Phoebe is only mentioned once in the Bible, here in Romans 16:1-2, where Paul introduces her as a sister in the faith and a servant in the church, and then encourages the Church at Rome to:
…welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.
Romans 16:1-2
One of the things I like about what is known of Phoebe is that she has a willing spirit. One example the study guide points out is that, although she was from Corinth, she had journeyed to Rome to help in some way, and Paul was recommending her for the task, and suggesting that the church help her.
The KJV uses the word “succourer” to describe Phoebe (16:2). It is far easier and understandable to use the word helper, as many of the other translations do. However, in order to understand and appreciate Phoebe’s true character and why Paul was encouraging the church to welcome and support her, we must understand that she was someone who offered practical help and support, or even rescue. She wasn’t just known to help one but many…helping, supporting, rescuing, delivering, assisting as she saw the need.
With Paul’s glowing reference to Phoebe, I believe we can confidently agree with the study guide’s statement that, “Phoebe serves as an example that when we serve the LORD, our labor is not in vain.”
Reflection and Application
What characteristics of Phoebe would you like to have?
And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 2 Samuel 6:16
2 Samuel 6:16
I must admit, while I knew that Michal was Saul’s daughter and one of David’s wives, and that he was moved with passion to dance in celebration and honor before the Lord as the ark of the Lord came into the city. There is, however, much I did not know/remember about her – such as she was his first wife.
Our study guide points out several things about Michal:
She was David’s first wife
She was observant (16)
She despised him for how he danced before the Lord (16)
She mocked David’s humility as he honored the Lord – because she did not understand that David was not being disrespectful or lewd, but he was honoring God
“Michal serves as an example of those who persecute people who are sincere in their worship.”
She, Volume 1/p50
Reflection/Application
The More We Know
I encourage you to learn more about Michal and David, who they were and how they got together, and … did David really dance naked? Just follow the links below
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house. …Now when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Whatever it was that kept her at the house no longer mattered when Martha returned and secretly let her know that Jesus had come, “she got up quickly and went to Him”.
Mary of Bethany serves as an example of how we must not delay in coming to Him.1
As we saw in the previous post, when Martha ran out to meet Jesus, Mary had remained at the house. We do not know the reason; it could have been a number of things. Some commentaries suggest that she didn’t know He had returned or that she was still caught up in her mourning. I tend to think, knowing her previous desire to remain at Jesus’ feet, that she remained behind only because she did not know He had arrived.
Now, when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at His feet and said to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping, he was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed. 34 He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.”
– John 11:33-34
Mary had laid her grief and faith at the feet of Jesus
What Jesus did in response to her sorrowful spirit and faith-filled words – was born out of compassion for her sorrow but also from His agitation that Mary (and the people with her) had something to be sad about – as we read in verse 35, “Jesus wept” … and then commanded: “Take away the stone.” … 43 When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!… and Lazarus came out.” It was a miracle that not only delighted Mary and her sister, but it brought many people to faith in Jesus.
Mary of Bethany serves as an example of the difference Jesus can make in our lives when we are willing to fall at His feet. 2
Reflection/Application
What can you bring to His feet today?
The More We Know
“Can you imagine seeing your Savior cry because He cares for you that much?” When I read this question in today’s study guide, I couldn’t help but think of 1 Peter 5:7. It is one of my favorite go-to verses in all of Scripture, which says, “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.“ I believe what we see Jesus do in response to Mary’s and the other mourners’ sorrow is a beautiful example not only of the truth of Peter’s statement, but also of how deeply Jesus truly cares.
Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. … 8After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head.She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Mark 14:3, 8-9
For at least the second time, possibly the third (Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8), a woman anoints Jesus with perfume. At the home of Simon the Leper, an unidentified woman anoints Jesus’ head on the day the Passover lambs are being anointed (Mark 14:3–9). Jesus praises her gracious act of worship that prepares Him for His burial the next afternoon. (bible ref.com)
Hey friends, if you read the previous post, you may think I’m repeating myself with this one as we continue to focus on a time when Jesus was anointed with perfume shortly before His sacrificial death and burial. While this post, in part, is repetitious as its focus is, again, on a woman anointing Jesus with oil, there are notable differences. The two that stand out to me are 1)the woman is not named (though, with good reason, she is still believed to be Mary of Bethany) and 2)she anoints his head rather than his feet (John 12:1–8). However, today we zero in on the truth and encouragement that she did what she could (v8).
Mary of Bethany considers worldly losses or gains nonsense compared to the spiritual treasure of having Jesus
Bibleref.com/Mark 14:8
As Bibleref.com points out, “Jesus often warns His followers to count the cost of following Him. ” While the disciples “are more interested in what they can gain (Mark 9:33-38; 10;35-41), Mary of Bethany considers worldly losses or gains nonsense compared to the spiritual treasure of having Jesus (Philippians 3:8).” Remember, this is the same Mary, who had upset her sister Martha by choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him instead of helping her with the duties of hospitality (Luke 10:38–42).
Jesus tells the disciples who question/criticize her actions to “Leave her alone”. He doesn’t stop there, though. He goes on to teach an important lesson for all of us, saying, “Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me. 7 For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me! 8 She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial.“
Friends, I don’t know about you, but this one “stepped on my toes”, as I realized this isn’t just a lesson for the disciples of Jesus’ day but for all of His disciples. We are all to have this mindset, putting Him before our desires and above the cultural norm, living for Him, serving Him, sharing Him pleasing Him, loving Him and others as He has loved us … dying to self.
Mary did what she did, not so that others would remember her but to glorify and honor her Lord and master. Yet, to this day, just as Jesus said, she is still remembered for what she did. Which begs us to ask ourselves:
What will you be remembered for?
Mary gave what she had, and Jesus used her and her gift to point others to Him and what is important to His cause. The truth is, we do not glorify God or bring others to Jesus through pious acts or great knowledge and wealth. We bring others to Jesus through our worship of God, humility, humble acts of kindness, love, and obedience. When we honor the true and living God with our lives, others will see Jesus and have the opportunity to know Him.
We all have something to give
Our time Our talents Our service
She, Volume 1/p42
I believe that we are wise to remember – God doesn’t desire or need our wealth or wisdom; nor is He looking for outward beauty. His desire is our hearts, given and poured out for Him, our lives a testimony of His love and work on our behalf.
Reflection/Application
What is it that you can give?
How does Mary of Bethany’s sacrifice and service inspire you?
What do you hope to be remembered for?
Response of Worship
1 Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do, yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain: O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee; for Thou, in Thine attonement, didst give Thyself for me. I own no other master; my heart shall be Thy throne. My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
2 Living for Jesus, who died in my place, bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace- such love constrains me to answer His call, follow His leading, and give Him my all. [Refrain]
3 Living for Jesus wherever I am, doing each duty in His holy name, willing to suffer affliction or loss, deeming each trial a part of my cross! [Refrain]
4 Living for Jesus through earth’s little while, my dearest treasure, the light of His smile, seeking the lost ones He died to redeem, bringing the weary to find rest in Him! [Refrain]
I believe it is helpful to start with this bit of commentary from gotquestions.org:
All four gospels present an account of Jesus being anointed by a woman with a costly jar of perfume (Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8). Matthew and Mark relate the same event but do not give the woman’s name; Luke tells of a different woman, also anonymous, on an earlier occasion; and, in yet another event, the woman in John is identified as Mary of Bethany (John 11:2), sister to Martha and Lazarus.
gotquestions.org
There are many women named Mary in the Bible, so it should be noted that Mary of Bethany, the woman mentioned in John’s account of the ‘alabaster box’, is also known to us as the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 11:2). While Matthew and Mark did not identify the woman in their accounts by name, they related similar stories. Each story, though brief, is a beautiful display of an “extravagant act of worship”.1
The three women who anointed Jesus recognized Christ’s unequaled value and expressed their gratitude with unreserved love and devotion. gotquestions.org
It is also worth noting that at least one of the disciples (if not all) complained about the woman’s act being extravagant and wasteful. In each of these accounts, Jesus corrects the disciples’ criticism/concern for what she had done for Him. My favorite response is found in Matthew 26:10:
“She has done a beautiful thing to me”. Christ explains that the anointing is to prepare His body for burial and that the woman’s act of love will forever be remembered wherever the good news is preached.
Friends, to borrow a statement of prayer from the journal: “May we pour out our lives in service to Him.” May we worship Him with such reverence and awe that we hold nothing back ~ that He might say of us, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
Reflection and Application
(answers, thoughts, and questions may be left in the comment section below)
We may be criticized when we ‘pour it all out for Him’, but we must ask ourselves: Is quitting worth missing out on giving Him the glory He deserves?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She replied,“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.
John 11:25-26
I love this part of Martha’s story. Remember, Martha had just bared her heart and grief to Jesus, saying, “…”if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” However, she also went on to speak her faith as well, “But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will grant You.”
Friends, don’t miss this. Jesus, knowing that Martha is grieving her brother’s death, has encouraged her that her brother will rise again (v23), and then He uses the opportunity to share the Gospel message with her – telling her:
I am the resurrection and the life…
Whoever believes in Me will live even if he dies.
Jesus doesn’t stop there, though. He follows the statements up with one powerful question:
“Do you believe this?”
Her answer was not only the best she could have given, but it revealed even more of her heart and attitude toward Jesus, as she acknowledged that she not only believed in Him but also knew Him as the Lord (ultimate authority) and Messiah (Christ, the Son of God). – This presses me to ask anyone reading this post: Do you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and that – if you believe in Him – you will live, even if you die?
Every aspect of our walk with the Lord is based on our answer to this question.
She, Volume 1, p 35
If you’re wondering how you or anyone can possibly believe the promise of Jesus – consider then the love and actions of God: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
The study guide points out another enlightening and important detail about Martha and her response to Jesus’ words to her … “She went to tell Mary.”
And when she had said this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, saying privately, “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.”
John 11:28
Oh sweet friends, may our faith cause us to want to introduce someone else to Jesus.
Reflection/Application
What are you asking the Lord to do for you? (Phil 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7)
Do you believe He is able to do it? (Ephesians 3:20-21; Ps 118:13-14)
Who do you need to tell about Jesus? (Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15)
Scroll down to leave a comment or question, or if you would like to know more about Jesus’ promise of eternal life 💕 –
… See my hands and look at my feet It’s okay if it’s hard to believe I have faith you will do greater things It’s my time to go but before I leave
… Go tell the world about me I was dead but now I live I’ve gotta go now for a little while But goodbye is not the end
… Don’t forget the things that I taught you I’ve conquered death and I hold the keys Where I go you will go too, someday But there’s much to do here before you leave
… Go tell the world about me I was dead but now I live I’ve gotta go now for a little while But goodbye is not the
… End of the journey, the end of the road My spirit is with you wherever you go You have a purpose and I have a plan I’ll make you this promise I’ll come back again but until then
… Go tell the world about me I was dead but now I live I’ve gotta go now for a little while But goodbye is not the end
… go tell them about me (Go tell the world) I’ve gotta go (Go tell the world) for a little while But goodbye is not the end
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 11:5, 20-23, and 12:2
As both Scripture and our study guide point out, Martha “had a history of being moved to action by her love for Jesus.” We see this truth in action after Lazarus dies, and Martha hears that Jesus is coming – she immediately goes to meet Him. It is unclear if she even told Mary that He was coming or that she was going out to meet Him. The fact that Mary remained sitting in the house leads one to believe that she may not have known.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
John 11:21
While Martha’s statement to Jesus can be seen as an accusation, it is also possible and even probable that it was simply a statement of sorrow, coupled with Martha’s strong faith that, had Jesus been there, the outcome could have been different. One commentary explains it like this: In full context, her meaning is something like, “this is not how I hoped things would be.” Which was followed by her next statement: “But I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.“1 Can you imagine her delight when, after seeing/hearing her faith, Jesus responded: “Your brother shall rise again.”
So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Reflection/Application
What example(s) does Martha set for us in today’s passage?
What could you be doing while you wait for His return?
The More We Know
It is worth noting this piece of trivia from the study guide: “The last time Martha is mentioned she served supper.” – “There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him.” John 12:2
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:38-40
My mother was the queen of rummage sales and alley finds, and refurbishing the treasures she found was her gift. Perhaps this explains some of why she loved to entertain. Whether it was her bridge night with her besties from high school, a larger gathering of friends, or dinner for the extended family, some of my fondest childhood memories are of when we had guests over.
However, having guests over often meant chores, like polishing silver, extra dusting, and cleaning throughout the house. It wasn’t that I truly minded the chores that came before the guests, but once the guests arrived, I wanted to be in the midst of them. Even if the company did not include other children, I wanted to hear the conversations and/or simply watch their interaction. Along the way, I learned that while I enjoyed being with the guests, the ‘hosting’ responsibilities were important as well. I also learned that hosting brought its own joy. That being said, I am still very much a ‘Mary” at heart, particularly if the Word is being taught or discussed (I credit this to my dad, who loved to discuss and expound on the Word or sit and talk with others about questions they had or things they had learned). As for Mary and Martha, the good news is that today’s passage of our journey teaches neither is bad/wrong; in fact, both are good. However, it is important to note that while Martha’s concern for and act of hospitality were not wrong, hospitality was not the most important thing. The most important thing was to “sit at His feet”.1 –
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look clear in his wonderful face – and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Selah
Today’s study guide points out something that surprised me. Maybe you’ve always known it, but for me it was somehow new. Martha and Mary had both sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word (vs 39), but as verse 40 notes, “Martha was distracted“ first, by the preparations that still needed to be done, and then by the fact that Mary wasn’t helping her, and finally (and perhaps most sadly), to the idea that Jesus did not care that she had been left alone to serve. The thing that stands out to me in Martha’s distraction is that once her mind was distracted by the need to serve, more distractions followed.
Reflection/Application:
Martha asked Jesus, “Don’t you care that my sister has left me alone to serve?”
Did He care about Martha?
Does He care for us?
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
How can you serve Him more?
Share your thoughts or comments/questions in the comment section or join me at my FB page, Journey Through the Word, for more discussion.
Our previous day’s journey focused on Lydia and how the Gospel she heard from Paul changed her life. Her life was no longer about a religion or religious acts – instead, it was now about a relationship with God, made possible through the grace of God and the saving work of Jesus Christ, His Son. This change in Lydia’s heart is a prime example that “there is”, as the study guide puts it, “a difference in knowing something, and actually believing, or placing your faith in it” (p 26).
After her heart was opened, she placed her faith in Jesus and never looked back. Scripture tells us that she (and her household)* were baptized … she then provided housing for Paul and those with him on more than one occasion. One commentary describes her as one who is “generous and passes on that generous spirit to the church that started in her home (Phil 4:15-16).
And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need.
Philippians 4:15-16
While Lydia’s name doesn’t appear often in Scripture, it is easy to see – from her salvation (believed to be the first in Europe)…to her public profession of faith through baptism…to her willingness to house Paul and the others…to opening her home so others could hear the message and grow in their faith…to laboring with Paul and others in spreading the Gospel … and using her income to help missionaries whom she often hosted in her home – why it is believed that “she had a great impact on the church.”
“She had a great impact on the church.”
She Volume 1, p 27
Lydia was not bashful but bold with her faith. As the writers of our study guide point out, “She must have told all that were in her household what the Lord had done for her” – for they were baptized with her. Lydia was so excited and passionate about her faith that she had to share it with those around her. What a beautiful picture she is of “the effects the Gospel can have on our lives.” Surely she is an inspiration to be active and open in our walk of faith, generous and purposeful in ministry, and ready and willing to share the Gospel, mindful that the person seated beside you week after week in church may need to hear the Gospel message of salvation.
Words of Encouragement: For Faith and Duty
Sharing the Gospel does not come easily for everyone. From our personalities to our understanding of the Gospel, and everything in between, there are many reasons or excuses we allow to hold us back. Perhaps we’re afraid we will say the wrong thing or offend someone – there are a myriad of other reasons we can offer, but there is one reason that should outweigh all of the reasons/excuses we can think of – and it is found in John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.Simply put, it is a choice between life and death. Trust me, I’m not making light of the ‘difficulty’ we have with this all-important commission. I still freeze up sometimes, and/or I make excuses that it’s not the right setting or timing … or I can’t remember what to say … and sometimes those things may be true, but I have found that if I just open my mouth – God will lead the way and the conversation. Sometimes it ends up being an invitation to church; other times it is putting the Gospel information in their hands; still others, it is actually sharing the Gospel, as Paul did with Lydia – and even then the outcome isn’t on us … for only God can open someone’s heart and mind to understand the message of salvation.
Consider this … When Moses was sent by God to speak with Pharaoh, Moses told God: “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words, neither formerly nor since you’ve been speaking to your servant, because my mouth and my tongue are clumsy.” God heard Moses’ response and replied back: And Yahweh said to him:“Who made man’s mouth? Who makes him dumb or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now, go! And I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you shall speak.” Exodus 4:10-12
Friends, the battle belongs to the Lord! Just as God came down and spoke to Moses – leading Him to set His people free from slavery to Pharaoh – Jesus came down to set sinners free from their bondage to the law of sin and death. Like Moses, we have been commissioned to be the mouthpieces and the lights that lead them out – the hands and feet of Jesus, His love (the very message of the Gospel) in and to a lost and dying world.
Reflection/Application
What does Lydia inspire you to do? – share your answer, question, or comment in the comment section below – or jump over to my Journey Through the Word page
The More We Know
Need help sharing the Gospel? Check out this step-by-step plan of salvation from my church’s website. You can also message me for something to share with those who may need to hear the Gospel message.
“…she was among the group of women who gathered on the Sabbath by a riverside to pray.”
We put out to sea from Troas and sailed a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis,12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for some days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the side of the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began to speak to the women who had assembled there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.
Acts 16:11-14
Friends, this one hit close to home for me. Have you ever heard of or participated in a “cardboard testimony time”? We did one at our church about 10 or 15 years ago. People were given a piece of cardboard, and on one side they wrote what they used to be (an addict…lost…condemned…) and on the other who/what they were now (sober…found….forgiven…). I couldn’t help but think of that event when I was working through the study guide on Lydia(p 25) and saw:
SHE TRADED HER RELIGION FOR A RELATIONSHIP
Adapted from: She, Volume 1, p 25
While there are many ways we could think of that Jesus has changed us, I can picture Lydia, excitedly labeling her cardboard for her family, neighbors, and friends: “I was Religious, but now I am saved!” There was a time in my life when my piece of cardboard would have been very similar to Lydia’s. You see, I was saved somewhere around the age of six, but somehow I never understood what it meant to have a true and active relationship with the Triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit) until much later in life. What a life-changing journey it has been since that day!
I was religious – BUT NOW – I have a relationship with God!
What does that mean exactly?
A pastor/friend helped me understand that while God “so loved the world,” His love is personal. He cares about me (1 Peter 5:7) as an individual, not just as part of a group of believers; after all, He left the 99 to rescue me (Luke 15:3-7). When I draw near to Him, His Word says He will draw near to me (James 4:8). When I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins (1 John 1:9). Scripture is filled with passages that reveal His personal love for us, and if we stay alert we will see evidence of it in our lives … the peace He delivers right when we’re about to break… the way He provides for a need right when we are desperate for it… the protection that only He could have provided … the healing that only He could have made possible …and perhaps the most life-changing evidence of His person love – is how He pursued me and pulled me from the pit of sin time after time. Oh, the height, and depth, and width of His personal love and tender care are as vast as the oceans – and once you experience them, your life will never be the same again.
How did things change?
Prayer is more personal…forgiveness replaces guilt…conversation replaces a silent one-sided prayer…awe replaces fear…outward vision replaces an inward one…legalism has been replaced by freedom…obedience is a response to my love of/for God and no longer simply a habit or ritual. I expect this story of transformation will continue to grow as I live and grow in Him, for He isn’t finished with me yet.
Friends, please hear me when I say – these changes are not perfected, and they certainly don’t make me perfect – but because of the changes, my walk with God is no longer centered around the expectations of man but rather on my relationship with God. I no longer turn away from Him when I sin; instead, I turn toward Him with a repentant heart, broken that I have fallen short and brought Him grief. I no longer try to make myself look or seem better than I really am because I know that He knows me from the inside out. He has seen me at my worst and yet still LOVES me. There was a season of my life when I had Him in a “box” for Wednesdays and Sundays, but now – He walks with me and I with Him – 24:7:365. He is God of the mountains in my life just as surely as He is of the valleys. He is bigger than I ever understood – and His LOVE is richer than I ever imagined; and the more He shows me of Himself, the deeper and fuller our relationship grows.
Reflection/Application:
What example have you seen of religion rather than a relationship?
What is essential to having a relationship with God?
What keeps those who are saved stuck in religion, but having no personal relationship with God?
“But beye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
James 1:22
Friend, do you know Him today, truly know Him? If not or if you’re unsure, I would love to introduce Him to you or chat with you about Him. Comment “Know Him” below or message me questions or concerns at mryelnb@aol.com (subject line: “Know Him”).
Me From the Inside Out 