Tag: Christ

Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Crucified Living

Posted on by MaryEllen

20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”?

Colossians 2:20-21

“You Have Died With Christ” ~ The Apostle Paul wrote this and other statements like it throughout his writings. He felt a great need to convey this to those he sought to help grow in their faith and understanding of Christ and His Gospsel message. His determined effort pushes us to search to understand not only what it means but why it is so important.

Here in Colossians Paul phrases the statement refers to the believers in Colossae, saying: “You have died with Christ.” However, in his letter to the Galatian believers, he wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; therefore I no longer live.” He also refers to it in at least three other places, including Galatians 5:24 and 6:14, as well as Romans 6:6. This servant of God and cheerleader of the faith, makes it abundantly clear that ‘dying with Christ’, ‘dying to self’, ‘living in Him’, living by faith, and being crucified with Him … is vitally important to a life of faith ~ a life that cannot be lived apart from Him or in our old self. Remember, if we are in Christ we are new creations, the old has gone the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Or, as he wrote to the believers in Galatia:

 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

Crucified living or living crucified is described by Paul in his letter to the Galatians, where he writes: I have been crucified with Christ; therefore I no longer live. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Basically, Paul is teaching over and over again that when we choose to follow Christ it is a decision of the heart based on faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He is the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. In other words, “If a person really believes that Christ, not the Law, is the focus of their lives, why would they continue to obsess over human rules and regulations?”1 Rightfully so, “Paul questioned why the Colossian believers still acted like unbelievers in some areas. Instead of living by faith in their own ability, they were to walk by faith in Christ… The ascetic teachings or rules of false teachers were not binding upon them and offered no advantage.”2

Jesus Himself told one of the many crowds He spoke to, that if anyone wanted to be His follower, they would need to deny themselves, turn from their selfish (self-centered) ways, and take up their cross daily. He went on to explain that to truly follow Him meant giving up their life, saying: “Whoever tries to save his/her life will lose it, but whoever gives up his/her life for the sake of following Him will save it.” (Luke 9:23-25). In other words, following Christ is not easy, it is not to be taken lightly, or squeezed into your life as it is… it is laying down your life for His Way, loving others “just as He has loved us”, obeying His commands … It is a way of life – a new life that is worth more than we could ever expect or imagine.

As the writer of today’s LGG Journal entry explains:

Paul wants his readers to understand that living a God-pleasing life is only possible if we have died to this world. Our spiritual condition apart from Jesus is so bad that we are enslaved to sin. No amount of asceticism or self-discipline will be able to break sin’s mastery over our lives.

That’s why, once again, Paul reminds us that we have “died with Christ” to these external things. Our old sinful nature has died, and sin no longer has mastery over us. We have been “raised with Christ.” We have a new identity. We have been freed to serve a new master.

Christ Is All I Need, study journal, p.126

Responce of Prayer3


Lord Jesus, by faith I am united to your death and resurrection. I have been buried with You in baptism and raised with You to new life. Thank you for giving me a new life ~ I am forever grateful. Amen~

Response of Worship

Reflection and Application –

  • Why is it important that we die to self?
    • What does it look like for us to be crucified with Christ?
  • Why can outward adherence to rules or physical self-denial not change anyone’s heart?

Please take a minute to reflect on these questions and respond in the comment section below.

The More We Know

“In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul means that his old, self-reliant, and sin-governed self died spiritually when Jesus died on the cross. He is not talking about a physical death, but a deep spiritual union with Christ where his former identity is replaced by Christ living and directing his life through faith.” Paul David Tripp

“Living by Faith: The physical life Paul continues to live is sustained by trusting in the Son of God rather than relying on his own human strength.”  – Friends, this is a must read or listen to quote – exponded on by clicking here: Desiring God (by John Piper)

End of Self-Justification: “Paul stops trying to earn God’s favor or righteousness through strict obedience to religious laws. That legalistic striving was nailed to the cross.” Visit gotquestions.org to read/learn more about what it means to be crucified with Christ.

  1. Bibleref.com, Colossians 2:20 ↩︎
  2. IBID ↩︎
  3. (adapted from LGG Journal Entry, Christ Is All I Need, p 126) ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Holding Fast to Christ: A Guide to True Spirituality

Posted on by MaryEllen

 Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.19 He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.

Colossians 2:18-19 NET

Today’s passage of our journey through Colossians picks up where we left off, with Paul warning believers not to get caught up in trying to fulfill the legalistic rules and demands of man. Now, he warns them about listening to, following, or being influenced by those who are not connected to Christ. He attempts to help them see that true spiritual growth comes when we are truly connected to Jesus, who is the Head (v 19), or as John described Him, “The Vine” (John 15:5). The Colossian believers are dealing with false teachers who do not hold to Jesus’ teachings but push and promote their own teachings – thus the strong explanation and warning to believers (then and now) from Paul.

After reminding the Church that Christ is the head and is to be held on to, Paul explains that the importance of “holding on”is to ensure that they will be “knit together” as a body. Bibleref.com suggests that God provides two elements to Christian life. “God is the One Who causes growth.” The commentary by Bibleref.com explains two things: “First, true spiritual progress does not occur through requiring ascetic practices (2:18), or rituals (2:16), but in following Christ. The more we rely on our own power and ability, the less we allow Christ to use His power in us. This is the problem with mysticism and self-denial: they rely on our own strength, instead of the power of Christ. The second element is that “our common dependence on Christ produces both growth and unity. Unity must be built upon God and His teachings in order to be genuine.”

The more we rely on our own power and ability, the less we allow Christ to use His power in us. This is the problem with mysticism and self-denial. They rely on our own strength instead of the power of Christ.

Bibleref.com/Colossians 2:19

Friends, the bottom line is this:

“We grow in spiritual maturity by abiding in Christ and holding fast to Him in trust and obedience.”1

Response of Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help us focus on what is really important in our growth as a Christian and protect us from being deceived by false teachers. Amen2

Reflection and Application

  • What can we do to guard against falling into the trap of false teachers

The More We Know

Know These Truths

  1. Christ Is All I Need/week 4, p122 ↩︎
  2. Christ Is All I Need/week 4, p122 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Responsibility of Serving

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s Road Map for the Journey: Colossians 1:24-29 (SOAP 24); (Mark 8:35)

Paul counted it a joy (gladness) to suffer for the cause (spreading the Gospel). He knows this is what Christ Himself did for the Church when He walked on the earth. As BibleRef.com points out, “Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice (the scapegoat1), but Paul suffered (faced trials and tribulation as He carried out the call of Jesus in His life).”

We too have a call from God upon our lives. Paul defines it in verse 25, where he wrote, “God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.”

Friends, as believers in Christ, we too have been called to serve His Church by going into all the world with His Gospel message, by loving others as Christ has loved us, by giving to those in need … and any other word or deed that makes God known.

We should consider it an honor and a privilege to serve Christ in this world, but we must not forget that suffering is to be expected, not just for Paul but for all who choose to answer Jesus’ call to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him2.

While no thought of suffering is pleasant and quite honestly serves more as a deterrent than a coveted invitation, James encourages believers to consider it an opportunity for great joy when troubles of any kind come their way. He reminds them that when their faith is tested, their endurance (or perseverance) has a chance to grow, and when their endurance is fully developed, they will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Paul certainly dealt with troubles of many kinds. “He was regularly mocked, beaten, whipped, imprisoned, and even stoned.” Yet, he continued on, praising God, writing letters to make Him known, praying for the church, and making every effort to reach others with the Gospel message, no matter the cost.

His example is a challenging one for certain. May the Spirit of God who lives in us grace us with courage and joy to live and suffer for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ – no matter where we are or who we are with.

Reflection and Application

Have you ever made yourself wholly available to God for the spreading of the gospel? Have you asked Him to use you for the advancement of His kingdom? If not, are you willing to do so now?

Response of Worship

The More We Know

  1. Leviticus 16 ↩︎
  2. Mark 8:35 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Fullness of God

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s Road Map for our Journey through Colossians: Read Colossians 1:15-19 and John 15:1-8; (SOAP: Colossians 1:19)

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,
16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him.
17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.
18 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son

Colossians 1:15-19 NET

Yesterday’s journey revealed that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. We looked at power of Jesus. The fact that He has always been and will always be. He was there in the beginning, creating with God. He was in the heart of creation, as Paul writes, “all things in heaven and on earth were created in/through Jesus.” God wanted Paul’s readers, us included, to understand that Jesus was not only there in the beginning as part of the creative team (Father, Son, Spirit), but he was fully and creatively involved. As Bibleref.com explains, His creative power “included absolutely everything imaginable: heaven, earth, visible, invisible.” Paul wrote that even “thrones and dominions, principalities or powers ~ all things were created through him and for him.” In other words, as Paul suggests in Romans 11:36 and as John mentioned in John 17:24, “Creation exists for His glory.1“


For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

In today’s journey, we continue to look at Paul’s beautiful word portrait of Christ. He portrays Him as the head of the church (the body of Christ). Friends, that’s us; as believers we are the Church. This means Christ is the head of us. We are under His authority. Just as a vine is the source of the branches, so Christ is the source of our faith and salvation. As He told the disciples, we are to abide in Him, yielding to His leadership and control; and our lives should reflect His love. I love the way that today’s LGG journal explains this: “Think of the little branch on the vine. It can do nothing by itself. It needs the sap of the vine to flow into it in order to be of any use. That’s what Jesus is to us. He is the sap, the living water, God’s fullness, flowing into our barren lives.”

That’s what Jesus is to us. He is the sap, the living water, God’s fullness, flowing into our barren lives.”

LGG Journal, Christ Is All I need, p 78

As I was typing that last quote from the book, it made me think of an old hymn I used to love to sing, called “Fill My Cup Lord”. It is a great reminder that while our hearts may respond and even chase after the treasures of this world, none can truly fill us up and satisfy our souls. Only Jesus and the fullness of God’s love that He alone can offer us will be enough, for “The infinite God gives Himself to us in the person of His Son. Jesus is a reservoir full of God’s mercy, love, and grace. We can come to Him whenever we want and receive all we need.2“

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”

(chorus) Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

There are millions in this world who are seeking
For pleasures earthly goods afford.
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

(chorus)

So my brother if the things that this world gives you
Leave hungers that won’t pass away,
My blessed Lord will come and save you
If you kneel to Him and humbly pray—

(chorus)

Instead of trying to find fulfillment in earthly things, let’s instead go to Him who said: “The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35)

Prayer Response

Lord Jesus, I am empty, but you are full. I am needy, but you are sufficient. You can fill every void in me. I thank you for this reminder and ask that you help me always turn to you instead of the world and its offerings ~ only then will I be truly satisfied; only in You will I find all I need. Thank you. Amen.3

The More We Know

  1. Bibleref.com, Romans 11:36 ↩︎
  2. LGG, Christ Is All I Need, p 78 ↩︎
  3. Adopted in part from LGG, Christ Is All I Need, p78 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time

Saints and Faithful Brethren

Posted on by MaryEllen

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-8 and Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (SOAP: Colossians 1:2)

 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

Colossians 1:2

Friends, check out the words that Paul uses to describe the people who belonged to the Colossian Church: “…the saints1 and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.” Or as the author of Deuteronomy describes God’s people in his day, “… a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Or as the LGG journal entry encourages us, “We are His holy people, chosen and set apart for Him. We have been called out of the world to live for the world to come.”2 You see, while Paul is speaking specifically about the Colossian believers in his letter, and Deuteronomy’s writer is referring to the people of Israel, the terms saints and holy people apply to us who are believers as well.

The Christian life is lived by trusting in God’s grace, given to us in Jesus. We are God’s beloved children, and it is His grace, not our performance, that will provide us with all we need to live for Him.

LGG Journal, Christ Is All I Need, p36

It is important to understand that Paul’s description isn’t meant to elevate us or reflect how wonderful we are but rather how wonderful God is. After all, it was Paul who wrote that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. choosing us and setting us ~ imperfect as we are ~ apart for Him. This calling and gift is ours only through the grace of God when we place our faith in Christ who came to die so that we might live. It is as simple and yet profound as that.

“If we could truly understand grace and receive what Christ has accomplished for us, our hearts and lives would be filled with peace. The Colossians needed to hear this truth, and so do we today.”

LGG Journal, Christ Is All I Need, p36

It is my prayer that as we journey through the book of Colossians together, we will learn not only to know Jesus better but to more fully understand His grace and truth and be filled with His peace.

  1. This is not a reference to ‘ultra holy people’ but refers to believers (those who followed Christ). ↩︎
  2. LGG Journal, Christ Is All I Need, p36 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 2

The Widow with Two Mites

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, Volume 2/pp89-90

Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4

While there is much we can learn from the story of the widow and her two mites, two things stood out to me the most. First, as gotquestions.org points out, “God sees what man overlooks. The big gifts in the temple were surely noticed by people; that’s probably what the disciples were watching. But Jesus saw what no one else did: He saw the humble gift of a poor widow. This was the gift that Jesus thought worthy of comment; this was the gift that the disciples needed to be aware of. The other gifts in the treasury that day made a lot of noise as they jingled into the receptacles, but the widow’s mites were heard in heaven.”

God sees what man overlooks.

Got questions.org

The widow mentioned by Mark and Luke is used by Christ to teach the disciples the difference of giving from your wealth and giving from your poverty. In other words there is more value in giving two small coins when you have nothing left to give and giving “large sums” with an abundance left over. Borrowing again from gotquestions.org, “The difference is one of proportion. The rich were giving large sums, but they still retained their fortunes; the widow “put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44). Hers was a true sacrifice; the rich had not begun to give to the level of her sacrifice.

“Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.”

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NET‬‬

 “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:43–44; cf. Luke 21:1–4).

The widow with two mites serves as an example of how any sacrifice for Christ does not go unnoticed by Him.

She, Volume 2//90

Friends, let’s ask Jesus to help us see as He sees and to make much of even the smallest things done for or given in His name. May our gifts and works for God be ones of faith and sacrifice, rather than those born of duty or seeking notice.

Reflection and Application

  • What has the widow taught you?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

Choosing The Jesus Way

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Based on the LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues,/w3d2

Read: MICAH 3:9-12; 4:1-5 and 4:10-12
Bad morals corrupt good character

Today’s journey through Micah reveals an unflattering picture of God’s people and disturbing news of what was to come. Israel’s leaders had forgotten the God whom they were committed to serve. Micah writes that they hated justice and perverted all that was right. They were building Zion through bloody crimes and Jerusalem through unjust violence. Legal cases were decided on bribes that the leaders received, even the priests proclaimed rulings for profit, and the prophets read omens for pay. As if this corruption was not bad enough, despite the fact that devastation and destruction were already wreaking havoc within the nation, the leaders continued to claim to trust the LORD and were telling the people, “The LORD is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!”

What About You?

We, too, face a similar choice. In a world that says that serving self and doing what seems right to you is the most important, we must, as Joshua told the people in his day, decide whom we will serve. Will we serve self or God? Take a moment to think about your own heart. Are you willing to set aside your wants and desires to follow what God may be calling you to? Are you willing to put others first over getting something you want? Is your heart’s desire to make the name of Jesus known over building your platform or building your own renown? It’s a choice we all must make.

Our God Who Pursues/LGG Journal p99
The hope of Future Days

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 2 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. 3 The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore 4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise! 5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.

Micah 4:1 -5

The Temple Mount/Mountain of the LORD’S House written about by Micah: A hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a holy site for thousands of years, including in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Jesus Way

Admittedly, serving oneself or garnering the applause or approval of others can be pretty enticing. Goodness knows I have succumbed to those choices more than I care to admit, but I can tell you it generally led to disappointment or heartache. Choosing the Jesus Way isn’t always the easiest, most desirable, or most comfortable way, but it is most certainly the best way, for it leads to immeasurable blessings and joys.

As I wrote that last sentence, A group of women I used to lead on Sunday mornings came to mind. The name of our group was JOY, which stood for Jesus … Others … You. Seems like a great acronym for our focus today. Jesus first, then others, and then yourself. Whether it is in serving or living out our day-to-day lives, or even in our prayer lives, pay our eyes to stay on Jesus, the One we chose to follow.

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Luke 9:23-24

But I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31
Prayer of Response

Father, do not let us be like the leaders of Israel, who forgot their commitment to serve You and Your call on their lives to serve the people. Help me to remember Jesus’ similar call to let go of my life and follow Him. It isn’t always easy, but You knew that, and You sent the Spirit to empower us to do all that You have called us to do. Holy Spirit, keep my focus Heavenward, guard me from the distractions of this world and the enticements of the flesh. May I be known for living a J.O.Y.-focused life: Keeping Jesus first in all things and serving and loving others before myself. In the name of Jesus – I pray and believe – Amen!

The More We Know
The Jesus Way Devotional
The Jesus Way Song

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

Repentance or Regret?

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The first chapter of Joel is not an easy or feel-good read. However, two things are made clear through the prophet. First, the message is of great importance and meant for all of Judah to hear (vs2). Second, and most important, was the need for repentance (vs. 13-14). Without repentance, as chapter one describes, there would be dire consequences. From swarms of locusts to the destruction of life and land, and even animals, nothing and no one would be left unaffected.

I wrote very little in the margins of my journal today, but of the few things I did write down, this one stood out: Are you sorry for what you did (repentance) or sorry you were caught (regret)? When I turned from my personal journal to the LGG journal entry, I was a bit relieved to find similar wording written by the LGG writing team – indicating that I wasn’t too far off in my understanding of what Joel was saying, namely that “true repentance is seeking forgiveness and running to Christ.”

True repentance is more than simply being sad that you were caught or sad over the consequences of your sin. Rather, true repentance comes from deep sorrow over our sinfulness and the realization that we have grieved God and hurt other people. It is seeking forgiveness and running to Christ.

Our God Who Pursues/p45

Another thing worth noting is that it wasn’t just that the people had stopped bringing offerings to the Lord – it was that these offerings were offerings of faith, given as acts of worship which represented their trust in God – that He would provide. It wasn’t that they couldn’t come; it is that they stopped coming. The bottom line is that their sins had separated them from their God, and anything that puts distance between us and the Father grieves Him and should grieve us. It is why He calls us to repent, to turn back to Him, and it is why Joel warns of the impending doom that awaits those who do not repent. May we be people who faithfully follow the ways of God, but when we sin, may we be swift to practice true repentance – letting nothing stifle our faith, hinder our worship, or harm our relationship with God.

Prayer

Father, like the Israelites, we are sinners, and like them, we are called to repent of our sins. According to Your promises, when we confess our sins and ask Your forgiveness, You forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us always stay alert to any sin in our lives and to remember the grief and separation it causes between us and You. We cannot live apart from You, so help us walk in obedience and quickly repent when we fail so that nothing will separate us from Your Holy presence. In the name of Jesus – we trust and pray – amen.

The More We Know

Book of Joel – an article from Got Questions Ministries

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

Living Out Our Faith

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation, W4D4

SCRIPTURE FOR THE JOURNEY: HEBREWS 11:1-7/ROMANS 10:9-10/ SOAP: HEBREWS 11:1 AND ROMANS 10:9-10

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Romans 10:9-10
Observations of the Journey

As we have already seen in this week’s journey, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is essential to our faith. He not only helps us understand God’s Word, but He empowers us to obey (live out) God’s Word. John emphasizes this in 1 John 3:24, where he taught: “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.“

Day three of this week’s journey revealed a beautiful and powerful picture of God’s grace that was poured out at the cross so that we might be made right with God, be adopted as His own, made joint heirs with Christ, be empowered with His Spirit, and have a relationship with the Father by means of faith in the Son – it is a gift of God not by works. Nothing good we do can earn it, and nothing bad we do can render the gift invalid.

So, how do we live out a faith that requires no work?

Application: Living Out the Journey

Paul addresses the issue of living out our faith with the Philippians when he tells them to “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, [obeying God] with deep reverence and fear. For God (is working in you, giving you the desire and the power) to do what pleases him.1” That desire and power are from His Holy Spirit in us. Please note: Paul is not calling them to work for their salvation but rather to live it out, in other words, to put it into practice – or as James wrote.“being doers of the Word and not hearers only,”2 In other words the result of our faith and subsequent relationship with God should lead us to want obey/please God. We should want others to know that we belong to Him.

For the record, if salvation were granted according to our goodness, there would be no salvation. 🦋

I used to think I could right my wrongs (sins) – somehow securing my salvation – by being better/doing better or praying more. Somehow, I had come to think if I were good ‘enough,’ God would love me and keep loving me. It’s a story for another day – but I will tell you this – I was very relieved and overcome with joy to hear the truth that God never loved me because I was good – there was no amount of goodness that would have earned His love, there was nothing I could do to keep His love – He simply – yet profoundly loved me because He is love and because He is good. – John made this clear in his declaration that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes (note: not behaves) will be saved. We’re forgiven and made right before God – not because we obey or behave according to His Word – but simply because we have placed our faith in His Son. Hallelujah! – For the record, if salvation were granted according to our goodness, there would be no salvation – for as Paul wrote: “There is no one good – not even one!”3

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:8)
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, thank You for Your invitation for us to place our faith in Jesus. Help us to live out the call of Christ and make Him and His ways the most important priority of our lives. May we live and love like Him, and may we be found serving and honoring You by laying down our earthly desires for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You for revealing the truth and Your love for me. May my love for You be seen in my faith and obedience – Amen!

But either Christ is our most important priority, above even our lives, or we’re putting something above God in our hearts

Bibleref.com/Luke 9:23
The More We Know
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Resurrected with a Purpose

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Based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation, w3d3

Scripture and Observation

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and Romans 6:9-10; SOAP: 1 Cor 15:3-4/Rom 6:9

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.

Romans 6:9

Our focus or question of the week is: “What Did Jesus Do?” – So far, we have answered the question with … He never sinned, He was crucified for our sins, and today’s answer/focus is: He was resurrected from the grave … and appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time. He also appeared to James and to all of the apostles, including Paul.

It would be easy to read these truths, celebrate the resurrection, and move on, but God’s call and my hope/goal of journeying through His Word (and taking others along with me on the journey) is more than just reading the words on the pages of Scripture. My hope is to understand the importance and meaning of the words. I believe that we are to learn how they apply to life and godliness and be able to share them correctly with others in everyday life*, both in conversation and in living and loving like Jesus, who is – as we have seen in recent journeys – the very Word of God.

Paul taught Timothy the importance of this in 2 Timothy 2:15, when he told him, and by extension all believers, to *Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

This is why we need to understand the importance of Jesus’ resurrection and His appearing before so many witnesses: let’s break it down …

  1. He was resurrected from the grave: This, like the other truths we have been looking at, is essential to our faith. Why though? Because if Christ is not raised, then our faith is useless, and we are still guilty of our sins.
  2. Friends, Jesus didn’t just walk out of the tomb – He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time. He also appeared to James and to all of the apostles, including Paul. It may seem of little importance to know how many different people saw Jesus alive after He had been buried – but it is crucial to the testimony of His resurrection, and Paul knew this. – Bibleref.com explains it like this:

“Apparently, the truthfulness of the resurrection, or at least the resurrection of Christians, was being challenged or misunderstood by some in Corinth. Paul wants them to understand not only that the resurrection really took place, but that faith in that truth is essential in order to be saved.”

Bibleref.com/1 Corinthians 15;5


Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.1

*2 Timothy 2:15

So, the question begs to be asked: “Why is the resurrection important to our faith?” Again, it is Paul who answers this most clearly – when he addresses the Corinthians about the matter in 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, saying:

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

1 Corinthians 15:12-23
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, We believe in Jesus Christ, that He was given over to death for the sins of many and was raised to life so that those who believe might be born again and made right with You. We believe that on the third day, He rose again, triumphing over sin and death so that we would no longer be slaves to sin but live and walk in freedom with/for You here on this earth and with You forever when You return to take us home. As Paul taught the Corinthians, we believe the truth of His resurrection is of the utmost importance. As Paul shared this message in his travels and writings, may we both celebrate the truth and faithfully pass it on to those in our circles of influence.

The Gospel is the Truth that, according to Scripture we receive and believe; it is the faith on which we stand, the power of God unto salvation, and the message we have been entrusted with and called to share throughout the world. May it be of utmost importance to us, and may we faithfully and boldly pass it on to the world around us. 🦋

In recent days, we’ve walked through Scriptures that have pointed us to the importance of Jesus being sinless and of His death by crucifixion, and have, hopefully, come to understand that we are all sinners in need of a Savior who is blameless of any sin and willing to lay down His life for humanity- so that those who believe might have eternal life.2 If you missed any or all of the journey to this point please visit Firm Foundation

The More We Know