Tag: grace and mercy

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time

Continuing On In Focus, Faith, and Prayer

Posted on by MaryEllen

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14

Using the analogy of a runner, Paul teaches us to press on … to continue on by keeping our focus on the goal, which he identifies as “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He encourages his readers to “forget the past” and keep moving forward by focusing on what we can do today and in the days ahead to live for Christ until we meet with Him ~ whether through death or His return.1

He wrote a similar message to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:14) – telling him to remain faithful, despite the evil that was around him, to continue on in the things he knew to be true, the things of faith which he had learned and been assured of and professed to others.

To the Colossians, he wrote that they were to continue in prayer, to be devoted to it. He wanted those he was writing to understand that prayer was an essential part of their faith and should be a constant in their lives, not just something scheduled for certain times or places. As one commentary explains, “It is meant to be an ongoing dialogue with the Lord.” Paul reiterates this in his letter to the Thessalonians when he tells them to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Paul mentions two important aspects of prayer. First, believers are to be “watchful” in prayer. This carries the idea of standing guard, or staying awake at night to make sure a location is safe. Prayer demands ongoing attention, just like the guard at a city gate. In practical terms, this means prayer is not supposed to be a careless, casual, or frivolous act. We should pray with specific purpose and with deliberate intent. Bibleref.com

John also writes to believers about continuing on in their faith… specifically to keep (continue, remain…) abiding in His love (John 15:9-11) and to abide (continue, remain…) in Him (John 15:4-7). Only when we choose to remain (continue on) in Him will we know the fullness of His joy and bear spiritual fruit for His glory.

Friends, continuing on isn’t always easy. It wasn’t in the days of Paul and John, and it isn’t in the days and times we live in now. Yet it is the calling of Jesus on our lives and the example He (and His disciples) set before us – even to the cross that Christ hung on and the unimaginable deaths that many of His followers faced. – May our God of grace and mercy help us to press on to the “mark of His high calling in Christ Jesus”. May we remember that He has given us everything that we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4) and that through Him nothing is impossible.

Reflection and Application
  • What is the key to pressing (or continuing) on in our faith, even in this sin-infested world?
  • What is the key to remaining in Christ?
  • How can we encourage others to continue on in the faith?
  • What is the prize we press on for?

The More We Know

Know These Truths
  1. adapted in part from Bibleref.com ↩︎
Posted in Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Importance of the Resurrection

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God / w6d5

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: John 20:1-18; and SOAP: 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NLT

I love that Paul simply identifies and shares what is the most important information to pass on. He starts with the three things – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – one by one. Then he reminds his audience that these things, the hope on which our faith is built, happened just as they had been written about “in the Scriptures,” and were witnessed by many. The citing of Scripture and witnesses most likely was meant to emphasis and ensure the people that they do not have to depend on Paul’s word alone.

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

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

1 Corinthians 15:13-19 NLT
LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Tell the story of Jesus, with your words or the Scriptures or by sharing the testimonies of other’s you have heard or seen God do a great work in. Share the truth of the cross and of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, and of the love of God that brought Him down to man, and of the grace that says, “whosoever, Jew or gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free – whosoever may come and enjoy a new life in Jesus – not only here in this world but in the Kingdom yet to come.

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

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NLT
PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father, even after all these thousands of years later – the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are still humbling and a bit overwhelming. Your gift of love come down, your sacrifice of Your only begotten Son, Your Word come true, Your detailed plan down to the witnesses before and after boggles my mind and yet fosters the hope of all my faith proclaims.

THE MORE WE KNOW

For more insight read today’s LGG Blog

Do you share in the hope of the resurrection? Do you want to?

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study, The Importance of Prayer

Boldly Approaching God

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The Importance of Prayer, w1d2

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16; SOAP: Hebrews 4:16

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Today’s Observation:

There are many key words in these verses. We are SOAPing verse 16 but verses 14 and 15 have some words that help make sense of verse 16, such as, “high priest” (Jesus), “weaknesses (tendency to sin),” and “without sin” (sinless) . In a nutshell, this verse is a reminder that Jesus, who was without sin, is our Great High Priest who understands our weaknesses. He understands them because He has “faced all of the same testings we do – with one big difference – He never sinned. How do these truths affect our boldness? Because, we will not pray to or draw near to God if we do not have confidence in Jesus, we will certainly not approach God’s throne with boldness, if we do not know and trust the sinless character of our Great High Priest. Again, simply put, we will not request something we don’t deserve [grace] or ask that a punishment, that we do deserve, be withheld [mercy] when we do not understand God’s character, which is full of mercy, abundant in grace, and abounding in love. Boldness typically comes from confidence and confidence comes with trust and trust is built through relationship and established over time . However, when we know the God who sits on the throne and Jesus, the Great High Priest, and when we know our weaknesses, compared to His sinless life – His desire, hope, and invitation is that we will boldly, draw near to Him and find, as promised, His mercy and grace.

Today’s Application: Making it Personal

Have you ever had one of those moments when you drive a very familiar path to a very familiar destination – such as home to work or work to home – but when you arrive you wonder how? Like you don’t really remember anything from point A to point B. You safely went through the routine drive but you can’t remember seeing the river that you love to look at or if there was a beautifully painted sky along the way. I have done it often, and as I began journaling some thoughts of application on today’s passage- I was prodded to question if I am guilty of this in prayer. For instance, “when I pray do I even consider Jesus, the one who bridges the gap? Am I consciously aware of Him who made it possible for me to even approach God in prayer or am I just going through the routine of praying? I don’t want to deflect from the message of coming boldly before God’s throne, which is the writer’s point, but it made me wonder just how often I begin praying – approaching God’s throne, without even considering Jesus – not that I don’t consider Him within the context of the prayer – and close the prayer in His name – but it struck me in reading these verses today, that the only way to truly approach God with such boldness is to be consciously aware of Jesus from beginning to end. To remember how He taught us [His disciples] to pray … “Our Father, in Heaven, hallowed be Your name”, is a reminder that we are coming before a holy God. and can only do so through Jesus, our Redeemer, who sits at the Father’s right hand pleading for us, (Romans 8:34). This conviction/question/realization that came to mind isn’t necessarily that I need to change the words that I pray and certainly not that I need to pray the same words every time, but that when I pray – it should never be just a routine prayer, instead it should flow out of a conscious awareness of being in conversation with God. It should never be just an awareness of my needs and requests but of God’s (Father, Son, and Spirit) presence, His promises, His Word, His provisions, His teachings, His guidance, His will, His perfection, His goodness … holiness … trustworthiness … and all that we know Him to be. Without such an awareness I wonder if we will ever have the bold confidence that Hebrew’s teaches.

So how about you? When you pray, do you pray boldly? Do you trust Jesus, your High Priest, to intercede on your behalf according to His understanding of who you are. weaknesses and all? Do you draw near to God with boldness, believing that Jesus was tempted in every way like you have been but remained sinless and having offered Himself up on your behalf is there interceding for you now? If not, ask yourself what’s holding you back. Ask God to give you a fuller understanding of these truths and to help you hold firmly to what you believe.

Today’s Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for the reminder of why I can come boldly before Your throne. How often do I just run into Your presence without thought to the privilege and the reason I can stand before You! Help me to not aimlessly nor without thought enter into Your presence. For surely, when I am purposeful to consider Your gift of Christ -I will come boldly as You have invited. Thank You for Your promise of grace and mercy – and for the confidence such knowledge gives me!