Tag: Death

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Joshua, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Two Representatives

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation/w2d2

Scripture and Observation

Read: Romans 5:12-21/SOAP: verses 12 and 17

Romans can be a tricky book to understand, but wow! It is filled with the news that we are sinners deserving of and destined to death. He makes it known that there is no one good, not even one. However, he also delivers the wonderful news that we have been offered a free gift of grace that leads to salvation, forgiveness of sins, freedom from slavery to sin, a relationship with God, and so much more – including eternal life. Is it any wonder that this is one of my favorite books?

Today’s part of our journey covers very little of Paul’s message, which was written primarily to Gentile believers living in Rome, but boy, is the message a good one! Up to this point, Paul has been pointing out the unrighteousness of all people (Romans 3:10-12) and the need that they all have for salvation and God’s provision of a Savior.

What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.11 There is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.12 All have turned away;all alike have become worthless.There is no one who does what is good,not even one.

Romans 3:9-12

When we arrive at today’s destination, we find Paul introducing and explaining two representatives to the people. Adam is the representative of sinful humanity, which includes “all people” (Rom 3:23), but Christ represents only those who, by faith, have believed in Him. One created and one begotten, but both from God – the difference is Adam – the created – chose not to obey God, while Jesus, the begotten son of God, chose to surrender to the Father’s will and give His life as a ransom for many. ((John 12:49; 8:28))

Some have noted that Adam and Christ are alike, in that they affected many, many people by their choices.

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17
Application from the Journey

Today’s application of this passage is profoundly simple … it was mentioned yesterday and is worth noting/sharing again today: We must remember and heed the encouragement of Joshua, who said: “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 – It’s profound in the fact that the choice isn’t always easy – to turn away from worldly pleasures or what looks like the better choice/outcome to us at the time … or to follow God’s way choosing Him over everything … but we must remember one leads to death but choosing God’s way always leads to ‘life’.

Choose today whom you will serve – But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

~Joshua 24:15
The More We Know

What does Romans 5:16 mean?

Paul continues to compare the impact of pivotal choices made by two men at two points in the history of the world. Adam, on the one hand, introduced sin into a world that knew no sin. He was the first to break God’s command. That choice caused all born after him to be born into sin. In response, all people lived under judgment for their sin and faced God’s condemnation.

Jesus, born as a man thousands of years later after many, many had sinned and broken God’s law, chose to become the source of God’s free gift of grace. He did this by dying on the cross to pay for human sin. His one action brought justification from God for everyone who receives it by faith.

Adam, by sinning, brought death and condemnation to all. Jesus, by not sinning and then dying, brought justification to all who believe. This “justification” is a declaration, as if in a courtroom setting. No person is actually righteous (Romans 3:10, 23), but Christ’s sacrificial death pays our penalty, allowing us to have peace with God (Romans 5:1).

Bibleref..com/Romans 5:16 (For the full commentary on chapter five visit Romans chapter 5
Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

To Fear or Not to Fear

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice – Celebrating the Advent of Christ

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 1:49-50 and 12:1-8; Heb 12:25-29

from generation to generation He is merciful to those who fear Him.

Luke 1:50
Observations and Applications from Our Journey

The long and short of it is this … my sins deserved death, and nothing I do or say can change that. But, in love, God sent His Son – who knew no sin – to die for me so that my sins might be covered by His blood. There is no greater love, there is no richer mercy – and they flow deep and wide from generation to generation to those who “fear Him.”

To Those Who Fear Him…

After reading today’s passages, all of which mention or elude to “fearing God,” one thought came to mind: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This, of course, led me on a little “Scripture squirrel hunt.” which began in Proverbs 9:10, where we read: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” For those of you who know me, you know the hunt didn’t stop there. Because, – while I knew that the basic meaning of fearing God is reverential awe, I wanted to know more and see how/if this thought that had now captivated my mind intertwined with our journey today.

My journal page was quickly filled with notes from my own thoughts, to quotes from gotquestions.org and other verses that came to mind. Most of which, I will attempt to convey here, for the greatest impression I hold from the hunt is this vital truth: “Without the fear of the Lord, we make final decisions based on our faulty human understanding.”

Without the fear of the Lord, we make decisions based on our faulty human understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6). When we incorporate the fear of the Lord into every moment of our lives, we make decisions based upon His approval. We live with the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our every move. He sees, knows, and evaluates all our choices, and we will answer to Him (Psalm 139:1–4).

Our respect for God’s majesty causes us to honor Him (Psalm 29:2). Our gratitude for His mercy causes us to serve Him well (Psalm 2:11; 107:15). And the understanding that our God of love is also a God of wrath inspires enough fear to help us stay away from evil (Romans 1:18; Proverbs 8:13). Sin is foolish; righteousness is wise. When we live righteously, we are on the path to wisdom, and everyone in our lives benefits (Proverbs 13:20; 19:8).

So, if fear is vital to our Christian walk, it stands to reason that we must understand what it means to fear Him. As gotquestions.or points out, “‘In the Bible, the word translated ‘fear’ can mean several things.” The commentary gives examples of each and concludes that “The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these.”

  • The terror one feels in a frightening situation (Deuteronomy 2:25).
  • It can mean “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully (Joshua 24:14).
  •  Fear can also denote the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5).

Those who fear the Lord have a continual awareness of Him, a deep reverence for Him, and sincere commitment to obey Him.

gotquestions.org

So, how do we live with a continual awareness of God? How do we maintain a deep reverence for Him and sincerely commit to obeying Him? I believe the answer lies not just in knowing who God is but in being in a relationship with Him. When we ‘walk and talk’ with God daily, we will know what pleases Him and what does not. We will make decisions based on how He feels about something rather than our own understandings and desires.

Our respect for God’s majesty causes us to honor Him (Psalm 29:2). Our gratitude for His mercy causes us to serve Him well (Psalm 2:11; 107:15). And the understanding that our God of love is also a God of wrath inspires enough fear to help us stay away from evil (Romans 1:18; Proverbs 8:13). Sin is foolish; righteousness is wise. When we live righteously, we are on the path to wisdom, and everyone in our lives benefits (Proverbs 13:20; 19:8).

gotquestions.org

To be clear, the ‘fear’ believers are to have of God is not one of terror in the sense that we are terrified to approach Him, but we must understand and respect the fact that while He is a God of love, He is also a God of wrath- Jesus makes this clear in the words found in Luke 12:5-7, where we read: But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid(of man)*; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

*But Jesus has told believers not to fear these hypocrites. At their very worst, they can only kill the body. Instead, they ought to fear a God who will mete out eternal death to those who refuse to repent. It is God who will send sinners to hell, and it is God who knows every sparrow (Luke 12:1–6).

Bibleref.com/Luke 12:7

If you have not placed Your faith in Jesus Christ, I urge you not to wait. For as the passages of today’s journey point out, God delivered judgment on those who ignored His warnings. As the journey revealed today, it is even more foolish to ignore the warning from Christ and the invitation of His Gospel message to believe in Him and be saved from death to everlasting life. (Jn 3:18 and Romans 6:23) If you would like to know more about the journey from death to life, check out “Know These Truths”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, Holy is Your name. You are a God of love and of wrath, both welcoming us into Your presence and imposing a sentence of death on all who do not come to You through faith in Jesus Christ. I praise You, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that I do not have to tremble before You but can enter into Your courts with praise and bow before You in reference and awe of who You are and what You’ve done. I pray for those who are lost to hear the truth from Your Word and turn to You in faith, receiving life over death – Amen

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Tetelestai

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God / w6d3

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: John 18:1-19:42 /  SOAP: John 19:30

When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30

Jesus knew the hour had come and what must be done so He called out, “I am thirsty.” Then after receiving the “sour wine” He announced: “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and died.

The fact that Jesus is said to “give up his spirit” is significant. Matthew and Luke make similar observations (Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46). From a physical standpoint, Jesus’ body has suffered fatal injury. And yet, His death is entirely an act of His own will. That included His willingness to be born into human form (John 1:14), to submit to God’s will (Matthew 26:39), and to allow His own arrest and execution (Philippians 2:8). Whether literally, or as a statement of agreement, Scripture clarifies that Jesus is “giving up” His life to God the Father—it is not being stripped away from Him by force (John 10:17–18).

bibleref.com / John 19:30b

This portion of the crucifixion always makes me think of the song that proclaims that Jesus could have called ten-thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free. It is such a poignant reminder of the power He yielded on that cross, giving Himself over to death on a cross and to separation from the Father. Yes, He could have called ten-thousand angels to free Him from that cross, but He didn’t. In love and obedience and complete sacrifice He surrendered to the Father’s will and gave His life so that whosoever believes in Him would receive eternal life. Yes, Jesus could have called the angels but instead He suffered on the cross for our sins and paid the debt that only He could pay. He did what He knew must be done – and, then – in respect, “He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Rest in the completed work of Jesus1.

John presents Jesus’ declaration here using the Greek word tetelestai. Archaeologists have found this word inscribed on records to indicate debts which have been paid, or obligations which have been met. That which Jesus was sent to accomplish—an atonement for sin on behalf of mankind (2 Corinthians 5:21)—is entirely and fully completed in this moment: “It is finished.” No further work needs to be done, nor can it be done (Titus 3:5). There is no room for other actions, rituals, sacraments, sacrifices, or payments to accomplish salvation (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 10:12–14).

bibleref.com / John 19:30

Follow Jesus’ example and live yielded and surrendered to the will of God.2

2(I realize that this reference is not from our reading today; however, if Jesus had not surrendered to the Father’s will we would not know the blessing of His words: “Tetelestai!” – “It is finished,”

Going a little farther, Jesus threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 

Matthew 26:39 NET

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father, thank You for the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Thank You that no one took His life from Him but that He gave up His life for our sin-debt, a debt He did not owe but that could only be paid with His blood. How blessed we are to be loved by You, Father and Son and to be filled with Your Spirit! Help us to live as Jesus did, surrendered to Your will, not afraid to pray for an unwanted ‘cup’ to pass from us but given to loving You and others more than ourselves – even enough to pray and live out the example of Christ – “not my will but Yours be done.” Help us to live and to rest in the completed work of Christ on the cross. – Help us to remember that we do not have to work for the victory because through Christ’s finished work on the cross the victory is ours! – Hallelujah! and Amen – in Jesus’ Name!

THE MORE WE KNOW

What was finished at the cross?

For more insight be sure and read today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Sin’s Requirement

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God / w3d3

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Acts 2:38; and SOAP: 1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 NET

Sin requires something of us, and according to God’s word in Roman’s 6:23, that requirement is death. However, great provision was made through Jesus Christ and we are given a second option – which is a commitment to God, through faith in Jesus Christ. That faith, according to Jesus’ teaching demands that we turn from our selfish (sinful) ways, deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him. Or, as it is written in 2 Chronicles, “If my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.“

I love words, and I love running across words I’m not familiar with – like “repudiate,” which we find in the NET version of 2 Chronicles 7:14. The meaning of repudiate is to refuse to have anything to do with, to refuse to be associated with, or to divorce or separate from formally. In other words – naming the name of God, choosing to place our faith in Christ requires us to divorce ourselves from sinful practices and instead seek to please God and call out to Him. In return, God promises to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sin requires something of us – either death or a commitment to God.

Me, from the Insideout –
LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Before writing the beloved promise of forgiveness that we find in 1 John 1:9, John penned the words: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” (1 John 1:8) Clearly, if our desire is to live (abide) in Christ, who is the Truth, then we must own up to our sins, confessing them before God who is faithful to not only forgive us but to cleanse us from all of our “all unrighteousness.” The promises don’t stop there though, remember He also promises to help us stay faithful by giving us everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3-4) and to show us the way of escape when we are tempted to return to our old ways (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Cor 10:12-13 NLT

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father, turning from sin and living righteously – denying ourselves our selfish, sinful desires and following Jesus does not come naturally to us – but You knew this and provided a Way where there was no way. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have received all the precious promises of Your Word, promises that guarantee us forgiveness and enable us to share in His divine nature and escape not only the world’s corruption but the wages of our sins – which are death. Father help us to ‘repudiate’ our sinful practices and follow Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life whom You have provided so that we might receive the free gift of Your grace, which is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. – And Father, if anyone is reading this today who does not belong to You – may their heart and mind be opened to the Word of Your Gospel – which has the power to save and to forever change their life! – In the most holy and powerful name and blood of Jesus I pray – trusting and believing –

Amen and Amen!

THE MORE WE KNow

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

Forgiveness’ cleansing power!

For more insight on today’s passage – visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

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

Mission Accomplished

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Scriptures: Psalm 68:18-20; Luke 24:50-53; Ephesians 4:8-10 / SOAP: Eph 4:10

He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

Eph 4:10

If you know me well, you know that I am rarely at a loss for words, lol. Today however, is one of those days. However, my friends at lovegodgreatly.com did a wonderful job , as always, with their commentary on our soap passage today and I am delighted to share it with you here in the hope that it will bring clarity and an enjoyable addition to your study of God’s Word today. You will also want to check out their blog for today for even more insight into the passage. – love and blessings from – mefromthensideout

Today’s post is taken from the Journal for the Love God Greatly Advent Study, The Promised Messiah. You will find this study and all of the others at lovegodgreatly.com – It is a remarkable site of teaching and opportunity to grow in faith and understanding of God’s Word, with an emphasis and passion to spread the Word of God to every tribe and tongue. Please take a minute to check it out and be sure to like and follow them – and me, if you don’t mind 🙂

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

“He Sees, He Knows, He Cares”

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An Invitation for The Journey

You are invited to join me for this six-week journey through the Book of Luke. We will be using the Love God Greatly study, He Sees, He Knows, He Cares, Our journey will take us through Luke’s writings of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Our destination: The Empty Tomb!

Introduction

The Gospel of Luke offers a unique perspective of the life of Christ. Luke did not meet Jesus in person, yet he followed Him. Luke was a physician, an intellectual who was passionate about sharing all he could about Jesus with his friend Theophilus. Luke teaches about the humanity of Jesus, the Sonship of Jesus, and the care, concern, and power of Jesus.

This Gospel highlights a variety of events from Jesus’ life. The first two chapters emphasize the Old Testament promises of the coming Messiah. Luke 3:1—4:13 demonstrates that Jesus was and is the Messiah. Verses 4:14—9:50 show Jesus’ power, His teaching, and the way He cares for those in need. The conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership is the main focus of the next section (9:51—19:44), as Luke focuses on what true discipleship looks like and the cost of following Jesus. The final section, 19:45—24:53, describes the Passion of Christ and the events surrounding His death and resurrection.

Tradition has credited Luke with the authorship of this Gospel. As the only Gentile author of a New Testament book, Luke was a companion of Paul on some of his missionary journeys. Luke is also credited with authoring the Book of Acts, and it is assumed that the two books were written around the same time. Since the Book of Acts records Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, some scholars estimate that Acts was written sometime after A.D. 62. This dates the Gospel of Luke between A.D. 64 and A.D. 66. 

The Gospel of Luke encourages us to love God greatly because of its unique portrayal of Jesus’ life and ministry. Luke provided details of Jesus’ life that allow us to see His humanity and deity, displaying His great compassion for His people and His power over evil. We also see what it looks like to be a true disciple of Jesus and His unceasing pursuit of the lost.


LGG Team

Help Wanted

My mission is to encourage, equip, and empower others with the Word of God. Will you help me by sharing this post/link with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family – both saved and unsaved. and invite them to join us for the journey as we move toward Easter focusing on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. My prayer is that the saved will be brought closer, the wanderers will find their way out of the wilderness, and the lost will be saved! ME – from the Inside-out 🦋

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Esther: Faith in the Face of Death

Day 3, Week 4 of Beautifully Surrendered, a Love God Greatly Bible Study

Today’s Reading: Esther 4 (SOAP/Focus: verse 16)

“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Esther 4:16 NLT
Observations:
Esther’s Background

To quote the commentary on Esther from Gotquestions.org, “Esther is the Jewish maiden who became queen of Persia and rescued her people from a murderous plot to annihilate them.” Esther’s full story, filled with drama, intrigue, and more, is found in the Book of Esther. It is a story worth reading at least once a year, as a reminder of God’s mercy and grace to His people and how He positions and uses the least expected people in the unfolding of His plan. If you aren’t familiar with Esther’s story, or if it’s been a while since you’ve read it, I suggest reading at least the first three chapters prior to chapter 4 so that you can fully appreciate and learn from Esther’s faith and surrender in today’s lesson.

Esther’s family was from the Tribe of Benjamin, one of the 12 sons of Jacob. According to verse six of Esther, chapter 2  her family had been among those who had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.  It’s in that same chapter that we read, “When her father and mother died, Mordecai {Esther’s older cousin] adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.”

Following a somewhat scandalous event at the palace the King gave the order that the current Queen, Vashti, be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.

As a result of the King’s decree, Esther (who is described in chapter 2 as both beautiful and lovely), along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care. Verse 9 of chapter 2 says that Hegai, [the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem], was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.

Important to note is that no one in the palace knew about Esther’s nationality and family background because Mordecai had directed her not to tell anyone.  While some may question Mordecai’s instructions, it is easy to see how God used Esther’s silence about the matter.

Today’s Story

While no one in the palace knew Esther’s true identity, she knew and outside the place walls Mordecai knew and thus our story today. God used them both as examples of faith and heroes of His people.

Mordecai, heartbroken and distraught over the pending destruction of the Jews. I’m telling you – you have to read the story to know how Mordecai even knew what was happening. But, what we see here is that he did know and he makes it known to Esther, and instructs her not just to help – but to do so at the risk of her own life. She resists at first, making Mordecai aware that on penalty of death she could not go uninvited into the presence of the King. Mordecai responds with perhaps one of my favorite passage in the book of Esther:

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Esther 4:13-16

Mordecai didn’t walk away throwing up his hands – with an ‘I’ve done everything I can do’ attitude; nor did he say he understood Esther’s concern, instead he painted the whole picture for Esther, which, by Esther’s responses, was exactly what she needed to hear. She surrendered to the instructions with one condition or stipulation that she would first fast, in this case, according to gotquestions.org commentary, the fast would be associated with seeking God in conjunction with passionate prayer1. She also charged Mordecai and the rest of the Jews to join her in the fast for three nights and days. “Afterward”, she said, “I will go to the king, even though it violates the law.” Surely this is a picture of being beautifully surrendered.

1https://www.gotquestions.org/types-of-fasting.html

How Then Should We Live?

Esther was living outside of her element. She was taken away from her people to a palace, put on display for the King, given a regimen and diet that were not customary for her. We may think – wow! if only someone would pick me up and place me in a palace, give me maids, and spa treatments – what’s not to love about that- right? Well, obviously whether she was enjoying it or not isn’t the question – perhaps she was – there’s certainly nothing wrong with enjoying where God has placed us. However, we must not lose focus of who we are and what we are meant for. In the middle of it all she was reminded by Mordecai of who and whose she was, where she came from, and made to see or at least consider that perhaps her royal status was meant for more than her enjoyment … perhaps it was meant for the salvation of her people. Which is exactly what we know from Scripture – this side of the story.

Mordecai’s faith was evident in that he knew that should Esther pass up the opportunity to speak for her people, God would send freedom and protection for the Jews by some other means. Esther’s faith was evident in not only being willing to “face death” should that be the case but also in putting God first through fasting and prayer and engaging her people to do the same, undoubtedly meaning for all of them to use the time calling out to Him on her behalf.

We would be wise, like Mordecai, to be one who encourages others with the truth rather than encourage or uphold their fears. We would be wise, if like Esther, we pray for and strive for such mindsets of faith that lead us to surrender.

It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!

Esther 4:14b NET
Prayer Response:

Father, how beautiful and challenging is the story of Esther. Beautiful in the fact that regardless of who we are or where we are You can pick us up and place us where You want us to be, so that we are positioned for Your work. The story is equally daunting though, knowing that where you place us may come with greater responsibility than we could have ever imagined or wanted. Help us live as Esther did, turning to You in our fears and willing to surrender – even in the face of death. Help us to stay focused like Mordecai did – keeping You always as our perspective and willing to encourage others with the truth – for Your glory and the salvation of Your people.

Your Turn:

What’s your take away from Esther’s story?

Reflection Questions:

Esther was faced with a hard decision, risk her life or the lives of her people.

  • How do her actions in Esther 4 reveal her strength?
  • What can you learn from her example?
Want More Insight?

Read today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

Faithful Love: Week 6, Tuesday Conqueror of Death, Mighty to Save

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Read: Hosea 13:4-14 and Mark 10:45; SOAP: Hosea 13:14

Hosea 13:4-14

 “I have been the Lord your God ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me, for there is no other savior. 5 I took care of you in the wilderness, in that dry and thirsty land. 6 But when you had eaten and were satisfied, you became proud and forgot me. 7 So now I will attack you like a lion, like a leopard that lurks along the road. 8 Like a bear whose cubs have been taken away, I will tear out your heart. I will devour you like a hungry lioness and mangle you like a wild animal.

9 “You are about to be destroyed, O Israel— yes, by me, your only helper. 10 Now where is your king?
    Let him save you! Where are all the leaders of the land, the king, and the officials you demanded of me? 11 In my anger I gave you kings, and in my fury, I took them away. 12 “Ephraim’s guilt has been collected, and his sin has been stored up for punishment. 13 Pain has come to the people like the pain of childbirth, but they are like a child who resists being born. The moment of birth has arrived, but they stay in the womb!

14 “Should I ransom them from the grave? Should I redeem them from death? O death, bring on your terrors! O grave, bring on your plagues! For I will not take pity on them.

Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Israel foolishly turned to its earthly governors instead of turning to God.

Read the full devotional –

This is the link I refer to in my SOAP recording today. It was a very helpful resource for me and I trust it will be for you too.

Commentary on Hosea 13:14 – God Will Deliver

Reflection Question: Why did Jesus come from Heaven to earth?

Posted in LGG Study

Jesus Our Everything: Week 4, Day 5

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Question of the Day: According to Romans 5:20, what happened where sin increased?

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-18; (S.O.A.P. Hebrews 10:1-2; Romans 5:20-21)

Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted

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.[a] 2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have[b] no further consciousness of sin? 3 But in those sacrifices[c] 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:[d] I have come—it is written of Me in the scroll of the book—to do Your will, O God.’”[e]

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”[f] (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He says, “Here I am: I have come to do your will.”[g] He does away with[h] the first to establish the second. 10 By His will[i] 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[j] serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again—sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this Priest[k] had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, He sat down at the right hand[l] of God, 13 where He is now waiting[m] until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.[n] 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying,[o] 16 “This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put[p] My laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,”[q] 17 then he says,[r] “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.”[s] 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Romans 5:20-21

20 Now the law came in[a] so that the transgression[b] may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, 21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Todays LGG Blog

Posted in From the Insideout

Grace is Greater than Sin

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S.O.A.P.ing the Scriptures has become my preferred way, and now habit, of studying God’s Word. I find that it not only enhances my time with Him but leads me to a greater understanding of the specific passage and of who He is. However, I have found that, as with any habit, it can sometimes become a rote routine rather than a time of truly looking intently into the Word of God.

Have you ever played the game where you are shown an array of items and asked to remember what is there? You are given just a certain amount of time to study what you see and then asked to list as many items as you can after they have been taken away from your sight. Perhaps if there are very few items a quick glance might be all that you need, but most often the game includes a vast array of items all piled together and you need to study rather than glance. As I S.O.A.P.ed today’s Scripture, Romans 5:15, I was reminded me of two things – one, that game – and two, I needed to slow down and really look at the passage before me.

A quick glance achieved restating the verse as best as I could under the ‘Observation’ section of the journal. There’s nothing really wrong with that, I’ve done it before and it’s worked. However, this time I noticed when it came to the ‘Application’ section of the journal page I struggled with what to write. The long and short of what I realized is this morning I hadn’t really been looking carefully and attentively into God’s Word, I had merely glanced. Perhaps out of familiarity with the passage or maybe out of rote habit, the reason isn’t important but the realization is. In this situation, it meant the difference in being able to apply God’s Word to my life or not, and that just wasn’t acceptable. So, I went back for another look. As with the game mentioned earlier, when the tray of items – or in this case – God’s Word was was looked at again, I was able to see what I had missed the first time.

This time my attentive observation yielded the treasure that the gift of grace, life through faith in Jesus Christ, is greater than the death that Adam’s sin brought upon all mankind. With this knowledge came the much clearer application that LIFE in Christ is better (greater, more desirable) than a life of sin. In other words, while the pleasure of sin may seem or feel more desirable the gift of life received through faith in Jesus is the more lasting (ETERNAL) pleasure. This prompted the visual: Grace>sin and with that visual came the real nugget of gold … Christ’s blood covers my sin with all of its guilt and shame! Yes, I already knew this TRUTH, but now I’m armed with it – fresh ammunition – so to speak. Should some temptation come my way or Satan’s fiery darts include guilt and shame I will be ready to stand firm!

As the application became clear the words from an old hymn started running through my mind. I’ve included them below. They are simple but profound and shared with the hope that they will be a blessing to all who read them.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. * Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, whiter than snow you may be today. * Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace – freely bestowed on all who believe – you that are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive? (*refrain) Grace, grace, God’s grace – grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace – grace that is greater than all our sin.