Tag: LGG

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

Living Like Jesus

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Today’s Reading: Romans 15:1-6 / SOAP: Romans 15:5

Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 

Romans 15:5
Scripture and observation

You may want some steal-toe shoes on before reading this. Seriously, Paul makes it clear that we must live ‘counter-cultural’. In other words, we must not live to please self, instead we must take time to consider how what we do and say will impact our ‘neighbors’. The bottom-line here is that we must live like Jesus.

How Do We Do This?

Learn to Know How Christ Lived

How do we live like this in a world that preaches and teaches and makes it more than easy to live for self? How do we live like Christ? First of all we have to learn to know how Christ lived and then choose to follow His example.

Paul gives us a glimpse of these examples in the passage today, but, I believe, what he wrote to the Philippians in chapter 2 says it best …

 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit any affection or mercy, 2 complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. 3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,

6  who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.
8 He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
—even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:6-8
Live Counter-Cultural

This kind of living is not only counter-cultural, it is difficult to the nth-degree. If it weren’t for God it would be impossible – truthfully apart from God there is no way hope for true and abiding unity. However, we must remember – “nothing is impossible with God” (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37) actually, Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:13 that – through Christ we can do all things, and Peter teaches us that we have been given everything we need for living a godly life, (2 Peter 1:3-4). So, while we may not want to put others above ourselves, or love others as Christ has loved us – it is clearly how we are called to live when we put our faith and hope in Jesus. On top of that, God has equipped us to do it so that we are without excuse.

Depend on God

As Paul did here in Romans, writing “to all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints” – we must also do – and that is pray. Pray for, ask God often, and depend on God – for the unity both in individual and corporate setting, such as church, families, work places, and neighborhoods. Again, it is impossible without Him but “we have this confidence before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will (and without a doubt unity is His will) He hears us and if we know that He hears us we know we have whatever we ask.”

The Goal

I don’t know about you, but whenever I set out to do something difficult it helps to have a goal that matters. When I broke my ankle and had to go to therapy morning after morning it not only meant getting up super early and enduring the pain that came with the therapy, but my goal was to walk again, to drive again, and to be free of that cast/boot. That motivation kept me going even when I didn’t want to – even if it was painful or seemed pointless. Paul clarifies in verse 6, the reason for what he has taught and prayed for, saying: “so that together you may with one voice, glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ“. The Bible says we were created for His glory and specifically here, the goal in our unity is first and foremost God’s glory. What a good and trustworthy motivation it is then to lay aside any self-centeredness or lack of consideration for the good of others and commit ourselves to live and love like Christ despite what it costs us.

Response to God’s Word: Prayer

Father God, only through You can or will we truly enjoy unity in the circles of our lives. Help us to let the attitude of Christ dwell in us – that we might be like-minded, having the same love, being in one spirit and of one mind. Guard us from acting out of selfish ambition or conceit – instead help us to value others above ourselves so that we look not only to our own interests but to that of others. Help us to have the same mindset of Christ, who being in very nature God did not consider equality with You something to be used to His own advantage, but made Himself nothing by taking on the nature of a servant – made in human likeness and humbling Himself to obedience – even death on a cross. Father, I know this doesn’t come easy – but we have hope in the knowledge that nothing is impossible with You! May Your glory be our goal and motivation. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

Not Made to Be Alone

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An Love God Greatly Study / Week 2 – Day 1

Today’s Reading: Genesis 2:18-24 / Soap: Genesis 2:18

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”

Genesis 2:18

Today’s passage,“It is not good for the man to be alone“, is clearly the basis or the “poster verse” of our study. Day after day God pronounced what He had done as good but here He says: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” God wasn’t simply speaking things into creation and moving along, He was clearly paying attention to the day-to-day details of what He was creating. His creation was important to Him and He made right what was wrong.

While verse 18 is our focus/soap verse – it is good to read the entire passage to understand the detailed attention God gave to the situation. He tailor-made Eve for Adam, so that she would correspond specifically to him. Don’t miss the last words of the passage, “and they became a family.” This adds the second dimension to our community – first God, then family.

A Perfect Fit

Whether God saw that man was lonely or needed help or simply someone to talk to, God noticed something wasn’t right – and He made it right. Clearly, according to how God remedied the situation – man needed someone more like himself, someone who corresponded with him.

God Provides What His Children Need

I love knowing that as a believer I can trust God to see/know when something isn’t right and to take care of it in the way that is best for me. I can trust that :

  • He cares for me …
    • 1 Peter 5:7 / Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.
  • He wants what is best for me …
    • Jeremiah 29:11 /  For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.
  • He can and will do what it takes to make things right – as clearly seen in the Scriptures:
    • John 3:16 /  For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
    • Genesis 2:18 / The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”
    • John 17: 3-4 /  Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
    • John 19:30 / When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
    • Luke 24:1-12 / But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” 9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”
    • Romans 8:34 /... Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.
    • John 14:1-4 / “Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going.”

Response to God’s Word

Father-God You are so good! As You did with Adam in the beginning You do with us now – You see and know when something isn’t right and You – in love, power, grace and mercy – make it right. There is no greater evidence of this than You sending Jesus to save us from our sins. From Adam’s flesh you created Eve because it was not good for man to be alone; and from a virgin You brought forth Your only begotten Son – a Savior -because sin had separated us from You, and You knew this was not good. So in unfathomable love and great power and amazing grace You made a companion who corresponds with us and one who now resides with us who have believed. Through Jesus we have been made right with You and now we are never alone. All praise and glory to You, in His name I pray and trust – Amen and amen!

Don’t forget the Monday, Wednesday, Friday blog posts from the LGG Team. They offer awesome insight and will enrich your time in the Word – just follow this link … https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

Standing on the Promises

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Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 41:1-20; SOAP / Isaiah 41:13

As believers we are God’s children, this means we can rest in these words that He spoke to Israel through Moses. Read and re-read verses 10 and 13. I memorized verse 10 years ago and I cannot tell you the number of times I have lay awake at night or walked through a storm of life claiming this verse – praying it – thanking Him for it – writing it … and finding it to put my mind and heart at rest. It is the essence of standing on God’s promises.

As you see noted in the above SOAP, living in community with God has great benefits – namely hope, joy, and strength- and to reiterate yesterday’s focus the assurance of His promises – ones like He will never abandon us, or fail us … and He will help us, and when we are in danger or afraid – He will hold our hand like a father and hold us up with His victorious right hand – and we will know with certainty the truth of the observations you see below – we have nothing to fear when we live in community with our God – because He is with us, He takes hold of our right hand, He speaks ‘peace’ to us, and He reminds us He is helping us. This is a true picture of a stronghold – this is our GOD!

For years I would get caught up in the fearful circumstances of life and fixate on the fear rather than God – It was this verse and the promise it proclaims – that taught me and helped me to remember it every time fear encroached. When we make it a habit to remember the things God has promised or the things He has done we will be strengthened in our Spirit, we will sense His victorious right hand holding us up and helping us. We will begin to trust Him as our Protector and stand on/rest in His promises.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word –

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

A Message of Hope and Assurance

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Today’s Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:1-8; SOAP / Deuteronomy 31:6

Instruction and Encouragement and the Commission
A Promise that Builds Confidence

I don’t know about you but there is nothing that brings me more comfort and confidence than knowing that God is with me. This is exactly the message that God was sending His children through Moses. Yes, they were being called to go into the unknown and to do it without Moses but they were given assurance that God would not fail them or abandon them. They were told to be strong and courageous, not only because God would be with them but because He would hand their enemies over to them. On top of these two encouraging promises He appointed Joshua as their new leader and pledged the same promises to Him. –

A Prayer of Thanksgiving – Giving credit where credit is due

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

Changed From The Inside Out

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click on any of the images for a larger view –

I don’t always read the devos from the LGG Journals – and never before I do my own journaling because I don’t want their take on the Word to influence what God might want to show me. However, as I was looking over my soap journal for today, an entry I made days ago, I was curious to see if they included any thoughts about – “apart from Him I can do nothing”, and boy did they! While this first one wasn’t the first one I read – it seems to highlight this week’s theme, “Created for Community With God”.

“The fruitfulness of our lives is a direct result of our connection to Jesus, not anything we can do. The love that we show to others, the joy we experience, the peace in our hearts, and the kindness that we share, it is all because of what God is doing in our lives, and He deserves the credit.“

Not Made To Be Alone, an LGG Study – p42
Nuggets of Gold

The following are more quotes from the LGG devotional for day 3, week 1 of Not Made To Be Alone. I encourage you to read these slowly and then read them again. May the truth of them penetrate and influence our minds and hearts as we proceed not only through this study but through life and living in community with God and others

“Community is not one-sided. … God is with us, not because He is obligated to do so as our Creator, but because He loves us.”

Ok, so this next one is my favorite and may become my new tag-line on my blog page as it highlights the reason I chose the name of the blog –

*** “When we live in community with God, we are changed from the inside out.”

This last one is some wonderful and encouraging advice – that I pray the Spirit will help us to recall every day. Check out what happens when we remain with Him and depend on Him –> out of a close relationship with Him flows life. 🦋

“As long as we remain in Christ, we will bear much fruit. We must choose, each day, to remain with Him and depend on Him. And when we do, He is there for us. We choose, through [love and obedience], to grow close to Him, and out of that relationship flows life. Being in community with God helps us rely less on ourselves and more on Him.”

Journal Entries/thoughts From ME

It’s Wednesday – don’t forget to check out https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/ for today’s blog post

This song was shared by a Journey Through the Word group member yesterday – seemed fitting for today’s post as well – may it lead you to worship and seek and reciprocate God’s abiding presence –

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living In Community, Not Made to Be Alone, Quiet Time

He Created Them

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Today’s Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27; SOAP / Genesis 1:27

26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” 27 God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:26-27 NET
Not Made To Be Alone

Re-read the Scripture passage today, paying special attention to all of the plural pronouns. As He begins this portion of the creation process – the creation of man – He converses with the other parts of the trinity, saying – “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air … God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” Note – God makes it clear that the full trinity is present – He is not alone, the creatures are not alone, and man is not alone for it says, “he created ‘them’ in his image, male and female he created ‘them’.

In His Image

It is clear by this passage that we are created by God. It is also clear and important to understand that we are made in His image. If we look back at verse 26 – which I think is necessary to fully understand and appreciate verse 27 – we see that God doesn’t just say “let us make man in our image, but He goes on to say – “after our likeness,” – why? He immediately makes this clear, “So they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” I found the clearest explanation for being made in His image at bibleref.com, which says –

“…this verse raises the question of what it means to be made in God’s image, or in His likeness. Without question, this statement does not mean that God created humans to resemble Him physically (John 4:24 [where we read that God is Spirit]). Rather, this seems to support the idea that God endowed humans with a certain kind of awareness, one which animals and birds and fish were not given. In other words, humans would possess the capacity for reason, morality, language, personality, and purpose. In particular, the ability to use morality and spirituality are unique to human beings among God’s creations on earth. Like God, we would possess the capacity to experience and understand love, truth, and beauty.

Humans are made in God’s image in another way: as a model, or a representative. God is the Maker, and all of creation belongs to Him. He is Lord over it. However, in the moment of creation, God gives mankind the responsibility to rule over all other life He has made on the earth. In that sense, humans would stand as God’s image, God’s representatives, on earth as we rule over and manage all the rest of His creation.

https://www.bibleref.com/Genesis/1/Genesis-1-26.html
Applying This Knowledge

So, how in the world do we apply the knowledge that we are made in His image?

  • We embrace it, allowing ourselves – even applying ourselves to experience and understand love, truth, and beauty in the relationships, and various places and positions God has placed us in.
  • And, we bear His image, living as His representatives here on earth. Perhaps this is best explained by what Paul told the Colossians – “.whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus,…” He had just explained what this looked like – namely, ”
    • “clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.”
Response to God’s Word

Father, help us to live out Your plan for us to bear Your image – to somehow serve as Your representatives here on earth, to rule over and manage all the rest of Your creation. Your image is larger than life but You have created us in that image and to bear it. You have empowered us to do so by Your Spirit in us. May we rise daily to do so in Jesus’ name. For, as Paul wrote, we have been crucified with Christ – we no longer live but He lives in us. The life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in Your Son, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Help us to love like Him, to serve like Him, to obey like Him – laying down our will for Yours – that You might be well pleased with us as You were with Him. It is in His name that I pray and for Your eternal glory and praise – amen and amen.

Memos

If you missed yesterday’s introduction to the new study I encourage you to take a minute to look back and read through it. It is both informative and encouraging as it gives us a glimpse of what we will be striving for.

Don’t forget every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday you can dive a little deeper by reading the blogs by the Love God Greatly Team. You’ll find them at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

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

Not Made To Be Alone

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A Love God Greatly Study

Introduction

This introduction is not my own. I borrowed it from the Love God Greatly Journal, and I’m guessing some version of it has been on their blog page, so you may have already seen it. However, if I was going to write an introduction meant just for our little group, one that would encourage each participant to be committed to and participate in this little community  – I couldn’t have written it better than this. When I started this group two or three years ago it was in part out of concern for those who couldn’t get out or didn’t have a group to be a part of. Years ago God called me to equip, encourage, and empower women with His Word and I have been trying to do just that since the day He called me. However, because of family responsibilities, health issues of my own, and the whole covid shut-down I was struggling with the commitment of the two in-person groups I led,. So this group became a God directed outlet of hope to help others to stay or be strengthened in their faith by spending time in God’s Word, both personally and also with an online group of women hungry for the same thing. My hope and prayer continues to be that our little community will develop into one where we share/discuss what we are learning or simply a favorite part of the day’s passage, and even praises and prayer requests. To quote the opening and closing words of the following introduction, “- I know this is hard. … but [ladies] we were not made to be alone; we were created for community.” 

I’m praying for each of you but I sure would love to know whose participating. It’s easy to let me know, simply share a comment or hit the like button after reading the introduction I can’t wait to see what God has for us in this study!

Week 1 Memory Verse: You can do this!
Week 1 Challenge: Enhance your study this week –
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Difference Faith Makes

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Scripture Reading: Luke 22:39-23:56; SOAP / Luke 23:41-43

41 And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:41-43 NET

Oh how I hope you read the full passage for today. I don’t want you to miss what a heart wrenching but beautiful scene Luke paints with his words about the journey to the cross, the agony of Christ on the cross, and the love of Christ from the cross. Surely, no greater love has ever been shown than that of God, the Father and the Son! Nor has there been a truer confession than the criminal made when he announced that he is worthy of the death he is facing for the wrong he has done. Sweeter still, is the acknowledgement of the ‘righteousness’ of Jesus, in that, “He has done nothing wrong,” Likewise, perhaps, no greater encouragement for us than Jesus’s words to the criminal, when even in His anguish, yes – even then, Jesus acknowledges the criminal’s faith and promises the man eternal life with Him that very day.

Response to God’s Word
Application

This Scripture is a reminder to believers and unbelievers alike of how they should acknowledge their sin, acknowledge Jesus’ rightness and authority, and either pray for salvation or thank Him and trust Him for the salvation that is already yours by faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Father thank You for loving the world so much, me included, that You gave your one and only ‘begotten sin” to save us from our sins. Jesus, thank You for bearing the punishment I deserved – You could have called 10 thousand angels for help! – You could have come down from the cross by Your power and might, ! But instead, You – who has done nothing wrong – hung there in my place! – My Jesus, I love You – and I know Thou art mine.”

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Inside Scoop

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Scripture Reading: Luke 22:1-38; SOAP / Luke 22:31-32

31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Luke 22:31-32 NET

Have you ever been talking to someone, trying to make them aware of a dangerous situation and they just won’t listen? This seems to be the situation in today’s focus text, at least by the opening line. Jesus, speaking to Simon (Peter), uses his name twice, “Simon, Simon”, urging him to pay attention. Then Jesus gives Simon the inside scoop, “Satan has demanded to sift you and the other disciples like wheat.” In other words, he wants to shake up their faith, to test it, with the hope – actually the confidence that Simon and the others will fail the test. Don’t miss the next line though, it’s the best part of the whole passage and the best encouragement for Jesus’s disciples today!

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

Luke 22:32
The Best Prayer Warrior

Can you imagine a better prayer warrior on your side than Jesus, the Son of God? He’s not only specific with what He’s praying but he also speaks words of encouragement, that though Peter will fall, he will also “turn back to following Christ and will be used to strengthen the other disciples to stand firm in their faith. It has been my experience that we often grow the strongest and most merciful through the trials we walk through in this life. So, I imagine that Peter not only strengthened the disciples after Jesus’ departure but that he also showed them much mercy for any failures. May we do the same for each other.

Response to God’s Word

Father, You teach us so much through Your Word. We may be bothered by Peter’s fall but how encouraging it is to know that he doesn’t stay down but indeed turns back and strengthens the ‘brothers’. Help us to listen to and respond to Your warnings .. to be alert to the schemes of the devil! Help us NOT so confident in self that we forego leaning on You. When we fall – for we all do – help us to stand back up and turn back to Your ways – and to encourage others in their walk of faith, and show mercy to others when they fall as You have shown mercy to us. Thank You that Jesus prays for us! What encouragement this is for our day to day living – Yes and Amen in Jesus’ name!

Want More?

Visit LoveGodGreatly.com for the today’s blog post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Because of My Name

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Scripture Reading: Luke 19:45-21:38; SOAP / Luke 21:17-19

17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. 18 Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Luke 21:17-19 NET

Jesus is speaking to His disciples in this passage, both then and now. He is preparing them for what is to come – yet again making the point that –

  • following Him comes at a cost
  • following Him will be challenging
  • following Him may cost us our life (such as Jim Elliott and others) but can not rob us of eternal life – that which really matters
  • enduring trials and testings, hatred, ridicule, and even danger will bring us to a place where, as James wrote, “we are perfect and complete not needing anything.”

In other words, as Luke writes here, as we endure the troubles and hardships of this life we will “gain our lives – that is eternal life, which explains the statement “not a hair of our head will perish. This basically means that while we may perish at the hand of evil doers – but ultimately giving up our life for His sake – we will save it — for we are eternally secure in Christ.

The Reality of His Words

As I sat wondering how in the world to apply Christ’ statement and the reality that we, as His disciples/followers, are going to be hated because of His Name these four thoughts came to mind:

  • “Be prepared” [1 Peter 5:8 – Be self-controlled and alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.]
    • Peter wrote his first letter to God’s chosen people who were living as foreigners in the five Roman provinces of Asia Minor- an area currently found in northern Turkey
    • This is quite applicable to believers today as we too find ourselves much like those Peter wrote to, “aliens and strangers in a foreign culture.”
  • “Forewarned is forearmed” [Ephesians 6:10-18 – …  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. …Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.]
    • Apparently, this 3-word phrase, “forewarned is forearmed”, is a saying that must have been in the recesses of my mind because as I started to think of all the implications of Jesus’ statement to the disciples, it was one of the four thoughts I had. Looking it up I found it, not only out their in cyber world, but defined as though it were written as a commentary on this verse – check it out:
      • “prior knowledge of possible dangers or problems that gives one a tactical advantage” – surely this is what Christ intended as He spoke with the disciples about what they would face in the coming days.
  • “Be Still” [Psalm 46:10-11 – Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.]
    • I don’t know about you, but if I am going to have to know someone hates me and that my life is in jeopardy – I need to remember that God, The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is with me. This alone, will help me to ‘be still’.
  • “Trust in the Lord” [Proverbs 3:5 –Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.]
    • No one wants to be hated or disliked. When we are It’s so tempting to do what we know will please others in order to get them to like us – but we must above all else stay the course of following Jesus and not lean toward what we know or think will make us blend in or be more liked by ‘the world’ but instead – we must see the Lord in all we do and allow Him to guide our choices and path.

Though Peter’s Christian readers may have been scattered, in part, by religious persecution, his use of the word “exile” points to one of the main ideas of this letter: that believers no longer call this time and place home. Our citizenship is in heaven; we represent our true king and country while living as aliens and strangers in a foreign culture.

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Prayer

Father, there are so many applications I could have written down but as I began to write, Your Spirit – reminded me of your Words and of a “saying” I didn’t even know was a saying – but it’s meaning so applicable to today’s lesson from Your Word. Thank You for all of the ways Jesus prepared us for what is ahead of his disciples. Help us to follow on – not turning away when others hate or mock or accuse us because of your name. help us to remember that if we try to hang on to our life we will lose it but if we give up our life for Your sake we will find it. Help us to daily put on the Your armor and to have the attitude of Jesus – who laid down his life for ours, so that we might live! This is my prayer – in Jesus’ name – Amen and Amen!