Tag: devotional

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

Choose this Day

Posted on by MaryEllen

Inspired by the LGG STUDY, The Fruit of the Spirit, W6/D5

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

– Galatians 5:22-23

We cannot serve the flesh and God, for we belong to one or the other. For, as Paul wrote to the Galatians, the two (the flesh and the Spirit) are in opposition to each other

When we are distracted by sin, it isn’t because we belong to the devil – but because we have deviated from who we are in Christ. (Bibleref.com)

When we compare/contrast the works (or fruit) of the flesh versus the works (or fruit) of the Spirit, we find that one (the fruit of the flesh) leads to a whole list of undesirable traits that, according to Scripture, lead to death. The other, and far more desirable, is the fruit of God’s Spirit, which leads not only to life but to peace (Romans 8:6).

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

Romans 8:6

The Works of the Flesh

SEXUAL IMMORALITY

IMPURITY

DEPRAVITY

IDOLATRY

SORCERY

HOSTILITIES

STRIFE

JEALOUSY

ANGER

SELFISH RIVALRIES

DISSENSIONS

FACTIONS

~ VS ~

The Work of the Spirit

LOVE

JOY

PEACE

PATIENCE

KINDNESS

GOODNESS

FAITHFULNESS

GENTLENESS

SELF-CONTROL

At the end of the comparison, Paul leaves us with this encouragement, and ultimately a decision to make: If you’re going to live by the Spirit, then keep in step with the Spirit. Believers, those who belong to Christ, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This means they are now living by the Spirit and should keep in step with (a.k.a. behave according to) the Spirit.

Friends, we cannot pick and choose qualities/characteristics from these lists; it is one or the other (the flesh or the Spirit). As Joshua warned/encouraged the people in his day, “…if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve….as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.“ Paul encourages us as believers: “Choose today whom you will serve, the flesh or the Spirit. ~ Oh, friends, may our answer be a loud and resounding: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And may His fruit grow and abound in us.

Reflection and Application

I leave you with these thoughts from today’s LGG Journal to reflect on:

We made it, sweet friend. We started this study at the feet of Jesus, watching Mary pour out everything she had in an act of extravagant, wholehearted love. And now, six weeks later, we end here in Galatians 5, standing in the fullness of everything God has been growing in us all along.


Read the list of the fruit of the Spirit slowly. It is not a checklist of things you need to achieve. It is a portrait of who you are becoming as you walk in step with the Holy Spirit. It is the character of Jesus Himself being formed in you, one surrendered day at a time.


Think about where this study has taken you. You have sat with Mary and learned what love looks like when it holds nothing back. You have stood in a prison cell with Paul and Silas and discovered that joy and peace don’t depend on your circumstances. You have walked with Joseph through the pit and the prison and learned that patience and kindness are forged in the fire of trust. You have followed Ruth into an uncertain future and seen that goodness and faithfulness leave a mark that outlasts anything this world can offer. You have learned from Moses that gentleness is not weakness but surrendered strength. And you have stood with Daniel in Babylon and discovered that self- control begins with a single, courageous, Spirit-rooted decision of the heart.


Paul tells us that since we live by the Spirit, we should keep in step with the Spirit. Stay close to Jesus. Keep walking with Him. Keep surrendering to Him.


This is the life God has called you to. It is not a perfect life or an easy life, but it is a fruitful one. You are loved by a God who is growing something breathtakingly beautiful in your life. His fruit in you is lasting and life-giving1

  1. The LGG Digital Journal, The Fruit of the Spirit, p 187 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

Easy Targets

Posted on by MaryEllen

Inspired by the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit / w6d3

Today’s Roadmap for the Journey: Read Proverbs 25:26-28 and James 1:19-21; SOAP: James 1:19-20

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

~James 1:19-20

Today’s focus is on James 1:19-20, but the Roadmap for our Journey also takes us to Proverbs 25:26-28. While Proverbs can often be cryptic, verse 28 is very clear in its comparison of a broken-down city wall and a person who cannot control their anger. A city that is broken down and without a wall (or proper protection) is in jeopardy of being overtaken. The same is true of a person who has no self-control over their emotions, particularly anger. Basically, the proverb teaches that when we lack self-control, we put ourselves (and often those around us) in jeopardy as easy targets for our enemy, the devil. As we were reminded on our journey yesterday, we must practice “self-discipline” to maintain “self-control.” Otherwise, we are easy targets, susceptible to corruption and destruction.

Self-control is much like a wall against temptation. It does not make temptation go away. Yet it helps a person resist until the temptation passes or is chased off. Bibleref.com

Friends, as today’s journal entry so beautifully points out, self-control is our wall. And James tells us what we need to make the wall sturdy, suggesting three specific building blocks that will fortify our minds and hearts.

1. Be quick to listen.

2. Be slow to speak.

3. Be slow to become angry.

Some would say these are just good manners, and they are; but as the journal points out, and as I have personally learned through the years, they are more than manners ~ “they are the daily, intentional building blocks of a life that is protected and purposeful.1”

  • Every time we choose to listen before we speak, pause before we react, and surrender our anger before it takes root, we are reinforcing our walls.

  • And every time we react instead of respond, speak before we think, or let our emotions run unchecked, we leave ourselves exposed. Not just to our own consequences but to the enemy who is always looking for an unguarded opening.

Reflection and Application

Where are your walls today? Are there areas of your life that feel exposed and unguarded? Are there areas where your emotions, words, or habits have been running the show? The good news is that walls can always be rebuilt. God is in the business of rescuing, redeeming, and restoring. He can do so in your life, too.2

  1. LGG Digital Journal, The Fruit of the Spirit, p 179 ↩︎
  2. LGG Digital Journal, The Fruit of the Spirit, p 179 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, prayer, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

Running the Race To Win

Posted on by MaryEllen

Do you not know that all the runners
in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Every competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

– 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Paul’s analogy is that, as believers, we should live our lives on this earth, determined to win. The question becomes: which prize are we running for? Are we running for the crown that will eventually fade away1 or for the one that will never perish, spoil, or fade? To win the latter prize, the real and imperishable prize, we must be self-controlled and alert; we must be disciplined; we must be in tune with our ‘trainer’; and we must actively pursue and discipline ourselves to follow the regimen He has called us to. Staying with Paul’s analogy of running the race, I use the word trainer here in reference to God, the Father, Son, and Spirit. Many, if not most, athletes have some kind of trainer. The trainer prepares them for their sport and works with them to get them in shape, so they grow stronger and more able to ‘run the race’. The trainer cares for them, advising and encouraging them to stay the course, or alerting them when they veer off course. A relationship builds between them, trust builds, loyalty builds, and the athlete performs not just to finish the race, but determined to win the crown, and perhaps even more so ~ the approval of the ‘trainer’.2

The race is won or lost long before you ever cross the starting line.3

  1. The metaphor explained: Corinthian society was highly competitive. The city hosted an Olympics-style event every other year, with games highlighted by foot races. Paul is using these races as a metaphor for a life of service to Christ and others.

    The point of participating in a race is to win, and winning takes work. Athletes who hope to be competitive must exercise great self-control (emphasis mine) “in all things.” This would include not just physical training, but also strict diets, sleep schedules, abstaining from harmful drugs, and caution in their behavior. Through it all, they would keep their focus on winning the race and getting the prize: a wreath. At the games in Corinth, they placed a pine wreath on the winner’s head like a crown. If Paul were writing this today, he might refer to the gold medal of the modern Olympics.

    Paul’s point is that such a wreath will soon die. The honor of winning the race is short-lived. Christians, though, exercise self-control and self-denial in order to win a crown that will never die. Believers should seek this with all the dedication of an athlete who knows only one person can win the crown. Christians don’t literally compete “against” one another, of course, so the emphasis here is on commitment and effort, not rivalry. ↩︎
  2. This undying crown or reward is not eternal life. Paul’s teaching is clear: No amount of self-denial or effort will earn for us God’s approval and a place in His family. Jesus earned that for us, and it is given as a gift to those who believe (Ephesians 2:8–9). Instead, Paul is describing a reward for service to Christ that will be given in addition to salvation. In Paul’s case, that recognition from Christ will be because of those he “won” to faith in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:9–20). ↩︎
  3. LGG, The Fruit of the Spirit, digital journal, p 175 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

A Courageous Decision

Posted on by MaryEllen

Inspired by the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit, w6d1

Roadmap for today’s journey: Read Daniel 1:1-17; SOAP Daniel 1:8

But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods.Daniel 1:8

To fully understand and appreciate this decision that Daniel and his friends made, we must understand why they are where they are.

3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,’ he said. ‘Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.’ 5The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

6Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah.

7The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.

Daniel 1:3-7

For more insight into Daniel chapter 1, visit “Who is Daniel?”

Daniel and the others had many valid reasons1 to forgo the food and wine from the diet the king had assigned them for a three-year period, during which they were to be trained and prepared to enter the king’s service. As David Guzik’s commentary points out: “Daniel did not object to the name given to him, because he knew who he was and others could call him what they wanted. Daniel did not object to the Babylonian education, because he knew what he believed. Daniel did object to the food from the king’s table because eating it was direct disobedience to God’s word.” While these boys may have had valid reasons, their decision was a courageous one, bringing with it the threat of severe punishment and branding them as uncooperative. It could also have been insulting, as the Hebrew word for “defile” meant to pollute. “BUT GOD” showed favor to Daniel by bringing him into the overseer’s favor.1

Reflection and Application

Friend, is there an area of your life where you need to make a purposeful, advance decision before temptation arrives? What would it look like to “purpose in your heart” in that area today?

“Purposing in your heart looks like deciding in advance how you will respond when temptation shows up. It looks like setting boundaries around the things that slowly pull your heart away from God. It looks like choosing what you allow into your mind. It looks like starting every morning by reminding yourself of your identity in Christ before the world has a chance to tell you otherwise.” For more insight from the journal, see “The More We Know” section below.

We would be wise to take note of David Guzik’s teaching from Daniel 1:9 on how Daniel illustrated the way to conquer a difficult trial and glorify God before others in the midst of testing. I plan to write them on a card, or perhaps 5 individual cards, to read daily until they are ingrained in this aging mind. There is no mistake in the ordering, for while we cannot leave any out, if we do not first purpose in our heart not to compromise in keeping God’s Word, then we will surely fail.

i. First, the heart must be set. Daniel purposed in his heart, making up his mind beforehand that he would not compromise.

ii. The life must be positive. Daniel found favor with his superiors.

iii. Protest must be courteous. Daniel requested to be excused from the king’s table. He made a polite request, showing discretion. Making a stand for Jesus Christ does not mean we must be obnoxious.

iv. Self-denial must be sought. Daniel and his friends knew this would cost them something, yet they were willing. “Be ready for a bad name; be willing to be called a bigot; be prepared for the loss of friendships; be prepared for anything so long as you can stand fast by Him who bought you with His precious blood.” (Spurgeon)

v. The test must be boldly put. “I think that a Christian man should be willing to be tried; he should be pleased to let his religion be put to the test. ‘There,’ says he, ‘hammer away if you like.’ Do you want to be carried to heaven on a feather bed? Do you want always to be protected from everybody’s sneer and frown; and to go to heaven as if you were riding in the procession on Lord Mayor’s day?” (Spurgeon)

Response of Prayer

Father God, thank you for the example of Daniel’s determination to stay true to You. Thank you for showing us that he did not compromise but stood strong and courageous in his faith. Thank you that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were friends who stood with him. Help us to live like this today – resolved to walk according to the light of Your word and not the call of our culture or the demands of the world around us. It is hard to go against the grain, Lord, but You are worthy of our allegiance. ~ Amen🙌💜

The More We Know

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. – Daniel 1:8

It might sound a little dramatic, but I think we are living in our own sort of Babylon these days. The culture tells Christians that our standards are outdated, and our convictions are limiting.

It whispers that real freedom looks like having no rules at all. And if we are not intentional about who we are and whose we are, we will slowly drift without even realizing it. And that is exactly why Daniel’s story matters.

Babylon was the most powerful empire in the ancient world, and it was relentless in its mission to reshape everything and everyone it consumed. When Nebuchadnezzar’s army swept through Jerusalem and carried off its finest young men, the goal was clear. Take them. Rename them. Reeducate them. Turn them into Babylonians. And it worked. For almost everyone. But not Daniel. Before the fine food was set before him and the test even arrived, Daniel had already made his decision. The New King James Version of Scripture tells us that he “purposed in his heart” that he would not defile himself.

That phrase stops me every time. He purposed in his heart. Daniel’s self-control was not a last-minute reaction to temptation. It was a premeditated decision. He knew who he was. He knew whose he was. And he decided–before Babylon could get its hands on his heart–that his identity was not up for negotiation.

Sweet friend, we need that same intentionality today. Purposing in your heart looks like deciding in advance how you will respond when temptation shows up. It looks like setting boundaries around the things that slowly pull your heart away from God. It looks like choosing what you allow into your mind. It looks like starting every morning by reminding yourself of your identity in Christ before the world has a chance to tell you otherwise.

Self-control begins in the heart before it ever shows up in behavior. Daniel didn’t drift into faithfulness. He chose it. Deliberately. Daily. In advance.

Borrowed from the LGG Digital Journal, The Fruit of the Spirit, p164

Who is Daniel? The first chapter of this book introduces Daniel and explains how he became a renowned advisor under several pagan rulers. It also mentions three other Hebrew boys, who would become part of a famous story of bravery and faith. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were boys of royal families taken for reeducation in Babylon. As part of this, they would be immersed in Babylonian religion, culture, language, and literature. To represent the effort to change the youths’ identities, the man in charge of their training renames them as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 1:1–7).

Most of the captured youths were probably integrated easily into Babylonian culture. The four named in this chapter, however, remained committed to their faith. Though captives, they wanted to continue to obey God and His laws, including in matters of food. Daniel asked the man responsible for his training, the chief eunuch, to allow him to abstain from the king’s food. The king’s food would have been excellent—but also would have included unclean animals and not been prepared according to the Law of Moses. Despite his great respect for Daniel, the chief eunuch hesitated to allow anyone to skip part of their reeducation regimen. Daniel proposes a test, and in ten days proves he and his fellow Hebrews can thrive on vegetables and water (Daniel 1:8–16).

God honors Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah with extraordinary wisdom and intellect. The use of their Hebrew names, rather than their new Babylonian titles, expresses how God’s providence brought them to their new roles. Daniel is also blessed with insight into dreams and visions. These skills will make all four important figures in Babylon—and will force several conflicts between faithfulness and self-preservation (Daniel 3; 6). Daniel will live on as a brilliant advisor through several regime changes, surviving until the rule of Cyrus the Great. Bibleref.com / Daniel 1:17–21

Bibleref.com
  1. The food and drink would have: 1) likely been unkosher… 2) probably been sacrificed to idols… and 3) eating the king’s food implied fellowship with Babylon’s cultural system (Guzik / Enduring Word / Daniel 1:8,b ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, prayer, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

Precious in God’s Sight

Posted on by MaryEllen

3Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

1 Peter 3:3-4

We know Peter was addressing wives specifically in this section of his letter, instructing them on how to live. However, the instruction is applicable to all women. To be clear, Peter was not teaching that they should abstain from outward adornment, but rather that they should focus more on inner beauty. This would be the beauty of the heart. Or, as David Guzik explains: “It isn’t something you wear or primp before a mirror to have. It is something you are.” Friends, our inner beauty comes from Christ in us. After all, the presence of His Spirit produces the very fruit of the Spirit we have been exploring: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

“It isn’t something you wear or primp before a mirror to have. It is something you are.“

According to GotQuestions.org, the term gentle does not imply weakness, but rather self-restraint. If someone is told to be gentle, it implies they can choose not to be gentle. The woman has strength and expresses Christlike strength in meekness or gentleness toward her husband. Peter adds that the godly wife is not only gentle but also has a quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). She has a peaceful, well-ordered spirit that allows her to speak and behave in a peaceful, well-ordered way. Peter is not suggesting that low volume is necessary, but rather a character of peacefulness.

The source of our true beauty is to be Christ in us.

Friends, a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God; this should be our utmost desire. Just as we have to care for and maintain our hair and outward appearance, we must care for our Spiritual life as well. A hairbrush, make-up, and nice, clean clothes go a long way in shaping an outward appearance, but the inner self, the heart, is best kept/maintained by asking God to adorn us with the beauty of gentleness and a quiet spirit. We can’t stop there, though; we must actively maintain a healthy relationship with God, being filled with His Spirit, spending time with Him in prayer, and walking in the light of His Word. When we are filled with His thoughts, His ways, His love, His light, and His Spirit of gentleness and peace, Then, not only will we be precious in His sight, but His gentle and quiet spirit will be evident in us, and those around us will be drawn to Him.

Reflection and Application

So what does cultivating that kind of beauty look like practically? It looks like spending more time reading God’s Word than in front of the mirror. It looks like asking God to tend to the condition of your heart the way you tend to your appearance. It looks like choosing stillness and trust in the moments when anxiety wants to take over.1

Response of Prayer

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here, that we might be women clothed with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to You and a tool that wins husbands to you and inspires others to give You glory. ~ In Jesus’ name, amen.

The More We Know

Peter instructs married women to show submission to their husbands (1 Peter 3:1). In this case, the purpose is so that even husbands who are not obedient to the Word might be won over by the purity of their wives’ attitude and behavior (1 Peter 3:2).2

  1. LGG, The Fruit of the Spirit, digital journal, p157 ↩︎
  2. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

Think Before You Speak

Posted on by MaryEllen

Inspired by LGG’s study, The Fruit of the Spirit, w5d3

Roadmap for Our Journey: Proverbs 15:1-4; SOAP: verse 1

A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare.

Proverbs 15:1 NLT

I don’t know about you, but I have had to learn this lesson more times than I can count throughout my life. I have also been the recipient of both kinds of words and can testify to the truth of the proverb ~ and the wisdom of its teaching. Can you?

Friends, whether we’re speaking to a child throwing a temper tantrum, a frustrating spouse, a friend, or a stranger, we would be wise to remember this valuable warning. Words have the power to build up or tear down. They can encourage or discourage, and they can cause irreparable hurt. They can calm a situation or add fuel to the fire. Words matter ~ but delivery (how they are spoken) is equally important and often the greater cause of harm. Consider this: you’re in a conversation with a friend; you aren’t seeing eye to eye; frustration is turning to anger, but the friend speaks calmly to the situation, and tempers cool; no harsh words are spoken. Twist the scenario to heated words, filled with accusations, and undoubtedly the outcome would have been different.

Words matter, but so does the attitude in which they’re said.

A gentle answer can alter not just conversations but emotions. On the contrary, harsh words will not only stir up anger; they will destroy relationships. We must choose our words carefully and use them wisely, caring more about others than saying whatever is on our mind. We must be sensitive to the Spirit and would be wise to daily pray the prayer of the Psalmist, who wrote: “Take control of what I say, O Lord; and guard my lips” (Ps 141:3).

So friends, I’ll leave you with the question that today’s journal entry poses: “What does this look like in your everyday life? I find their answer most helpful and pray you will too – and that all of us will take it to heart.

It looks like taking a breath before you respond to the text that made you mad. It looks like lowering your voice instead of raising it when a conversation starts to heat up. It looks like choosing to listen before you defend yourself.

None of those responses come naturally. Each one requires the Holy Spirit to work in and through us.

Gentleness doesn’t mean you don’t speak. It means you speak in a way that opens doors instead of slamming them shut. And that kind of gentleness, rooted in the Spirit, has the power to turn entire conversations around.1

The More We Know

If you would like to put this Proverb into action, check out this wonderful blog by Compassion International. The Meaning of Proverbs 15:1 & How to Live It

  1. LGG, The Fruit of the Spirit, digital journal, p153 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit, Uncategorized

Rest For Your Souls

Posted on by MaryEllen

Inspired by LGG’s study, The Fruit of the Spirit, w5d2

Roadmap for Our Journey: Matthew 11:25-30; SOAP: verses 28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

In His infinite knowledge, God knew that those who chose to follow Jesus would carry heavy burdens and need rest. Jesus Himself told those (this includes us today) who wanted to follow Him that they would have to turn from their selfish ways and take up their cross daily. They would have to hate what is wrong and cling to what is good. These requirements aren’t easy for us today, and they certainly weren’t easy when Jesus and His disciples walked this earth. Because of this, God not only sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins; He also offers His followers, including us, a rest only Jesus can give. We have this rest through the power of His Spirit, who enables us to carry out God’s call on our lives.

It is not only helpful but necessary to understand that Jesus is speaking to a crowd. Some, perhaps many, of the people would have been Jews. “These Jews,” according to bibleref.com, “would have been struggling to know God the Father. Their religious leaders had placed enormous burdens on them (Matthew 23:4), and they were laboring to carry those burdens in hopes of being approved by God. Jesus has just said that He can reveal His Father to anyone, and He immediately offers rest to everyone who is weighed down.”

The rest for the soul that Jesus offers is an internal, spiritual respite, peace of mind, and emotional stability rather than the removal of physical work or life’s trials.

Leslie Schmucker

Core Aspects of Jesus’ Soul Rest (source unknown)

DimensionDescriptionBiblical / Theological Meaning
Nature of RestInward calm and refreshment (anapauo)It relieves the exhaustion of fear, worry, grief, sin, and self-reliance.
The Giver’s CharacterGentle and lowly in heartJesus does not shame or crush the weary; He offers a compassionate, steady presence.
The Method (The Yoke)Taking Christ’s yoke and learning from HimWalking alongside Jesus as a partner in a shared, balanced load rather than carrying life alone.
The ResultPeace of mind and heart (zoe)It replaces performance pressure, perfectionism, and heavy legalistic burdens with grace.

Jesus describes the rest not as a physical rest, but as “rest for your souls.” Bibleref.com explains it like this:

The path to the Father through Jesus is not one of weary labor and heavy work. Jesus’ earlier analogy about the path to life being narrow and “difficult” (Matthew 7:14) is entirely separate, and speaking from a different perspective. From the view of the world, following Christ means taking on difficult circumstances and giving up worldly pleasures. From the view of eternity—of salvation—following Christ means giving up the impossible task of carrying our own sin.
Christ does not say it here, but the gospel will reveal that Jesus is offering to carry the burden and do the work in order to lead those who come to Him—those who are “yoked” to Him—to the Father (Matthew 11:30; John 6:29).

Bibleref.com/Matthw 11:28

THE PERSPECTIVE OF ETERNITY

What Jesus refers to here, however, is the perspective of eternity. Compared to the impossible task of earning one’s own salvation (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16), Jesus offers something infinitely “easier” (Matthew 11:30). By making this comment, Jesus is not offering freedom from commitment. His yoke is still a yoke: it still comes with demands from a holy God. But the apostle John will later write that obedience to the God we love is not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This is true in part, the gospels will reveal, because Jesus will carry the ultimate burden of our sin for us and will provide power in the Holy Spirit to carry out His will. ~Bibleref.com

COMPARED TO

EARNING ONE’S OWN SALVATION

Jewish people described living under obedience to the Law as having a yoke upon them. In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees made that load even heavier by adding manmade requirements and regulations on top of the law of Moses (Matt 23:4)

Friends, Jesus’ offer to swap yokes meant our sins would be placed on Him, and His “yoke and burden”, described as “easy and light”, would be placed on us. ‘While Jesus offers rest and partnership, accepting his yoke still means living under the authority and demands of a holy God, though his grace and strength make them bearable.’1 But these demands (obedience to the God we love) are not burdensome. When we truly understand what God has done for us, what He requires of us, and what comes from following Him, we see that following Him is not a burden but a privilege we do out of love for what He has done for us.

Scripture makes it clear that we are saved by grace, not by works, but through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9). However, Paul goes on to explain that we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,2 so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. So while salvation is a free gift, it comes with a commitment to God,3 but this commitment is not a burden but rather a privilege, as Jesus “carries the burden, the yoke of our sin for us and provides power in the Holy Spirit for us to live out the commitment.”

We must come as disciples to learn, willing to be guided by His yoke – not merely to receive something. 4

· The yoke of Jesus is easy and light as compared with the yoke of others.

· The yoke of Jesus is easy and light as long as we do not rebel against it.

· The yoke of Jesus has nothing to do with worries that are forbidden to us.

· The yoke of Jesus does not include the burdens we choose to add to it.

Jesus is Gentle and Humble in Heart

Jesus knew that gentleness was what weary people needed most. They don’t need more demands, pressure, or performance. Rather, they need a gentle, humble Savior who sees their exhaustion and says, “Come. I’ll take that. Rest here.”

Jesus doesn’t just model gentleness for us. He invites us to learn it from Him. Gentleness is something we absorb as we stay close to Jesus and watch how He treats people. His gentleness toward us shapes our gentleness toward others.

Are you weary today? Come to Him first. Let His gentleness toward you fill you back up. The gentleness you extend to others will always flow from the gentleness you have first received from Him.
You cannot give what you have not received. So receive it today. He is waiting.5

d. For I am gentle and lowly in heart: Jesus revealed His nature when He described Himself as gentle and lowly of heart. It is His servant’s heart, displayed throughout His ministry, making Him qualified to be the one who bears our burdens.

e. And you will find rest for your souls: Jesus described His gift to His followers as rest for your soul. This unmatchable gift – both powerful and profound – should be considered the birthright of those who come to Jesus and are His followers. They should believe that something is wrong if they don’t experience rest for their souls.6

Response of Prayer

Lord, I was weary and burdened, and I came to You, and You gave me rest for my soul…Rest from striving, from shame, and so much more through the years. You have taken my yoke, the sin and heavy burdens of my life, upon You, and You have allowed me to experience the ease and privilege of Your yoke, Your gentleness, and Your gentle and humble heart in so many ways. I am most blessed to belong to You and pray that You will help me imitate Your gentle, humble, servant’s heart to the world around me. ~ Amen and Amen

Response of Worship

The More We Know

https://www.leslieschmucker.com/blog/2021/1/30/33pmprzaq2i4ykl26jw3igpb9jryy6

  1. Bibleref.com and others ↩︎
  2. A New Creation ↩︎
  3. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ↩︎
  4. Enduring Word, David Guzik, Matthew 11:28-30; 3.c. ↩︎
  5. LGG The Fruit of the Spirit, digital journal, p. 149 ↩︎
  6. Enduring Word, Matthew 11:28-30; 3.d,e ↩︎

i. “You will find rest for your souls is an echo of the Hebrew text of Jeremiah 6:16, where it is the offer of God to those who follow his way; Jesus now issues the invitation in his own name!” (France)

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, prayer, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

The Most Humble Man

Posted on by MaryEllen

inspired by the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit / w5d1

Today’s Roadmap for our Journey

  • Read Numbers 12:1-8
  • SOAP: Numbers 12:3

Reflections and Application of Today’s Passage

Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, became disgruntled with Moses. They gave the reason for their attitude as his marriage to an Ethiopian woman. However, their words reveal that their real problem was pride and/or jealousy because they had not been recognized as equal leaders with Moses over Israel.

So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. ~Numbers 12:21

Of course the Lord heard what they said. God hears everything we say; nothing escapes His attention. Whispered, spoken, shouted, or written on a piece of paper and thrown into the fire, our words and thoughts are always known. God not only heard what they said; He knew the intent of their hearts and called them out on it. When I read this verse, “The LORD spoke immediately to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: ‘The three of you come to the tent of meeting.’…” I jotted down in the margin of my journal that they were called to the principal’s office. He made it very clear to Miriam and Aaron that their words were offensive. He put them in their place by reminding them that Moses had not elevated himself as leader over Israel, but that He (the LORD) had chosen and called Moses to serve Him in this capacity. Friends, while this is not our focus today, it is a good reminder that we are not to speak against those whom God has called to teach and preach. In fact, we should be afraid to do so; as God points out, they were not only disrespecting Moses, but they were disrespecting God and His authority.

As David Guzik points out in his commentary on this passage, Aaron and Miriam had the pride problem, not Moses, who is identified here as very humble, more so than any man on the face of the earth.2 And this is the focus of today’s journey. Because not every reader uses the same translation of Scripture, note that commentators also define the word for humble as gentle, or meek. These terms, as we understand them, are evident in Moses’ life, particularly in his response to Miriam and Aaron’s words. As today’s journal entry points out, “Moses doesn’t defend himself. He doesn’t retaliate. He doesn’t use his position to put them in their place. He simply remains quiet and lets God handle it.” Some may see this as weakness, but, as the journal also points out, it is a sign of “a strong, settled, surrendered gentleness that doesn’t need to prove itself.” In other words, it is a gentleness (humbleness) that comes from knowing God. More specifically, in reference to our focus on the ‘fruit of the Spirit’, it grows in us through the presence of God’s Spirit. Because His Spirit lives in us, we are no longer to be filled with anger or bitterness; we are not to use harsh words, repay evil for evil, or seek vengeance on those who hurt us. Instead we are to love others as Christ has loved us and we are to forgive as God forgives.3

Just like Jesus, Moses could not deliver when he lived in the palaces of glory. He had to come down off the throne, away from the palace and into a humble place before he could deliver his people.

EnduringWord.com / Exodus 2:124

David Guzik points out in his commentary on Exodus 2:12 that Moses, like Jesus, had to step away from the palace. Jesus left His place of glory with the Father to take on the life of a servant. Moses left his palace as a prince of Egypt to “identify with the people of Israel rather than his Egyptian prestige and opportunity.5”

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26)

Friends, I leave you with this question and answer application from today’sjournal entry: “So what does this look like in your everyday life? It looks like pausing before you respond when someone pushes your buttons. It looks like choosing a soft answer in a tense conversation. It looks like letting God defend you instead of scrambling to defend yourself. And sweet friend, the world around you is desperately in need of women who are gentle, just like Moses.”6

Response of Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word, which is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating every part of us and judging the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. Thank You for being a loving Father who makes us aware of our sins so we can turn from them and walk in a way that pleases You. Guard our hearts, O God, from pride and jealousy. Help us to live a humble life in the fashion of Moses. Help us, like Jesus and Moses, to step away from those places and things that keep us from reaching the people You have called/sent us to reach for You. Help us to get rid of all anger, rage, bitterness, and harsh words. Guard us from defending ourselves, and instead let You defend us. ~ In the Name of Jesus ~ Amen

Response of Worship

The More We Know

In full disclosure, I am not completely familiar with or affiliated with this speaker and/or his church. I simply found this segment a compelling addition to today’s journey and an interesting insight into Moses and how he dealt with Miriam and Aaron’s complaint.

  1. Enduring Word/David Guzik commentary on Numbers 12 ↩︎
  2. “More than all men who were on the face of the earth: This statement, if written by Moses, seems to be self-contradictory. It doesn’t seem to be proper for a very humble man to write of his great humility. Though Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, it is likely that someone added this comment after the death of Moses – perhaps Joshua, who would have known Moses well.” (David Guzik/Enduring Word/Numbers 12:3,b ↩︎
  3. Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:12-17 ↩︎
  4. Moses left his palace and became the servant of the Most High God ↩︎
  5. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/exodus-2/ ↩︎
  6. The Fruit of the Spirit – Digital Love God Greatly Study, p145 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit

The Twin Angels

Posted on by MaryEllen

based on the LGG Study, The Fruit of the Spirit, w4d5

Today’s Roadmap for the Journey: Psalm 23: SOAP verse 6

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue meall the days of my life,and I will live in the house of the Lordforever. Ps. 23:6 NLT

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Ps. 23:6 KJV

This is the very first passage of Scripture I remember my dad having me memorize. I’m sure I knew others, but this one will forever stick in my mind as my first memory verse(s). I don’t recall how old I was, but it has stuck with me through the years and has been a pillar of my life. God is not just God to me, for I know Him as a shepherd who has cared for me through the years. His rod and his staff have comforted me more times than I can count or tell. He has led me to green pastures, walked with me through the deepest valleys, and used the crook of His staff to pull me from many pits. Despite the turmoils of this life, whether dangers, deaths, diagnoses, heartaches, unmet needs, or battles with the enemy, I have known both His goodness and faithfulness. Even in times of great need, my cup has been full and often overflowing.

If you’re more familiar with the KJV and/or NKJV, you may be wondering why I’m talking about “goodness and mercy” rather than “goodness and faithfulness.” The answer is simply a slight difference in translations. However, when we look up the meaning of “mercy” in this verse, we find that it is the same covenant-word translated as ‘steadfast love’ elsewhere… Together with goodness, it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner)1Other commentators use the term “twin angels” when referring to the term “goodness and mercy”.2 While I have never heard this phrase or description before, I must say I love it! Picturing God’s goodness and mercy/steadfast love always with me, pursuing me, gives me strength and encouragement for all my days ~ whatever they may hold. The ‘twin angels’, goodness and mercy as they have been called, serve as beautiful and powerful reminders that with God as my Shepherd ~ I have nothing to fear for He is always with me…caring, providing, leading, protecting, refreshing and attending to my needs. Or, as Meyer suggested, “we are well escorted” through this life/world3, “with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind.”

“We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind!” (Meyer)

“These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer.” (Spurgeon)

Enduring Word / Psalm 23:6

Worship Response

Reflection and Application

  • Looking back over your life, where have you seen God’s goodness and faithfulness pursuing you even in the seasons when you didn’t recognize it at the time?

The More We Know

  1. Derek Kidner (1913–2008) was a British Old Testament scholar, Anglican clergyman, and warden of Tyndale House, Cambridge. His works are widely celebrated for combining concise, reliable scholarship with rich devotional and pastoral insight. [1, 2, 3] ↩︎
  2. Meyer ↩︎
  3. Spurgeon ↩︎

Other Beautiful and helpful commentary concerning Psalm 23:

i. “In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someone’s table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminated token of a covenant… So to be God’s guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. It is to live with Him.” (Kidner)

ii. “While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world shall be his house to me; and when I ascend into the upper chamber I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to dwell in the upper story of the house of the Lord for ever.” (Spurgeon)

The More We Know

Other Beautiful and helpful commentary concerning Psalm 23:

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

A Faithfulness that Fuels Trust

Posted on by MaryEllen

Based on The Fruit of the Spirit study by LGG, week 4/day 4

Roadmap for the Journey: Proverbs 3:1-6; SOAP: Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6. NLT

Friends, trust is not a fruit of the Spirit, but as today’s verses show us, trust is fueled by faithfulness. When we know God, when we make His Word part of our life, learning from His teaching, seeing His love and faithfulness, we grow to trust Him. The proverb encourages us not simply to trust Him but to trust Him with all of our heart, not relying on our own understanding but seeking the Lord, our God, in all our ways. Whether it’s health, finances, jobs, marriage, school, friends, home, church, thoughts …we are to seek (or pray) God’s will in every area of our lives. When we do this, He will answer, showing us His will, providing for us, guiding us, helping us … and, as the proverbs says, He will make the path clear.

Faithfulness is something we wear or carry deep within our hearts. It is something we allow to shape us from the inside out.

The Fruit of the Spirit / digital journal, p131

Today’s LGG Journal poses and answers the question: So what does faithfulness lived out look like? “It looks like opening God’s Word even when you don’t feel like it. It looks like keeping your word when it would be easier to back out. It looks like showing up for the people God has placed in your life, even when no one is watching or clapping. It looks like choosing obedience over convenience, day after day after day.”

Friends, as the journal goes on to say: “Our faithful steps today are not wasted, even when you cannot see where they are leading. Keep showing up. Keep choosing obedience. Keep walking with GOd one quiet, faithful step at a time. He is with you on your journey.” ~ So let’s keep this in mind and keep on keeping on. We do this best when we keep our minds fixed on God, not on the circumstances and/or desires of our lives.

Reflection and Application

In what area of your life do you most struggle to trust God’s direction rather than relying on your own understanding? What would full surrender in that area look like?

Response of Worship