Tag: LGG

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Faith Is The Victory

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor of God, w4d1

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18 / SOAP: verse 16

and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Ephesians 6:18
Dressed and Ready – Well, Almost

Ok, so you have your belt of truth in place which is securing your breastplate of righteousness and your feet are readily fitted with the Gospel of peace – but don’t forget your shield of faith. According to gotquestions.org, FAITH is a protective barrier that helps us stay grounded in the TRUTH. It is the VICTORY we know that overcomes the world! (1Jn 5:4 and Hebrews 11:1) In reference to “overcoming the world”, we would do well to remember that Jesus Himself referred to satan, our enemy, the evil one, as the “ruler of this world”. When talking about His own impending death, Jesus announced: “The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” John 12:31.

Bigger and Better than We Can Imagine

Check out this word picture of our “Shield of Faith”. It makes me tired just thinking about how I will lift it and hold it in place but then I remember that, if I followed Paul’s instructions from the beginning – my strength and power come from the Lord! – Ephesians 6:10

The Roman shield of the time was called a scutum (/ˈsko͞odəm/). This type of shield was as large as a door and would cover the warrior entirely. Such a shield was not just defensive but could also be used to push opponents. When fighting as a group, a phalanx of soldiers could position their shields so as to form an enclosure around themselves, called a testudo (“tortoise”). This was especially helpful to protect against arrows launched from the walls of cities they were attacking. Shields, often made of wood and then covered in hide, when wet, could extinguish flaming arrows.

gotquestions.org

If that word picture isn’t enough, Scripture’s is even better, our faith is one of the greatest gifts we have, abiding right along side hope and love – 1 Cor 13:13; Paul goes on to write that faith is the way we receive grace, Eph 2:8-9 and that it is the means of our justification, Rom 5:1 and Col 3:24.

So take heart, in those moments when you feel like you are the enemy’s target practice, like he just launches one flaming arrow after another, God’s armor includes a sure and powerful shield that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Response to God’s Word

Father, some days or even seasons of life it can seem like the enemy hurls one flaming arrow after another but we have this hope through faith in Christ – that no weapon formed against us can stand. We have access to Your Armor that is surely able to defeat the enemy! Help us to heed Paul’s opening word of instruction concerning the armor – to be strengthen in You and in Your power, for I am convinced that we cannot wear this armor with Your Power and strength. Help us to suit up in the full armor, including the shield of FAITH that can extinguish all the flaming arrows of evil one. Help us to stay alert, remembering that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour and he uses all kinds of tactic, from fruit of a tree in the garden to the challenge to

Worship Through Song
Reflections from the Journey
  • What does Ephesian 6:16 teach us about the importance of taking up the shield of faith?
  • How does the shield of faith protect us from the attacks of the enemy?
Going Further in the Journey

Don’t forget to check out the LGG Blog Post for today’s study, The Armor of God/w4d1

Christ Temptation on the Cross

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Live Like This

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w3d5

Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17/ SOAP: verse 15

Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. 

Colossians 3:15
Be Intentional? (true confessions)

The word peace typically denotes a serene, laid back, no worries kind of word; however, Paul says “let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart.” If I’m being truly honest, letting anyone or anything be in control of me is not as easy as it sounds. So this one has taken me years to to learn and I’m still working on putting it into practice faithfully. For you see, I’ve learned that peace in this context isn’t a laid back, no worries kind of word – but rather a word that requires me to be an active participant in a difficult task. It is referring to living at peace with others, which is why I must let Him be in control of me. I’m telling you this was daunting to me – until I learned how much I can trust Him, how much He loves me, how faithful, compassionate, patient and kind he is. And then, when I remembered what He did for me, His enemy, so that I could be at peace with God – well, it was a game-changer! I have found that there is truly no greater peace than letting Him be in control of my heart and every other part of me. I find pleasure and strength in giving Him every part of my life and running to and depending on Him for help when I struggle to love as He loved, or to make allowances for other’s faults and forgive those who have offended me. To quote Jesus’ words to His disciples – [living at peace with others] is impossible with man but with God all things are possible, Matthew 19:26.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

Our passage today in Colossians three, is one of the ways I learned to “let Christ be in control of my heart”. I put it to memory, along with the first eleven verses, close to a decade ago. I noticed, as with all of Paul’s letters, he is always teaching the disciples of Christ to take responsibility for their faith. Notice here in these verses all of the responsibilities Paul gives to help them take owner ship of their faith.

  • clothe yourselves … bear with one another … forgive … love … let peace control your heart … let the Word dwell in you (richly) … use the Word to teach, exhort, and encourage … Be a representative of Christ … Give thanks to God through Christ

Sound a bit daunting? It definitely can be – until we remember that God has given us His Spirit who empowers us to live like this, and according to James 4:17, to do anything less is sin. Again, the good news is while it’s impossible for us to live like this – Nothing is impossible with God. The Spirit empowering us is a promise found in 2 peter 1:3-4, where we read:  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share in his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then NOT do it.

James 4:17
Remembering This Helps

The peace Christ came to bring – is a peace that set us free from sins hold – a peace between us and God, and yes, even others – it’s a peace that is able to control our heart’s attitude toward others – because He wants us not just to know His peace but to live in peace with God and others – (I realize I just made that point but it bears repeating – because it is difficult to do) but – as Paul told the Philippians in verse 17, God has called us to “be a representative of Christ” – who exemplified the very definition of peace.

Prayer of Response to the Word

Peace peace wonderful peace flowing down from You Father. Peace that You graciously and lovingly gave by sending Your only begotten Son to be our peace so that we could have a relationship with You and others. You have called us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts for as members of one body – the body of Christ, we are called to live in peace. We can only do this when we live like Jesus. Guard us from hating others or being unkind or refusing to forgive those who have offended us. Help us, instead, to clothe ourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness humility gentleness, and patience. Strengthen us to make allowances for other’s faults and to forgive those who offend us, and when all of this just seems too hard or we just don’t want to live like this– then help us to remember how you have forgiven us. – I pray these things in the name of Jesus – Who is our peace. AMEN!

Reflection on the Journey
  • What does the Bible teach about the importance of letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts?
  • How can we cultivate and maintain peace in our hearts and relationships?
Going Further:

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog

What does it mean to let the peace of Christ rule in your heart?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Feet of the Messenger

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Scripture: Isaiah 52:7

How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance,who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

I remember reading this for the first time in my late 20s or early 30s and was so intrigued by it. I was using the NIV study Bible then, which, along with the KJV and NLT translations, uses the word beautiful instead of delightful. It has the same meaning, but the word beautiful really struck me and has stuck in my mind all these years. When I hear the Gospel preached on Sunday morning or think of Billy Graham’s crusades that my dad had us watch when we were growing up, or in any other setting where I hear His Word of peace and salvation proclaimed – the Spirit raises this verse to mind, and I stand transfixed to that moment in time when the people first heard the messenger on the mountain, that Isaiah refers to.

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,
the good news of peace and salvation,
    the news that the God of Israel reigns!

Isa 52:7 NLT

Isaiah’s word imagery is also used in the Old Testament by the prophet Nahum in Nahum 1:15, where we read:  “Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” It is used again by Paul in the New Testament, in Romans 10:14-15, as a reference to “missions” and carrying the Gospel to the unreached – where Paul poses the question,  “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”

In Isaiah’s day, his words were meant to leave Judah rejoicing in deliverance from captivity to their enemy. The same was true in Paul’s day, and even now, the words can should evoke rejoicing in the “goodness’ of our salvation and the freedom it brought us. For by it, we have been delivered from captivity to the law of sin and death! (Romans 6:14-15)

Is this not a beautiful message of peace that Paul delivered, bringing us the ‘good news’ of our salvation?!


14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!

Roman 6:14-15
Other Notable Observations
  • Having learned from Ephesians 2:14 that “Jesus is our peace,” this could read “…the feet of a messenger who announces Jesus.
  • It wasn’t just the feet; it was the message – the good news of deliverance
  • Freedom comes through the Sovereign God who reigns!
One Obvious Application

While there may be other worthy applications, the one that jumped off the page to me was – be ready with the Gospel.

A Prayer in Response to the Word

Father, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news that “our God saves!” Thank You for calling Your disciples – myself included to share this Good News with ALL! And, as Peter said, to be ready with an answer for the HOPE that is in me, 1 Peter 3:15. Help me to be excited about the message of Good News and not let the enemy keep me silent. Help me to live as Paul taught – unashamed of the gospel, the Good News about Christ, for it is You at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Help me to remember that Christ himself united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us – so that I don’t hold back but share and work as He did to bring all people to You. – In His Name I pray – AMEN!

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.[a]

1 Peter 3:15 and Romans 1:16

Reflection on the Journey
  • How can we make sure that our feet are fitted with the “Gospel of Peace”?
  • What “mountains” can you ascend with the good news of the Gospel?
Going Further:

“God has called each of us to be a messenger of His love and grace to those around us.”

The LGG Devotional Journal

These are great and helpful links to understanding what Paul meant by not being ashamed of the Gospel and how to be ready to implement the Gospel in your everyday life.

By nature, we are not at peace with God, but are enemies to Him, living in rebellious pride. Our responsibility is to share the gospel of peace, telling people that they can turn to God and come to Jesus for forgiveness. Whether through our words, actions, or simply the way we live our lives, we have the privilege and responsibility to share the Good News of salvation and the peace that only God provides.

The LGG Devotional Journal

The Good News of salvation is not just for us: it is for everyone. We have been given the privilege of sharing it with the world. Let us take courage, lift up our heads, and go forth with joy, knowing that our feet are beautiful because they carry the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The LGG Devotional Journal

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Jesus Our Peace

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w3d3

Scripture: Ephesians 2:13-18 / SOAP: verse 17

 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near

Ephesians 2:17 NET
Note the Difference

This peace is more than the peace we seek and know when we face a test tomorrow or a real and present battle today. This peace is what brings us near to God, giving us access to Him – the One who guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. It doesn’t negate or change the peace that passes all understand that we seek in order to not worry, as Paul instructed, but rather it is the Peace that makes all other peace possible.

A Portrait of the Real and Lasting Peace of God

What a beautiful and encouraging passage of Scripture! Perhaps one of the most realistic portraits of Christ our Savior that is painted in – and with – the Word. Jesus as our peace, His blood pouring down as access for all who would believe – no longer just the Jews but now the Gentiles were included! Or as Paul writes in Colossians, “.It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free.” We are brought near to God through Christ! Why? Because there was hostility [sin] between us and God. We were, as it is written, “enemies of God” who were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,”.

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life? 11 Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation. Read the rest of the story

 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Ephesians 2:17 NLT – I can’t help but think once again of the old hymn, “Peace peace wonderful peace – flowing down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever I pray in fathomless billows of love.”

Think About It

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10
  • His act of love wasn’t just His death but His life – for He left Heaven’s splendor and lived the life of a man, actually of a servant, in a “man’s world”, full of sin and far different from from Heaven’s splendor – not so that He could experience life with flesh and blood but so “He could first preach the message of PEACE” (John 14:27, Matt 5:9) to all so that through Him we have access to both the Father and the Spirit – and as verse 15 says, so that there would be no more condemnation. (Romans 8:1).
Reflection on the Journey
  • What does it mean that He preached peace to those who were far off?
  • What does it mean that Jesus brought us near? (13)
Going Further:

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Answer for True Peace

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor Of God, w3d2

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 (8)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

God’s message through Paul is: “do not be anxious” about anything. While that may sound like a daunting and impossible instruction to follow we must remember Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 19:26, concerning another impossibility. Matthew wrote, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.'” So, yes, ‘anything’ is a really big word but God is a really big God who empowers us to do whatever He has called us to do.

So, how do we do it? Money’s tight and the bills are due – how do you not worry? You or someone you know is facing serious health issues – how are you not going to be anxious? Your children are struggling with school or life – how do you keep the concerns from overpowering you. The list is endless but the bottom line is this – regardless of what scenario we come up with – God is bigger than the problem and He has given us the answer for true and lasting in peace in every situation.

Paul tells the Philippians they are to pray in every situation, bringing their petitions (requests) to God and offering prayers of thanksgiving for what God has already done. gotquestions.org

Prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving

There is a difference between praying and petitioning God and this is important to the mix. To pray is to talk to God. The conversation can and should include more than asking something from God. It is, as Gotquestions.org explains, “the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate her emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with Him.” However, to petition God means to make a request from Him, it is a great an awesome gift that we are able to ask anything from God when He has already given us His ALL; but to only always petition God would be to forfeit the best of what God intended our relationship with Him to be.

God saved us from the sins that held us captive but He saved us to a rich and satisfying life(Jn10:10), a life where we would come to Him and find rest for our souls or comfort for our sorrows, refuge in the storms of life and wisdom in the battles and decisions of this life. It is a life that promises a peace that passes all understanding as we live in Christ Jesus. He saved us not just so we would know His love but so that we might love Him and others in return. In regards to love, Jesus told His disciples that when we remain in His love we would not just know joy but we would overflow with joy (John 15:11). When our time and energy are spent on/with God like this – our hearts and minds will be filled with and guarded by His peace.

  • His peace is more than we can understand
  • His peace is able to guard our hearts and minds from the anxious thoughts – because we are in Christ
Don’t Worry – Be At Peace

So how do we live this out? Well, it may look different for you than it does for me or the next person but the answer or prescribed method of knowing God’s peace always involves prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. This is not a cavalier method of telling yourself not to worry – or just kick back and relax. This is a- 1arealize you are anxious or worried about something and 1brespond by talking to God about what ever it is. 2Thanking Him is next and is a way of letting Him know you trust Him more than you fear the problem or are having anxiety over a situation. Then 3ask Him to help you not worry over “it” and to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, just as He promised. It’s about choosing to give and leave the situation in God’s hands knowing He is fully capable of handling the fear or anxiety you are battling. Finally, remember God is true to His word, so you can – and should expect and claim His peace, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s Prayer Response

Father, thank You that Your peace is more than we can understand. Thank You that Your peace is able to guard our hears and minds from the anxious thoughts and the evil one who seeks to steel and kill and destroy. Help us to be alert to the evil one and to turn away from him and to You – for only in You will we know Your peace – Amen and Amen!

Reflection for the Journey

How can we know the peace that passes all understanding?

Going Further

There are several reasons why it is imperative to guard our hearts. First, our hearts have a significant impact on our relationship with God, and the condition of our heart can either draw us closer or push away us away from Him. When we meditate on the Word of God (Psalm 1:2) and allow it to sink into our hearts, we are radically transformed and will experience a greater sense of peace, joy, and contentment (John 10:10; Philippians 4:6–7; Galatians 5:22–23).
On the other hand, allowing sinful influences to take root in our hearts will hinder our relationship with God. We will struggle to pray, read the Bible, and may even feel distant from God. Thus, we must guard our hearts and cultivate a deeper relationship with God.
The second reason why it is imperative to guard our hearts is that the heart impacts our relationship with others. It can draw us closer to others or estrange us from them. For example, if we cultivate an attitude of love, kindness, and compassion toward others (Ephesians 4:32), we will build strong and meaningful connections with them. A heart of patience, understanding, and forgiveness creates a culture of trust and mutual respect (1 Corinthians 12:25–27).Read the full post about Guarding your heart at https://www.gotquestions.org/guard-your-heart.html

Posted in Bible study, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Shoes

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor of God, w3d1

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18 / SOAP: verse 15

 – by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,

Ephesians 6:15

This verse is not meant to stand alone, so let’s look again at the ones that come before it. As you read, notice all of the instructions we are given for living out our faith well –

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Clothe yourselves with (the full armor of God), so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.13 For this reason, (take up the full armor of God) so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, (and having done everything, to stand.) 14 Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace –

The Responsibility is Ours

As believers we have been saved by grace through faith, it is a free and forever gift of God. That being said we are given responsibilities as believers that we must strive for the rest of our Christian life. James said, “Faith without works is dead.” He encourages the believer to not just read or hear the Word but to live it out. Living out our faith doesn’t have to be a mystery, that is the purpose of His Word and the examples set before us in Christ and the other disciples and men and women of faith throughout Scripture

So far in our study we have been given the responsibility of “putting on” the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. In today’s soap verse we have been given the task of “fitting our feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace.” This is the third piece of armor we are called to wear in preparation for battle. We will spend the week learning more about this peace, what it is, and how to apply/wear it well. Remember we are to suit up in the “full armor” so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil (11,13), and not just stand but we are to stand firm (14).

Shoes

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.

Ephesians 6:15

I love the way the New Living Translation and others translate verse 15 using the word “shoes”. I loved going barefoot as a child and still to this day I would rather have my shoes off than on, but I have learned that there are times where it is very helpful to wear my shoes. It is also helpful to wear the right shoes. For instance, I would not wear my snow boots on a sandy beach nor my beach shoes on a snow walk. I love my comfy slip on shoes but I know not to wear them on a three-mile walk. The same is true of the soldier who has his belt and and breastplate in place, he knows he has to have have his feet in the right shoes in order to use the other pieces of his armor well. Just like the shoes of the soldier make him ready for battle the “Gospel of peace” makes the believer ready for spiritual battle. We will look more intently at what this all means in the days to come – but for today suit up with the belt of TRUTH and the breastplate of righteousness – and don’t forget to fit your feet with the peace that comes from the Gospel, the Good News about Christ.

The gospel is, broadly speaking, the whole of Scripture; more narrowly, the gospel is the good news concerning Christ and the way of salvation.

gotquestions.org
Reflection on the Journey
  • What does Ephesians 6:15 teach us about the importance of having our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace?
  • What are some practical ways we can prepare ourselves to share the Gospel with others?
Going Further:

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Lay Aside the Old – Put on the New

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, The Armor of God /w2d5

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-24; SOAP: Ephesians 4:22-24

You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

Ephesians 4:22-24

At the beginning of chapter four Paul reminds those in the church of Ephesus that they have been called by God and should live accordingly – that is “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” He goes on to tell them, and by extension – us, that they are no longer to live like the Gentiles. This is best explained by Bibleref.com and, for context, should be understood before digesting or soaping verse 22-24.

[In verse 17-19] Paul instructs the Ephesians not to share in the kind of immoral lifestyle which non-believers follow. The Ephesian Christians were mostly Gentiles, in the sense of being non-Jewish: they were not descendants of Israel. Symbolically, “the Gentiles” mentioned in this context are those people who are separated from God. They are the unsaved. As saved believers, the Ephesians were once “spiritual” Gentiles, but no longer. Paul’s point here is that believers cannot continue to live as unbelievers and expect to please God.

Verses 22-24 of chapter four are some of Paul’s best teaching as to Christian living – or living righteously. He reminds them of what they were taught and gives them word pictures in regard to both their former way of life and the new. As we have seen throughout week two of The Armor of God, living righteously requires more than God saving grace, it requires personal responsibilities on our part. We must be active in our faith – like putting off, or as Paul says here, “laying aside the old man … being renewed in our minds … and putting on the new man.” It is important not to miss the distinction between the two –

  • “The old man is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.”
  • “The new man has been created in God’s image – in righteousness and holiness that come from ‘Truth.'”

Righteousness and Holiness come from TRUTH, God’s Word is TRUTH.

Do you want to live the righteous and holy life God has called you to? Surround yourself with God’s Word, fill yourself with it, and study it for yourself. Then we can say like the Psalmist who asked how he could keep his way pure. Answering his own question – he realizes that it is by living according to God’s word. He then acknowledges that he seeks [God] with all of his heart – and asks God not to let him stray from His commandments – and ends with the profession: I have hidden Your Word in my heart so that I might not sin against You” (119:9-11)

How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions. 10 With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands. 11 In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11

Reflection of the Journey

What does Romans 12:1-2 teach about the process of putting off the old self and putting on the new self? How does this process lead to a change in our behaviors and actions?

Going Further

Read Romans 12:1-2 for more about being renewed and not conformed to the ways of the world

Be sure and check out today’s Love God Greatly blog post –

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Declared Righteous

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God, w2d4

Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6; Romans 4:1-5/ SOAP: Romans 4:3

For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:3

Oh the joy I find diving into God’s Word! I marvel as I travel from the Old Testament through the New Testament reading messages of the redemptive stories of those, who, by no merit of their own – were saved by grace through faith. Today’s Scripture reading is an example of this, as we read that Abram (later named Abraham) who was credited with the righteousness of Christ, not because of anything he had done but because of his faith. Verse six of chapter fifteen says that “Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD credited it as righteousness to him.” We should note that this is not the first evidence of his belief in God. We find that part of the story in Genesis chapter twelve, verse four, when he leaves country, home, and family to follow God’s command.

Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to (the land) that I will show you. 2 Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, so that all the families of the earth may receive blessing through you.” 4 So Abram left, (read the rest of the story)

Genesis 12:1-4

I hope you won’t skip through the Genesis portion to focus on the SOAP verse. A walk through the story of Abram – who left all he knew for an unknown location and a promise that he could not see – much less understand – reveals much. In Abram we see both faith and curiosity, that some would say was born of doubt; and if you look carefully you will even see the evidence of what appears to be fear in Abram(v1). In God we see, comfort and encouragement as well as personal interaction as He answers Abram’s questions and goes a step further with a beautiful and demonstrative sky-gazing moment of the promise yet to come. Finally, we see first-hand evidence(v6) of the account that Paul speaks of in Romans chapter four. As the old saying goes, “stop and smell the roses”, so to speak, before moving on to Paul’s account. Let yourself imagine walking in Abram’s shoes (for an even better understanding back up to chapter twelve), consider his questions – and then close your eyes and imagine the vision in verses four and five. Hear God say, “But look,” Do you feel the hope? Do you hear it in these two little words and in the message that follows? Visualize walking outside with him and looking up into the sky at the countless stars and hearing God say that Abram’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars. – I love that we serve a God who understands who we are and what we are thinking or feeling and responds with such compassion and such an excitement for what is ahead that He infuses hope into our hearts and minds that helps us to press on.

Fast Forward

“There is no one righteous, not even one,
11 there is no one who understands,
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
together they have become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Romans 3:10-12

In today’s focus passage, Paul picks up right where we left off with Abram. Keep in mind that Paul had just announced that “man” can be justified/saved (which is to be made right with God) by something other than the law, (Rom 3:21-26). Now, with this one question, he takes them back to Abraham/Abram to show them how. The question was perfect, for anyone who knew of Abram knew the answer. God had credited Abram with righteousness simply yet profoundly because He had “believed God“. Paul goes on to give an example that teaches the people that FAITH is greater than works when it comes to righteousness. The outcome of work is an obligatory payment or accolade – but what comes from belief/faith in God is His gracious gift of a righteousness that covers all of our sin and shame. It was the righteousness of His only son, given to take the sins of the world on himself and die on a cross that did not belong to him – but to each of us. – Now this is love and grace at their greatest!

Reflection for the Journey
  • What does Romans 4:3 teach us about the relationship between faith and righteousness?
  • How doe it challenge the lie that we must earn righteousness through what we do?
Going Further

How It All Began

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Grace of Righteousness

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God /w2d3

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; SOAP verse 21

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

I have many passages of Scripture that I refer to as “one of my favorites”, however, this one is among the top 10. It is one of the passages that allowed me to believe and understand the true meaning of God’s grace – a grace that not only saved me from my sins and took them all away, but a grace that neither remembered my sins nor held them against me any more. It freed me from sin’s condemnation, and forever made me new! It is this passage that made me realize and claim the phrase, “From the Inside-out”, for my blog page and other postings. It is this passage that made me love butterflies (ok so – let me explain that one – lol …). You see, as I continually reread the passage, enamored with its truth, the picture that I kept seeing over and over again was a beautiful butterfly emerging from its cocoon – struggling and then breaking free to fly free and growing stronger with each second of flight. Because I love the passage so much it is hard for me to zero in on just the one verse so I have included a snapshot of today’s “soap” from my journal.

The Righteousness of God

There is beauty and truth in all of the verses but in light of understanding “the breastplate of righteousness” let’s zero in on verse 21. As you will notice in the illustrated journal page, I paraphrased this verse to read, “God made Jesus, His sinless son, take my sins on Himself so that God no longer sees me covered in sin but instead covered by the righteousness of Christ!” This is love and grace at its finest and a great illustration of the Gospel of Christ.

As Paul points out Christ was not only sinless but He was the way for us to become righteous before God. This is why we no longer face the condemnation that our sins deserve. This is why God is faithful and just to forgive us of sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is why we can enter into a relationship with God – because God made a way where there was no way.

borrowed from the LGG Devotional Book, The Armor of God, p 68

Reflection on the Journey
  • How does the concept of righteousness relate to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross?
  • How does it affect our relationship with God and our daily life on Christians?

Going Further

Don’t forget to check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Be On Guard

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based on the Love God Greatly study, The Armor of God / w2d2

Scripture Proverbs 4:20-23 / SOAP: 23

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

I love this passage of Proverbs and committed it to memory many years ago. It has helped me tremendously, teaching me the importance of knowing and remembering God’s Word, which has proven to be the victory in my battles with anxiety and fear.

Proverbs is known as the book of wisdom. Solomon wrote most of the book, including this chapter. He makes it clear that he is speaking to his “sons.” He reminds them here, as in other chapters, to not just listen to his words but to pay attention to what he is saying. He paints a word picture of cherishing his words as something valuable – always on their mind and close to their heart. Why is he so animated and insistent? Because he is talking to them about the commands and wisdom of God and has learned for himself how valuable they are. It would seem that Solomon, as the Psalmist in chapter 119, understands that the words and teachings of God offer protection to the one who knows and follows them. He refers to them as “life and healing” for the entire body. Then, trusting that they will heed his advice to keep them within their hearts, he instructs them to “guard their hearts,” reminding them that their heart determines the course of their life. Gotquestions.org sheds more light on this verse, commenting that “the heart is the source of our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and actions,” which agrees with Jesus’ words in Luke 6:45, where He said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

I have hidden Your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you. …Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:11 and 97
Prayer

Father, help us not only read and listen to Your words but also help us to remember them and store them in our hearts. Help us to use them in the battles waged against us and to encourage others with them – that they might do the same, and may they be our strength to serve and obey You well. They truly are the source of life in Jesus’ name – without them, we will stumble in the dark, for they are the “source of light” on our path and in our hearts as we live and breathe. They are the hope and peace of each new day and the reminder of Your amazing grace and mercies that never end. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

Reflection on the Journey
  • Why is it important to guard your hearts and minds?
  • How can we put this advice into practice in our daily lives?
Going Further

For more on guarding your heart visit gotquestions.org/guard-your-heart.html