Paul has laid out three distinct steps for the believers – rejoice, pray, and “in everything” give thanks. Don’t miss his conclusion though – this isn’t just a teaching that he thinks is important, he clarifies that this is God’s will for us [believers], in Christ Jesus.
YOUR TURN: (IF YOU MISSED YESTERDAY’S POST YOU WILL WANT TO GO BACK AND READ IT) – SO, IN LIGHT OF YESTERDAY’S POST, WHY DO YOU THINK PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDE REJOICING AND PRAYING BEFORE HE SAYS GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?
A simple but thought provoking definition of gratitude. Give it some thought – it will be useful with tomorrow’s post. Until then make it a blessing to someone today by expressing gratitude or kindness to them – It might just be the spark they need.
Totally dated/outdated song but still as true today as it was when we/I sang it in the 70s –
According to Paul, true thankfulness seems to overflow, not from the circumstances of our life, but from the FAITH we have been taught and placed in CHRIST. When we allow that faith to grow and deepen “into Him” then it becomes unshakable and thankfulness abounds in spite of life’s circumstances. –
MefromtheNsideout –
YOUR TURN: HOW CAN YOU LET THE ROOTS OF YOUR FAITH GROW DEEP INTO JESUS? I invite you to share your answer in the comment bar
“God is good!” We say it all the time, right? Well, we say it a lot – especially when things are going well – right? Admittedly, it is easier to say when things are going our way – but we may need to let the truth of this quote by Ann Voskamp sink in and stir our hearts to praise Him even when life doesn’t seem “good”. Here’s a recent example in my own life … as we waited for the ambulance to come the evening mom fell and broke her femur – in the midst of all the other thoughts going through my mind came this one thought – God thank you that she had her phone with her this time! It was a conversation she and I had had many times because she never kept it with her or knew where it was … but on this late afternoon, when I was out for the evening and most likely wouldn’t have checked on her until much later – she had it with her and I found myself saying over and over – in the midst of the trauma that was unfolding … in the middle of all the unknown that was ahead of us – God you are so good to have had her phone with her… and that one praise led to a host of others. You are so good to have given us friends/family that could get to her quicker than we could … You are so good to have kept her from hitting her head, just inches from a massive table leg that would have surely done damage … You are so good to have kept the spinal injury from being more serious … The ‘declaration’ became a saving grace as we waited out that long night in the ER …
YOUR TURN – HOW HAVE YOU SEEN HIS GOODNESS IN THE MIDST OF THE NOT SO GOOD? Feel free to share your response in the comment bar
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:1-4 ESV
In this portion of his letters to the Philippians believers Paul was encouraging them to live in unity with each other. So important was their unity that he equated it with completing his joy, as one who had mentored them in the faith. When believers are motivated by the same love, the love of Jesus Christ – when they are motivated by the same purpose or cause, salvation for those who are lost – when they are full of compassion and affection for each other …. when we think more about someone else more than we do ourselves – only then will there will be true joy in the midst of us all, and perhaps especially for those who are teaching or shepherding us in the faith. This type of unity won’t always be easy but Paul gives the perfect pattern for success as he encourages the believers to consider their attitude … namely, the same attitude of Christ (vs 5-8) who, though He was God, didn’t consider equality to God something to be grasped … instead He took on human flesh, and in the form of a servant He humbled Himself – even to the point to death on a cross +
For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify [praise and worship] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-6
I recently purchased a sign for my home with a saying that is now engrained in my mind and is etching it’s way into my heart. “Fall is proof that change is beautiful”. Perhaps you’ve heard it before but it is new to me and I love it. While I am a creature of habit and don’t necessarily go looking for change, it has never really bothered me – with the exception of senseless or absurd change – but that’s a discussion for another day. I think the reason this statement grabbed at my heart and ended up in my shopping cart is because many people in my life either battle change or are weathering the storm of age and change can almost be detrimental to them. Somehow this writes a different story though, maybe not for all change but it is certainly true of the change that comes with fall, especially here in my native West Virginia. God bedazzles the hillsides and the mountaintops year after year with extraordinary colors that are great competition for my beloved green buds of spring or the flower filled yards of summer. I’m not a fan of snow. However, despite the chaos it can cause, I must admit, even it can be beautiful when it is stretched out across the hills and valleys like a down-comforter piled high upon the earth.
As I have contemplated the truth of the statement on my new sign, I began to realize that in actuality it could be said of every season – for to those who adore the snow, or the beautiful colors of spring and summer the meaning would no doubt take on the same wonder it has for me when applied to fall. However, it also strikes me that God’s Word offers the same truthful reality that change is beautiful. After all, was it not His spoken word that brought creation into being?1 The dark sky lit with stars and a captivating full moon, or the blue sky and its dazzling display of fluffy clouds, or the billowing waves of the ocean riding in on the shore. John refers to Christ as being the Word that was with God in the beginning and then later says that same Word became flesh and dwelt with man on the earth – and boy, did that bring some beautiful change and hope to a lost and dying world. Because, as John goes on to write, “we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.”2 That grace and truth changed everything!3 It set the captives free4 and has turned darkness into light,5 and death into life 6– for those who believe.7 Which brings us to our verse for today – and the written Word of God, which Paul says was given for our instruction and our encouragement through the Scriptures to not only help us endure but so that we might have HOPE. For me, the change that comes with the seasons is the constant reminder for believers that God, our God, is radiantly beautiful and this is made clear through His creation8. Likewise, the change that comes through His written Word in us9 changes us from the inside-out10 and by it we grow into radiant lights11, living testimonies12, savory salt13, and beautiful messengers of the good news14 that brings faith, hope, and love to the world.15
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Father, You are good. You are Holy, righteous, and true – and You are my God! Your WORD is eternal, bringing life and health and peace to all who hear and believe. For those who have never heard, I pray they will hear and believe even today! For those who have heard BUT NEVER BELIEVED, I pray You will melt their hearts of stone – that they might believe and be saved. For those without a messenger will You open their eyes to Your creation – for Your Word makes clear that everything You’ve made displays Your invisible qualities – Your eternal power and divine nature – so that NO ONE has an excuse for not knowing You. Raise up messengers to go in Jesus’ Name and translators to translate in Word or print and supporters who will send and pray. All of this to Your eternal glory and the salvation of the lost. – … Father, for those who have both heard and believed but have turned away to the right or to the left and find themselves wandering in a wilderness, stuck in a pit, swallowed up by the world’s ways, or bound again by a yoke of slavery – will you please open the eyes and ears of their hearts Lord – to hear You, the One who is their faithful Shepherd, who has left the 99 to find them. Help them to reach out for Your rod and staff and to walk free of their chains and all that binds them and keeps them from You. – Again, all of this for Your eternal glory and the redemption of Your people. Amen in Jesus’ Name and Power!
God – My Father – YOU ARE GOOD! How sweet it is to wake to the knowledge of You … to the nearness of You … To the HOPE of all You have promised … and To KNOW that I AM YOURS!
This! Yes, THIS is LIFE and BREATH and JOY and PEACE and STRENGTH for each new day! – me, from the inside-out
This week, our reading (from the LGG Study, Our Security for Eternity) focuses on a section in John explaining how Jesus is the Bread of Life. Read Exodus 3, 14, and 16 and notice or record the similarities you find in these chapters to our reading in John regarding how God displays control over nature, specifically water, and how He provides bread for His people.
Our Memory/Focus verse for the week is John 6:35, where Jesus refers to Himself as the bread of life. Come along with me on the journey this week and let’s explore the truth to this name of our Savior. Let’s dig deeper to see what it means and to understand how it applies to us.
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Remember, the last time we saw Jesus He was headed to Galilee, where so many Gentiles lived, where He would share the message about the Kingdom of God. A message that would bring light to the people living in darkness, a fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy.
“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
Matthew 4:16-17 and Isaiah 9:1-2
According to Bibleref.com, by now “Jesus is living in Capernaum, a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, and is actively pursing His ministry of preaching the Gospel message. As Matthew shares here, part of the pursuit was finding others to minister with Him, to learn from Him, and to “follow Him”. Before you read today’s passage, you may enjoy knowing that bibleref.com commentary writes, “this wasn’t the first time Jesus met Peter and Andrew.” For more details read John 1:35-42.
The First Disciples
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Crowds Follow Jesus
23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.
As I read through this passage several things jumped out to me. I imagine they caught your attention too. They are repetitive or similar in nature, which is a form of writing typically used to capture your attention or make a point, or both. Matthew uses the technique once in verses 18-22 and then again between between the two segments 18-22 and 23-25. Let’s take a look –
In verses 18 and 21, Jesus saw.
In verses 20 and 22, those He called followed and they did so without hesitating.
In 18-22 we read that the brothersfollowed and in 23-25 we read that the crowdsfollowed.
Don’t you love the phrase, Jesus saw? Notice though, Jesus didn’t just see the brothers and keep walking – he stopped and called them to follow along with Him. He, no doubt, could see that they were busy – Peter and Andrew, actively throwing nets into the sea, James and John repairing their nets, implying that they intended to catch more fish. Their current positions did not keep Jesus from saying “follow me” nor did it keep the brothers from following. I love that Jesus took the time to see and call them, but I am equally moved and actually – a bit convicted – by the fact that the brothers did not hesitate to stop what they were doing and follow Him.
They weren’t the only ones to follow Jesus. Notice in verses 23-25 that others followed Him not because they had been invited but because of what He was doing as He traveled through Galilee. He was preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom and He was healing those who were sick. He had captured their attention with both His words and His actions. He was ministering to both body and soul and they were captivated. They were so captivated by Him that they were telling others and the crowds continued to grow and the message that Jesus had come to deliver began to spread like wild-fire.
As disciples of Jesus in 2022 may we, without hesitation, follow the One who called us. May we learn from Him, and like Jesus, may we see and invite others to join us in the mission.
Me From the Inside Out 