Category: From the Beginning to Forever

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

A Rescuer

Posted on by

Based on the Love God Greatly Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w4d4

Read: 1 Kings 12:16-20 and Isaiah 53:1-9/ SOAP Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

As we continue our journey from The Beginning to the End, this one statement bears repeating: from the beginning of time, God’s plans included a “Rescuer”. He is described in Genesis 3:15 as the One who will crush the head of Satan. Satan, of course, is the enemy (the serpent) who approached Eve in the garden, tempting her to disobey (sin) God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve knew the commandment, she repeated the commandment to the serpent, but she saw that the fruit was attractive and desirable for making one wise ~ and she ate it. From that time forward, ‘man’ has needed someone to rescue them…to save them from eternal separation from God. Because as Isaiah wrote, “Our sins have separated us from God.”1

“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strikeb your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15

If you are a human being, you needed rescuing. Jesus came to save you. He saves us from sin by forgiving our sins (Luke 19:10; Acts 10:42–43; 1 Timothy 1:15). He saves us from God’s righteous punishment by justifying us with His blood (Romans 5:9). He saves us from death by giving us eternal life. He saves us from the degradation of the world by separating, empowering, and sanctifying us (Titus 3:3–8). He saves us from the devil, who deceives the world (1 John 3:8). For all these reasons and more, Jesus is rightfully worshiped as the Savior of the world (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14).

gotquestions.org/What does it mean that Jesus is the Savior?

Salvation is more than just a one-and-done ‘religious experience’ you check off a list and move on. Friends, true salvation is the beginning of a life-giving/eternity-long relationship with the one true, Triune God (Father, Spirit, and Son). The Father gave the Son, the Son gave His life to rescue/save us, and the Spirit fills us with life and power to participate in the Divine Nature.

In most superhero movies, the hero must intervene in a dangerous situation to rescue a powerless victim. At the end, the victim might exclaim, with all the force of a well-worn cliché, “You’re my hero!” In this moment, the grateful person is acknowledging that the hero has, potentially with great sacrifice, rescued him or her from mortal danger. Christians mean much the same thing when they refer to Jesus as the Savior, but on a much grander scale. In the Bible, the word Savior simply means “someone who saves someone else.” In the Old Testament, God is frequently referred to as the Savior, rescuing His people from all kinds of danger (Deuteronomy 32:15; 1 Chronicles 16:35; Psalm 18:46; 38:22). What does Jesus rescue us from? And what does He rescue us for?

To understand Jesus’ role as Savior, we must understand our own desperate situation. Humans have sinned against God, rebelling, and voluntarily separating themselves from the God of life (Romans 3:23; 5:12). Sin produces death, and so everything in our world is now dying (Romans 6:23; James 1:15). Because God is holy, He will punish sin, leading to eternal separation from Him (Matthew 10:28). Without Jesus, humans are helplessly enslaved by sin and cannot ever achieve holiness on their own (Romans 3:9–20). We were born on a one-way track to hell, rightly condemned for our sin (Ephesians 2:1–3).

Read the full answer here: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-the-Savior.html

I love this analogy, Jesus is my ‘super-hero’! For He has saved me from my sins and the death they deserved! He has rescued me from so many pits, wrong turns, the power of hell, the deception of the enemy, the desires of the sinful nature… the list is long, but the evidence is sure and certain and liberating, for I have been set free from the chains of sin and death and from the condemnation that sin brings.

He’s My Rescuer is one of my favorite songs by Rend Collective, and I couldn’t help but think of it as I was writing out my thoughts on today’s journey.

[Verse 1]
There is good news for the captive, good news for the shamed
There is good news for the one who walked away
There is good news for the doubter, the one religion failed
For the Good Lord has come to seek and save

[Chorus]
He’s our rescuer (Hey!)
He’s our rescuer (Hey!)
We are free from sin forevermore
Oh how sweet the sound (Hey!)
Oh how grace abounds (Hey!)
We will praise the Lord our rescuer

[Verse 2]
He is beauty for the blind man, riches for the poor
He is friendship for the one the world ignores
He is pasture for the weary, rest for those who strive
For the Good Lord is the way, the truth, the life
Yes the Good Lord is the way, the truth, the life

The More We Know

  1. Isaiah 59:2 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, LGG Study

So Much More Than A House

Posted on by

Based on the Love God Greatly Study, From the Beginning to Forever, w4d2

Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-17 and SOAP verse 16; (For Further Reading: 2 Samuel 7:18-29)

The Lord’s Covenant Promise to David

7 When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, 2 the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

4 But that same night the Lord said to Nathan,

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? 6 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. 7 Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’

8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! 10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me[b] for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”

17 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision.

David’s Prayer of Thanks

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed,

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?

2 Samuel 7:1-17

When we “first” read this passage, we may be surprised, wonder why, or even be appalled that God would refuse David this gesture of love and devotion. However, these words of explanation by Charles Spurgeon and others are helpful – even to those well acquainted with the Scriptures.

  • “Though the Lord refused to grant David the realization of his wish, he did it in a most gracious manner. He did not put the idea away from him in anger or disdain, as though David had cherished an unworthy desire; but he honored his servant even in the non-acceptance of his offer.” (Spurgeon)
  • God said “No” to David’s offer because David was a man of war, and God wanted a man of peace to build His temple. 1 Chronicles 22:8-10 explains this: But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight…. a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest…. He shall build a house for My name.
    • The explanation to David recorded in 1 Chronicles 22:8 came years afterward. We can surmise that for many years, David did not know the exact reason why God didn’t want him to build the temple. “It would have wounded David needlessly to have been told this at the time…. Meanwhile, David possessed his soul in patience, and said to himself, ‘God has a reason; I cannot understand it, but it is well.’” (Meyer). https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-Samuel-7/

The bottom line is that while David’s desire and reasoning were beautiful proof of David’s heart for God, God declares that it will be the other way around; God would build a house for David, one that would ultimately be the throne of Jesus, the Eternal King. As one commentator points out, “This was a greater promise than David’s offer to God because David’s ‘house’ (dynasty) would last longer and be more glorious than the temple David wanted to build.” (David Guzik)

A Branch from David’s Line

 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—
    yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:1-2

This promise from God to David is known as the “Davidic Covenant”, and it is so much bigger than God building David a ‘house’. It’s more than David’s son building God a house. Friends, this is about the promise of an eternal kingdom, one that would know no end! The ‘house’ God is promising David will include the Messiah, Jesus, God’s own Son. As we have seen thus far in our journey, from Genesis to Exodus to Samuel … and, as seen in the following passages, eventually to the New Testament God was sending a Rescuer. “The Rescuer would be a descendant of Abraham, an Israelite from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), and now from David’s family line. God’s rescue mission was still at work, and God was continuing to reveal more and more of who the Savior would be.”1

Jesse had at least eight sons (II Samuel 16:10-11), the youngest of which was David. God chose the line of this young shepherd boy to reign over Israel and ultimately to produce the King of kings: “‘Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, ‘that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth'” (Jeremiah 23:5; see Isaiah 9:6-7).

Both of Jesus‘ human parents were of the line of David (Matthew 1:1, 6; Luke 3:31), and it was well known during His ministry that Jesus was a “son of David” (Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 21:9; etc.). Before His conception, Gabriel tells Mary, “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” (Luke 1:32). Paul reminds Timothy of what this means to Christians: “Jesus, the seed of David, was raised from the dead. . . . This is a faithful saying: ‘For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him'” (II Timothy 2:8, 11-12).

“Though David was far from perfect (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalm 51), one would come who would be perfect in every way. He would be the King of Kings and lord of Lords, and He will one day rule forever as the eternal King.”2

The More We Know

David learned that God didn’t want him to build the temple, but David didn’t respond by doing nothing. According to 1 Chronicles 29:2-9, David gathered all the materials for building the temple so that Solomon could build a glorious house for God.

i. “If you cannot have what you hoped, do not sit down in despair and allow the energies of your life to run to waste; but arise, and gird yourself to help others to achieve. If you may not build, you may gather materials for him that shall. If you may not go down the mine, you can hold the ropes.” (Meyer)

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-Samuel-7/

What is the Davidic covenant?

  1. From the Beginning to Forever, p125 ↩︎
  2. From the Beginning to Forever, p125 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

A Surrendered Heart

Posted on by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w4d1

Read: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Soap verse 7; For Further Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-9

Do you have a “Saul” who or that you are mourning? What I mean is, is there a person, place, or thing – or perhaps a dream or hope that hasn’t happened or was taken away- holding you captive or back from moving on? Scripture reveals to us that Samuel did. Verse 35 of 1 Samuel 15 tells the story of Saul’s disobedience to God, and how, “Until the day he died, Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.”

Until the day he died, Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:35

If you’ve never watched or prayed and waited with parents mourning their child’s decision to turn away from God, it is hard to understand the devastation and personal responsibility they feel and the sorrow it induces. It is an awful thing that either drives them to despair and/or to their knees. Much as a parent mourns their child wandering away from God’s path, Samuel mourned for Saul’s persistent disobedience and ultimately God’s rejection of him as king. On top of that, Samuel had devoted time and service to Saul and the calling on his life, so understandably, Saul’s failure and the Lord’s rejection of him were likely a personal disappointment and defeat for Samuel as well, possibly believing that he had failed Saul. Thus, the Lord’s question and command to Samuel that we find in our journey today:

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:1 NET (KJV Version)

Having had time to mourn, God was now calling Samuel to stop mourning and “go” to the one He had selected as king in Saul’s place. Fear was Samuel’s next obstacle, as he was concerned that if he did as the Lord asked, Saul would hear about it and kill him. The Lord answered his concern, and Samuel did as the Lord told him. God’s assurance moved Samuel past his mourning and fear to obedience to God’s calling. From that obedience, Samuel meets Jesse and his sons, including David, who would one day be the successor of Saul, and the ‘root’ from which Jesus, our Rescuer, would come. Samuel assessed the brothers, beginning with Eliab, the oldest, and continuing through to the youngest. Ultimately, he chose David, the shepherd boy, the one whom God had told him to anoint, rather than the oldest, who looked more like a king. Why? Because Samuel had listened to God, who looks at the heart rather than appearance

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

As today’s journal entry by LGG reminds us, Saul looked the part on the outside, but outward appearances don’t always match what’s on the inside. Saul was more concerned with what people thought of him than with pleasing God, so God chose a different king, a young shepherd boy named David. David was anything but kingly according to his outward appearance. But he had something that Saul did not, a heart that wanted to live for God. So God raised David to be the greatest earthly King of Israel, not because David was perfect, but because he was surrendered to God.1

Friends, if you are stuck in a place of mourning or regret, fear or disobedience, disappointment, or waiting… let me ask you – “How long do you continue to stay there?” Samuel was led to David, the true and future King of Israel when he left his mourning behind and followed where God led him. Let’s ask God to search our hearts, know our thoughts, and reveal anything holding us back from His mission/desire for us. Let’s humbly and faithfully surrender to Him daily, choosing His way over our own. 💜 🙌

The More We Know

Do you know the One who looks at the heart? If not, I invite you to check out the “Know These Truths” link below:

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
  1. From the Beginning to Forever, Love God Greatly Journal, p 121 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

Listen and Obey

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w3d4

Read: Ex 20:1-21 and Deuteronomy 6:4-15; SOAP Deuteronomy 6:5

“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed, and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Read More

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

“When the Israelites had crossed through the Red Sea, God gave them rules by which to live. This is known as the law. The law was meant to reveal the people’s sin and show their need for God’s grace. It was also meant to show them what a holy life looks like.”

From the Beginning to Forever/p107

These rules and this message are specifically to the people of God. A message that emphasized the importance of God’s people loving Him. It wouldn’t be an easy command to keep because it wasn’t simply a feel-good type of love. For Israel, God’s children, this love required every part of them ~all of their mind, all of their being, and all of their strength. They were not only to obey the commandment to love like God with their whole being, but they were also not to forget the commandment. Again, not as easy as it may sound because they weren’t just to obey the commandment(s), but they were to “keep them in mind, teach them to their children, speak of them (verse 6) all throughout the day and evening. They were to be written down and put in places where they would be seen and remembered easily.

God knew that the people could never fully uphold the law. This is why they needed a Rescuer.

From the Beginning to Forever/p107

So, why were these words of instruction so important? Why is there a mandate to remember them, talk about them, and teach them to the children? The answer is found, at least in part, in Deuteronomy 6:12-15 – where we read: be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name. 14 “You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, 15 for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth. However, David also addresses the purpose/benefit of remembering the commandment(s) when he wrote: “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)

Obedience isn’t always easy. My grandson experienced that at preschool today when he ended up in time-out more than a time or two. For a three-year-old, he is typically a very well-behaved, kind, and respectful little boy (and, for the record, I would say that even if I weren’t his Oma ☺). You see, it wasn’t that he didn’t know how to obey; it was that he got caught up in what he saw or wanted to do, and he forgot the importance of remembering, listening, and obeying.

Friends, let’s ask God to help us keep His Word in mind, to teach His Word(s) to our children, speak of them (verse 6) all throughout the day and evening. Let’s write them down and put them in places where they will be seen and remembered easily. Let’s be ‘all-in’ in our relationship with God, making every effort to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength.

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

Dry Ground

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w3d3

Read: Ex 14:19-31; SOAP: Ex 12:13 / (for further reading Ex 12:33-37; Ex 14:5-18)

Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.

21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted[a] their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

29 But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 14:19-31

As I read through this the first time, all I could think about was how the Israelites must have felt. The amazement at the dry ground…fear at the walls of water on their right and left…and undoubtedly at the army of Egyptians that pursued them. Then I read through it again and found myself jotting down phrases and verses that flooded my thoughts.

“If God is for us, who can stand against us?”

“Lean not on your own understandings.”

“Nothing is impossible for God!”

Trusting in God is essential to following Him wherever He leads. 🦋

We must always be ready to walk by faith and not by sight.

“Even the wind and seas obey Him.”

Listen and obey ~ right away, all the way, and in a cheerful way.

God is all-powerful! When we see this, we will fear (respect Him) and believe in His greatness and in those He places over us.

“My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty there’s nothing my God cannot do!”

Was it amazement or awe, fear or excitement, was adrenaline pushing them forward, or caution holding them back? Whatever they were feeling, Moses had stretched out his hand toward the sea, and the LORD had driven the sea apart by a strong east wind all that night, and He made the sea into dry land. The water was divided, and God’s people were delivered through the waters and saw that their pursuers were dead. Scripture records that they saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians; they feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.

Friends, as today’s journal entry so beautifully puts it: “When we come to a crossroads in life, when it seems as if there’s no other option but defeat, lean on the power of God. Our job, like the Israelites’, is to be still, lay all our problems before the Almighty One, and wait for His deliverance. It will come, in His good time.”

From the Beginning to Forever/journal p103
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

The Power of the Blood

Posted on by

based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w3d2

Read: Ex 12:1-13; SOAP: Ex 12:13 / (for further reading Ex. 7:1-7)

The First Passover

12 While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4 If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.

6 “Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal. 8 That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal—including the head, legs, and internal organs—must be roasted over a fire. 10 Do not leave any of it until the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten before morning.

11 “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed, wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:1-15

Praise God, this side of the cross, we do not have to literally paint blood over the door frames of our home. We do not have to find a spotless lamb and go through all of the steps required of our ancestors. Why? Because our lamb was provided by God from Heaven, He gave His life on a sinner’s cross that was meant for us, and now He dwells in us through the Spirit we received from God. Jesus Christ is the spotless Lamb who takes away the sins of the world1, and His righteousness has been placed on all who have, by faith, believed in Him, the risen Lamb of God! It is by His blood and righteousness that the wrath of God passes over us.2

Friends, are you covered with the soul cleansing blood of the Passover Lamb? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?

The More We Know

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pay close attention to this. I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh, and your brother, Aaron, will be your prophet. 2 Tell Aaron everything I command you, and Aaron must command Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country. 3 But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. 5 When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”

6 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. 7 Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.

Exodus 7:1-7

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Friend, if you have never put your faith in Jesus, you are in danger, for only those who are covered in the blood of the lamb will be spared from the wrath of God. I would love to introduce you to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Please visit the Know These Truths link below to learn more about the Lamb of God, whose blood can save your soul.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

He Kept His Eyes Up

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w2d5

Read: Genesis 37:9-11,23-24 and 50:15-21; SOAP: 50:20

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20

“Joseph was saying, ‘You could have tried everything, but it would still not have worked because God is faithful.’”

LGG BLOG/FRIDAY, OCT 10, 20251

Joseph kept his eyes “up” – past the people and the circumstances of his life. This isn’t an easy task; it takes discipline, and Joseph had it. From his dreams to the pit his brothers left him in, being sold as a slave to Potiphar, falsely accused of attempted rape, imprisoned by Potiphar, forgotten by those in the king’s household who pledged to help him, and eventually reunited with the brothers who had left him for dead, Joseph kept his eyes on God, and it affected all that he did and said.

This isn’t to say that the betrayal by his brothers, the false accusations by Potiphar’s wife, being left in prison, or even seeing his brothers again was easy. Yet what he says here to his brothers…is a good indicator that he had seen God’s hand at work in his life all along the way.

Scripture tells us that Joseph excelled at his duties…became one of Potiphar’s most trusted servants…and was put in charge of his household. Even Potiphar could see that, whatever Joseph did, God looked favorably on him and he prospered in all that he did. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he fled from her, leaving his cloak behind, and was then accused of attempting to rape her, and he was put in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. It was actually his time in prison that allowed him the opportunity to interpret Pharaoh’s dream and find favor in his eyes, which positioned him right where he needed to be to save his family when the famine hit.

Based on Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph predicted seven years of bountiful harvests followed by seven years of severe famine in Egypt and advised the king to begin storing grain in preparation for the coming dearth (Genesis 41:1–37). For his wisdom, Joseph was made a ruler in Egypt, second only to the king. Joseph was in charge of storing up food during the years of plenty and selling it to Egyptians and foreigners during the years of famine (Genesis 41:38–57). During these years of plenty Joseph had two sons—Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 41:50–52).

gotquestions.org

Of course, this is the abbreviated version of Joseph’s story, but I think most would agree that even in its abbreviated form, it is quite a testimony to the sovereign and intimate workings of God in Joseph’s life. Which is undoubtedly the reason Joseph was able to say to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.“

Oh, friends, may we keep our eyes on the Lord our God. May we not lose sight of what He has done and is doing in, for, and around us. May He be the one that we love and trust above all others, so that others see that it is God at work in our lives. May we keep our eyes up on the Him, so that neither the past nor the present nor the future shake us. Whether we are facing plenty or want, may our hope still burn through the dead of the night. May we keep our eyes on the One who has overcome the great enemy of this world, and may we never forget all the battles He’s won and that the work that He has finished cannot be undone. May we join the song of Heaven and sing: “Holy holy, holy is the Lord!

Keep Your Eyes Up

[Verse 1]
I look to You, not the left or the right
You are my vision, You are the prize
I’m grounded in love, my fear’s taking flight
And hope is still burning through the dead of the night

[Chorus]
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (
To the One that I love, the One that I trust, Jesus
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up

[Verse 2]
Your eyes full of fire, Your face like the sun
Your robe fills the temple from all the battles You’ve won
And there’s nothing to fear ’cause You’ve overcome
The work that You finished cannot be undone

[Chorus]
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Yes, I do, yeah)
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Oh, yeah)
To the One that I love, the One that I trust, Jesus
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up

[Bridge]
And when the whole Earth is shaking
Heaven keeps singing
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
And when the whole Earth is shaking
Oh, Heaven keeps singing
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Yes, I will sing holy, holy, holy is the Lord

[Chorus]
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Yes, I do, yeah)
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Oh, yeah)
To the One that I love, the One that I trust, Jesus
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Yes, I do, yeah)
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up (Oh, yeah)
To the One that I love, to the One that I trust, Jesus
I keep my eyes up, I keep my eyes up

(Keep My Eyes Up/Ryan Ellis)2
The More We Know

Do you know the God of Joseph? Let me introduce you to Him~

https://mefromthensideout.wordpress.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

For more insight into today’s journey, be sure and read today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

His Name is Changed

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w2d4

Read: Genesis 27:19-29 and 35:9-15; SOAP: Genesis 35:11

Then God said to him, “I am the Sovereign God. Be fruitful and multiply! A nation–even a company of nations–will descend from you; kings will be among your descendants!

Genesis 35:11

As we move on our journey, remember that God promised to make Abraham’s family a great nation. Here we meet one of Isaac’s sons, Jacob. Jacob’s name means ‘deceiver,” and he lives up to his name.

On our journey this week, we have been introduced to or reacquainted with Abraham and his son Isaac, and today’s passage introduces the third patriarch, Jacob. Jacob was one of the sons of Isaac and a twin brother to Esau. If you’ve read their story, then you know that in his younger years, Jacob was both a manipulator and a deceiver. Not only does he manipulate and deceive his twin, Esau, by tricking him into giving Jacob his birthright for a measly bowl of stew, but he also tricks and manipulates his father, Isaac. into giving him the blessing of the firstborn son, which was rightfully Esau’s.

The LGG Journal entry says it best:

Jacob is one of the most unlikely people God could use to bring glory to His name and from whom the promised Rescuer would come. But God is in the business of doing the impossible.

Later in Genesis 35, God meets Jacob and changes his name to Israel. God reaffirms the command to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply as well as the promise to Abraham that his family would be a great nation.

God would keep His promise and provide Jacob with twelve sons. These twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel. Here again, God gives us another puzzle piece to find the Savior. Now we know that He would be an Israelite.

You may read this and feel similarly to Jacob. You may feel like the most unlikely candidate for God to use. Remember, you were born with a purpose, and God uses the most unlikely of people, places, and things in His story of redemption.

LGG Journal, From the Beginning to Forever/p181

Because I know all too well who I was before God changed my name, every time I read this story, I am reminded how good it is to know that God redeems even the worst of us! Even me.

Friends, if you read this and find yourselves feeling like the most unlikely candidates God to use – remember these final words of encouragement from today’s journal:

Remember, you were born with a purpose, and God uses the most unlikely of people, places, and things in His story of redemption.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study

A Beautiful Love Story ~ of Faith and Provision

Posted on by

Based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w2d3

Read: Genesis 22:1-14; SOAP verse 13

1Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. ‘Abraham!’ God called. ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Here I am.’

2Take your son, your only son — yes, Isaac, whom you love so much — and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.’

3The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5Stay here with the donkey,’ Abraham told the servants. ‘The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.’

6So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together,

7Isaac turned to Abraham and said, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘We have the fire and the wood,’ the boy said, ‘but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’

8God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,’ Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

9When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.

11At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Yes,’ Abraham replied. ‘Here I am!’

12Don’t lay a hand on the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.’

13Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the Lord will provide’). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’

Genesis 22:1-14 NLT or KJV

What a beautiful love story of faith and provision we see in Abraham’s life and his ongoing encounters with God.

Abraham had placed his faith in God many years before this experience. He had remained in, and even grown in, his habit of listening for and responding to God obediently. Because of this, when the call came for Abraham to sacrifice his son – the son God had promised him – the son through whom the ‘rescuer’ would come -the son through whom would come a great nation and make the name of Abraham great … he did not hesitate to answer obediently, despite what it meant. Keep in mind, Abraham’s obedience wasn’t because he knew the exact outcome; he obeyed because he loved God more than family and self, and because he knew he could trust Him.

Abraham had not forgotten God’s promises. He had even seen some fulfilled, and he lived and hoped accordingly.

Me from the Inside~out🦋

Friends, throughout the six decades of my life, I have seen the hand of God. I have known His goodness, seen His protection, been blessed by His provision, been comforted by His compassion, experienced the realities of His promises, and in both the chaos and fear of anxious-filled moments or the unsettled stillness of a long night, I have heard His ‘still small voice’. Each event has drawn me closer to Him and helped (even caused) me to trust Him more. Don’t get me wrong, doubts and fears still arise – like when I can’t see a way out of a problem, or a health crisis arises; and I’m still prone to drag my feet when He leads in a direction out of my comfort zone… but this one thing I know, like Abraham, I may not know the exact outcome of any situation, but I know I can trust in the name of the Lord my God.

My prayer for you, dear readers, is that you will remember how He has shown Himself to you. I pray you will watch for Him daily and listen for His still small voice. May we, like Abraham, respond to His call, whatever it may be, with obedience, trusting that God is in complete and perfect control.

The More We Know

Consider these words of encouragement from today’s LGG Journal entry:

“While God never again asked anyone to kill their child, He was willing to sacrifice His very own Son, Jesus Christ, to rescue and redeem humanity from their sin. He gave of His very self, perfectly paying the price we deserve.

Do you trust God to the point that you’d be willing to give up everything, even the things you value most? As God did not hold anything back for us, we, too, are to be willing to give everything to Him.”

LGG Journal/From the Beginning to Forever, p77

Do you know the God of Abraham? I invite you to read, Know These Truths, at the link below.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

Believing God Even When …

Posted on by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w2d2

Read: Genesis 15; SOAP: verses 5-6

Have you ever doubted God’s Word or promises? Have you ever found yourself thinking you need to help God out? Have you ever grown tired of waiting for God to work something out or to do what you thought should be done…or expected Him to do? Have you ever manipulated situations to move things along in the ‘right’ or ‘quicker’ direction/outcome?

Well, I know I could answer yes to all of the above. I’m guessing, from the number of conversations I’ve had with others, that most of you could answer yes as well, at least to some of them. Waiting isn’t easy…trusting isn’t easy (at least not always). ..but God is always working things together for our good. He always hears, always cares, always knows/does what’s best, and He is always right on time. He is always able, always trustworthy, and never needs our help… But friends, we always need His – and we are wise to seek Him, which, if you notice, is precisely what Abram did.

As Abram waited for God to deliver on His promises to give him a son, even though He was 75 years old and Sarai, his wife, was barren. It wasn’t easy. Abram could not see how it was going to work out, but instead of giving up or turning away from God, he not only trusted God but he also sought Him. I love how Bibleref.com explains it: “Abram takes the opportunity to ask his hard question to the source of his hope.” The commentary goes on to explain, “Sometimes asking a hard question in prayer is the most faithful step a believer can take. Acknowledging our own limitations to God, while asking for His wisdom, is a much better approach than suffering in silence or ignorance. At times, admitting that we cannot understand God’s plan is part of submitting ourselves to it. As we’ll see through Abram’s example,” and as I have found to be true in my own life, “God is always fully faithful to keep His Word.”

One of the most beautiful things I’ve learned from the times of waiting, or stretching my faith to believe the impossible, or, like Abram, wondering how the seemingly impossible would or could even happen, is that God is a very personal God who is intimately involved in our lives. He lovingly, compassionately takes the time to listen and to assure us (and reassure us) that He can do what He says He will do. It is in the waiting and the watching – and the walking by faith instead of ‘sight’, that our trust in and relationship with God is strengthened and grown.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5

Friends, may we learn to turn to the Lord when doubts arise. May we lay the doubt at His feet and trust that He is faithfully carrying out His promises and perfect plan.

 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6