Tag: prayer

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Rachel: God Heard Her Cries

Day 3, Week 3 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:24 (SOAP – 30:22-24)
Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”  Genesis 30:22-24
MY OBSERVATIONS:

What a saga! One sister (Rachel) loved by Jacob and the other (Leah) given to him in marriage by trickery.

The BibleReference.com commentary explains that the phrase “God took note of Rachel …” means that He looked with favorable consideration on her but not before…

  • He looked with compassion on Leah who was unloved and enabled her to become pregnant (verse 31).
  • the birth of 9 more sons, some given to Leah while others were given to Leah’s and Rachel’s servant girls.

“THEN… ” This one little word in Scripture is so often followed by some great news or event that it always catches my attention … and in this case – as with the story of Hannah – what follows “then” resonates with my heart. Years have passed, Rachel – though settling for children through her servant girl – has waited miserably and now finds herself, finally, pregnant because God has looked on her with “favorable consideration”. You see, it wasn’t that God had truly forgotten or not seen Rachel in all of this time – but rather that God is strategic and purposeful in all He does. As we saw with Hannah, and as I learned in my own life – God is the one who enables or withholds children being born. This is paramount in the story of Rachel and Leah and Mary and Elizabeth and every other woman in the Bible. Until we understand the truth of it we will forever struggle when we cannot see God’s hand in our lives. Trusting His heart is the essence of walking by faith and not by sight.

After the Then

Rachel gave birth to a son and she named him Joseph, which was to say – “May the LORD give me yet another son.” A greedy statement? I don’t think so, but rather believe it was Rachel’s acknowledgement of what she knew was God’s doing and her genuine desire for God’s favor to continue.

How Then Do We Live

I think an important take-away from this passage is to REMEMBER.

  • Remember – even when it seems God is ignoring us – He isn’t. What He is doing is working all things together for the good of His children.
  • It’s also important to pray big, Remembering and believing that there’s nothing God cannot do, literally! With God ALL things are possible.
  • Remember, God’s timing and power are good and purposeful.
Prayer Response

Father, I have waited before for a child. I have, like Rachel. longed for my womb to be open, and felt ignored when You said – no, month after month and year after year. I praise You that I can look back now and know You weren’t ignoring me, You were waiting for the right time. THEN … You answered. May we never lose sight of Your Timing Father, whether it’s a child or a job, a marriage, or healing, whatever it is we are longing for – pleading for – Father, help us to trust Your heart even though we can’t see Your hand.

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Anna: Never Ceasing Prayer

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TODAY’S READING: Luke 2:36-50 (37-38)
She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
MY OBSERVATIONS:

Wow! How can one small passage pack such an amazing message? From the obvious to the somewhat obscure, this familiar passage held so much that jumped off the page as though I had never read it before in my life.

helpful background details
  • Anna was a prophetess (verse 36), which means she was a woman who proclaimed God’s WORD – speaking everything God gave her to speak – and boy, did He give her a lot to speak on this day.
  • As verse 36 tells us, Anna was the “daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher“, meaning she was a descendant of Jacob.
  • When verse 38 says, “At that moment”, it is referring to the time Mary and Joseph had come to the Temple to present Jesus to the LORD; setting Him apart to the LORD was fulfilling the law’s requirement for every firstborn male.
Anna

Anna spent her life at the Temple. She worshiped God through fasting and praying both night and day, clearly she was devoted to God. In 2022, my Pastor preached on ‘worship’ as part of a series titled “The 7 Habits of Deeply Spiritual People”. The first, and what I believe he called the core habit, is “worship”. He shared several definitions of worship, including:

  • “giving or showing someone their worth“
  • “the outpouring of a soul because we’re at rest with God“
  • “the occupation of the heart with God Himself”
  • and “a conscious passion to glorify God in everything because He alone is deserving”

Pastor Lemming made the point that this type of worship only happens when we see God for who He really is. Clearly, Anna saw God for who He really was, and because she did, she was able to see Jesus, even as a young child, for who He really was – the long-awaited Messiah! It was her surrender that fueled her awareness of who He was, which in turn fueled her mission to “speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem”.

Essential to Anna’s story and her worship is that she was a prayer warrior. She’s actually a great example of what Paul instructed the Colossians to be like in Colossians 4:2, when he said: “Be devoted to prayer.”

Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

Note again Anna’s reaction in verse 38, “At that moment, [Anna] came up to [Mary and Joseph, and Jesus] to give thanks to God and to speak about the child, [Jesus], to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” With a heart beautifully surrendered to God, Anna was positioned to see and be a part of God’s presence and work.

How Then Should We Live?

Surely we are to live beautifully surrendered like Anna, daily worshiping God. We may not be at the physical “temple” night and day as she was, but what hit me as I was reading and digesting the passage were the words of Paul to the Corinthians that – we, our physical bodies, are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and was given to us by God. We are meant to worship God – showing Him His worth, recognizing His vast superiority, having a conscious passion to glorify Him in everything – “night and day”, just like Anna.

We are meant to proclaim Jesus just like Anna, for Jesus is the Gospel message, the very message that Paul said is the “power of God for salvation”.

 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16 NET

We are to be devoted to prayer as she was; it should not be something we only do in the morning and evening or when we have a desperate need. We are meant to pray “without ceasing”, staying alert to the opportunities and needs throughout the day to call on or cry out praises to Him on our own behalf or for others.

Prayer Response

Father – what beautiful words and instruction from a Scripture passage so familiar and yet somehow so new. Help us to live like Anna – devoted to You in every way – worshiping You night and day, fixed on You, unceasing in prayer, and unashamed to proclaim Jesus! ~ In the name of Jesus, so let it be ~

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Hannah: Asking for the Impossible

Day 1, Week 3 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11 (SOAP – 1:27-28)
I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28 Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.   1 Samuel 1:27-28  NLT
My Observations:
Heart Resounding Similarities

Hannah’s story is near and dear to my heart, not just because of it’s beautiful example of prayer between a woman and her God but because I waited eight years for God to give me a child. In that eight years I experienced much of the heartache and distress that is described of Hannah. I battled bitterness of other’s pregnancies and anger with God for what He withheld. He won the battle though and in due time spoke words of encouragement and wisdom through my parents to not only trust in the Lord and His will and timing for my life but to learn to be content whether pregnant or not pregnant. The words were hurtful at first – I didn’t want to be content, I wanted to be pregnant. However, when I got home from that conversation those were the very words that drove me to my knees and moved me to “pour out my soul before the LORD” and cry out to Him from the depth of my pain and anguish. – Then the LORD called me to mind, and I became pregnant.

Hannah’s Prayer (1 Samuel 1:10-16
  • The source of Hannah’s prayer was from her soul not strong drink
  • The heart of Hannah’s prayer was her pain and anguish – driven by her desire for a child
  • Lost in the strengths of her faith, unaware that she was observed, and certainly not drunk on wine – Hannah prayed

She prayed boldly and specifically

  1. Poured out her suffering to the LORD
  2. Keep me in mind”
  3. Don’t “neglect Your servant”
  4. “Give your servant a male child”

She made a vow

  • “Then I will declare Him to the LORD all the days of His life
  • “His hair will never be cut”

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her mind. Only her lips were moving; her voice could not be heard. So Eli thought she was a drunkard.

1 Samuel 1:13 NET
Prayer’s Effect

Don’t miss the effect Hannah’s prayer had on her. From being very distressed – talking to God and encouragement from Eli, the priest, she went away changed, not only inwardly but outwardly.

So the woman went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.

1 Samuel 1:18 NET
Then …

I love when the Bible says “Then …” because it always means God is about to reveal something. In this case it was all that transpired after Hannah’s prayer and conversation with Eli.

  1. They worshiped the LORD and returned home
  2. Elkanah was intimate with Hannah
  3. “The LORD called her to mind”
  4. Hannah became pregnant
  5. She gave birth to a son
  6. When he was weened she took him up to the LORD’S house
  7. She shared with Eli God’s answer, her praise, and the response of her vow

For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me the request that I asked of him. 28 So I also dedicate him to the Lord. For all the days of his life he is dedicated to the Lord.” Then [Samuel] bowed down there in worship to the Lord.

1 Samuel 1:27-28 NET
Then …

Hannah’s prayers affected not only herself and her husband but don’t miss how even, at a very young age, they were already affecting Samuel – “THEN he,” [Samuel}, bowed down in worship to the LORD.” To see how her prayer affected many more through Samuel visit this link on the “Life of Samuel” from ‘GotQuestions.org’ – https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Samuel.html

How Then Do We Live?

If we learn anything from Hannah, let us learn that we can be real with God. She poured out her soul before Him, She didn’t try to hide her suffering, or deal with her pain and anguish on her own. She trusted God with her desire, not only in prayer but in life – giving back to God the very thing she asked for – that it [Samuel] might be used for His glory and not just her pleasure or fulfillment.

We can also learn to respond to God’s answers with praise – not kept to ourselves but revealed to others so that God’s goodness, His kindness, mercy, love, grace, power …. are displayed.

  • What’s your take away?
Prayer Response

Father, thank You for Hannah’s prayer and the way You have used it in my own life. Thank You for the glimpses of Your hand in the tapestry of Your people – woven together in Your Word for us to glean from. Help us to not become embittered with the disappointments or desires of our lives but to give them to You, boldly and specifically, from the heart and to trust You with the answers. And Father help us always to give You the praise and honor due Your name that others may hear and see and know of Your goodness to “keep us in mind” and the powerful and lasting effects of Your answers.

– All To Your Glory

Me – from the inside-out

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Jesus Looked After His Mother – Even From the Cross

Friday, Week 1 of Beautifully Surrendered, a Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: John 19:20-30 (SOAP 26-27)

26 So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!” 27 He then said to his disciple, “Look, here is your mother!” From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:26-67 NET
My Observations:

In the Throes of Agonizing Death

How sweet is this scene’s depiction of the Savior’s intimate care for His mother even in the throes of a horrendous death. The beauty of the reality that His love for ‘all’ did not negate His love and care for her as an individual. Also, something that stood out to me this time was the trust He had and placed in this disciple and how well-placed it was.

From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.

John 19:27
How Then Should We Live?

Let’s factor in what we know from this passage first. While God so loved the world and offered salvation to ‘whosoever” believes – what we see here is Christ loving not just a collective group of believers but we see Him tenderly revealing His very personal love for His mother. Jesus’ position as God the Son, did not interfere with His earthly position or emotions as Mary’s son – or for that matter our friend (John 15:14-15) or brother (Hebrews 2:11; Romans 8:29). Knowing these descriptions from Scripture coupled with how we see Him treat Mary – tells me, that because we belong to Jesus’ family, we can TRUST His love for us is equally personal and that He will treat us not just as another believer but as dearly beloved.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers

Romans 8:29 ESV

We also don’t want to miss the other factor, which is that He entrusted His mother, Mary, to one of His disciples. I’ve read and heard this passage many times, yet this time the words jumped off the page at me. I found myself immediately wondering if He sees me as a trustworthy disciple, one He can confidently trust to do His work in His absence. I believe Paul’s letter to Timothy, concerning the character of a person who serves Christ, explains how to be such a disciple and what this trusted disciple might be like when he made the following statement about an approved worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed. (I’ll tell you right now, I have a lot to work on and sure am glad He equipped us with His Spirit so that we have the hope of reaching this goal.)

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, ... “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” 20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2 Timothy 2:15-26
My Prayer Response

Father, oh the beauty of Your Son and the larger than life or anything we can understand GIFT He is. He who loved us all enough to GIVE His life for our sins, and be on earth suffering rather than in Heaven – He also showed us that His love is personal and now we live with this HOPE and JOY that He is looking out for us too, and that He will entrust others to us as He sees the need when He knows us to be faithful. Father, let me be found faithful and true – hands and feet and a light and voice for You. In Jesus’ Name and power.

My Worship Response

I recently used this one but it is the one that kept playing through my head as I wrote this devotional. https://youtu.be/r6U8O_WnPZY (this song does not belong to me but is by David Aslesen and found on the above Youtube link)

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The One Worthy of Praise!

Every day I will praise you.
I will praise your name continually.
The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise.
No one can fathom his greatness.

Psalm 145:2-3
Praise is a choice

Praise is a choice, a way of life. It has a focus and a reason and when the focus and reason are good and right, when they are the LORD and His greatness, when they are real – then the praise will never end – for God will never cease to amaze us, even in the midst of our suffering.

How then should I live?

It is good to read and even pray through the Psalms but to truly apply them we must seek the relationship with God and the knowledge of God that the Psalmist has. Otherwise our focus will be only words on a page – quickly forgotten or laid aside because they hold no real value.

My Prayer Response

Father, truly no one can fathom, or understand, Your greatness! But from the time I was given even a glimpse of Your greatness I learned to say – with or like the Psalmist – LORD, You are great and worthy of PRAISE; and I am certain I will praise Your name and deeds forever!

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Help in Weakness

Today’s Reading: Romans 8:18-39 (SOAP – 8: 26)

 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit and the Believer

Have you ever reached the point, either because of tiredness or emotions or even sin – that you just couldn’t or didn’t know how to pray? I have, more times than I can count, which is why I love the truth of this verse. Even more, I love that God has provided a way for us to always connect with Him, even to the point that He will provide the content of our conversation through the intercession of His Spirit. The Spirit plays many roles in the lives of believers and even in the lives of unbelievers, whom He convicts of their sin (Jn 16:8), Two of my other favorites are:

  • Ever feel like you can’t remember God’s Word? Well, the Spirit remembers and according to John 14:26, He has been sent to teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus said. I don’t know about you but I forget more and more these days – so I take great delight in this role of the Holy Spirit in my life
  • I also love that He is the reason that we are able to bear fruit of the new nature God has given us. Because of the Holy Spirit we are able to show love, have and spread joy, live in and know peace, be patient in trying circumstances, be kind and good, faithful and gentle, and practice self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

If you’d like to know even more about what the Holy Spirit does and what it means to “walk in the Spirit” visit gotquestions.org/Spirit-walk.html and dig deeper.

The One Who Intercedes

Paul has just finished writing about hope and how big of a part it plays in the believer’s life, from salvation to strength to carry us through times of suffering. Here, he continues that same thought line only this time he says, “In the same way as the “hope” works – the Spirit works to help us in our weakness. Whether physical or emotional or spiritual, like knowing how or what to pray for – the Spirit’s job is to intercede on our behalf and according to God’s will (27) – so it’s a win-win!

How then Shall we live?

Just as I/you live in “HOPE” of the promises of God through Christ – we need to live in the power of the Spirit for all of life’s needs. We need to trust that God has provided, through the Holy Spirit, all that we need to live a godly life. (2 Peter1:3-4). Perhaps Paul’s best instruction about the Spirit is found in chapter five of Galatians where we find these helpful and inspiring words: 

 But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.   Galatians 5:16-25
Prayer Prompt

Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that He works in us, according to Your will. Just as You have taught us to put our hope in You, help us to live by Your Spirit and trust His guidance – in prayer, in relationships with others, in living out Your will and call upon our lives in this world. Thank you that He helps us in our weakness and empowers us to live the godly life. We are most blessed!

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Weeping and Destruction

Today’s Reading: Lamentations 2:1-22 (SOAP 2:11)

My eyes are worn out from weeping;
I am churning within.
My heart is poured out in grief

because of the destruction of my dear people,
because children and infants faint
in the streets of the city.

Lamentations 2:11
Destruction Takes a Toll

Jeremiah weeps at the destruction but he isn’t simply crying. He is physically and emotionally impacted because of the destruction of his people. This is personal and Jeremiah is greatly affected.

Applying the Word

Like Jeremiah, we should be greatly affected when God’s people or His work are impacted by suffering, regardless of where the suffering comes from. We should mourn and experience great emotional and even physical unease. Jesus taught in Matthew that those who mourn like this over sin will be blessed, Matthew 5:4. Whether it is over our own sin or the sin of others we should be broken by anything that breaks the heart of God. When we mourn like this we will find ourselves caught up in the lament and we will be moved, like Jeremiah, to pray or to call on others to pray.

Prayer Prompt

Father, break our hearts for what breaks Yours! May we not fail to pour ourselves out before You – for only You can heal and make right ! We believe this in Jesus Name, Amen!’

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The Bondage of Fear

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The Bondage and Battle of Fear

The bondage of FEAR is a great and scary thing. It is real beyond words and until one has been captive to it you can not understand it. IT sneaks up on you and grabs hold of you before you realize it. You try to shake it off but it whispers to you and tightens it’s grip with every whisper of worry and doubt, or truths you can’t control and lies you choose to believe.

Yes, the bondage of FEAR is real and it is scary! Those that know it understand – they know that you can’t “just” shake it off – you can’t “just” ignore it. It’s grip is tight and it must be battled with sword and shield and truth. It can be fought and defeated for sure but not alone. Victory requires the Spirit of God but is better still with God’s army of supporters. The Aarons and the Hurs of your life that can come to your aid or those of the household of faith who faithfully walk with you and pray circles around the “fear” until it falls captive in obedience to Jesus Christ! (2 Cor. 10:5).

It can be a long and weary battle, you may see the enemy fall only to meet him at the next corner. Fear can be cloaked in health issues, in pain, in needs, in pride or dangers and a host of other phobias. But no fear is greater than our God – and that is the first step to every battle with fear. The belief that God is greater than all powers and entities of this world. Only this belief will allow us to say to our fear, like David did to Goliath, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel…” (1 Samuel 17:45). The same God of whom the Gospels boasted when they taught – “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37), and of whom Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

Experience God’s Peace

Are you plagued by worry or anxiety? Hear (don’t just read) the words of Paul – who was persecuted, threatened, beaten, imprisoned and yet wrote … “Don’t worry about anything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for what He’s already done. THEN you will experience Gods 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). These are two of my life verses – and I can say from experience, the truth they teach and proclaim has loosened endless grips of fear from me and lowered countless prison bars that held me captive. The words themselves aren’t magic. You can’t just read the words and get results; you have to know the words are true. This happens when you get to know God – when you see Him part the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to cross safely – and then watch as He releases it on the enemy who pursued them into it. It happens when you see Daniel survive the lion’s den or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego the fiery furnace. It happens when you watch them crucify our Lord but see Him alive on the third day. There is no limit to the power of our God – whatever you are facing He is greater and able to overcome it or to bring you through it. We only have to be still and know (and remember)that He is God, another of my life verses, Psalm 46:10. When we don’t know the answers and can’t see a clear or hopeful path or a way out of our situation – we must keep the Lord always before us and say, “because the Lord is at my right hand I will not be shaken,” Psalm 16:8. It is during these times that God allows us the opportunity to practice walking by faith and not by sight – or feeling for that matter, (2 Cor 5:7).

Able to Steel, Kill, and Destroy

Fear is a ferocious giant, an enemy like no other, a predator and captor – it is able to steel, and kill, and destroy us … IF we allow it a foothold. The key is choosing not to give fear a foothold – to stay alert – to be prepared with the truth – ready to take captive every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and make them obedient to Jesus Christ! The victory is ours through Him who has already overcome the enemy on our behalf!

To borrow a line from a Veggie Tales song – “God is bigger than the boogieman … and He watches out for you and me! … I know whatever’s gonna happen that God can handle it.”

Does fear or anxiety or worry have you trapped? Let me offer this one last encouragement – from the words of the Apostle Paul … “and now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Breath Prayers

A truly helpful exercise to make a daily habit (morning, noon, and night – and any time anxiety creeps in): Take a deep breath in through your nose and as you inhale think (I am weak) then exhale thinking (God is strong) … repeat/inhale (be still and know) exhale (that He is God) … repeat (I can do all things) exhale (through Him who strengthens me) repeat/inhale (do not be afraid) exhale (for I am with you) … four times at least three times a day will honestly change your life in more ways than I can count or share here. You can use any number of scripture combinations – keeping in mind that the purpose is to refocus from self to God.

Me – from the inside out 💕

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A Packaged Deal

Suggested Reading – John Chapter 7

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”

John 7:28-29
History, Rituals, and Irony

Jesus challenges the Jewish people with this statement from verses 28-29, a statement that brings into question who they are – basically a rerun of the conversation He had with the Jews He addressed in Jerusalem, noted in chapter 5. Both conversations took place during the 7-day “Feast of Booths”, also known as the “Festival of Tabernacles”. The Festival was a celebration commemorating Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Because it was rich with history and rituals the crowd would have been large and the city crowded which means this conflict would have been all the more intense and public. Don’t miss the irony, a festival where God’s people are celebrating their ancestor’s journey through the wilderness and they’ve just been told by Jesus, the Son of God, that they don’t even know God.

The rituals of this festival reminded the people of how God had provided for Israel during their journey out of Egypt. 

Bibleref.com @ John7:2
Where in the world

The people contended that they knew where Jesus was from and that this meant He couldn’t be the Christ because no one would know where the Messiah was from, vs 27. So, He shouts out, acknowledging they knew where He was from – well, at least they knew where in this world He was from – but what they didn’t know, or who they didn’t know – was God, the One who sent Him. Basically He repeats the message He delivered to the Jews in Jerusalem just days earlier. Jesus wants them to understand that it’s the One who sent Him that they do not know. 

This is a direct criticism of Israel's spiritual state, and an extremely personal reproach. Israel's ultimate point of pride was its identity as God's chosen people. No other nation could make that claim—and here, Jesus tells God's chosen people that they do not know God! Their rejection of God (John 5:39–40) has resulted in a rejection of the One sent by God (John 6:29). Stubbornness and pride have made them resistant to the truth (John 7:17).     Bibleref.com @ John 7:28
You Can’t Have One Without the Other

I noticed three specific things in these two verses:

  1. God sent Jesus to the people
  2. Jesus always points to the Father for those who come to Him must believe in the One who sent Him, (John 5:24).
  3. Jesus speaks with humble but certain authority.
My Response
  • To live like Jesus means I cannot shrink back when others challenge or threaten what I know is truth from God
  • I should speak with humble authority-
  • I should always promote God and Christ above myself and all others
My Prayer

Father, You are the One who sent Jesus, the One who comes in Your Name and authority to save those who believe in Him and in You who sent Him! Father, I have believed – Help me and use me to share the message of the Gospel which is Your power to save. In Jesus’ Name – Amen and Amen!

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Love God Greatly Blog

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Fear of the LORD

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7

For the next two weeks we will journey through the first 4 chapters of Proverbs. The book was written by King Solomon, son of David. It is typically described as a book of wise sayings – rather than large passages of information or stories. It covers a wide range of topics but there are four key terms:

  • Learning- getting information for immediate use, such as a phone number
  • Knowledge – information kept for long term use
  • wisdom – being able to act on knowledge
  • and understanding – being able to, or even having the responsibility to pass on something learned, retained, and wisely used

Our SOAP verse today, verse 7, is actually said to have be the cornerstone for the entire book so let’s give it some special attention and set the stage for the study.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The word fear here doesn’t mean to stand trembling before Him but rather to have a great reverence for God – who He is, what He expects and what He can do.

True knowledge, according to Solomon, cannot exist without a fear or deep healthy reverence for God. “The implication is not that knowledge can’t be obtained apart from God but that knowledge is out of place apart from a ‘fear’ of God.”

However, just because “the fear of the LORD” is to be top priority in my life does not mean it is ok to set aside “wise instruction or the discipline of the instruction”. Solomon says those who do so are fools.

Living like this requires studying God – spending time with Him, learning to know His power, love, and expectations – and then living by this knowledge.

Father, thank You for teaching me to have a healthy reverence for who You are and what You expect from Your children. Help us to live accordingly so that in all thing and at all time You will be glorified – In Jesus’ Name, Ame!n!!