Tag: follow

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

The True Harlot Mother

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, Volume 2/p83-84

Read: 1 Kings 3

If you’ve heard the story, you already know the outcome; if you haven’t, then you may be surprised at the King’s first suggestion and the vastly different reactions of the women. Whether the story is new to you or well-known, we must be careful not to brush it aside as irrelevant to us today. Our circumstances and life choices may never place us in the exact scenario of the two mothers, but throughout our lifetime, we will inevitably face difficult choices – choices that make us choose right from wrong, good or evil, love or hate, gain or loss – and in all of these, we must choose carefully. Our decisions must be made with a heart yielded and committed to God’s glory (the righteous choice), even if it means suffering great loss. After all, Jesus told His disciples (including us): whoever wanted to follow Him would need to deny themselves daily and take up their cross, which, as explained by one commentary1, means to: “accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion (Gal. 2: 20 and 6:14).” This is why Jesus went on to say: ‘Whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life because of me will save it” (Luke 9:24).

Solomon could not tell from their words which woman was telling the truth. Instead, he issued a shocking command: “Bring me a sword. . . . Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other”

(1 Kings 3:24–25). 
Reflection and Application
  • Leave a comment below with another example of someone willing to suffer great loss for God’s glory.
The More We Know

The chapter’s final verse notes the effect that Solomon’s unorthodox methods had on the kingdom: “When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice” (1 Kings 3:28). Solomon’s wisdom had been given by God when Solomon requested it (verse 5). The account of Solomon’s handling of the case of the two prostitutes showed that he had indeed been granted wisdom from God. ~ (Got questions.org)

Dear reader, if you do not know Jesus… if you have never professed your faith in Him, I invite you to explore “Know These Truths” where you will discover the Way to everlasting life and an indescribable joy. It is available to all who believe.

Know These Truths
  1. Biblegateway.com sn Only Luke mentions taking up one’s cross daily. To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14. ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

The Great Commission

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based on, Not Made To Be Alone, a LGG Study / w4d5

Today’s Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 / SoAP: 19-20

 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20
But Jesus Met them There

Following the resurrection o f Christ, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 8 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”” —

This is where today’s passage picks up. With Judas gone there were now only 11 disciples in Jesus’ inner circle and they did just what He had instructed. They went to Galilee where they saw Him just as Jesus said they would. Jesus told the disciples that He had been given all authority in heaven and on earth – and by that authority He commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations -[signifying every people group on earth], to baptize the new disciples, and to teach them. – not just who God was and what He had done – but obedience to the commands He had given and to remember that He would always be with them.

Hands-on discipleship

A disciple is one who becomes like their master by living in a servant relationship to their master …

BibleRef.com

It’s important to note that Jesus had been the teacher up to this point, and to remember that His teaching involved mentoring, training, explaining, and modeling matters of faith. As His disciples, this is what we have been called to do as well. Whether one on one or in group settings – Jesus’ hands-on discipleship program was vital to the spread of the Gospel then and now – to all nations, tribes, and tongues.

Consider This …

Faithful followers multiply followers.

So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Acts 6:7
Response to God’s Word

Father, may we be faithful followers – obedient to Your Word, lights to the communities we’re a part of, voices in the wilderness, hands and feet that love and serve like Jesus did – drawing others to You. Embolden us to ‘go’, ‘to make disciples’, and lead/encourage baptism. Grant us the words to teach but also a lifestyle that models Christ-likenesss; and may we never forget that You are with us always for this is both strength and joy. – To Your glory, I pray – Amen and Amen!

Want More?

Don’t forget to visit LoveGodGreatly.Com for today’s blog [comments] on today’s passage.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Out of the Darkness Into the Marvelous Light

Today’s Reading: John 12:12-50

 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness

John 12:44-46

Clarification

In John 8:12, Jesus introduced Himself as “The Light of the World”, the One who would keep those who believed in Him from walking in darkness and give them life. He expounds on that truth in today’s passage, clarifying that not only did His LIGHT allow them to see in the “darkness” but it enabled them to see the Father who sent Him. To reject or look away from The Light is to reject salvation, the only true way to eternal life with God, John 14:6

Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12
If They Do Not Hear

In Romans 10 Paul shares his longing for all of Israel to be saved but writes of the reality that they have rejected God’s way to make themselves right with Him because they continue to believe it is what they do that saves them. He continues on with his teaching that it is by faith and not by works. It’s by believing what you hear and making a profession of that belief that salvation comes, and he clarifies that this is true for “everyone”, Jew or Gentile, who believe. In verse 14 of Romans 10, Paul then raises the question: How can they believe if they do not hear?

These writings of Paul came to mind as I read through John 12, specifically verses 17 and 18 where he wrote that the crowd who had seen Lazarus come out of the tomb were continuing to testify about it and because of this the crowd in Jerusalem went out to meet Jesus because they had heard about Him performing the miraculous sign. Knowing it was time for Him to be glorified, Jesus uses an analogy with His disciples in conjunction with His statement about being glorified: “…unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.”

What stands out to me here is that by the death of Jesus, many more were saved and are still being saved today! Because His Light continues in and through us. When we “continue testifying” about Him (17-18), what He’s done for us, what we’ve seen Him do for others, and what He says He’s going to do it impacts others. When we fail to testify about Him, when we love the praise/approval of man more than the praise/approval of God (42-43), we impact others. The question is – what goal have we set before us? God’s approval or man’s? God sent His Son to be The Light of the world and He has called us to be lights of the world – how can we be anything less?

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Matthew 5:14
The Light

In our focus/SOAP passage today Jesus once again is heard pointing people to the Father, saying that to believe in Him was really to believe in the One who sent Him, and not only that but to see the One who sent Him. Jesus wanted them to know – He wants everyone to know that He is the LIGHT, reflecting and allowing all who believe to see their way out of the darkness to the Father.

Application

Jesus has “shone” me the way to the Father – because of His LIGHT I can see the Father. Because I have heard from The LIGHT and seen The LIGHT – I AM SAVED!

Because I am saved I am called to share Jesus with others – to make Him known in word and deed and actions- I am called to be the light of the world

Prayer

Father, Thank You for Jesus, the Light! The Light that You sent to seek and save the lost out of darkness into the glorious light!! THE LIGHT that led me to You! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Don’t forget the LGG Blog Post for today