Tag: Love

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 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, part 4

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 35-36

Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:1-6, Hebrews 11:6, Philippians 1:6 and Proverbs 16:9

We can make our plans,but the Lord determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:9 NLT

God’s Sovereign Plan

Pregnancy in the 21st century is far different than in the days when Mary was pregnant. Although the duration of a normal pregnancy remains nine months, there have been many advancements in modern medicine. Parents not only have the option of ultrasounds that reveal their baby’s gender, but also 3D imaging, which allows them to see what their baby will look like, and anatomy scans, which reveal the baby’s overall health and development. Then there’s the decision of where the baby will be born. In the days of Jesus, I suppose home births would have been the typical option, and while they remain an option, there are also hospitals and spa-like birthing centers to pick from. Along with these choices, there’s the how, including natural, medicated, and C-sections. Then there’s the when option, yes, some doctors allow you to pick the date of your child’s birth, working it around jobs or other life events that you may not want the birth to interfere with. In the days of Joseph and Mary, the option would have simply been a “home birth, which would have meant Galilee, where Joseph lived. However, in God’s sovereign plan, Caesar Augustus issued a decree requiring all to pay taxes. So, because Joseph was from the lineage of David, he and Mary (who was “great with child”) had to return to Bethlehem, the city of David, in order to be taxed. While they were there, Scripture records that “the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, (Luke 2:6). So, just as the prophet had declared, the long-awaited Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

Micah 5:2

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF

HOW CHRIST WILL GUIDE OUR STEPS TO EXACTLY WHEN AND

WHERE HE DESIRES US TO BE.1

Reflection and Application

How has the Lord directed your steps before?

The More We Know

As with any government count, this census was meant to calculate taxes and military resources. Mary’s soon-to-be husband, Joseph, is a descendant of David, so they go to Bethlehem to participate (Luke 2:1–5).

It would have been unusual for an unmarried couple to travel together, but the circumstances of Mary’s pregnancy are hardly normal (Luke 1:34–35). The family likely realized it would be better for her to be with Joseph when she gave birth. That Mary is in Bethlehem when Jesus is born corresponds to Messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2). (gotquestions.org)

  1. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, volume 3, p36 ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, Mother of Jesus, Part 3

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 33-34

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:39-56, Hebrews 11:6, and Psalm 37:4-5

Take delight in the LORD; and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD; trust Him and He will help you.

Psalm 37:4-5

Sometime after Mary professed her belief in the angel’s message and surrendered to the will of the LORD, she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. You most likely know the story, but it never gets old, does it? Luke writes that Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. Oh, how I love the words of Elizabeth, the description of the baby jumping for joy, and the sign that seemed to be to her that Mary had indeed been given the honor of bringing the long-awaited Messiah into the world.

As Mary had believed the words of the angel and surrendered to the will of God for her life, Elizabeth also believed and made her belief known to Mary, saying: “And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” What an encouragement that must have been to Mary, whom I cannot help but imagine has been feeling somewhat alone in all of this since she received the announcement. Though undoubtedly, her faith was a sustaining grace, the questions, conversations, judgments, and, especially, Joseph’s initial doubts had to weigh heavily on her mind and heart. Then she arrives at Elizabeth’s and is greeted with great excitement and honor. The Lord, our God, is so good to give us just the encouragement we need when we need it.

The willingness of the women to believe and Mary’s willingness to surrender were, as the study journal points out, “birthed in faith that if the Lord said it, there is no doubt it would happen.”

This is the faith that the author of Hebrews writes about in Hebrews 11:6, where we read: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Both Mary and Elizabeth believed that what God had said would happen. This reminds me of what Paul alludes to in Philippians 1:6, when he states that he is “confident that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.“

She had faith, and God performed a miracle.1

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT THE LORD HAS PROMISED, HE IS CERTAIN TO PERFORM IT.

Reflection and Application

When you pray, is your attitude one of confidence – not in what you want but in what the Lord can do? If you are waiting for a prayer to be answered, are you confidently surrendered to the will/desire of God for your life or the life of the one you are praying for?

Friends, the way we pray and what we pray matters… consider this commentary from Hebrews 11:6 by bibleref.com:

What does Hebrews 11:6 mean?

This is a popular verse from the book of Hebrews, and also one easily misunderstood out of context. Taken all by itself, the verse presents a truth which is fairly easy to understand. Namely, that God’s first and foremost concern is with our faith—our attitude towards Him and trust in Him—rather than in our actions. This does not make our behaviors unimportant. On the contrary: what we do reflects what we truly believe (James 2:14–17). However, as this verse shows, merely “going through the motions” is not what God is looking for. Those who want to please God need to have faith, not simple agreement, and not merely reluctant cooperation. ~ ~The problem with quoting or reading this verse out of its context is the specter of “blind faith,” or wishful thinking. As shown in prior passages, the writer of Hebrews is not advocating for a gullible, wishful-thinking attitude. On the contrary, this entire letter has been an exercise in evidence and logic. The writer’s point is meant to emphasize the primacy of true faith over insincere works: robotic obedience without legitimate trust in God is worthless. This lesson is given as part of a description of Old Testament figures whose actions prove their faith. (emphasis mine)

The More We Know

“Many of our prayers appear to go unanswered simply because we do not believe that God is willing and able to bring them to pass.”2

  1. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/Volume 3/p33 ↩︎
  2. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/Volume 3/p34 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, The Mother of Jesus, part 2

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 29-30

Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:21, and Psalm 40:8

I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”

Psalm 40:8

I love the details of Matthew 1:21, where the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream after he had decided to break off the engagement and told him not to be afraid to marry her, explaining that the child she was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

To borrow a quote from the She study journal, p31, “Mary carried the Savior of the world into this world for a specific purpose.” He would save His people from their sins.

An angel also visited and encouraged Mary, telling her she was highly favored and blessed among women; he assured her that the Lord was pleased with her. The angel’s words were not only about her, though; he also told her about the child, saying: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.” She learned that He would reign over the house of Jacob forever, and that his kingdom would never end. Wow! Talk about a good and encouraging ‘ultrasound’ report! (Luke 1:32-33)

Mary’s response was one of willingness, saying: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) In other words, “Thy will be done.” Whatever God had said or asked of her, she believed the angel’s message and surrendered to the Father’s will.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, ALSO SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT GOD CAN USE US FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

What did it mean when Mary said: “…be it unto me according to thy word…”? Is this our attitude/answer to Him in life?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, part 1

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 29-30

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 1 and Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.

Luke 1:37

I suppose it seems odd in a sense to read certain Scriptures at certain times of the year. What I mean is we tend to read, even relegate, certain passages to particular times of the year. For instance, the passages about the crucifixion are more typically heard in the spring, while those about Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are typically heard in December. Verses about being thankful are heard throughout the year, but seem to come to life more during the latter part of October and throughout November. So when I began working on this portion of our study, which spends five days covering Mary, the mother of Jesus, while seasonally celebrating the long-awaited Spring sunshine and warmth, I found it a bit odd at first. However, after reading the first of the five days, which comes with the reminder that nothing is impossible with God, it no longer seems odd ~ but perfectly refreshing. For it is a sweet reminder my ears and heart needed to hear.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

SHE, DELIGHTING IN THE WOMEN OF THE BIBLE, VOLUME 3, P 30

Many of the women (if not all) who we’ve studied through this journey are vivid reminders of this truth, are they not?

  • Gomer was the unfaithful wife of Hosea; her infidelity was a symbol of Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness, but Hosea’s marriage to and redemption of Gomer is an enduring symbol of God’s faithfulness and provisional redemption of His unfaithful people, then and now, through Jesus Christ. God’s words to ancient Israel should fill us with hope today: “I will betroth you to me forever; / I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, / in love and compassion. / I will betroth you in faithfulness, / and you will acknowledge the Lord” (Hosea 2:19–20). (gotquestions.org)
  • Elisabeth, the cousin of Mary, became a mother in her “old age,” something she and her husband believed to be impossible.
  • Leah’s womb was finally opened when there seemed to be no hope of that ever happening, and she gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin.
  • Rahab, the prostitute, not only offered safety to the spies Joshua had sent into the land, but she was also miraculously spared (along with her family) from the death that came on everyone else within the walls of Jericho, and her name is now found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
  • Tabitha, against all possibilities, rose from the dead after Peter had prayed and told her to arise.
  • The son of the Widow of Nain arose from his deathbed at Jesus’ command.

For with God nothing will be impossible.

Luke 1:37

Truly, nothing is impossible with God, as we are reminded in today’s story of Mary in Matthew 1. She was a virgin and yet with child, just as Isaiah had prophesied. All impossibilities became possible not only for Mary, but for everyone who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ. For had He not been fully man and fully God, the requirements of the law would not have been met, and we would have no spotless lamb to take away our sins and fit us for Heaven. Praise God for all the wonderful impossibilities made possible through Jesus Christ, the immaculately conceived Son of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Reflection and Application

Why is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ so important?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

The Widow of Nain

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76

Today’s Scripture: Luke 7:11-17 and 1 John 4:9

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 1 Jn 4:9

The raising of the dead never gets old, does it? On the contrary, it moves (or should move) us to marvel at what God has done, weeping with joy and/or glorifying God. Whether it is Peter raising a beloved and generous widow from her deathbed, or Jesus speaking to a mother’s son lying dead on a bier1, or Christ, who was dead for three days but rose and walked out of the tomb on the third day – may we never cease to glorify God when we read of resurrected life or see Him work miracles around/for us today.

THE WIDOW OF NAIN SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MIRACLES THAT CHRIST CAN PERFORM IN OUR LIVES SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US. 2

The emphasis on never tiring of reading about these miracles hit me today as I caught myself thinking – ‘hey, we just read about Peter telling Tabitha to “arise”‘. I found it a bit strange that the study book had put two “resurrection” accounts so close together. However, there are notable differences, such as in the story of Tabitha being raised, which happened because Peter had been urged to come without delay. Yet, in the story of the widow of Nain, Scripture does not indicate that Jesus had been told about the son’s death, only that Jesus saw her, and He had compassion on her, saying, “Weep not”. These comforting words were followed by the life-giving words spoken to her son: “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

Friends, until that day comes when we are called to be with Him, may we rise up daily, take up our cross, turn from our selfish ways, and faithfully follow Him toward everlasting life in His presence.

The More We Know

When the Lord works miracles, we must do just as the multitudes did that day…glorify Him.3

So what does it mean to glorify God?

I was taught years ago that to glorify God means to make him known.

Check out these other helpful definitions/explanations that rightfully help us to understand the importance and value of glorifying God.

  • Glorifying God is the ultimate purpose of human existence, defined in Christian theology as thinking, feeling, and acting in ways that reflect God’s supreme greatness, beauty, and perfections. It is the act of making God’s glory visible, acknowledging His intrinsic worth (kabod/glory) and magnifying His character to the world.

The Theological Foundation of Glorifying God

  • Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Glory: God possesses inherent, infinite glory (intrinsic) that cannot be increased. Glorifying God means acknowledging this glory and displaying it (extrinsic) through creation, redemption, and human lives.
  • The “Telescope” Analogy: As described by John Piper in The Wasted Life, humans are intended to act like telescopes, not microscopes. A telescope reveals the massive grandeur of God, whereas a microscope shrinks the view to focus on oneself.
  • The Trinity and Glory: God glorifies Himself in everything; therefore, believers glorify God by aligning with His purposes. Jesus modeled this by perfectly obeying the Father, revealing His character, and offering His life as a sacrifice.

Reflection and Application

Do you make a habit of glorifying God daily, regardless of where you are? Or do you just save it for Sunday morning church services? How can you be more intentional to daily glorify Him wherever you are and no matter who you are with?

How can we glorify God at all times? To glorify God is to honor Him with praise or worship. God is glorious; that is, He is great and magnificent—He is exceptionally grand in His nature and deeds. “Full of splendor and majesty is his work” (Psalm 111:3, ESV). When we glorify Him, we acknowledge His greatness and splendor and laud Him for it. When we “give Him glory,” as all the world is told to do in Revelation 14:7, we direct our praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship to Him who alone is worthy.

David suggested these particular ways (and more) in First Chronicles 16:7–36

• give praise to the Lord (verse 8)
• proclaim the greatness of God’s name (verse 8)
• tell the whole world what God has done (verses 8–9, 24)
• sing to the Lord (verses 9, 23)
• glory, or exult, in His name (verse 10)
• rejoice in Him (verse 10)
• seek out the Lord and trust in His power (verse 11)
• remember all the Lord’s mighty deeds (verse 12)
• ascribe glory and strength to Him because it is His due (verses 28–29). To ascribe is to think of as belonging, as a quality or characteristic; thus, we regard the Lord as possessing glory and strength.
• bring an offering to God (verse 29). In Asaph’s time, the offerings were in accordance with the Law of Moses; today, we are “to offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is [our] true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).
• worship the Lord (verse 29)
• give thanks to God for His goodness and love (verse 34)
• cry out to God for deliverance (verse 35)

Sources

  1. A bier is a stand on which a corpse, coffin, or casket containing a corpse is placed to lie in state or to be carried to its final disposition. In a Christian burial, the bier is often placed in the center of the nave with candles surrounding it, and remains in place during the funeral. Source: Wikipedia ↩︎
  2. She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76 ↩︎
  3. She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, She, Volume 3

The Shunammite Woman

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76

Today’s Scripture: 2 Kings 4 and 1 Corinthians 12:58

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Today’s woman of the Bible, the Shunammite Woman, may not seem quite as exciting as some of the others we have studied – like Rahab, who risked her life by hiding the spies, but she has much to teach us in the way of hospitality and the blessings of our faith. Her story is found in 2 Kings chapter 4, where we find short details of several situations in her life involving the prophet Elisha.


The woman is described as a wealthy married woman in the village of Shunem, who had no children. She met Elisha and offered him food as he passed through their town of Shunem. Because he continued to pass their way, he would stop and visit/stay with them. She sensed that he was a “holy man (prophet) of God,” so she sought her husband’s permission to set up a guest room for Elisha, acknowledging Elisha as a true prophet and holy man of God. How nice it must have been for Elisha, who often passed that way in his travels, to know that he always had a place to stay. Today, many churches have a “prophet’s chamber” for traveling evangelists and other servants of God to stay in free of charge.

SHE SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR HIM THAT WOULD HONOR THE LORD1

“The Shunammite woman’s heartfelt hospitality to Elisha and simple, sincere faith led to an amazing series of events. Elisha was certainly blessed. And God abundantly blessed the woman’s life during a difficult period in Israel. Still today, God often uses His people’s humble acts of service to bless both the giver and the receiver.”2 For the full commentary by Gotquestions.org, visit https://www.gotquestions.org/Elisha-Shunammite-woman.html

Reflection and Application

  • Are you a person who practices hospitality?
  • What are some ways you can effectively practice hospitality today?
  • How does practicing hospitality honor those like Elisha who faithfully serve the Lord?
  1. She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, p75 ↩︎
  2. Gotquestions.org ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Love, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Tabitha

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the She study, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 68-69

Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 9:32-43 and Proverbs 31:10

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”

Proverbs 31:10

Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, is another woman of the Bible who is seldom taught and little known by most. Actually, if you had asked me three weeks ago (before I began looking through this study book) who Tabitha was, I would have told you she was a character from the Bewitched Show.1 It wasn’t until I began reading today’s passage of Scripture that I remembered her story. This Tabitha was not an adorable child who could twitch her nose and make things move or disappear. Instead, she was a New Testament believer known for her good works and kind deeds. These deeds/works are not really elaborated on, but what we do know is that she was specifically known for her good works and acts of love for the poor/needy, particularly the widows (Acts 9:36 & 39).

While Tabitha’s story is told in a mere seven verses, it is one of inspiration and a miraculous restoration of life that led to many more believers in the city of Joppa. It is safe to say that her testimony is far more valuable than rubies. This is made evident when Peter not only responds quickly to the message he received about her passing, but then raises her from the dead.

SHE WAS ALIVE AGAIN, A LIVING TESTIMONY OF THE MIRACULOUS GRACE OF GOD.2

Friends, like Tabitha, our testimonies matter. How we live for God, not only on Sundays or when people are watching, matters. From our words, to our facial expressions, to the things we do for God and for others matter. How we live will either lead people toward God or away from Him. As my pastor preached yesterday,3 “others will know when we have spent time with Jesus”(Acts 4:13).

Every time a person is raised from the dead, it is a stupendous miracle, showing that the God who is Himself the Source of Life has the ability to give life to whom He will—even after death.4

Tabitha serves as an example that faithfulness can lead to great miracles and much fruit, which in this case was other believers5 (Acts 9:42).

Reflections and Application

When others see us, will they see that we have spent time with Jesus? Will they be able to tell that we are faithful followers of Jesus? When they hear or see that we are sick, will they call others in the body of Christ to pray for us? Will the watching world see what Jesus is doing in us and choose to follow him as well?

Faithfulness is a rare quality. How can you/we be more faithful?

The More We Know

How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible?

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bewitched ↩︎
  2. She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, p 69 ↩︎
  3. Sermon, The Cost of Following, by Pastor David Lemming ↩︎
  4. https://www.gotquestions.org/raised-from-the-dead.html ↩︎
  5. She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, p 69 ↩︎

https://lmbc.org/media/v5r87c4/the-cost-of-following-part-3

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Rahab, part 1

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She study, volume 3, pp. 49-50

Today’s Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-15; Genesis 12:3

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse that curseth thee and in thee: shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 12:3

When Joshua sent two men to spy out Jericho, we are told that they went into the house of a prostitute named Rahab, whose house was on the town wall. To help explain why/how the spies came to be in the house of a prostitute, gotquestions.org offers this insightful explanation:

It may seem strange that the spies found refuge in the house of a prostitute—what were they, people of God, doing there? The answer may be quite simple. To state the obvious, perhaps the spies were seeking the services of a prostitute. There is another possible explanation, however. The house of a harlot was probably a good place to avoid detection—a couple of travelers entering such a house would probably not arouse much suspicion. The spies, seeking anonymity, figured a house of prostitution would be a good place to find it. Also, Rahab’s house was situated on the city wall (Joshua 2:15), providing an escape route. As it turned out, the spies’ choice of a hiding place was God-ordained.

God gives us so many wonderful examples of His timeless and boundless grace through the people He saves and chooses to use throughout His Word. Rahab is definitely one of these living illustrations. We find her story in Joshua chapters 2 and 6 as well as in Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:31, and James 2:25. Each time she is mentioned, we are pointed to her faith, and in three of those passages, the author notes not only her faith but things she did because of her faith. In the Joshua 2 account, Rahab:

  • hid the men in a safe place
  • lied to protect the men when men from the town came searching for them
  • made her faith known to them
  • sought protection for herself and her family, and
  • when it was safe, she safely let them down through the window

She serves as an example that when we bless the people of God, He will bless us in return.

She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, p50

Like Gomer in the book of Hosea, Rahab is among my favorite stories because of how God’s grace is revealed to and through her. Notice, for instance, one of my favorite passages in this story: “9 And she said unto the men, ‘I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.’”

Friends, may we make sure others hear what God is doing in our lives and in the world around us ~ so that, like Rahab, they might declare their faith and be saved.

The More We Know

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) – There is no one, not even a prostitute, beyond the saving grace of our God.

If you have questions about how you can be saved and what it means, I invite you to read “Know These Truths,” where you will find why and how – and the promised hope that Rahab received.

Know These Truths