Tag: Love

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Easter, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Passion Week, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

GOOD FRIDAY

Posted on by

Now that Jesus had been arrested, the religious leaders wanted to try Him for His crimes. Jesus was tried six different times: the first three trials were before Jewish leadership, and the second three trials were before Roman officials. All six trials were expedited because the religious establishment wanted to arrive at the death sentence before the news of Jesus’ arrest got out among the people. Also, they needed the death sentence to be carried out before the Sabbath Day, which started Friday evening. The sixth and final trial takes place before Pilate. He renders his decision on the basis of expediency rather than truth or justice; he firmly believes Jesus to be an innocent man, but he also fears a riot and wants to satisfy the crowds who are yelling, “crucify Him!” In just a few hours, Jesus is tried six times and sentenced to death by crucifixion.

It’s almost 9 am as Jesus begins His journey to Golgotha by carrying His cross. At some point along the way, Roman soldiers force a man named Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross because He is too weak. The site of Jesus’ crucifixion was outside of the city in keeping with the Jewish law requirement for executions (Heb.13:12). None of the Gospel authors provide any details concerning the actual crucifixion; they simply note the fact that it happened. Jesus was crucified at the third hour of the day (Mark 15:25), which is 9 am. Even on the cross, Jesus’ enemies continue to mock Him to the very end, “…He saved others, but He cannot save Himself…” (Luke 23:35-38). The irony is that if Jesus had come down from the cross, He would have saved Himself but not others. At noon, darkness descends on the land (Mark 15:33), lasting for three hours. At 3 pm, Jesus died for the sins of humanity (Luke 23:46). Immediately, the earth shook, and the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, signifying that God’s people will now have direct access to God because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus was taken off the cross before sundown and placed in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea (Nicodemus assisted with the burial of the body). Two women, Mary Magdalene, and Mary (the mother of Joses) (Mark 15:47) observe Jesus’ burial location. They believe His body has not been sufficiently prepared because of the hasty nature of His burial; they plan to return after the Sabbath with additional spices and ointments.1

… Before we rush to Resurrection Sunday, let’s sit with the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice today. Let us sit with the pain of the Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), who endured the wrath of God at the cross. Let us ponder the injustice of the spotless Lamb of God punished for our sins. Let us marvel at the astounding death of the Creator of life. Let us worship the King of glory who let go of the splendor of heaven to become flesh and blood, to humble Himself, to hunger and thirst, to suffer and hurt, to be betrayed and rejected, mocked and humiliated — all for love.

For the Good Friday Devo, please click the button below – you won’t want to miss it!

Today’s Devo from P31
  1. EXCERPT FROM THE PASSION, BY DR JEREMY SHAFFER, CHILDREN AND FAMILY PASTOR AT LEWIS MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH  ↩︎

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Verses of Encouragement, part 1

Posted on by

For every discouraging circumstance of your life, God’s Word has an encouraging answer filled with hope and light. Print them off, write them down, or snap a picture with your phone.

The collection of verses was originally shared by gotquestions.org

When you’ve lost something, or someone, who has been very precious to you:
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Revelation 1:18 “I am alive forevermore.”
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies’”

When excruciating waves of chronic pain and weakness are crashing over your head:
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

When your cupboard is bare, and your last crumb has been scraped up:
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “… give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

When no one seems to understand, or even to care:
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

When you are being persecuted for your faith:
2 Peter 2:9 “the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment.”
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

When the nation, the world, and even the family and the church, seem to be disintegrating:
Isaiah 14:24: “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand.’”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When life’s fears and insecurities gang up on you:
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Romans 8:1 “There is, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

When your mood is dark:
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice, and be glad in it.”
Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

When worn out and worn down to the point of giving up:
Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and completer of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

When abandoned by everyone meaningful:
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 “… God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”

When friends and even family seem to be abandoning God:
Psalm 100:5 “God’s faithfulness endures through all generations.”
2 Timothy 3:1-4 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Everything You Say

Posted on by

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29

I didn’t grow up in a home where foul or abusive language (or corrupt, as some translations say) was used. However, the second part of this verse is ingrained in my mind, as God has used it frequently through the years, sometimes daily, to correct how I use my words. God has been very patient with me, but even in the hard lessons, He has faithfully forgiven me, stuck by me, and trained me for righteousness. You see, it’s always been easy for me to get caught up in conversations without considering whether my words are “good and helpful.” So, Paul’s lesson to the believers of Ephesus has been God’s lesson to me more times than I can count – and I encourage you with the same: Be purposeful when you speak so that your words are an encouragement to those who are listening – not just to the person you are speaking to but to “all who might hear them.”

Let everything you say [be good and helpful], (so that) your words will be an encouragement (to those who hear them.)

Ephesians 4:29b
The Importance of Encouragement in the Believer’s Life

Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world in a holy way. Encouragement makes it easier to love as Jesus loved (see John 13:34-35). Encouragement gives hope (Romans 15:4). Encouragement helps us through times of discipline and testing (Hebrews 12:5). Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Galatians 5:22-26). Encouragement makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom. In short, encouragement makes it easier to live the Christian life.

Without encouragement, life would soon feel pointless and burdensome. Without encouragement, we can be overwhelmed by the very real pains of our lives. Without encouragement, we feel unloved. Without encouragement, we begin to think that God is a liar or is unconcerned with our welfare. So, the Bible tells us to encourage one another, to remind each other of the truth that God loves us, that God equips us, that we are treasured, that our struggles are worth it.

Encouragement from the Bible gives us the will to carry on. It is a glimpse of the bigger picture. It can prevent burn-out. It can save us from believing lies (“sin’s deceitfulness”). Encouragement helps us experience abundant life (see John 10:10).

Gotquestions.org

Friends, my prayer for all of us is to not only encourage others faithfully but to listen for/to the encouragement others are speaking to us. – Mefromthensideout 🦋

Reflection: Who can you encourage today? What are some encouraging words someone has spoken to you?

The More We Know

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak …

James 1:19a
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, For Such A Time As This, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Be An Encourager

Posted on by

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness,” 

Hebrews 3:13

The graphic attached to today’s post is a gem I saw online recently. It spoke to me, so I copied and pasted it into my photos. God nudged me, first with a reminder to let my words lift up and not tear down. Then came the reminder of Hebrews 3:13, where the author teaches his readers (us) to encourage one another daily so that we don’t become “hardened” by sin’s deceitfulness.

Encouragement is of great importance to our faith.

Encouragement is of great importance to our faith. We live in a world infested with sin and a myriad of problems and heartaches. It is easy to succumb to or be hardened by the sins we see around us because they have become acceptable, even among those in the church. It is also easy to get caught up in critiquing the world’s problems and/or allowing the troubles of this life to overcome us and distract our focus from God and the life He has called us to live. It is easy to give way to despair, fear, and worry.

Jesus knew there would be troubles for His disciples; He knew they would be hated, mocked, and persecuted, and He told them so, but He followed the troubling news with encouraging words, or as gotquestions.org states: “Jesus’ grim forecast was tempered with cheer; He followed His prediction of trouble with a sparkling word of encouragement: He has overcome the world. Jesus is greater than any trouble we face.””1

One of my favorite passages of encouragement that Jesus spoke to His disciples comes right after He told them, “In this world you will have trouble. But…” He followed that statement with, “…take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). Undoubtedly, knowing they would be alarmed by the warnings of trouble He delivered to them, He was quick and kind to offer them loving encouragement and hope. They could not yet see the whole reality of the problems they would know, nor could they entirely understand His words of encouragement and the hope they were meant to give, but – they trusted Jesus, and I would imagine they found comfort in His words.

What about you? Do you know Jesus2? Do you trust in His promise of encouragement that “He has overcome the world”? Are troubles surrounding you or lurking at your door? “Take heart!” Rest in the words of the Savior: “I have overcome the world.” There is no problem that is too big and no mountain that is too tall that He cannot overcome. Is there someone you know who is struggling? Maybe it’s a particular sin, or perhaps it’s loneliness, or a need… maybe it’s a relationship or a health crisis … or maybe it’s with salvation … whatever it is, be an encourager – “the world has plenty of critics already.”

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

The Message/A paraphrase of Colossians 4:5-6
Prayer of Response:

Father, thank You for the encouragement we find in Your Word and for Your Son, who faithfully and lovingly encouraged His disciples. Let my words encourage and lift up. As Paul wrote, may they be always full of grace and seasoned with salt. – Amen 💜

Thd More We Know
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

But God … and the Crippled Feet

Posted on by

 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. Act 7:9-10

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 86:15.

To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit.

When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead . . .– Acts 13:29-30

These are just some of the “But God” moments recorded in Scripture. Every moment is an opportunity to see the love, grace, mercy, and power of God. When we look closely enough I believe, they are also opportunities to see just how intimately God is involved in our lives.

My youngest daughter is celebrating her 30th birthday today. She is one of the grandest “But God” moments of my life. The full story is for another day but for those who don’t know the story, she was born with crippled feet (clubfoot was the term the doctor used). The hands of the doctor may have molded and shaped those little crippled feet into healthy feet. But God alone could have taken those little feet and enabled them to run and play and climb all throughout her childhood. Then dance her way through show-choir in high school and afterward take up running – and still run to this day. Yet, we never fail to forget that “But for God’s” power through the hands of the doctor none of it would have been possible.

We remember it often throughout the year but on this day we look at the pictures and we recall the trauma of those early moments and days of not knowing if she would ever walk. For those who have heard the story – perhaps two many times – I share it because I believe when God gives you a testimony – it’s meant to be shared as light for others to see Him. All glory to His name and all praise for His mercy and miraculous healing hand.

This picture is several months into the process of healing. She had just graduated from two cast to one cast and a brace. –

Reflection: What are some “But God” moments in your life?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

“I Need Your Help.”

Posted on by

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer ~ answer me, for I need your help.
2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
    You are my God. 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. 4 Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. 6 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. 7 I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.

Psalm 86:1-7

Hey Sisters 💕 No blog today – just this passage from Psalm 86:1-7 that struck me earlier this week. I felt God leading me to use it as a post this week but never could quite figure out how or why – so I laid it aside. Today, He made it clear to my heart and mind what He meant for me to do with it. I’m not sure the picture does it justice, but if you look closely, you will see a tear on the cheek of the woman – which is exactly how I pictured my youngest daughter (she will be 30 on April 4th) when she called in tears today. They aren’t the first of the tears of this storm, and I feel certain -they will not be the last.

Those who follow this page might remember that a few weeks ago, she was notified that her job would be ending at the end of the school year, as they were making significant cuts in the budget and staffing. As she says, this is her dream job, and her heart is breaking a little more each day as the end of the school year approaches. Tears have flowed, anger at a broken system, hurt beyond words, fears of the future, hopelessness of the present, and heart felt sorrows and brokenness have been among the myriad of emotions. Yet, our faithful God, by her own admission, has given peace in great measure – and faithfully reminds her to trust in Him… to remember that He has a plan… to know that He will provide. Yet, as we all know, walking by faith rather than sight is a difficult thing … and waiting for other jobs to open and spending money she doesn’t have – to qualify for other subjects and add to her resume – only adds to the frustration and concerns.

We do not doubt that God will provide. I am confident that He has a plan and that He is walking with her and holding her up with His victorious right hand … However, I am equally confident in the power of prayer and am using today’s post to ask you to pray boldly and fervently for Abi. She is a sister in Christ who is weak and weary and in desperate need of sisters (and brothers) standing in the gap, holding her up to the One who holds her in His hand. Please pray as God leads you. We love to pray specifically; if you do as well, we are praying that God would let this cup pass from her – that positions would miraculously open up so she would be able to teach in the coming school year, preferably in this school that she dearly loves, but ultimately in the place God wants her. While she would love to continue teaching English, we also pray that she passes her qualification tests for social studies and other subjects that would keep her employed. We are praying for God to send hope and encouragement daily and to protect her from the enemy’s tactics of wearing her down and feeding negativity. Mostly, we pray for God’s will to be done (we believe He is a miracle-working God – completely and perfectly in control of all things). We are also praying for strength to trust His heart when we cannot see His hand.

Friends, I would be remiss to make this prayer of David only about Abi and our family. There are many who need prayers – perhaps even you. I encourage you to ask God to help you know who to pray for and to use David’s prayer as a springboard to pray God’s Word back to Him. I also encourage you to share your requests with someone in your concentric circle or perhaps in the comments bar of this post, or feel free to drop me an email – I would be honored to pray for you.

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer ~ answer Abi who needs Your help. Father, You know she needs a job, and You know the love that she has for this school and position. She is devoted to You, O Lord – please protect her. Save her job with the county, which we believe You led her to and provided according to Your will, come to her rescue and provide for this daughter who serves and trusts You. You are her God ~ be merciful to her, as she calls on You constantly. As David prayed for happiness, I pray the same for my child – as she gives herself, her cares and fears and needs to You. You are so good, and we have tasted the fullness of Your unfailing love for all who ask for Your help – as we do now. Listen closely, O Lord; hear my urgent cry – I call out to You on behalf of my child, Your daughter who is in misery and trouble -and I trust You will answer me – according to Your perfect will. Please, send encouragement even today – and thank You for those who are praying with me for Abi – hear our prayers according to Your loving kindness. – In the name of the One who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine – to Him be all the glory now and forever more – Amen!

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Rest For Your Souls

Posted on by

Do you ever feel so tired (body, mind, and soul) that you can’t think, pray, or function well? Are you carrying burdens, perhaps not just your own but those of others, that are causing you to miss out on the fullness of life that Jesus came to bring? If so, don’t lose hope! Jesus, the lover of our souls, invites us to come to Him, and He will give us rest. While Jesus is not referring necessarily to physical rest here – the Spiritual rest that He gives brings rest to body, mind, and soul, – as we lean into His teaching and realize just how humble and gentle He is1 To experience the promise of this rest, Jesus lists three actions we need to take:

  • Come … I will give you rest.
  • Take … My yoke upon you.
  • Let Me …Teach you.

-All of which means “giving Jesus control and letting Him direct our efforts.” This may not sound easy or be easy for those of us who like to be in control, but trust me when I say the benefits of “His rest” far outweigh the difficulty of letting go. When we rest in Him, we will know an awareness of His presence, unspeakable joys, freedom from the past, peace, strength, love, hope, gentleness, and so much more.

Praying the Word Back to God

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matt 11:28-30

Jesus, I come to You, out of the heaviness and weariness of life’s burdens, and seek Your promised rest. I am so grateful that You have taken my heavy yoke of sin and shame upon Yourself, and in exchange, I take Your yoke upon me – committing myself to You and Your authority, knowing You are gentle and humble at heart. Help me to yield control daily, letting direct my efforts in all things. Help me to learn from You and to live and love like You in all I do and say. – Amen!

A Song of Response

These words from an old hymn, “Out Of My Bondage, Sorrow, and Night,” came flooding my mind as I was writing my prayer. You may not be familiar with the tune, but I encourage you to read each word. I believe you will find the words paint such a beautiful picture of the rest we receive for our souls when we come to Jesus … when we take His Yoke upon us and learn from Him … when we realize how gentle and humble of heart He is … and we find ourselves delighting in His rest for our souls. I particularly love verse three; what about you?

The More We Know
Verse 1

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Verse 3

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Verse 2

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storm and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Verse 4

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
  Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into the joy and pleasure, Thine own,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the flock Thy love doth enfold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
    Jesus, I come to Thee!

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Love, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Some of My Favorite Things

Finding Rest in God

Posted on by

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

~Saint Augustine

How true these words of Saint Augustine are. They certainly ring true in my heart and mind. Raised in a Christian home, taken three times weekly to church, and saved at a young age, I really do not know a time when I didn’t know of God, who He was, and what He had done—though I do confess knowing more of Jesus than of God. – I knew God created the world, split the Red Sea, gave the ten commandments to Moses, and loved the world so much that He sent His Son to save whosoever believed in Him. What I didn’t understand until much later in life was that He made us for Himself.1 It was much later in life that I learned that He created, desired, and sought out His people because He wanted to have a relationship with them.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” 

“All things were created by him and for him.” 

Revelation 4:11 / Colossians 1:16 

From the beginning to the end of Scripture, we read how God made Himself known to His people, how He cared for them, taught them, led them, loved them, and poured out His grace, forgiving them of all their sins. However, until I understood this and removed myself from the hamster wheel of trying to please and trust God in my own strength, I was indeed – restless. The restlessness came from always striving to please Him, and when I failed, there was the unending feat of trying to make it up to Him. “Saved by grace” is not just a winsome phrase but a never-ending characteristic of God and of His love in action. It is a love meant to change us from the inside-out, to make us new creations in Christ🦋 – so that we can live and walk in fellowship with God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

  • Rest in His love … for there is no greater love than giving your own son to die for the sins of the world.
    • 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. John 3:16-17
  • Rest in His Grace … grace that is greater than all our sin
    • 20 Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, 21 so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 5:20-21
  • Rest in His Strength … the strength that raised Him from death to life.
    • I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Eph. 1:19-20
  • Rest in His promises … for has He not kept all of His promises to this day?
    • For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 2 Cor. 1:20
  • Rest in His Greatness … knowing that He alone has the power and words of eternal life.
    • “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Friends, “‘To whom shall we go?’ wasn’t written by John as a question of despair—it’s a declaration of devotion. Once you’ve tasted living water, nothing else satisfies. Once you’ve heard the voice that awakens your soul, all others fade. The deepest worship may simply be this: staying when it would be easier to walk away.2“

Prayer of Response To God’s Word

Father, what a blessing it was the day I began to understand that You created me for Your pleasure. I wasn’t just one of many that You created – I am known by You, created to be loved by You and to love You. I was created with a purpose and am meant to be dependent on You – and called to find rest in You. Oh, what a good good Creator and Father You are. Remind me daily to cease striving and find rest in You alone. – To You be the glory and honor, amen 💜

The More We Know
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

The House or the Heart?

Posted on by

based on the LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues / w4d1

Read: Haggai 1 (SOAP 1:12-13)

When God’s people were released from Babylonian captivity, they returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. However, because of opposition from the Samaritans, the temple still lay in ruins while the people were living in houses they built for themselves with panels meant for the temple.

The people were misguided in thinking that the Samaritan opposition meant they should abandon their mission to rebuild the temple. Their decision to instead use what was meant for the Temple to build their own houses was an even bigger mistake, and God made sure they knew it (Haggai 1: 1-11).

 So – Is it wrong to live in nice houses?

While some may believe and teach that Haggai’s message was meant to infer that we are not to live in nice houses, I believe God’s true message wasn’t about their houses but rather about their hearts. They had misplaced their focus and lost sight of their mission and, in the long run, of their God. For, as Gotquestions.org points out, not only did the self-focus of God’s people involve neglecting God’s temple, but it also meant they were not worshiping in the temple as He desired.

The application for us today is that we must place God’s will above our own. In the case of the Jewish people, their self-focus involved neglecting God’s temple (and therefore worship in the temple) while focusing on their own homes. There is nothing wrong with living in a nice home, but there is something wrong with neglecting God’s priorities to pursue our own. First things first, and honoring God is more important than houses or any other material thing.

gotquestions.org

The Lord was not pleased, nor would He tolerate the people putting themselves first. However, the real problem wasn’t the houses; it was their hearts. As He had told them through the first commandment He gave to Moses, and Moses gave to them – He was a jealous God, and they were to put nothing (no other gods) before Him. There is nothing wrong with living in a nice home, but there is something wrong with neglecting God’s priorities to pursue our own. First things first, and honoring God is more important than houses or any other material thing.1

“You shall have no other gods before me. … for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.

Exodus 20:3, 5

This was made clear to them not only through the message of Haggai but through a variety of ‘natural disasters’ that were meant to turn their focus and mission back to the true and living God. I find this to be a great reminder that the LORD does indeed pursue us and, in love, uses what it takes to get our attention. Verses twelve and thirteen reveal that the people not only listened to the message from Haggai, but they obeyed – and not as those under duress but as those who respected the Lord their God – and the Lord responded by energizing and encouraging both the leaders and the people.

Friends, we would be wise to understand that while this passage is from the Old Testament, its message still holds true for us today. We are to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves, which Jesus said sums up all the law and the prophets.

Food for Thought

From the LGG Journal

“The Israelites return to Jerusalem was a gift of God. Their response should have been one of praise and thanksgiving by first rebuilding the temple, yet they were focused on self.

We, too, can be like the Israelites. We ask and hope for God to deliver us from a situation or make something new or better. When He does, we forget to respond rightly in praise. We can quickly move on and serve our own desires, or we start wanting the next thing. God graciously used Haggai to call the people back to obedience, and they quickly obeyed.

Think of your own life right now. Would your lifestyle and habits indicate that your first priority is serving and worshiping God? May we not become distracted and taken off course like the Israelites. May our hearts and lives be focused on God first and foremost.”

p121/Our God Who Pursues
Prayer of Response

Father, God, we can so easily become distracted by roadblocks or our own wants and desires. Thank You for the reminder that You not only love us but pursue us and draw us back to You and Your mission/desire for our lives. Help us to remember that Your desires/mission for our lives are so much better and more important than our own. May we live lives that glorify and honor You as we live obediently to Your commands. May we not neglect to praise and worship You for who You are and what You have done in our lives. – In the Name of Jesus I pray, – amen and amen!

The More We Know
For more Insight click here for today’s Lgg Blog