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Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, The Promised Messiah, Uncategorized

So Great A Love

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read: Matthew 8:14-17; John 9:1-7; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 / SOAP – Isaiah 53:3-6

He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

Isaiah 53:3-6

There are several passages to read to day but none very long and all of them examples of Christ taking the infirmities, griefs, weaknesses… sorrows, pains, and sufferings from others. It was an action born out of yielding to the Father’s will and of love for those He came to save, including us.

I would encourage you to read the verses out loud and slowly. Then read them again and replace the pronouns “we” and “our” with ‘I” and “my.” Let it soak in until you can taste and see the love and goodness of our God and Savior. This passage is a perfect demonstration of God’s love and faithfulness to us! It is the vividness of the depth and riches of His love as He poured out on Christ the wrath and punishment that so clearly belonged to us! Oh the grace and mercy we see played out in His Word when we pay attention, when we read, not just with our eyes, but with our mind and heart engaged in the unfolding love story. It is then we see that He didn’t suffer at His own doing but because all of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have chosen our own paths over God’s. We have turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. We’ve seen Him despised, and we have not cared. Yet, even still He willingly carried our weaknesses and was weighed down by our sorrows. His troubles were not a punishment from God or for His own sins but rather it was our sin and rebellion that caused Him to be wounded. As Isaiah wrote, “The Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.”

Oh the sweet deep love of Jesus who willing took our place and what great and faithful love our God continues to lavious on us without fail. I don’t think I will ever completely understand it, but oh what it does for my mind and soul to read these truths and others like them and to know the trustworthy and committed characters of our God and Savior. When we see them for who they are and what they’ve done our natural application of the Scriptures will be to respond in praise, worship, and prayer. – To the eternal glory of our God and King!

Going Further

The Suffering Servant: Is the “The Suffering Servant” prophecy in Isaiah 53 about Jesus?

Man-of-sorrows: https://www.gotquestions.org/man-of-sorrows.html

Despised and Rejected: https://www.gotquestions.org/despised-and-rejected.html

Bore our Griefs: https://www.gotquestions.org/surely-borne-griefs-carried-sorrows.html

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

Jesus, The Perfect Sacrifice

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Read: Leviticus16; Hebrews 10:1-12 / SOAP; Hebrews 10:1-12

By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again—sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God,

Hebrews 10:10-12

Leviticus 16 is a tough but interesting and enlightening read, worthy of your time. However, realizing some will forego the chapter and zero in on the SOAP passage, I am sharing some commentary from gotquestions.org that I found helpful in seeing and understanding the provision of “the first” sacrifice and the beauty of “the second.” However, to see the true beauty we must read the full passage from Hebrews 10 –

For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. 2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 So when he came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.
6 “Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.
7 “Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come—it is written of me in the scroll of the book—to do your will, O God.’”

8 When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then he says, “Here I am: I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first to establish the second. 10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again—sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, Hebrews 10:1-12

Stop and Reflect: How does reading this make you feel? share your answers in the comments

I personally love that Jesus emphasizes that He came to do the will of God. By doing the will of God, Christ was doing away with the yearly sacrifices that were to be reminders of the people’s sins but never a true and lasting payment. Only Jesus, the true and perfect sacrifice can take away our sins “once and for all.” But don’t miss the icing on the cake, so-to-speak – because Jesus carried out the Father’s will with His body and His blood we, who have believed, are made Holy through Him – no longer separated from God.

Going Further: Be sure and check out today’s LoveGodGreatly blog post

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, The Promised Messiah

Jesus Suffered For Us

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Isaiah 52:13-53:12 / SOAP: Isaiah 53:5

He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.

Isaiah 53:5

I don’t know that there is any verse in the Bible that can make clear to us what Christ did for us. This is the verse that makes it personal, that reminds us it wasn’t just something Jesus did to satisfy God. I challenge you to think about all the wicked, evil, ungodly things you’ve ever said or done or thought. Now reread the verse but read it like this … He was wounded because of ‘my’ rebellious deeds, crushed because of ‘my’ sins he endured punishment that made ‘me’ well because of his wounds ‘I’ have been healed. Let that sit in your soul and mind for a minute. Be still and know what your God and your Savior have done for you. Ask yourself what it means to you? What should your response be?

Words of Worship

 O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean
in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
is the current of Thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward
to Thy glorious rest above.

2 O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
changeth never, nevermore!
How He watcheth o’er His loved ones,
died to call them all His own;
how for them He intercedeth,
watcheth o’er them from the throne.

3 O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
love of every love the best;
’tis an ocean vast of blessing,
’tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
’tis heav’n of heav’ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory,
for it lifts me up to Thee.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #321

Going Further

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Advent, Advent, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, The Promised Messiah

Son of David or of God?

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 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

Matthew 22:42

We know and celebrate Jesus as the Son of God, but in today’s reference, and many other places in the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the “son of David.” Jesus even says of Himself, “I am the root and the descendant of David …” in Revelation 22:16, identifying Himself as both the creator (root) of David and David’s descendant. Only Jesus can claim both titles because He alone is the true and living Son of God come down to earth in the flesh – just as God promised David through the prophet Samuel.

The title “Son of David” is more than a statement of physical genealogy. It is a Messianic title. When people referred to Jesus as the Son of David, they meant that He was the long-awaited Deliverer, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

gotquestions.org

Our traditional Christmas celebrations are centered around the nativity. We talk of Mary and Joseph and others like Elizabeth and Zechariah or Anna and Simeon who are all part of the narrative. We sing of the baby in a manger, of shepherds and the angels on the night of His birth, and of the wise men who visited him from the East, and these are all good and true parts of the story worthy of rejoicing in. However, in recent years, I have grown to love this season of Advent – the time leading up to the celebration, a time when we look forward to the nativity by remembering God’s promise of a Messiah to His people and, ultimately, the world. It is a time of hope, peace, joy, and love coming down to earth in the flesh, Jesus – the Light and Savior of the world. Advent is a time of remembering that while Jesus is fully God, He is also the promised Messiah, the “son of David.” Combining the history of this long-awaited Messiah with the sweet baby boy in the manger has helped me more fully appreciate and celebrate Christmas for who and what it’s really about. The twinkling lights, the music, the presents, and childlike wonder are always going to tug at my heart of nostalgia and childlike delight – but the Advent will forever move me in awe and wonder of God’s love and fulfilled promise the Messiah – Immanuel – God with us!

May we press on faithfully in the observance of Advent and draw near with hearts of worship and wonder worthy of our God and Savior.

Going further

Be sure and check out today’s blog post by the LGG Team

Reflections on the journey

Who do you say Jesus is?

Posted in Advent, Advent, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, LGG Study, The Promised Messiah

Messengers

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Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-3; Malachi 3:1; Mark 1:1-13 / SOAP: Mark 1:1-2

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,

Mark 1:1-2

We may not always know or specifically see what the next trial or blessing will be but we can rest assured that they are coming and that God is preparing us for them along the way. We must also remember that Christ has called us, much like God did John – to “prepare the way” for more disciples. Consider Christ’s words to the disciples in Matthew 28:19, when He commissioned them to go into all the world and share the message about/from Christ, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are the commissioned messengers of today. For more insight on what this means read today’s devotional from the LGG Team –

Prayer of Response

Father, thank You that you are a God of purpose – interactively involved in our life. Thank You for going ahead of us and preparing the way and for using us to prepare the way for others. Help us to be faithful to the call upon our lives. Tn Jesus’ Name Amen!

Reflections on the Journey

God is always preparing us for what He has for us – whether that be trials, blessing, or meeting Jesus for the first time. How is God working in you today to prepare you for what is to come?

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

The Hope of Israel

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Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7 / SOAP: Isaiah 9:6-7

For a child has been born to us,
a son has been given to us.
He shoulders responsibility and is called
Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His dominion will be vast, and he will bring immeasurable prosperity.
He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

In our larger passage, verses two through five are a message from the prophet Isaiah that tells of a time when God will send light back to Israel. War will cease and Israel’s enemies will no longer rule over them. Verses six and seven tell us how that will happen.

Oh the beauty of a promise kept and of hope given. Through God’s Word we have seen the child, the son that Isaiah spoke of, born to a virgin who called His name Emmanuel. We have seen Him on a cross bearing the weight of sins that belonged to the world. We have watched as God let Him die and listened as He cried in agony, “My God, My God – why have You forsaken Me?” We’ve peered into the tomb with Mary and the others to see the grave clothes but no body and then watched as He later ascended into heaven. Perhaps we’ve even doubted with Thomas but then realized the reality of His presence and cried out as Thomas did, “My Lord, and my God!” By faith we now believe that He sits at the right hand of God’s throne interceding on our behalf. And by faith we believe and wait with great anticipation for His promised return. Yes, oh yes! There is beauty in a promise kept and that beauty comes in the hope, peace, and strength that come from knowing Him .

Feel free to share your thoughts (observations, application …) about today’s passage – in the comment section
Reflections on Today’s Journey
  • Who is Jesus to you?
  • Why is He such an important person?
  • Why do so many people still follow Him?
Going Further

For more insight on today’s reading be sure and ready today’s blog from the LGG Team

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Thanksgiving

A Promise of Hope

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It’s Tuesday friends and one day closer to the Thanksgiving Holiday and some time off with family and friends. If you’re like my daughters and are already enjoying a nice week-long break – I pray it is off to a good start. 🙂 Our new advent study, The Promised Messiah, begins next Monday (Nov.27) but for now let’s continue through our journey of Scriptures that prompt praise and worship for all God is and does.

 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:28
What is the promise?

The promise is, for those who are saved, all things will indeed work together for good. “All things” should be taken to mean each and every circumstance one might experience, even pain or suffering. “Work,” or “work together,” must be understood in light of God taking action in the world. He is the one who causes all things to work together or, perhaps, works in and through all circumstances toward a specific end. What is that end? “Good.”

Bibleref.com

From Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers to Jesus hanging on the cross for our sins this truth/promise brings us hope as it is played out in the lives of those who came before us and certainly in our own trouble or regrets. Is there anything in your past that you would do over if you could. Are there decisions you made then that have adversely affected your now? Take some time right now to remember or grasp hold of the truth from this verse of promise and hope – perhaps for the very first time. I used to think it said, “And we know all things work together for good…” and I remember the day and the place when I realized what it really said/meant: “…God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Mistakes, regrets, things you had no control over, hurts, betrayal … these will surface in our minds from time to time – the enemy uses them as arrows but this powerful truth will combat them.

We must be careful to keep these words in the context Paul intended – and that was to bring hope to those believers who were struggling or suffering in life. He wanted them to remember that God is good and He is in perfect control on behalf of His children and according to His purpose, which by the way is perfect. Take hope in the encouragement that Paul’s words offer to those who belong to God – and trust that He truly has been and is continually working all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.💜

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.

Joseph, to his brothers – Genesis 50:20
Your Turn

What about today’s verse, Romans 8:28, makes you thankful?
Is there a way you have seen its truth played out in your life? – If so give thanks!

Will you take a minute and share your response(s) in the comment section –
It may be just the encouragement that someone else needs and for certain it will bring God glory.

Worship Through Music

I do not own the rights to this music nor do I use it for any profit or gain –

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Prayer

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Scripture: Psalm 5:3

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
    Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:3

I wonder sometimes if we truly realize the blessing and utter privilege of prayer. Think about it, the God who created the universe and holds it all in place. – the One who gave His only son to die for sinful, wretched humans and then raised Him from the dead – not only invites us to pray but hears and answers when we do. The psalmist was so certain of this truth that he waited expectantly for the answer. Do you?

Your Turn

Share something about prayer that you are thankful for.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time

We Will Remember

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Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever. – YET how quickly they forgot what he had done!

Psalm 106:1, 13a

Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 1 Chronicles 16:34 and so many other passages call us to “give thanks to the LORD.” The passages site various reasons like His faithfulness, His goodness, His steadfast love and more. The problem is when we fail to be impressed with the Lord’s character and acts of kindness and when we fail to notice His miraculous works. There is great danger in forgetting to acknowledge Him with praise and thanksgiving. For look at the example of the Israelites in today’s passage who failed to be impressed with the works of God’s hand and then quickly forgot what He had done. May we never find ourselves in this place – but rather daily find time and reasons to sing His praises and give HIm thanks – even for the littlest of blessings or fingerprints –

Your turn

What is that impresses You about God? – Make sure to journal it or write it out somewhere or even tell someone – and don’t forget to give thanks to Him to whom the praise/thanks is due. We must be intentional about this discipline in our life – not being so captivate by the day or the moment or the person but fully captivated by God alone – and intent on remembering the works of His hands. 💜

We will remember, we will remember
We will remember the works of Your hands
We will stop and give you praise
For great is Thy faithfulness
We will remember, we will remember
We will remember the works of Your hands
We will stop and give you praise
For great is Thy faithfulness
You’re our creator, our life sustainer
Deliverer, our comfort, our joy
Throughout the ages You’ve been our shelter
Our peace in the midst of the storm
With signs and wonders You’ve shown Your power
With precious blood You showed us Your grace
You’ve been our helper, our liberator
The giver of life with no end
We will remember, we will remember
We will remember the works of Your hands
We will stop and give you praise
For great is Thy faithfulness
When we walk through life’s darkest valleys
We will look back at all You have done
And we will shout, our God is good
And He is the faithful One … Hear the entire song at
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=AcUA7x9CVgs&feature=shared

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Benefit of Praise

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Scripture: In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks.” God’s Word is full of this phrase from the Old Testament to the New. From Joseph’s attitude of gratitude in Genesis to the words of the twenty-four elders who fell down in worship in John’s Revelation, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.” These examples and all of the others we find between them are not just words on a page. They are there to teach us and to remind us that God is worthy of our praise – those that flow from a truly thankful heart. Such gratitude can’t help but flow forth from heart and tongue when we truly realize the good and perfect gifts that flow from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Thankfulness keeps our hearts in right relationship to the Giver of all good gifts.

Gotquestions.org

Giving thanks to God isn’t for God’s glory alone – but it is a benefit for us as well, as God uses our acknowledgment of gratitude and our words of thanksgiving to remind us that everything we have is from Him. Every good and perfect gift, every awareness of Him acting on our behalf, keeps us centered on Him rather than on self and any problems or fears we might know.

Giving thanks also reminds us of how much we do have. Human beings are prone to covetousness. We tend to focus on what we don’t have. By giving thanks continually we are reminded of how much we do have. When we focus on blessings rather than wants, we are happier. When we start thanking God for the things we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God.

gotquestions.org
Let’s Apply It

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and as an encouragement to others and glory to God please share one thing, here in the comment section, that you are thankful for today. Then at home grab a journal or make a note on your phone and write down as many gifts from above that you notice throughout the day. I promise you will feel better and others will be blessed – it’s a win-win!

Worship through song: Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart is one of my favorites. You can find it on youtube

Prayer of Response to God’s Word

Father, You are beyond worthy of our praise and honor. You are worthy of our thanksgiving, worthy of our acknowledging all that you do and have done for us. Forgive us where we get caught up in our days and thoughts and ways and fail to thank You for Your acts of mercy, love, and grace – or for Your gifts of peace, and strength, and protection or provisions. We are most blessed and should faithfully tell You so. Open our eyes to see all Your fingerprints through any given day of our life. – In Jesus’ Name amen.