the name of Jesus – Amen.

The More We Know

Why did our journey lead us to Ezekiel? (borrowed and shared from got questions.org)

Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that: (1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty; (3) God’s Word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshiped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God’s Kingdom will come.

Key Verses:

Ezekiel 2:3-6, “He said: ‘son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says.” And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.'”

Further Reading: Romans 5:6-11

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

The Hope of His Compassion

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land/w5d3

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Daniel 9:1-19 (9); Jeremiah 25:3-12

Yet the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. Daniel 9:9 NET

Wow! I know I’ve said it before but it is worth saying again – I am loving this study of Daniel and the various Scriptures from others like Jeremiah and Peter where we get to see the interwoven tapestry of God’s fingerprints and hear His voice in both the Old and New Testaments.

I also love that Daniel is seen chasing ‘Scripture squirrels” as I do. We see it today in verse two of chapter nine, where Daniel describes how he came to understand from “the sacred books” that the number of years for the fulfilling of the desolation of Jerusalem, would be 70 years. Please excuse me for overusing the word “love” in this post but I simply love his response to the realization that the “end time” wasn’t far off. Oddly enough, his first response wasn’t shouting praises but rather what seems to have been somber, rather gut-wrenching prayer. It was a serious, sackcloth and ashes and fasting prayer. It was a fervent from the-heart prayer of praise, petition, and confession- not just for himself but for the Nation of Israel.

Daniel acknowledged God’s greatness and faithfulness. He confessed the rebellion of the people, who were unfaithful, wicked sinners who had sinned against the Lord God—the great and awesome God. Then, he cites what I call a “But GOD” moment, writing, “YET the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving—even though we have rebelled against Him.“

Over and over, Daniel cries out to God on behalf of His people, Israel. – As I read it, I could hear the depth of his sorrow over the depth of their guilt. Listen to Daniel’s confession: “We have sinned against You! … We have rebelled against You by turning away from Your commandments and standards … We have done what is wrong and wicked … We have behaved unfaithfully toward You … we have not obeyed, we have ignored the messages of the prophets, we have not turned away from our sins … We have not obeyed the LORD our God by living according to His laws that He set before us through His servants the prophets … All Israel has broken Your law and turned away by not obeying You.” Three more times he says “we have not obeyed … we have sinned and behaved wickedly.”

If you have ever heard or asked the question, “So what is sin anyway?” Daniel makes it clear in his prayer that sin is disobedience to, or breaking, the law of God. Ignoring and rebelling against the teaching of God is sin. All of this, Daniel confesses, is worthy of the calamity and humiliation that came upon Israel by God’s own doing. – Jeremiah’s words in Jeremiah 25:3-12 verify the reality that while God allowed the captivity of His people, it was because they had not listened to what God had said through the prophet, which angered the Lord their God. “Thus,” the LORD said to them, “you have brought harm on yourselves.”

Disobeying God is to “break His law,” and this is sin. Sin is deserving of God’s wrath and worthy of exile, but our hope is in this truth that Daniel proclaimed in his prayer: “The Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.” 🦋

Encouragement from the LGG Journal entry, quotes from p163 –

We all struggle with certain sins we wish we could be done with once and for all. We feel bad asking God for forgiveness for the same thing yet again. God is patient, compassionate, and merciful. There can be a sin that you struggle to forgive yourself, and you think, “There is no way God can forgive me for this!” That is a lie. Don’t allow a lie to keep you from turning to Him to ask for forgiveness and receive it. – When you are praying over a sin, keep remembering that ‘the Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5;11B).

Daniel’s desire was for God’s people to worship Him in the temple and throughout the land. His desire was for God to be honored, praised, and glorified. God’s purpose for sending His people into exile was to discipline, cleanse, and restore them in order for them to renew their relationship with Him. So they’d no longer be adulterous seeking after other gods.

God’s intention for both Old Testament and New Testament believers is that they would be a faithful light to the nations, drawing others to Him.

Prayer, Our Response to the Journey

Heavenly Father, You are full of compassion, Your mercies are new every morning, and Your faithfulness is great. Thank You that through Jesus, we can know Your forgiveness for our sins. Thank You for setting us free from captivity to sin and from the law of sin and death. May we learn from the wayward ways of Your people before us and the prayer of Daniel – that we are meant to obey You – we are not to ignore You or stay in our sin. Instead, we are to love You with all of our being – and Your Word says if we love You, we will obey You. Remove any love of sinning that we might have and replace it with an unfaltering love for You, which seeks to bring You honor and glory. – Amen

The More We Know

Be sure and visit today’s LGG Blog- for more insight.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

God’s Way Versus Our Way …

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w4d2

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Daniel 5:17-30 (23b)

For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! – Daniel 5:22-23

Observations and Applications

Every day, we make choices. I’m not talking about what’s for dinner choices, though I guess that could be a critical decision for some, but I’m referring more to this would be right vs this would be wrong decision. Decisions like, should we do this, go there, say that, watch this, hang out with them … or not? We have a 2-year-old in the family now, the ripe age of testing boundaries, which means we are often teaching him right and wrong and encouraging him to obey. Recently, at preschool, he did something that he had been told not to do. When his teacher told him he shouldn’t have done it – he replied, “I know.” So she asked him why he did it, and he answered, “I just wanted to.” It was tempting to snicker at this, but its cuteness fades when we remember the reality of today’s story about Belshazzar’s costly decision to live like he wanted rather than how he knew he should.

In our previous day’s journey, the king of Babylon’s party was suddenly interrupted by the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace. Daniel is summoned to tell the king what it means and does so, neither sugar-coating nor cajoling the king. He boldly relates what the message said, what the king could expect, and why. Yet, before the meaning was given- Daniel, in what I would call righteous indignation, courageously scolded the king with what some have described as a “scathing indictment”. He gives him a history lesson of sorts, telling him nothing new, for as a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, the king would have already known these things. Instead, Daniel said it all as a reminder that Belshazzar should have known better and chosen the way of Nebuchadnezzar. Instead, he had used the things of God for idolatrous purposes and would now, along with all of Babylon, pay for the drunken, blasphemous actions.

Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and taken Daniel and others captive, but God moved Belshazzar to honor one of those captives, and very soon He would use the Persians to conquer Babylon. God works in wondrous ways to accomplish His will.

Bibleref.com

Important and helpful commentary for understanding/appreciating this part of our journey through Daniel –

 After reminding the king about the experience of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28–33; 5:18–21), Daniel now addresses the event which God’s supernatural sign interrupted (Daniel 5:1–5).

Belshazzar’s inebriated, blasphemous actions are described as direct rebellion against “the Lord of heaven.” Though he knew about Nebuchadnezzar’s encounter with the God of Israel, Belshazzar still chose to use Jewish holy objects (Daniel 5:1–2) as toys for drinking, and tools for idolatry. Failure to learn from Nebuchadnezzar’s example was one thing, but to actively desecrate the name of Israel’s God and use His objects (Exodus 30:22–29) to worship idols was even worse.

A deep contrast can be seen in the reaction of New Testament converts in Thessalonica. When they heard the gospel, they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Belshazzar’s refusal to see what God made clear (Romans 1:18–20; John 5:39–40) displayed his arrogance. Only when that brutally direct rebuke has been made does Daniel explain why it inspired God to send a sign, and what that sign means (Daniel 5:24–28).

Scripture does not record how Belshazzar took this news. It simply notes that the king made good on his promise. Daniel is immediately dressed in finery and proclaimed the “third ruler.” Scholars believe this is because Belshazzar was acting as a regent—second-in-command—while his father, Nabonidus, the “first ruler” and true king, was away. It is remarkable that a pagan Gentile ruler would elevate Daniel, a Hebrew and captive exile (Daniel 1:3–7), to such a prominent position. However, God was working in the situation to make this happen. It’s possible the king was trying to appeal to Daniel for forgiveness. He may have thought he could appease the Lord…but it was too late. As the next verse notes, Belshazzar met his death that very night (Daniel 5:30).

Babylon had conquered Jerusalem and taken Daniel and others captive, but God moved Belshazzar to honor one of those captives, and very soon He would use the Persians to conquer Babylon. God works in wondrous ways to accomplish His will.

Prayer of Response to our Journey

Father, we have Your word and the history of others before us who, like Daniel and the Apostle Paul, have faithfully followed after You despite the challenges and dangers. Likewise, we have those who have gone before us or are around us today who have chosen the way of the world and their own desires- Please help us to learn from the message Daniel gave to Belshazzar, who, through the life of Nebuchadnezzar, knew that he should humble himself before God but instead chose to exalt himself against the Lord of heaven. Help us to remember that the choices we make always affect others and to make them in light of Your Word and Will rather than our desires or feelings at the moment. Help us to stay sober and alert, as our enemy, the devil, is always on the prowl looking for someone to devour. Thank You for the reminder that You are sovereign, ruling from Heaven, working in wondrous ways to accomplish Your will. – In the name of Jesus – Amen!

Reflection for the Journey

So, what’s your criteria when making decisions? Is it based on what feels/looks/seems good to you, or is it based on what you know is right/wrong in God’s eyes?

The More We Know About the Journey

For further reading: Luke 12:15-21

Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

Creator, Ruler of All

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w3d4

Scripture, The Road Map for Our Journey / Daniel 4:18-27 (26); Luke 18:9-14

They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules. Daniel 4:26

Can you imagine being in Daniel’s position and having to explain to the king that not only was he going to be insane for a period of time—living like a wild animal—but he also had to convey to the king that he was merely a man? Nebuchadnezzar must understand that God, or as Daniel phrases it, “Heaven” rules.

Daniel makes it clear to the king that his kingdom will be restored only when Nebuchadnezzar truly understands that the God of Heaven rules over all powers and dominions.

True power is not found in Babylon, but in Heaven. The supreme Lord is not Nebuchaadnezzar, but the Lord God.

bibleref.com/Daniel 4:26

I love the commentary found in the journal for today’s portion of our journey –

“We can easily read this and think that God is being cruel, but He is not. Instead, He is more like a loving father who is warning his child, “unless your attitude changes, I am going to have to take away the thing you love for a while until you understand.” King Nebuchadnezzar would be humbled. It would take him the full seven years to realize that it is actually God who rules and who has given him wealth and power.” – LGG Journal / Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, p109

Of course, we are not kings or rulers, but we must still live with the understanding that God in Heaven rules.

Prayer of Response for the Jurney / borrowed from p109 of the Journal

Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe and ruler of all. You give, and you take away. All of my days are in your hands. Lord, I thank you for the many blessings and gifts you have given me. I confess there are times when I am foolishly proud when I should be humble and acknowledge Your provision. Transform my proud ways that I may bring glory to You. Amen.

The More We Know About the Journey

Friends, I hope you will check out one of my favorite books, HEAVEN RULES. Two words are sometimes all it takes to upset and overwhelm us.  Words like: treatment options, work layoffs, election season, pandemic spikes, family trouble, car repairs. They take up so little room, just two little words, and yet they can fill the whole day, the whole house, our whole lives with anxiety and fear.

Heaven Rules is the two-word answer for every two-word worry. The promise we need for every wave of trouble, every assault on our peace of mind. Heaven’s rule is God’s rule: His rule over nations and nature. His rule over renegade viruses, cancer, and concerns about your marriage, your kids, your job, and everything else. The Bible says God is personally, purposefully involved in all that’s taking place here on earth. He’s reigning over each tear and scar and crisis and conflict. Heaven is ruling, always ruling. That doesn’t mean we won’t experience distress, but it does mean we can find a refuge by looking upward and letting His peace rule in our hearts.

Using the timeless book and example of Daniel as a guide, author Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth reveals how seeing our lives and world through the lens of Heaven’s rule can shield us from panic and give us renewed hope and perspective. 

Job worries. Deadline pressures. Deep regrets. Culture wars. There will always be alarms screeching. But two simple words can quiet them, calm our fears, comfort our hearts, and give us courage to press on: Heaven Rules!  I encourage you to check it out HERE

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

They Would Not Bow Down

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w3d1

Scripture: Our Roadmap for the Journey / Daniel 3:1-18, (SOAP: 17-18); 1 Peter 1:3-8

If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. 18 But if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don’t serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.”

Daniel 3:17-18. NET / KJV
Observations and Applications

When we last observed King Nebuchadnezzar,1 he had proclaimed the God of Daniel to be the God of gods and the Lord of kings. Yet, here he is threatening Daniel’s friends with ‘death by fiery furnace’ – saying, “Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?” It is doubtful that the king had truly forgotten the god of Daniel and the interpretation of his dream, but rather that the king’s proclamation of “God of gods2” wasn’t necessarily an indication of a changed heart. This is proved true in today’s journey as he unveils a giant gold statue of himself and orders everyone to bow down and worship the statue.

I remember this story being played out on the flannelgraph boards of many Sunday School classes and/or Jr. Church hours of my childhood: the powerful King Nebuchadnezzar, the golden statue, Daniel’s three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), and, of course, the fiery furnace. But what hit me as I was reading the story today is that Daniel wasn’t part of the story. Where was he? Why wasn’t he being forced to bow or die?

After digging through the Scriptures and some trusted commentaries, it appears that while the Bible never addresses where Daniel was3, the most plausible explanation is that he was away on the King’s business and not subject to the command to bow to the statue. However, his friends were there, and they faced the king’s ultimatum: to worship the gods of the Babylonians and the golden statue or die. The king not only threatened the three young men, but he questioned the power of their God. Yet, the men stood firm in their beliefs and bold in their stand against the idols, the false gods, and the King’s ultimatum.

A deep-seated faith leads to a firm foundation,
which graces us with bold courage
in the face of real and present dangers.

Me from the inside-out 🦋

They refused to bow not once but twice, assuring the king that their God could rescue them from the fiery furnace and the king’s power. For me, the most impressive and inspiring part of their response was their bold declaration that even if God did not rescue them, they would still not serve the gods of the Babylonians nor pay homage to the golden statue.

When I heard this story as a child, I’m quite sure that I did not fully comprehend the lesson with the clarity that I have today. As the LGG journal entry4 points out, “… the world is constantly pulling at us to worship false gods. We often find ourselves worshiping beauty, money, success, fame, popularity, family, politics, entertainment, etc. The truth is that these things have no eternal value. We are called to so much more?”

The journal entry goes on to say, “It is not always easy to stand firm for our faith. But like Daniel’s friends, knowing who God is and trusting His ways, no matter the outcome, allows us to persevere through trials. What we experience here on earth is not the end. We have an eternal hope waiting for us.”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

May this hope help us to stay faithful even in this faithless land. Help us to worship You with all our hearts. Over the difficult circumstances of our lives, we pray, not our will, but yours will be done. Help us know we can trust You in all situations. May how we react to difficulties and trials show the genuineness of our faith in You alone. Amen

The More We Know About the Journey

For more insight into today’s journey, be sure to check out today’s LGG Blog Post.

Would you like to share in the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? Check out the Know These Truths Link –

Know These Truths