Tag: Christ

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

Put To Death…

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s Road Map for the Journey

Colossians 3:5-11 (SOAP: 3:5a); Romans 8:1-6

 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Colossians 3:5 NLT

‘So’ is the first word of our passage today, this means we need to look back or remember what ‘so’ refers to. In this case, it hinges on the fact that we died to self, and our real life is now hidden with Christ in God, and one day we will be revealed with Him in glory. Nothing new? Right? Our journey has been pinpointing this truth/instruction for days now, but today the depth and importance of the instruction is taken to a different level with just one word: DEATH. It’s the fourth word in the NLT, NKJV, and NET translations, and in the KJV it is MORTIFY, which, according to BibleHub.com commentary, means “put to death”. Paul wasn’t being dramatic here; he was letting them know how serious the instruction was. He knew that to let these things- sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and idolatry remain in our lives not only conflicts with the life Christ has called us to, but they would bring harm to the body of Christ. Or, as he wrote to the Church of Rome, “those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit… Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” (Romans 8:5, 12-14)

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Romans 8:5-8

Friends, Paul isn’t teaching us to merely set aside ‘these things’ for a day, month, or even a year. He is telling us, actually warning us with great urgency, to do away with them or with anything that distracts us from God (a.k.a. things above).

Because we have been hidden with Christ in God, we are no longer condemned for our sin – but forgiven and set free from sin’s power over us. Not only is this a great cause for believers to rejoice, but it is wonderful inspiration to put to death any sins still lurking in our lives. The Christian faith has standards; those standards aren’t set by man but by the Word of God and the life of Jesus Christ. If we want to walk by faith, these are the standards we must follow, not deviating to the right or to the left … but faithfully and quickly putting to death anything in our lives that does not align with God’s will. This life isn’t for sissies, but it is the only way that leads to life and health and peace. One final word of encouragement, especially for those who may be thinking the life of faith is too demanding, or that you can’t put to death the sins that have power over you … God didn’t call us without equipping us; instead, as Peter wrote, God has given us (believers) everything we need for life and godliness. He has done this not through our power or goodness but through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given His very great and precious promises so that through them we can participate in His divine nature, having escaped the corruption of this world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.

2 Peter 1:3-4

Reflection and Application

  • Is there anything in your life that you should put to death?
  • How do we put our sins to death?

Response of Worship

Response of Prayer

Thank You for the teachings of Paul, for His instructions that point us away from self and to life in the Spirit. Thank you for Your divine power that has given us everything we need to live a life of godliness. Thank You for Your promise that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and for all of Your promises that are ours in Christ Jesus. We are most blessed and forever grateful. Help us to faithfully put to death all that is of the flesh and to walk in the power and guidance of Your Spirit in us. We are Yours, set apart for You ~ Amen and Amen 💜❤️💙✝️

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

Living Beyond Earthly Desires: A Call to Seek Heavenly Things

Posted on by MaryEllen

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 (soap verses 3-4)

On our last day’s journey, we looked at the first two verses of this passage, where we were reminded that because we have been raised with Christ, we are to keep seeking and thinking about things of God, not the things of earth. Today’s passage picks up with an explanation from Paul telling us why: which is namely, because we no longer belong to the ruler of this world, but we belong to God, who has placed us in Christ. You see, Christ is more than the giver and sustainer of life – He is our life.

Christ is more than the giver and sustainer of life – He is our life.

Bibleref.com, Colossians 3:4

Consider these words from today’s LGG, Christ Is All I Need, journal

Why do we need to keep seeking the things above? Paul stresses that it’s because we are united to Jesus by faith. When Jesus died, we died with Him. He rose to life, raising us with Him. He now lives inside every believer. He is our Life.

Remember that you have been united to a Savior who lived His whole life on earth denying Himself. He expects you to do the same. Don’t live for the glory of this world. Don’t strive to “be somebody” now.

The real you is not visible on earth yet, and it’s not meant to be. It’s not what you see in the mirror. This earth is not your place of rest. One day, when Jesus returns, you will be revealed with Him in glory, shining like the sun in sinless perfection and being finally and truly at home.

Friends, I don’t know about you, but these words (particularly the last paragraph) left me shouting HALLELUJAH ~ COME JESUS COME! They also started me singing My Jesus, I love Thee. When I looked up the lyrics (so I could copy and paste), I learned they were originally a poem written by William Ralph Featherston following his salvation. Featherston was just a teenage boy at the time, somewhere between the ages of 12 and 16. His raw emotion and expression of thankfulness and love struck a chord in millions of hearts. Writing with the passion of a teenager, yet with the wisdom of someone years beyond his age, Featherston captures the beautiful, intimate relationship we have with our Saviour, and the glorious future that awaits us in eternity.1

Response of Worship

My Response of Prayer

Father, thank You for the beautiful truth that Paul writes about – the truth that we are dead in our trespasses and sins, but by Your grace and mercy and our faith in Christ Jesus, You have raised us to new life and placed us safely in Him. Thank you for loving us first. Jesus, thank You for dying, for wearing the crown of thorns, so that all who come to You by faith can be saved and walk in an intimate relationship with You, while we wait for Your return. Thank You that one day we will live with You in glory and endless delight, where we will adore You forever – even more than we do now. ~ In Jesus’ glorious name ~ Amen and Amen!

Reflection and Application

Do you find it difficult to set/keep your mind on things above (things of God and Jesus)? If your answer is yes, as I imagine everyone’s is, today’s journal entry suggests this as one of the reasons:

It is hard for us to set our minds on things above is that we can’t yet experience those blessings with our physical senses. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could already see, hear, feel, or touch the blessings that are stored up for us in heaven? We can’t because God wants us to live by faith, not yet by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).2

In the world we live in, it is common to work for and/or even expect the glory, recognition, and honor of the people around us, which is why we must remember our lives are not our own to do with as we wish. For as Paul writes, we died to this life, and our real life is hidden with Christ in God. Today’s journal entry explains this best: “This world is not the place for us to strive for glory, recognition, or honor. In fact, Jesus taught that following Him means daily taking up our cross and denying ourselves. (Matthew 16:24)”3

  1. The story behind My Jesus I Love Thee ↩︎
  2. Christ Is All I Need, p142, paragraph 1 ↩︎
  3. Christ Is All I Need, p142, paragraph 2 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Where Your Mind Is

Posted on by MaryEllen

When the word ‘therefore‘ begins a sentence, it indicates that the words that follow are related to the words that came before. When you are reading it straight through, it is a bit easier to recognize what ‘therefore’ refers to. However, when we are reading/studying in smaller clusters of verses – at least for this forgetful mind – it is important to clarify the reference. In this particular portion of the letter, Paul is referring back to the fact that the believers have died with Christ, and He has set them free from the spiritual powers of the world. Yet they are still hung up on the world’s rules and human teachings.1

This does not mean that believers should ignore all earthly concerns. It does, however, mean that believers ought to give their time and attention to things pleasing to God, rather than things pleasing to men.

Bibleref.com, Colossians 3:2

So Paul reminds them that having been raised with Christ, transformed into new creations in Him, their life is meant to be for and about Christ and the things He taught and did in His life on earth – not the world and its demands, expectations, or approval. For us to live like this, we must set our minds on Heaven – our eternal home where Christ and God are ~ instead of on earthly things that distract and often hold us captive. However, as Bibleref.com warns, “This [setting our minds on things above] does not mean that believers should ignore all earthly concerns. It does, however, mean that believers ought to give their time and attention to things pleasing to God, rather than things pleasing to men.”

Here’s a quick word picture of how our thoughts affect our actions, etc. ~ When my dad was teaching me how to drive, he started me off on a path that took me through our little town. One direction led under an underpass that, to this new driver, didn’t seem wide enough for two cars, and the other direction went up a hill where there was a pretty thick and tall’ish’ culvert on the side of the road. Fifty-some years later, I still drive these paths nearly every day, without a problem. However, at 16 years old and a new driver, the walls of the underpass and the protruding culvert rising above the road caught my eyes/mind every time and caused me to veer into the other lane and oncoming traffic. Needless to say, I caused my father great concern and was always reminded that I needed to keep my eyes/mind on the road ahead of me and not allow myself to be distracted/frightened or controlled by the things around me. ~ I hadn’t thought about those driving lessons for a while until the analogy flooded my mind just now – as a fitting reminder that to live the Christian life well in this world of distractions we must keep our eyes/minds on the “road ahead” or as Paul writes, the “things above” so that we aren’t distracted, frightened, or controlled by the things of the world.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ~ Colossians 3:1-2

Friends, in a world where people are always watching what we do and listening to what we say, how we live and speak matters. We know this because Jesus told His disciples to “let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16); and Paul told the believers at Ephesus, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them“(Ephesians 4:29). Today’s passage makes it clear that it is equally, or perhaps even more important, to give as much concern to what we think about (set our mind on). After all, Scripture also tells us that out of the mouth comes the overflow of the heart (Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45), which I have learned in my own battles with my mind can also be translated: where my mind is ~ there my heart (actions, words, desires, attitudes…) will be also. In other words, what I think about is evident in my actions, words, desires, and attitudes.

Response of Worship

Reflection and Application

In all the years that I have been putting this teaching into practice, more than 30 years now, I have learned that to do so requires us to be purposeful. We must physically fix our minds on the things of God (Father, Son, Spirit) ~ things that matter to Him, things that cause us to live and speak and love like Jesus and not the world.

  • In your day-to-day life, what are some practical steps you can take to help you focus more on eternal things?

Prayer of Response

Father, You are good and worthy of my love and life – given by You and for You and Your glory, by grace through Faith in Christ. Spirit, help me to set my mind on things above ~ the things that matter to You. Guard me from being caught up with the things of the world and the pleasures and/or the desires and demands of ‘man’. For I am Yours, set apart for You 💜

The More We Know

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

Bonus Worship Song 🙂

  1. Bibleref.com, Christ Is All I Need, p 135 ↩︎
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

Posted on by

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