From “The Greatest Gift Given” wk3d1 ( A Love God Greatly Study)
Read: Romans 5:1-11; SOAP: Romans 5:3-5
3Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
Reflection:
How does suffering produce endurance?
Have you experienced this in your life?
“Our hope has nothing to do with the titles we hold, the work we do, how often we volunteer, or how well-behaved our kids are.”
From the Greatest Gift, a Love God Greatly Advent Study
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1, SOAP: 1 Peter 4:10-11
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Reflection Question:
What are some of the spiritual gifts God has given you?
How can we use our gifts to bless the body of Christ?
“The gifts our good God gives us are not items to unwrap under the Christmas tree, but elements of our personality and character that make us uniquely designed to advance His kingdom.”
From: The Greatest Gift Given, a Love God Greatly Study
Read: Luke 11:1-13 and SOAP: James 1:17
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
James 1:17
“God is good, and His character does not change when our circumstances change.” Read today’s full LGG Devotional –
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 2:8
Reflection Question(s):
What makes salvation a gift from God?
No gift we could ever receive on this earth will last forever. It will become worn, run out of batteries, break, or be replaced by something new and exciting.
Read: Psalm 34:8, Psalm 84, Mark 10:18; SOAP: Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
Psalm 84:11 NLT
Reflection Question: How can it be comforting to know that God is your protector?
Although the gifts God gives us aren’t wrapped up with bows and beautiful paper, they are worth so much more than anything we will ever find under the Christmas tree.
Happy Thanksgiving ‘Season’ everyone! As we celebrate Thanksgiving, no matter what is filling your mind, turkey or shopping, football or Christmas movies, abundance or great needs, family gatherings or the loss of a loved one, remember: our thoughts can shape our outlook on the real meaning and even our experiences of the day. However, there is a word that might make the season – and perhaps even all of life – a bit more full of joy. The word is Eucharesteo, pronounced yoo-khar-is-teh’-o, which means – to be thankful. Engraved on a bracelet I wear daily – the word is never far from my mind, and always a reminder to “pursue a lifestyle of gratitude, grace, and joy that flow from giving thanks in all things“, as instructed by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18.
I had never heard the word before reading the book 1000 Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. In her book, Ann describes the word as – “the word that can change everything: Eucharisteo—it comes right out of the Gospel of Luke: ‘And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them…’ (Luke 22:19 NIV). In the original language, ‘he gave thanks‘ reads ‘eucharisteo.’ The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning ‘grace.’ Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be a gift and gave thanks. It also holds the derivative, the Greek word, chara, meaning ‘joy’ …”
In the book, Ann raises this thought-provoking question – “How do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long, and sometimes dark? What is God providing here and now?” She found the answer through the daily habit of writing down God’s gifts. She writes, “when we give thanks, we find ourselves wildly loved by God.”
“The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live…. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything….”
Truth: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
How does thinking on what is true help us overcome lies?
Truth: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32
What do you think?
Where do we find truth?
What does it mean to ‘walk in truth’?
If we want to stand firm against deceit, we must learn to walk in truth.
Me From the Inside Out 