based on the LGG Study – Lent, Drawing Close to God / w1d4
Scripture: Jonah 3:5-9; Luke 2:36-38 / SOAP: Jonah 3:5 and Luke 2:37
Borrowed, in part, from the LGG Study Journal for Lent, Drawing Close to God/pg 54
She had spent the majority of her life at the temple worshiping God, fasting, and praying. Her discipline and commitment to God, and to spiritual disiciplines like fasting, enabled her to listen and respond to God’s prompting. When Mary, Joseph, and Jesus arrive, she blessed them and tose around them by prophesying who Jesus was.
Love God Greatly Lent Journal, pg 54
I love the story of Anna, but in all the times I’ve read her story, I don’t think I have ever equated her fasting as being instrumental in prompting her to pronounce a blessing on Jesus and His parents. It’s sweet inspiration, though, to consider that it was her spiritual disciplines, like fasting, that enabled her to listen and respond to the Holy Family when they entered the Temple.
The Jonah passage had an ‘a-ha’ moment as well. What’s not to love about the story of Jonah and the whale? However, I must confess that the people immediately fasting and putting on sackcloth is not one of the top 5 or even 10 facts on the list of “things I remember” about the story of Jonah. However, I love the lesson the LGG team highlights about their fasting. –
Fasting was a means by which the people of Nineveh aligned their hearts to God. They saw the wickedness in their hearts and removed it. Their fast was a physical representation of their spiritual reality.
Love God Greatly Lent Journal, pg 54
The journal entry concludes with wonderful words of encouragement for anyone considering making a Biblical fast part of your spiritual discipline.
While our fasting should not be done to show to others or to impress them, the result of us drawing closer to God by fasting will encourage those around us. When our hearts are aligned with God’s purposes, when our motives for fasting are to grow in our relationship with God, He can fill our hearts with His love for others and make us a blessing in ways we may not even see or know.
Love God Greatly Lent Journal, pg 54
Let’s ask God to work in our lives so that we can bless and encourage those around us today.
Reflection on the Journey
How does fasting encourage others?
Why is corporate fasting important in the body of Christ?
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 NET
The words found in the first chapter of the Psalms teach us that what we do – ie how we spend our time and who we spend it with matters to God and has a direct effect on our lives. As God’s word teaches: obedience brings reward and disobedience, or ungodly living, leads to destruction.
How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers. 2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts. 4 Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff. 5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly. 6 Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.
Psalm 1
Once upon a time, this would have described me. When I was in my early twenties I had veered off the path of true obedience and had turned toward many of the ways of the world. Oh, I was good at playing the game of “Christian” on Sunday and Wednesday but the rest of the week I was just living whichever way the wind of my desires blew. Yet, God, in His goodness met me on the path and turned me back toward Himself- compelling me to ‘follow Him and to walk with Him in all my ways, I am eternally grateful and forever indebted to Him for rescuing me from the wilderness that was leading to sure and certain destruction. I am also grateful to Him for instilling in me the message of Paul to the Philippians – that regardless of what we do or don’t do we are to do everything for God’s glory
“Yet even now,” the Lord says, “return to me with all your heart— with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment. 14 Who knows? Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, and leave blessing in his wake— a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God!
Joel 2:12-14
The Lord warns the people, in Joel chapter two, to “return to Him with all their hearts – with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” He tells them to not just focus on the tearing of their garments but rather to be concerned about their hearts. Joel encourages the people to – “Return to the LORD – for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love — often relenting from calamitous punishment.” From the day, somewhere in my mid-twenties, when I began to understand the true depth of my sins and what they deserved – these words, along with the one word that incapsulated them all, GRACE, became some of my very favorite words of the Bible.
Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love—often relenting from calamitous punishment.
Joel 2:13 NLT
Knowing that God allows us to “return” to Him is beautiful in and of itself. However, the knowledge of the depth of His mercy and compassion, of His slowness to become angry, of His boundless love, and the hope of Him relenting from the devastating punishment we rightly deserve – these were the words that drew me back to Him then and continue to draw me to Him now. They are the words that have shaped my heart and mind to live with the attitude that says – whatever I do, I will do it all for God’s glory.
Paul’s words to the Corinthians remind me of the words of Joshua to God’s people long ago – “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh 24:15) –
Oh friend, how I pray that today, wherever you are in your relationship with the Lord – that you will heed the words of the Psalmist and of Joel, and of Paul, and of Joshua – and you will choose this day – to do everything you do for the glory of the God who loved you and saved you by His own glory and goodness!
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
If you aren’t yet in a relationship with God or perhaps you need to remember why you were in a relationship with Him – I invite you to read these truths so that you can choose well whether you will serve the gods of this world or the one.true.living God –
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.
Isaiah 58:6 NLT
How does the word “fasting” affect you? For me it is one of those words that sets me on edge. I’m not sure if it is because I feel bad if others are and I’m not, or if it’s because of the “doing without” or because I don’t like to be bound by something that forbids me access to what is part of my daily routine. I suppose the guilt may be a small part of it, but since I can get busy on any given day and not eat or drink for hours on end – I believe the latter is most like true for me. Let me share a “for instance” with you.
Most Saturdays I hold-up in my bedroom from the time I wake until sometime early afternoon – anywhere between twelve and two o’clock. I should clarify that, thanks to my internal weekly alarm clock, I typically wake anywhere between four and six o’clock – to be clear, that is A.M. I hold-up in my room on purpose and I enjoy every minute of it and typically begrudge ever having to leave the room – because Saturday is my day to read, study, and write without interruption. Borrowing an occasional planned excursion or commitment, Saturday is my only day without a schedule and I protect it at all costs. Whether in my room or eventually out of my room tending to the household chores and bills or enjoying a walk and visiting with my mom this is my happy day.
However, as much as I love my room on Saturday morning, if someone were to tell me I had to stay in the room and not come out the entire day or even for six hours – I would have a huge problem. Why? Because it would no longer be a joy for me, door opened or closed, the mandate would definitely evoke claustrophobic anxieties and I would undoubtedly be a mess. It is much the same way for me when I hear the word “fasting.” While I may choose to fast on my own time and/or conviction of the Spirit, when the word ‘fast’ is used in conjunction with a mandate it literally unnerves me. That may not make sense or it may seem ridiculously silly to you but for me it’s a thing.
‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’
Isaiah 58:3 NLT
Whether it seems ridiculous or whether you understand, I share my reactions to the word because I have to believe I’m not the only one who may struggle with this, and I hope to encourage you along with myself to explore the discussion of it throughout the study and not let it derail us from our journey to discover more about the season of Lent. To be clear, I do not struggle with Biblical fasting itself. It is clearly a practiced and valuable part of Biblical history from the Old Testament through the New and is still widely practiced today. Also, as we see in today’s passage, God made His opinion known about the issue of fasting as He answers the people’s question of lament concerning their ‘fast’ going unnoticed. He instructs the people through Isaiah on the difference between an unacceptable fast and a godly one.
the unacceptable fast versus the God Honoring fasts
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.
4 What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.
5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
A God honoring ‘fast’ is not limited to food but includes any sinful chain or distraction from God.
Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel will save it.
Mark 8:34-35 NET
Following Christ is a choice, however, the choice comes with three distinct demands that we must be aware of. Jesus makes the demands known, not only to His present disciples but to the crowd of people who had gathered. Jesus opens His circle of disciples by extending an invitation to the crowd, saying: “Ifanyonewants to be my followers, he must …” Whether we are new followers of Christ or seasoned disciples, Jesus wants us to understand that our choice to follow Him comes with costs. Mark records three in chapter eight
Deny himself (refuse rights and privileges that get in the way of God’s kingdom)
The commentary, gotquestions.org explains the demand of “denying oneself” like this: “Jesus spoke repeatedly to His disciples about taking up their cross (an instrument of death) and following Him. He made it clear that if any would follow Him, they must deny themselves, which means giving up their lives—spiritually, symbolically, and even physically, if necessary. This was a prerequisite for being a follower of Christ, who proclaimed that trying to save our earthly lives would result in our losing our lives in the kingdom. But those who would give up their lives for His sake would find eternal life (Matthew 16:24–25; Mark 8:34–35). Indeed, Jesus even went so far as to say that those who are unwilling to sacrifice their lives for Him cannot be His disciples (Luke 14:27).”
Take up his cross: (or ‘bearing one’s cross’ – meant one was about to die, and that one would face ridicule and disgrace along the way [gotquestions.org])
“When a person carried a cross in Jesus’ day, no one thought of it as a persistent annoyance or symbolic burden. To a person in the first century, the cross meant one thing and one thing only: death by crucifixion. To carry a cross was to face the most painful and humiliating means of death human beings could develop.
Two thousand years later, Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace, and love. But in Jesus’ day the cross represented a torturous death. The Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion (see John 19:17). Bearing a cross meant one was about to die, and that one would face ridicule and disgrace along the way.
Therefore, Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to self-abasement and self-sacrifice. One must be willing to die in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self is an absolute surrender to God.”
Follow Jesus: (walk, live, love like Him)
To truly follow Christ means He has become everything to us. Everyone follows something: friends, popular culture, family, selfish desires, or God. We can only follow one thing at a time (Matthew 6:24). God states we are to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Mark 12:30). To truly follow Christ means we do not follow anything else. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” There is no such thing as a “halfway disciple.” As the disciples demonstrated, no one can follow Christ by the strength of his own willpower. The Pharisees were good examples of those who were trying to obey God in their own strength. Their self-effort led only to arrogance and distortion of the whole purpose of God’s Law (Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:24).
Jesus gave His disciples the secret to faithfully following Him, but they did not recognize it at the time. He said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63). And “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (verse 65). The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years, learning, observing, and participating in His miracles. Yet, even they could not follow Him faithfully in their own strength. They needed a Helper.
Jesus’ command to “take up your cross and follow Me” is a call to self-abasement and self-sacrifice. One must be willing to die in order to follow Jesus. Dying to self is an absolute surrender to God.
gotquestions.org
And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Luke 14:27-28
The cost is great but so was the cost that the Father and Son paid. The cost is great but the alternative, saving our life1, is even greater. The cost is great but the benefits, the grace and mercies of God and His promise of eternal life are far greater. The costs is great – the choice is yours. 🦋
As for me, the words to this age old hymn came to mind and filled my heart and poured forth as my prayerful answer – If you agree with the prayer- comment ‘amen’ or if you would like to know how to be a follower of Christ – follow this linkhttps://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/ and leave me a comment there – I would love to share a gift with you.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” Colossians 1:9
God is good. He has gifted us with prayer and His Spirit. Jesus taught His disciples that the Holy Spirit was an advocate whom the Father would send in His name, He would teach them all things and remind them of everything that Christ had told them. Here, Paul prays for the believers in Colossae to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will -through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. According to the writer of ourdailyverse.com, “filled with the knowledge of His will,” is a phrase that transcends mere understanding. It suggests a filling so complete that it overflows into every corner of our lives – guiding our actions, decisions, and interactions.
May the Spirit help us to not just know God’s will, but faithfully seek it – that we may “be so filled with His will that our lives become a testament to God’s wisdom and grace.” This daily walk of faith – this journey through life on earth is only possible with the Spirit – the One who empowers, guides, teaches, reminds, and makes known the will of God.
“Dear Lord, In the quiet of this morning, my heart seeks the depth of understanding that comes form You alone. Inspired by the wisdom of Colossians, I pray for an infusion of your spiritual insight into my life. May your will be the lens through which I view the world, guiding my steps in love and truth. — Teach me, Father, to navigate this day with a spirit attuned to Your voice. Help me to embody the grace and compassion that Jesus demonstrated, making each decision a reflection of Your love. In moments of uncertainty, grant me the clarity of Your wisdom, so that I may act with confidence in Your divine plan. — Strengthen my reslove to serve those around me to be a beacon of Your light in their lives. Let my words and actions today sow seeds of Your kingdom, cultivating a harvest of righteousness and peace. In the precious name of Jesus, I commit this day to You. – Amen.” (borrowed from Ourdailyverse.com / 2.12.24)
I love all of Paul’s writings, but boy, this one gets me every time! His questions make us think and his answers are riveting illustrations of the matchless love of God that is ours through Christ Jesus. Read the questions and soak in the answers and I believe there will be a resounding hallelujah when you reach the climatic end.
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39
Verse thirty-five popped up in an email devo that I received today. Oh, how I love the timing and the compassion of our God. Regardless of what I am facing in this life, now or in the days to come, nothing – not the hardship that comes with my mom’s dementia, or fears that come with the pressing decisions or the unknown trouble that may ensue – nor anything else in all of life can separate me from the love of Christ! What a promise of hope and strength! It is a wonderful thing to be reminded that the presence of trouble and hardship in our lives does not diminish His love in any way – nor does it indicate that God has forgotten us. For, as Paul writes: “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us.”
I am His and He is mine – forever and always. Knowing that God’s love runs so deep that He gave His only Son is my strength and hope in these challenging days of dementia and decisions – were it not for His love and faithfulness my perspective would be one of doom and gloom – instead it is one of hope and confidence that come from believing – and having experienced the truth that “nothing – absolutely nothing – is too difficult for God; and perhaps even better is the knowledge that nothing and no one can separate me from Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior and His enduring love
The following is the devotion that was shared by Ourdailyverse.com on 2/8/24
In the fabric of our lives, each thread represents a moment, a choice, a trial, or a triumph. At first glance, some threads may seem frayed or out of place, especially when we encounter hardships that test our faith and resolve. Romans 8:35 challenges us to see our lives not as isolated threads but as part of a magnificent tapestry woven by God’s hand, where His love is the thread that binds everything together in perfect harmony.
-This verse asks a profound question that invites us to consider the strength and resilience of our faith. It reminds us that nothing absolutely nothing in this world – can sever the threads of God’s love for us. These threads are not visible to the eye but felt deeply in the heart, especially in moments when we feel most vulnerable.
Let’s take a moment today to appreciate the intricate weaving of our lives, recognizing that each experience, no matter how difficult, is held firmly in place by the grace of God. His love for us is the eternal thread that not only connects our moments but gives them meaning and purpose.
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth. Psalm121:2
There is a bend in the river at the end of the road where I live. It is a beautiful and calming sight to me when I leave home for the day and again when I return. However, when such a bend appears in my life – and I cannot see around it or through its murky waters there is not calm but doubt and fear that meet my eyes and plague my mind.
On yet another morning of realizing my need of the Father’s comfort, peace, and clarity – He met me early with these words of King David, perfect comfort and encouragement for the life choice before me now about where mom will live, a choice weighed down with its fears and doubts. One minute the path seems clear and certain and the next I’m trying to see around the river’s bend – and when I can’t – doubts come and the storm waters surge and rise around me. The ebb and flow are tiring – I’m growing frustrated with myself – but I keep moving forward believing that God opened this door, that for nearly a year I prayed He would open – “if it was His will and when it was His perfect time for my mom”.
When I think I’m going under Part the waters, Lord When I feel the waves around me Calm the sea When I cry for help, oh, hear me Lord And hold out Your hand Touch my life Still the raging storm in me
I remember not just the prayer that I prayed -but the assurance or our faith and prayers in Jesus’ name that we find in 1 John 5:14-15,… “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him..” Believing God answers the prayers of His people – I fight the “what if” questions and I press forward through the open door. I seek His face, His strength, His guidance and His peace. I seek God’s help in every way – for I know as the Psalmist did: “My help comes from God, the Maker of Heaven and earth – the One who sees and knows and cares and stays forever with me. He is the God who loves not just me but my mother. He alone sees around the river’s bend, the beginning and the end, and He alone is my trustworthy provider and protecter, my reliable wisdom and guide. He is my hope in the surging waters of doubts and fears.
For I have tasted and seen the goodness of my God and I choose to trust in Him – today and always! 🦋
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Yesterday started with a big ugly cry, a message to my boss about taking a vacation day, and a lot of prayer. For those who don’t know me, I should explain that I am not a crier – not that I think it’s wrong or I don’t want to, tears just simply do not come. That is – until they do.
Sadly, it is time to move mother to an assisted living facility – something she has dreaded forever and never a decision you want to make for your loved one. Yet, it is the season we are in. Her name has been on the waitlist for nearly a year. I pass by the facility every day on the way to and from work, and every day, I have been praying as I drive by – “Father, please, if it is Your will and when it is the right time for her – will you please open a room and the door and help us to walk through it.” I have watched friends and acquaintances move their loved ones in, and I have rejoiced with them but also fought back envy and committed to trusting God and His perfect timing for Mom. So, I was unprepared for the shock, panic, and myriad of emotions accompanying the long-awaited call. There was lamenting and rejoicing. There was relief, and there was fear and doubt, and – there was prayer. I’m ashamed to admit there were also storm surges of panic and waves of nausea as my faith was challenged -but for every storm surge and wave, there was a peace that passed all understanding. There were words of encouragement and fingerprints of grace and mercy, hope, strength, and beautiful words of wisdom, and there was a prayer for God’s help – specifically to guide every word I spoke.
God used them all to empower me in difficult situations – I was filled with courage that could only have come from Him, and when I opened my mouth to speak to Mom – God filled it with words. Her response was a wonderful mixture of calm panic and inward resolve that flowed forth with gracious and gentle words and questions. Doubts and fears arose for sure, but God was kind to temper them with His ever-present love and peace – and when sorrows surfaced, His comfort was quick to meet them. We spent four-plus hours talking about the room and resort-like facility and envisioning which pieces of furniture to take. Our blessed conversations were mixed with tears and laughter and the repetitiveness of dementia, but I will forever cherish them in my heart and mind. I am confident that they will be a balm for my soul in the days and weeks to come of moving pieces to her new home and preparing the present house to be sold. I long for your prayers and will appreciate any and all encouragement – as each new day will undoubtedly bring challenges that call for strength, grace, and peace in great measure.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6
In full disclosure and need of prayer
I am, by nature, a ‘control freak.’ Though God has graciously helped me overcome this tendency and trained me to trust Him, the old nature and the need to know what’s ahead and take control of the situation is wreaking havoc within me. It is shaking my resolve to trust Him and walk through a door (one that I prayed He would open in His time and if it were His will) where I can’t see the future needs or provisions – so, will you please pray for me to stay resolved to live one-day-at-a-time and to trust Him with all of my heart and with every day of my mom’s life –
The financial part of this will also be a challenge, so will you please pray specifically for God to stretch her monies and to keep her from needing more than the tier 1 assistance?
My dad had put the house in a reverse mortgage situation years ago, which has, in some ways, been a blessing – but now a frustrating and somewhat urgent and detrimental problem – so will you please pray for a quick and more than profitable sale that will meet the needs of mom’s new home. – that being said, will you please pray for me and my daughters as we work every day and then, in the evenings, try to prepare mom and her belongings for the move and her house for the sale –
Will you pray for my nephew, who knew this as his childhood home, to understand and find comfort and peace in the situation
Will you please pray for my sweet mother to be filled with the peace of God that passes all understanding both in the move and in the transitioning difficulty that dementia can add to these situations?
Will you pray specifically for her (and her cat) to adapt well and for her to greatly enjoy the people and her new surroundings
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
If I’m totally honest, there is something a bit daunting about being told, “You do not belong to yourself.” Yet, knowing that my body belongs to God is equally exhilarating at the same time. It is exciting and encouraging to know that I am not on my own – The Spirit, God’s Spirit, lives in me and works on God’s behalf to teach me and help me live a well-guided, self-controlled, and empowered life. He fills me with the knowledge and understanding that I need and reminds me of everything Jesus has said. I know I can trust these promises of the faith because I have been purchased by God with the price of His only Son’s blood and He did this out of love and so that I might glorify Him with my body.
To keep the body from dishonorable ways in a world that promotes an “if it feels good do it” attitude can present numerous challenges and temptations to copy the behavior and customs of the world. Even members of the community of faith are known to share or make excuses for the world’s standards and now acceptable practices. But God’s Word teaches us to remember that we do not belong to ourselves, instead – we belong to Him and should live according to His standards and not the world’s.
Wisdom from the Journey
Remember God’s Spirit lives in me …
… to control me… to guide me … to comfort me … to empower me …
The Spirit possesses me by God’s will and for God’s glory –
Because He is in me I can do all things that God has called me to do …
Because He is in me His the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control should be more and more evident in my life …
Reflection from Today’s Journey
What is one practical way you can treat your body as a temple?
God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. – 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7
“Set Apart” living requires a lifestyle that is different from those who do not know God. If we want to please God there is no other option than to live ‘set apart’.”
Me -from the INside-out
Paul is writing to believers who he had spent time with in person, teaching them how to live in a way that pleases God. He wants them to know they are doing it well but that they must keep pressing on in this good and holy way of living. Paul understood that living out God’s call on our lives is difficult at best and often seemingly impossible. He knew what it was like to want to do the right thing but how easy it was to keep doing the wrong thing – so he closed out his first letter to the Thessalonians with a review of the “will of God”. Which, as Paul points out, is to live a sanctified, holy life – or as today’s LGG Journal entry puts it: “God desires us to live lives set apart for HIm.”
I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
Romans 7:15 NLT
If you’ve been following along in the journey to live “set-apart”, you may be wondering why Paul so often warns about being sexually pure. The simple truth is that similar to our culture today – sexual impurity was often an accepted part of society and worse yet, sexuality and prostitution were even part of pagan worship. “Being sexually pure may seem countercultural and challenging, but it’s a choice that brings both blessings and peace. Our culture constantly pushes the message that sex is casual and without consequences, but God’s Word reveals the opposite. When we walk in sexual purity, we protect our hearts, relationships, and marriages from unnecessary pain and heartache.”1
However, as the LGG devotional journal points out – “It is important to remember that grace overflows from God to you as a precious daughter of the King. Your worth is not determined by your mistakes or society’s standards. If you have sinned in this area, confess it to God, ask for His forgiveness and He will cleanse you completely. He desires to bring healing, restoration, and wholeness to your life, and His mercies are new every morning. – No matter your past, today can be a fresh start. Choose today to live set apart, living a life that honors God, and walking in the freedom and joy that comes from living in His ways.”
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
1 John 1:9
May we remember that our bodies are the temple of His Holy Spirit and choose to walk in purity and honor. May we choose to live lives that are set apart for/to Him – reflecting His love and holiness to the world around us – and this for His glory.
1The Love God Greatly Journal for Set Apart, Living a Life to Glorify God / p131
WISDOM FROM THE JOURNEY
The greatest take-away and application of this passage would be to walk in God’s will – as the new creations He has made us to be through Christ. – Remember, He didn’t just create us and walk away – God equipped us with the Holy Spirit and the power of all the promises that are “yes and amen in Christ.” We have no excuses, for He has given us everything we need to live a godly life – the question is will we?
Impurity is from the “old man” often referred to as the sinful nature – which we are told to “put to death”, Colossians 3:5-11.
We are new creations created in Christ Jesus – 1 Corinthians 5:17.
We have been crucified with Christ, so that the life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us, Galatians 2:20.
REFLECTIONS FROM THE JOURNEY
In what ways can you be an imitator of God, demonstrating His love and grace to others?
Me From the Inside Out 