Tag: Jesus

Handmade clay pots and jars on a rustic wooden table in a pottery studio
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

The Widow With Oil

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the study, She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 4/pp89-90

Today’s Scripture for the Journey: 2 Kings 4:1-7

I read this and found myself so sorrowful for the widow. Death had robbed her of her husband, and now, because of her financial situation, a creditor was coming to take her two sons. Thankfully she sought godly wisdom The second book of Kings records that she spoke to Elisha concerning the situation, and his response ended in a miracle of abundant provision. It is important for us to note that Elisha didn’t simply speak to her about one jar of oil and make it many; instead, he prompted the widow to exercise her faith and borrow more vessels from her neighbors. I can’t help but wonder if she was confused at his instruction, for she had told him she had only one container of oil and nothing else, yet Elisha was telling her to get more vessels, empty vessels, and pour out what she had into them, and to keep on pouring until they were full and set them aside.

Friends, we do not read that she questioned him, or that she doubted him, or that she looked to someone else for a different answer; instead, we read that she did what he said to do. As confusing or crazy as it may have seemed to her – she acted in faith and obedience and was richly blessed – not only her but her sons too.

“She left him and did as he said to do, and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told Elisha. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”

From one vessel of oil and from faith that caused her to act in obeidience and borrow more vessels, to pouring out what she thought was the last of her oil, the oil continued to flow until all of the vessels were full. They were not only full but there was encough oil now in all of the vessels to not only pay off the creditors and save her sons from being taken away, but there was enough left over to live on. Oh, the goodness, the absolute goodness of our God that allowed her to see Him provide exactly what she needed!

This is our God! This is what He does ~This is our God, this is who He is, He loves us, This is our God, this is what He does ~ He saves us… 1He meets us right where we are, and provides exactly what we need.

Reflection and Application

David Guzik points out that “Elisha made this woman commit herself in faith to God’s provision.” Borrowing a container from your neighbor may not seem like a big deal to us, but Guzik goes on to explain that for her “to borrow vessels in this manner would have invited awkward questions, but she did as the word of God through His prophet commanded her.” Because she did, her faith was well rewarded, and now stands as an example for us to remember that God can and does provide exactly what we need.

  • How have you seen the Lord provide for you before?

“God’s miracles are designed to work with our faith and effort, not to excuse our faithfulness. When we cooperate with God’s direction through obedience and trust, we position ourselves to receive His abundant provision beyond what we ask.” A summary of Guzik’s commentary

The More We Know

David Guzik emphasizes how Elisha’s miracles required those he was helping to have active faith – alongside God’s power.

  1. Lyrics to Phil Wickham’s song, This is our God ↩︎

Royal procession with queen on decorated camel heading towards ancient fortress at sunset
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

The Queen of Sheba

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the Bible Study: She, Delighting in the example of the women of the Bible, Volume 4

Today’s Scripture: 1 Kings 10:1-131 and Matthew 12:322 and James 1:5-6

I knew that the Queen of Sheba was in the Bible, but she is another of the women I don’t remember hearing much about or studying. However, after spending some time reading through 1 Kings 10, where we find the largest part of her limited story, I am both inspired and convicted by her. While it isn’t an extensive story, it is evident in the few details we are given that she is meant to be an example of how we should seek the Lord diligently and with determination to know all that we can about Him, and also the encouraging hope that when we do, we will find Him.

The Queen of Sheba, according to the biblical narrative, was a woman of great wealth, beauty, and power. Sheba, believed to be either in Ethiopia or Yemen by most biblical scholars, was a well-established city, and, although there is little evidence outside the Bible as to the nature of the monarchy and how it was established, it is clear that the Queen of Sheba ruled alone and was not enamored with the religions in her own land. ~Gotquestions.org

As the story goes, when the queen heard of Solomon’s fame, she also heard of the fame of the LORD. Her interest was more than mere curiosity. So great and serious was her interest in Solomon and his relationship to the LORD that it is said she traveled over 1500 miles to Jerusalem so that she could not only meet him but also question him with “hard questions” (1 Kings 10:1). I love that God’s Word makes it clear that Solomon was not offended or angered by her questions, but without offense or difficulty answered them all. She was more than impressed with Solomon’s answers and all that she saw, as the author of 1 Kings writes, “she was overwhelmed,” or as one translation puts it and David Guzik explains, “She was left breathless 3 by not just Solomon’s wealth, but the happiness, organization, and wisdom of the people he governed.” [1]

She set the bar high ~ leaving us to ask: Do we to such great lengths and search with such great diligence to know the King of kings? Do we long to know His wisdom, greatness, and verify the truths of what we’ve heard?

mefromthensideout

As short as her story is in 1 Kings, a total of a mere 13 verses, she is mentioned again by Jesus in the New Testament, although He refers to her as “Queen of the South” (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). He uses her as an object lesson to “illustrate the point that despite being originally pagan in belief and Gentile in race, the Queen of Sheba recognized the truth and reality of Gosd unlike the religious leader who opposed Jesus. As such, they would be condemned for their ignorant and defiant nature. 4

Reflection and Application

Gotquestions.org suggests that “two lessons can be learned from the story of the Queen of Sheba. First, like King Solomon, believers are to show evidence of God’s favor in their lives, whatever their role, profession, or environment. Second, the reputation of believers should precede them by their godly words and actions, for we are ‘Christ’s ambassadors'” (2 Corinthians 5:20). However, I would offer a third and very valuable lesson to that list. We should seek the Lord diligently and with determination. More specifically, we should make every effort to know all about Him, giving persistent attention to His words, imitating His actions, studying His likes and dislikes, and living accordingly. Like the queen, we should also seek/listen to the wisdom of others who know Him, asking the hard questions, pressing in to understand and know the truths concerning Him. When we pursue Him with such audacity, not only will we find Him, but like the Queen of Sheba, we will discover that He is far greater than we could have even imagined.

Jesus himself used the Queen of Sheba as an example of a seeker (Matthew 12:42), challenging later generations to seek Him with at least the same determination she showed in seeking Solomon. (AI overview of David Guzik’s commentary)

Friends, Let’s live in such a way that when others look at us, they see Jesus and the relationship that we have with Him, and may we be ready with answers for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).

Prayer of Response: I pray that when others see me or hear me speak, that they see and hear Jesus in me. I pray that they will ask me about my Jesus and find what they have seen and heard from me, not only to be true, but to be better than they even imagined.

She had come because of what she had heard. She traveled more than a thousand miles to find out if it was true, and she discovered that not only was it true, but “it was far greater than what she had heard.5“

  1. parallel passage 2 Chronicles 9:1-12 ↩︎
  2. parallel passage Luke 11:31 ↩︎
  3. (“no more spirit in her”) ↩︎
  4. gotquestions.org ↩︎
  5. David Guzik ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Miriam

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the study, She, delighting in the examples of women of the Bible, Volume 4, pp. 45-46

Today’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 12 and 32:23; Exodus 15:20-21

I imagine Miriam is best known as the sister of Moses and Aaron. She was used in the plot to save Moses from certain death, as she watched over her baby brother, Moses, among the bulrushes on the banks of the Nile. Their mother had hidden Moses in a basket on the riverbank to protect him from Pharaoh’s decree to throw all Hebrew baby boys into the river (Exodus 1:22—2:4). Oddly enough, (or perhaps – perfect as planned) as Miriam watches, it is Pharaoh’s daughter who discovers and pities Moses. Miriam quickly intervenes to ask if the Egyptian princess would like a Hebrew woman to nurse the child for her. The princess agrees, and Miriam quickly gets her mother, Jochebed. Not knowing that Jochebed was Moses’ mother, Pharaoh’s daughter commands her to nurse him and bring him back to her when he is older. By the sovereign grace of God, Miriam was used not only to keep Moses safe from the waters but to ensure that Jochebed was the one who nursed and cared for him in the early years of his life (Exodus 2:5–10).

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

While those are the better-known highlights of Miriam’s story, did you know that she was called a prophetess and led the women of Israel in praising the Lord for His deliverance through the Red Sea? Perhaps you recognize or maybe even have sung the chorus before: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.”

I will sing unto the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously,
the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
I will sing unto the LORD,
for he has triumphed gloriously,
the horse and rider thrown into the sea.
The LORD, my God, my strength and song,
has now become my victory.
The LORD, my God, my strength and song,
has now become my victory.
The LORD is God, and I will praise him,
our covenant God, and I will exalt him.
The LORD is God, and I will praise him,
our covenant God, and I will exalt him.

However, as we read in Numbers 12, Miriam’s story isn’t without its troubling moments, particularly after Moses’ marriage to an Ethiopian woman, a Cushite. For some unknown or unnamed reason, Miriam is displeased with the marriage and nudges Aaron to join in her displeasure, as today’s journal entry points out. Her jealousy and criticism of Moses aroused the Lord’s anger, “and He departed, and the cloud also departed from off the tabernacle. When the cloud was gone, Miriam became leprous, white as snow, and she was shut outside the camp for seven days.”1 We may never know why Miriam was so upset over the marriage between her brother and the Cushite, but God makes it clear that her leprous condition is a direct punishment for Miriam’s sin, emphasizing the seriousness of speaking against Moses, His chosen leader. The punishment was meant to serve as a warning against rebellion and slander. As gotquestion.org explains, “the punishment of leprosy was a graphic illustration of sin’s destructive power,” not only to the sinner but to the body of Christ as a whole. In this situation, while Miriam was sequestered outside of the camp for seven days, the people had to postpone traveling on until she had completed the seven days of separation that the Lord had commanded before she could be accepted back inside the camp.

15 So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again. 16 Then they left Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran. Numbers 12:15-16

Friends, I have learned the hard way more than once in my lifetime that our thoughts and emotions easily and often direct our words. Whether it is anger, bitterness, jealousy, or some other emotion, we would be wise to heed God’s warning to let our words be those that encourage and build up rather than slander and tear down. As we see in this example of Miriam, this is even more important when we are talking about or “speaking out against” God’s chosen servants.2

Like Lot’s wife, Miriam (in this segment of her story) serves as an example that when we sin against God, there are consequences that we cannot avoid.

The More We Know

Probably the best way to show appreciation (and respect) to your pastor is to follow his instructions to follow Jesus. News of the church’s fidelity to Christ was all that the apostle John needed to be encouraged: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4). Nothing will make your pastor happier than for you to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Your pastor needs your encouragement, so show your appreciation for him and his work. Hebrews 13:17 is a clear instruction to honor your pastor, and it gives the reasons why: “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Your pastor watches out for your spiritual well-being. Will you make his job a “burden” or a “joy”? gotquestions.org/emphasis mine

“Double honor” for those God has given charge over us, refers not only to our financial support of them but also, as we see here in Miriam’s story, to an abundance of respect and obedience from members of the church. (borrowed and adapted from an online commentary)

  1. Instructions on leprosy ↩︎
  2. Numbers 12:6-9 ↩︎

A crowned woman holds a plate with a bleeding severed man's head with closed eyes.
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Herodias

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the study, She – volume 4/pp33-34.

Unlike most of the women we have journeyed with, Herodius is not a woman we would want to pattern our lives after. We meet her in our story today as the wife of Herod; however, Herod was not her first husband. Before marrying Herod, or Antipas1 as he was also known, Herodias was married to Herod’s half-brother, Philip. The more troubling part of the family connection is that she was also the daughter of Herod’s and Philip’s half-brother Aristobulus, making her their niece. Gotquestions.org states that when Herod was visiting Philip, he met Herodias and fell in love with her. Long story short, she divorces Philip and marries Herod Antipas.

As the study journal describes her, Herodias was one of the most wicked women. While there is no reference in the Bible comparing her to Jezebel,2 many commentators write that she was the “Jezebel of the New Testament”, using a variety of reasons, such as:

  • The Prophet vs. The Queen: Just as Jezebel fiercely opposed and sought the life of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19), Herodias held a deep grudge against John the Baptist and ultimately succeeded in having him beheaded. [1, 2, 3]
  • The “Elijah” Connection: Theologically, John the Baptist is recognized as coming in the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). This makes Herodias’s hostility toward John an exact New Testament mirror of Jezebel’s hostility toward Elijah. [1, 2, 3, 4]
  • Controlling Wives: Both women were highly ambitious and manipulated their weaker husbands (King Ahab and King Herod Antipas, respectively) into carrying out their malicious goals. [1, 2, 3]
  • Using Their Daughters: Both used familial relationships—Jezebel using her daughter Athaliah and Herodias using her unnamed daughter—to achieve their wicked objectives. [1, 2, 3]

The last point (using her daughter) in the list of reasons that she was compared to Jezebel is where we find Herodias in our journey today. You see, Herodias bore a grudge against John the Baptist 3, because he had told Herod that their marriage was unlawful. 4 Herodias wasn’t just bothered by John’s declaration; her grudge was so strong that she wanted to kill him, but without Herod’s approval, she was powerless to do so.5 Herod, while not a fan or friend of John, “knows John is a righteous man and he fears him, plus he liked to listen to John. So, since Herodias is trying to kill John, Antipas holds him in the one place she can’t reach: prison.6“

Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. ‘Ask me for anything you like,’ the king said to the girl, ‘and I will give it to you.’

Mark 6:22

One would think that John’s imprisonment would have appeased Herodias, but prison did not satisfy her; she wanted him dead. So she came up with an evil plan and used her daughter to manipulate Herod when she danced for him at his birthday celebration. Whether the dance was meant to arouse his lust or simply play with his emotions, Harod was so pleased with the dance that he offered her anything she wanted. The girl asked her mother what she should request, and Herodias seized the opportunity and replied: “The head of John the Baptist.” Without hesitation, Herod ordered it done, and John was not only beheaded, but his head was delivered to Herodias’ daughter on a tray, who took it to her mother.

The story of Herodias serves as an example of the disgrace that lust and sin brings to a life consumed with pride.

Reflection and Application

Friends, from Herod’s lustful7 desire for his brother’s wife to Herodias’ hurt/angered pride aroused by John’s condemnation of their marriage and the sin of murder that ensued because of the lust and pride ~ is it any wonder that we are warned in Scripture that pride goes before destruction,8 and to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, we are to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven us.” 9? Oh, let us not be like Herodias, manipulating an end that we desire – but may our hearts and minds be forever yielded to God, slow to anger, abounding in love, and quick to repent of our sins.

Practical Applications by Bible Hub

• Expect resistance when confronting sin with truth.

• Guard your heart from grudges; unresolved resentment breeds greater evil.

• Public righteousness may cost temporal safety but garners eternal reward (Matthew 5:11-12).

• The gospel calls even Herodias-like sinners to repentance; Christ’s resurrection proves that forgiveness is available to the hardest heart.

Summary

Herodias harbored a grudge against John the Baptist because his uncompromising proclamation of God’s law threatened her illicit marriage, her ambition, and her conscience. Her reaction—rooted in pride, political calculation, and spiritual darkness—culminated in John’s execution, fulfilling the biblical motif of prophetic suffering and underscoring the peril of resisting revealed truth.

The More We Know

  1. The family history of Herod the Great is twisted and confusing. This is especially true given that “Herod” means “king” and seems to have been used as a family name by several members, whether they were recognized as kings by the Roman emperor or not. Herod Antipas is one of at least eight sons. Upon the death of Herod the Great, the kingdom was split into four tetrarchies, and Antipas the Tetrarch was given rule over Galilee, north of Samaria, and Perea, across the Jordan River from Judea. Antipas married the daughter of the king of Nabatea, a nation which bordered southeast Perea, and settled down to a life of irritating the Jews. ↩︎
  2. https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jezebel.html ↩︎
  3. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, not John the disciple of Jesus. John was related to Jesus, as their mothers were relatives (Luke 1:36). In fact, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, he also told her about John. When Mary was carrying Jesus in her womb, she visited Elizabeth, and John leapt in his mother’s womb for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1:39-45).

    Although his name implies that he baptized people (which he did), John’s life on earth was more than just baptizing. John’s adult life was characterized by devotion and surrender to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. John’s voice was a “lone voice in the wilderness” (John 1:23) as he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah to a people who desperately needed a Savior. He was the precursor for the modern-day evangelist as he unashamedly shared the good news of Jesus Christ. He was a man filled with faith and a role model to those of us who wish to share our faith with others.  ↩︎
  4. Mark 6:17-18 ↩︎
  5. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  6. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  7. Lust is an intense, overwhelming desire, craving, or enthusiasm. While most commonly associated with strong, uncontrolled sexual attraction, the term is also frequently used to describe a powerful, often obsessive longing for something—such as a “lust for power,” wealth, or adventure. [1, 2, 3, 4] ↩︎
  8. https://www.bibleref.com/Proverbs/16/Proverbs-16-18.html ↩︎
  9. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) ↩︎

Dear Reader: Do you know the Lord of Heaven and earth, the one whom John the Baptist so faithfully proclaimed? If not, I invite you to follow the link to know the truths about who He is, and how He loves you and can save your soul.

Know These Truths
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Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Sarah’s Visit from the LORD

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, Volume 4/pp69-70

Today’s Scripture: Genesis 18 and 21:1-3; Isaiah 64:4; Psalm 56:3

For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4 NLT

Genesis 18 is filled with details that are helpful, if not necessary, for understanding and truly appreciating this part of Sarah’s story and the blessing that she and Abraham experience.

Bibleref.com sums the first portion up like this: “The events of Genesis 18 take place not long after God’s visit with Abraham in chapter 17. However, this visit from the Lord is quite different. It’s not clear, at first, if Abraham even recognizes the three men who appear outside of his tent as the Lord and two angels in human form. In either case, Abraham runs to show them deep respect and hospitality. He tells Sarah to bake them bread and has a young calf slaughtered for them to eat as they rest in the heat of the day.

Once the meal is over, the Lord fully reveals Himself, in a conversation He conducts with Sarah through Abraham while she remains hidden and listening in the tent. First, the Lord asks where Sarah is and then reveals to her what He had said to Abraham in the previous chapter: by this time a year from now, she will have a son.“

“by this time a year from now Sarah will have a son.“

Genesis 18:10

Part of the story hasn’t changed, Sarah is still barren and advanced in age…but now she knows her waiting is about to come to an end. As we read in Genesis 21:1, the Lord keeps His promise – regardless of how difficult a thing may seem in human eyes or understanding – nothing is too difficult for our God! We are not told exactly how the promise comes about – only that “the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sara as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac” (Genesis 21:1-3).

How would you say you wait? Patiently…Impatiently…Excitedly…Nervously…Doubtfully…? I would venture to say that for most – if not all of us, it depends on what we’re waiting for. My four-year-old grandson is working on waiting patiently to have our attention if we are already talking to someone else. Sometimes he waits really well, but if what he wants to say is super exciting or important, the wait becomes nearly impossible for him. Sometimes I wait well, but waiting on a doctor’s report or a job position may turn into waiting nervously, waiting on my smoothie at McDonald’s when I’m running late for work may stir up the impatient side of me, and the eight years of waiting on a baby ran the gamut from waiting patiently to impatiently to excitedly and nervously and eventually doubtfully. The fact of the matter is, waiting is generally not easy, so when you’re talking 25 years of waiting, which is approximately the amount of time that Sarah and Abraham waited on the promise God had made concerning Sarah having a child, specifically a male child who would be the first seed of the great nation God had told Abraham he would one day father.

As we have seen through our journey with Sarah, it wasn’t an easy wait for her, and subsequently not an easy wait for Abraham either. However, “the longer she waited, the more of a miracle her situation became.” Why? Because the older she and Abraham became, the possibility of conceiving and giving birth, humanly speaking, diminished. Sarah understood this, which is why she laughed at the very thought of it being true – it is also why God’s rebuttal to her laughter was a question: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). It was a pointed reminder then and remains so today, that nothing, absolutely nothing, can limit or hold back the power of God.

“Waiting sometimes causes us to fear the unknown. However, there is no need to fear when we trust in Him.”

She, study guide, volume 4, p70

Friends, I don’t know if waiting ever becomes easy. However, I have found that the more life has required me to wait, the more God has strengthened/deepened my roots of faith. Waiting teaches us to depend on God, to look to Him for help when we grow weary and/impatient, to confess our weariness and trust Him even in the midst of humanly impossible situations that raise shadows of doubts. … Yes, as today’s journal entry states: “Waiting sometimes causes us to fear the unknown. However, there is no need to fear when we trust in Him.1“

The More We Know

The Wait for Isaac

Genesis 12 begins the story of Abraham (then called Abram) and his barren wife, Sarah. Verses 1 through 4 record God’s first words to him about a homeland for his offspring. Even though the gift of a son is not directly mentioned in this first communication, God hinted at His plan for Abram. Abraham was 75 years old when he first received the promise, and Genesis 21:5 tells us he was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Sarah was 90. So Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

In those 25 years between the time that Abram was promised a son and the birth of Isaac, Abram and Sarah had certain ideas of how they might facilitate the keeping of the promise. One was that Abraham’s steward, Eliezer, would become the heir of Abraham’s household (Genesis 15:2–3). Another idea was that Abraham could have an heir through a son conceived by Sarah’s slave, Hagar (Genesis 16:1–2). In both cases, God rejected those men as Abraham’s heirs, pointing Abraham and Sarah to a literal, miraculous fulfillment of the promise.2

  1. She, study guide, volume 4, p70 ↩︎
  2. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
Woman running on dirt path with stone arch and sunset in background
Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Author and Finisher of Our Faith

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from 100 Meditations on the Names of Jesus, p18


1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (NLT)

I love the variety of synonyms concerning this particular name of Jesus. While they all mean the same thing, I am particularly fond of “the pioneer and perfecter of faith… as I picture a pioneer forging the way through … setting a path for others to follow … with the goal of leading them to a better place. ~ Which one is your favorite and why?

… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

… Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set NKJV/KJV

… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ESV

…. keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, HCSB

… looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, NASB

“Jesus is not only the originator of our faith, but He is the one who perfects it.”1

As always we must be careful to understand the context of the passages that we read as we journey through God’s Word. Specifically, in this passage, we cannot truly understand it if we do not know that chapter 11 was filled with the imagery of the faithful saints who have gone before us. The writer shares a considerable amount of examples to show “how God honors and works through true, godly faith—which is a trust sufficient to produce obedience, despite our doubts and fears (Hebrews 11:1–3). The writer also mentioned how these faithful ones endured hardships during their earthly lives, and even now are waiting to see God completely fulfill His promises (Hebrews 11:35–39.” Having these examples before us we should be inspired to run our own race of faith (“a trust sufficient to produce obedience, despite our doubts and fears”).Yet, the ultimate example, as the writer goes on to conclude here in Hebrews 12:2 is Jesus Himself, the beginning and the end, or as it is here written, in one fashion or another: The founder (pioneer, author, source, origiantor) and perfecter of our faith.

I believe it is worth it, if not necessary, to share this commentary from bibleref.com, explaining how Jesus is not only the ultimate example of godly faith but also as one who “suffered hardship and persecution (Philippians 2:8-11), as well as temptation (Hebrews 4:15), but never wavered in His resolve to do the will of God the Father (Hebrews 5:8). Christ’s entire ministry and the superiority of the new covenant (Hebrews 10:12–14) are grounded in His example, which we should strive to follow (Hebrews 2:10–11). His willingness to endure those trials came from an understanding that God could, and would, “work together for good” all of those things (Romans 8:28). The end goal of Jesus’ obedience was to establish the purpose we should be striving for: the “city with foundations” (Hebrews 11:10), our ultimate victory and reward in God (Hebrews 11:13–16; Revelation 21:1–14).”

The old hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” just flooded my mind. So let me end with that encouragement for us all; a wonderful call to worship and way to live … Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” As we know from the Scriptures, Jesus suffered much on our behalf – but we know that He never stopped doing the will of His Father, striving to please Him in all that He did. May this be our resolve as well my friends.

Reflection and Application

  • What do you think it means that Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith”?
  • Does your life relfect this truth?

  1. 100 Meditations on the Names of Jesus, p18 ↩︎
Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time

Apostle of Our Confession

Posted on by MaryEllen

Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. Hebrews 3:1-2

According to the commentary by Bibleref.com, “for the Jewish people, there was no greater example than Moses, but according to this section of Hebrews, Jesus is far greater. These verses make a connection between Jesus’ role as our ultimate example—the “founder of our salvation”—and His superiority to even Moses.” The author clearly wanted the people of God to know and understand that Jesus is the One they are to follow.

Some may see the term “apostle” here as confusing. This is a title often given to the men who preached the gospel immediately after the ascension of Jesus. The term itself literally means, “one who is sent.” In the context of this passage, that is a perfect description of Jesus. He is One sent from God to bring us good news. He is meant to be our example, and we are meant to do as He did (John 13:13–15; 20:21).1

“In the next verses, the author will point out that Moses was faithful, but was also a created servant of God. Jesus, on the other hand, is the Creator and the Son of God. What Moses predicted, Christ fulfilled.” In doing so, He made a way to the Father where there was no way. So that all who come to Him by faith “are met with the power of His grace and love. There is forgiveness of sins, yes! There is also a call to a higher way of living.”2

In Luke chapter 2, Jesus turned to the crowd and told all who were listening that anyone who wanted to follow Him would have to turn from their selfish/wicked ways and take up their cross daily in order to follow Him. In other words, He was telling them they would have to be faithful to Him above everything else. In Mark chapter 12, He explained that this faithfulness required loving God and others above self, and in John chapter 3, He made sure that they understood what that love was to look like, namely, it was to be a mirror of His love- loving God and others, just as He has loved us. Thankfully, we who believe have been given His Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live and love like He did.

“There is no shortcut or bypassing the mandate to love God and to love others. Love encompasses the whole of the Law (Galatians 5:14). Anything else falls short of our heavenly calling.3“

Friends, may this prayer, borrowed from 100 Meditations of the Names of Jesus, be our prayer – on repeat …

Apostle of our Confession, You showed me how to walk in the ways and the power of God. May I be wise and discerning, choosing Your love above fear and pressures to conform. ~ Amen

Reflection and Application

“Beware of those who claim to know what it is to walk in the name of Jesus and do not live out the ways of Jesus.”4

  1. 100 Meditations on the Names of Jesus p14 ↩︎

Posted in 100 Meditations on The Names Of Jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

Alpha and Omega

Posted on by MaryEllen

Scripture for the Journey: Revelation 1:8; 21:6; and 22:13.; John 1:1-5, 14; 2 Peter 3:10; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, and 48:12

He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 13:8

Christ, as the Alpha and Omega, is the first and last in so many ways.1

  1. He is the “Author and Finisher” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), signifying that He begins it and carries it through to completion.
  2. He is the totality, the sum and substance of the Scriptures, both of the Law and of the Gospel (John 1:1, 14)
  3. He is the fulfilling end of the Law (Matthew 5:17)
  4. He is the beginning subject matter of the gospel of grace through faith, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
  5. He is found in the first verse of Genesis and in the last verse of Revelation
  6. He is the first and last, the all in all of salvation, from the justification before God to the final sanctification of His people.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5

I do not remember how old I was (most likely, somewhere between 13 and 16), but I do remember where I was when I first read John 1. I was sitting on my bedroom floor and checking out my new Bible (The Way Edition). While I didn’t completely understand them at the time, they definitely caught my attention and sent me on what I now realize was my first solo “journey through God’s Word”. I sat there on my bedroom floor trying to wrap my head around the fact that Jesus, the baby who was born in Bethlehem, could have possibly been with God in the beginning. Honestly, friends, while I believed the words I read were true then in my teens, it would be more than ten years before God helped me fully understand and appreciate the marvelous truth they conveyed. Truths like those listed above, namely, that He is the totality of the Scriptures, found in the first verse of Genesis and in the last verse of Revelation – literally the beginning and the end. The Alpha and Omega. The First and the Last.

Jesus as the beginning and end of all things is a reference to no one but the true God. This statement of eternality could apply only to God. It is seen especially in Revelation 22:13, where Jesus proclaims that He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Gotquestions.org

Jesus in All of Scripture

“A second meaning of Jesus as the “Alpha and Omega” is that the phrase identifies Him as the God of the Old Testament. Isaiah ascribes this aspect of Jesus’ nature as part of the triune God in several places. “I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last I am He” (41:4). “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). “I am he; I am the first, I also am the last” (Isaiah 48:12). These are clear indications of the eternal nature of the Godhead.”2

Reflection and Application

I was reminded recently in a study of Ruth that I’m doing with some ladies at my church that “God wants us to stay in His fields. We have no need to go wandering off into other fields, seeking fulfillment elsewhere. The world will dangle other fields in front of us, such as success, pleasure, or money. But these fields are dangerous. God has provided protection and everything we need with Him. Do not wander off.”3 A similar lesson appeared in this particular meditation on Jesus as the Alpha and Omega. ~ I pray it is an encouragement to every reader. “Everything we know in this world, from the earth to the skies above, falls within the confines of creation. No one person is greater than the Creator. Let’s be sure we don’t worship those we admire, putting them on pedestals they were never meant to occupy. Jesus is far better than the rulers of this world, far better, even, than the best of men. Let’s worship Him and follow in His ways, for He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. No one can compare with Him.”4

  1. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  2. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  3. Ruth, God’s Amazing Love for you, p56, Courtney Joseph with Beverly Wise ↩︎
  4. 100 Meditations on the names of Jesus, p10 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Love, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3, The Gospel

The Woman Caught In Adultery

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She Study, delighting in the examples of the Women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 87-88

Today’s Scripture: John 8:1-11 and 2 Corinthians 5:17; Roman 8:1

Have you ever been ‘caught’ in a sin? You’ve said something you shouldn’t have, and others heard it…you’ve lost your temper, and others saw your outburst of anger…you’ve lied and been caught in its web…you’ve treated someone unkindly, and others saw it…? I would dare say that everyone reading this has at one time or another spoken words you shouldn’t have … reacted in anger … lied … and/or been unkind … for the Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” However, we are not always ‘caught in the sin’. While we may breathe a sigh of relief to have escaped ‘being caught’ by others, it is crucial to remember that nothing escapes the eyes or ears of our Heavenly Father. Forgetting this truth can lead to danger as the theory that “no one knows or cares” makes it far easier to continue in the sin and find ourselves held captive by it.

God is considered omniscient, meaning He knows absolutely everything—past, present, future, and all possibilities. This includes knowing every thought, action, and secret of every person ~

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association1

As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

John 8:3-5

It should be noted here that while this woman was at some point “caught in the act of adultery,” it is believed by some commentators that she had not just “been caught” and brought immediately before Jesus, but had, at some point been caught, and was known to be an adulterer.2 Here, she was being used as a pawn by the Pharisees, who were attempting to prove that Jesus was not following God’s law. The Pharisees make many mistakes in their failed attempt to discredit Jesus, which bibleref.com verse-by-verse commentary points out in more detail.3 However, we would be wise to pay attention to how Jesus uses their trap not only to silence his accusers but to set this woman free from the condemnation of sin and death that her sin required.

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
~

John 8:7-94

Jesus appears to ignore them at first (v6), and “when they continue asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her'” (v7-8). Verse nine of John chapter eight, says that “When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.” Which, by the way – it is worth noting that the woman cound have fled with her accusers but instead, she remained in the presence of Jesus.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, ‘Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?’
~
‘No, Lord,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more5.’

Friends, while the words Jesus spoke to the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee…” offer her mercy and pardon for her sin, they granted her freedom from the condemnation of the sin and death required by the law. They also offered hope of freedom from the sin itself, as He told her: “Go and sin no more.” Sweet friends, hear me when I say – that as one who has been held captive by sin before, I can tell you that there are few other hopes as meaningful and freeing as this one. Even as I write this my heart fills with the words from an old hymn that is my life’s story: ….“Mercy there was great, and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.”

Jesus’ response to the adulterous woman influences our understanding of judgment, mercy, and God’s perspective on sin. At no point does Jesus shrink from the fact of her sin. She was caught “in the act” (John 8:4) so there is no doubt about her moral guilt. Old Testament law called for the death penalty for adulterers (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22) so there is no doubt about her legal guilt. As the only perfectly sinless man (Hebrews 4:15), there is no doubt about Jesus’ moral authority to deliver harsh justice to this sinner. ~ Instead, Jesus demonstrates that simply because we can do something does not make it the best option. Christ’s question here sets up His response in the next verse. This is an instance of forgiveness, not ignorance. Jesus is not going to claim that the woman is innocent or that her sin is trivial. His deflection of the Pharisees was based on procedure: they followed the law incorrectly. Jesus will explicitly refer to her behavior as sinful even as He demonstrates that mercy is meant to take precedence over retribution, even under the Old Testament law (Proverbs 21:10; Zechariah 7:8–9; Matthew 23:23). Bibleref.com

Reflection and Application

  • How do we become “a new creation”?
    • 2 Corinthians 5:17

The More We Know

While we don’t know what Jesus wrote, we do see how He turns the hypocrisy of these Pharisees against them. They were not wrong to seek justice under the Law. However, they are clearly not following it fully; they have only brought half of the guilty ones. Also, God’s law prioritized mercy over blind punishment (Proverbs 21:10; Zechariah 7:8–9; Matthew 23:23).

  1. https://billygraham.org/answers/does-god-know-everything-i-think-and-do ↩︎
  2. If the woman was caught “in the act,” then so was the man she was with—so where is the guilty man? This entire episode is an attempt by Pharisees to show that they follow the Law and Jesus does not. But even their trap fails that test: they’ve only brought half of the guilty parties (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22).
    The act of “placing her in the midst” is part of the Pharisees’ intended drama. This is meant to be as public as possible. That means Jesus’ response can be given as much publicity as possible. Of course, that strategy assumes Jesus is about to make a serious public-relations error. This assumption is once again false. ↩︎
  3. bibleref.com ↩︎
  4. ~ ‘No, Lord,’ she said. And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no more.‘ ↩︎
  5. Go and sin no more: Jesus sent her away with a call to stop her sin, and to continue stopped in regard to that sin. He sent her away without ever approving of or accepting her sin.
    i. “The form of the command implies a ceasing to commit an action already started: ‘Stop your sinful habit’. And the ‘no more’ points to the thought of no return.” (Morris)
    ii. Jesus did several things with these powerful words.
    · He recognized that what the woman had done was sin, because He told her to stop sinning.
    · He told her to repent, and to not continue her sin.
    · He gave her hope that her life could go on in freedom from sexual sin.
    · He gave her a word of hope to speak against the shame that would later likely threaten to overwhelm her life.
    iii. The woman needed hope because the consequences of her sin would be severe enough. After this she would likely be shunned by her community, and rejected by her husband, perhaps even divorced (assuming she was married or betrothed). ↩︎
Know These Truths
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, Part 5

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She Study, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, Volume 3/pp 37-38

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:7-20; John 1:14; and 1 Samuel 12:24

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1 Samuel 12:24

 “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

Friends, I hope you have found as much joy as I have in walking through Mary’s story. From the angel’s announcement that she had been chosen to carry and bear the Son of God into the world, we have seen her tender, receptive heart not only to the unexpected (and humanly impossible) announcement, but also to a possible threat to her engagement and relationship with Joseph, not to mention what the changes might do to her (and her familiy’s) reputation in the community. We have heard her willingness to accept and believe the message and surrender to the will of God, and we have watched as God not only kept Joseph from walking away but also gave her a much-needed embrace and words of encouragement from her cousin, Elizabeth.

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And in time, everything the angel had told her came to pass. She gave birth to the only begotten Son of God, and He was named Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Jesus, God with us, as John 1:14 emphasizes, and as Isaiah had prophesied (Isaiah 7:14), A virgin would conceive and give birth to a son. People will call him “Immanuel,” which means “God with Us.” ~”Viewed in this light,” as gotquestions.org explains, “Isaiah’s prophecy is clear that Jesus is God, sent to earth to be with us, and to save mankind from our sins.” A savior born, the begotten Son of God, born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes,1 and laid in a manger; a perfect reminder that, as today’s study journal points out, “Regardless of whether or not there is room made for Him, the Lord will carry out His purpose.”

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

After Mary had given birth, swaddled her newborn son, and laid Him in the manger, she was visited by shepherds, who had been visited by an angel in the fields. The angel told them about the Savior, Christ the Lord, who had been born in Bethlehem, the city of David. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  …When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:10-12, 15-19)

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH US IF WE WILL SIMPLY YIELD OURSELVES TO THE LORD.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

  • Why would Mary ponder these things?
  • Take time today to ponder what He has done for you.

The More We Know

  1. There are some interesting theories about Luke’s detail of Jesus’ swaddling clothes. Some have postulated that the swaddling clothes were a foreshadowing—a prophetic reference—of Jesus’ burial cloths. The Greek word sparganoo is the root word used in the phrase “swaddling clothes,” and it means “to clothe in strips of cloth.” But this word sparganoo is never used in the New Testament to refer to burial cloth. In the descriptions in the Gospels of Jesus’ burial, we see variations on the phrase “wrapped in linen cloth,” and different Greek words are used for the binding. The swaddling clothes could prefigure Jesus’ burial (the Magis’ gift of myrrh in Matthew 2:11 is a clearer bit of foreshadowing), but the link can’t be proved linguistically. Gotquestions.org ↩︎