God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
I have many passages of Scripture that I refer to as “one of my favorites”, however, this one is among the top 10. It is one of the passages that allowed me to believe and understand the true meaning of God’s grace – a grace that not only saved me from my sins and took them all away, but a grace that neither remembered my sins nor held them against me any more. It freed me from sin’s condemnation, and forever made me new! It is this passage that made me realize and claim the phrase, “From the Inside-out”, for my blog page and other postings. It is this passage that made me love butterflies (ok so – let me explain that one – lol …). You see, as I continually reread the passage, enamored with its truth, the picture that I kept seeing over and over again was a beautiful butterfly emerging from its cocoon – struggling and then breaking free to fly free and growing stronger with each second of flight. Because I love the passage so much it is hard for me to zero in on just the one verse so I have included a snapshot of today’s “soap” from my journal.
The Righteousness of God
There is beauty and truth in all of the verses but in light of understanding “the breastplate of righteousness” let’s zero in on verse 21. As you will notice in the illustrated journal page, I paraphrased this verse to read, “God made Jesus, His sinless son, take my sins on Himself so that God no longer sees me covered in sin but instead covered by the righteousness of Christ!” This is love and grace at its finest and a great illustration of the Gospel of Christ.
As Paul points out Christ was not only sinless but He was the way for us to become righteous before God. This is why we no longer face the condemnation that our sins deserve. This is why God is faithful and just to forgive us of sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is why we can enter into a relationship with God – because God made a way where there was no way.
borrowed from the LGG Devotional Book, The Armor of God, p 68
Reflection on the Journey
How does the concept of righteousness relate to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross?
How does it affect our relationship with God and our daily life on Christians?
With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands. In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:10-11
In the continuing story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall, the enemy is proving to be relentless – using a variety of tactics. This required Nehemiah and those working on the wall to be continually on guard, and not just physically but mentally. Because of this guardedness – Nehemiah was able to “recognize” the attempted trick to get him away from the wall in our passage today. Verse twelve says that he recognized that the man he was talking to and the invitation/suggestion the man made was not from God. Nehemiah knew the man was trying to scare him and have him sin by entering the temple – because Nehemiah knew God’s law and teaching. He understood that there were rules about who could enter and how that was to happen.
In our SOAP verse today we see how this knowledge and guardedness plays out in the lives of believers still today. Note how the Psalmist both poses and answers a crucial question for those who belong to God and want to “maintain a pure life” as we have been called to do. The question: “How can a young person maintain a pure life?” The answer: “By guarding it according to God’s instructions, or commands as many translations say. The Psalmist then seems to clarify that these instructions/commands come from God’s Word, and that he hides these words in his heart in order that he might not sin against God. Don’t miss verse fifteen though, for here he gives the rest of the formula for being able to recognize whether something or someone is from God or not. He doesn’t just guard his heart, he doesn’t just remember God’s commands – he meditates on God’s Word and he focuses on God’s behavior. In other words the Psalmist was intentional – and we must be too.
He hides God’s words in his heart in order that he might not sin against God.
Psalm 119:11
We may not be able to commit to memory every word in the Bible but we can read it and listen to it taught – again and again and again … until we know His voice from the world’s (Jn. 10:27) and recognize godly behavior or requests from the ungodly ones. Keep in mind this is a lifelong growth of faith and pursuit of holiness but as these begin to happen life changes, decisions are different, love and grace and mercy are richer and fuller – both when received and given away. God’
Reflection on Today’s Journey
When you receive counsel or instruction, how can you make sure it aligns with God’s Word?
Fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and “God has come to help his people!”
Luke 7:16
There were two miracles in today’s passage. The first emphasizes the faith of a Centurion, the second the compassion of Jesus for a widow whose only son had died. While our focus verse is on the second miracle I can’t help but pause a minute to shine light on the first one as well. It excites and amazes me every time I read it. First of all that Jesus said of the Centurion, who was not a Jew (from the people of God) but a gentile, “… not even in Israel have I found such faith!” Second of all, that without even going to the home of the Centurion or being near his servant, Jesus healed him, not because of what a good man the people told Jesus the servant was – but because of the Centurion’s great faith.
“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!”
Luke 7:9
The focus verse is equally exciting and amazing, as we see Jesus raise a dead man to life. not because of any words of faith but from what appears to be Jesus’ compassion for a widowed mother whose only son had died. Unlike the other miracles we have seen, this isn’t about a someone seeking out Jesus and asking Him to heal or help. Instead , this one paints a picture of God’s sovereignty and perfect timing, as Jesus enters a town right when people are carrying the dead man out of town for the burial. Jesus stops the procession, tells the mother’s son to “get up! So the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” A man raised to life out of compassion, a miracle witnessed both by the crowd with Jesus and by the crowd accompanying the mother in the funeral procession. That’s pretty exciting stuff, right? Yet, it is what happens next that must not be missed. I mean it isn’t uncommon for fear to be aroused by this miracle – considering no one had ever seen someone raised from death to life – but this “fear” seems to provoke an awe at what Jesus had done, which led to the people “glorifying God,” as they realized Jesus must be “a” (inferring one of many) “great prophet,” not The Messiah, God had promised – but admittedly, “one” whom, “God had come to help.”
A Response to God’s Word
Father, may we let the acts You do – big or small, significant or seemingly insignificant – move us to glorify You. May we stop and stand in awe of You. May we also, like Jesus, stop and show compassion for those who are hurting or struggling around us – and this that – You, like in the story we read today, might be glorified for who You are!
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
Romans 8:24-25
Observations: The Present Suffering
Sin brought a curse upon the world and man that is still present today. So that we (believers) eagerly await God’s “coming glory”, when all will be restored and completely made right. Somehow, creation itself understands the effects of the curse and, like us, is eagerly awaiting for our redemption to be complete.
Hope and The Life of Anticipation
While our focus verses show us the importance of hope in the believer’s life, don’t miss that God Himself, acted in hope of—or “looking forward to”—the reversal of His curses He [God] had subjected creation to. A good explanation of this is found at Bibleref.com, which says:
God subjected creation to frustration in response to Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden. God did not design creation to suffer. That hardship came after all was meaningful and “very good.” This warped, struggling existence came about when God cursed all of creation in response to human sin (Genesis 3:14, 17–19).He never intended for His creation to experience this futility and death and corruption forever.
Bibleref.com goes on to say, “The day is coming when God will reveal His children in the glory He has for us, and then creation will be set free from its bondage. Paul says that creation itself will obtain the same freedom that those in Christ will receive when they are glorified. All suffering will end. All will be made right (Revelation 21:1–4).”
I read somewhere that – “The life of a Christian is the life of anticipation“. From the time we place our faith in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, we “hope in what we cannot see”… the promise of eternity, the guarantee of new bodies, of righteousness, forgiveness, and the God to whom we pray. This hope causes us to wait like expectant children at Christmas time with and eagerness to receive what we have asked for and believed in!
Application: How Does This Apply to Me?
A time stretches out and it becomes easier to lose hope -instead we should:
take heart that God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ
stay in the WORD, who is Christ and from which our HOPE comes
Wait with eager expectation
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 Corinthians 1:20 NLT
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, thank You for Your promises that are yes and amen in Jesus Christ! Thank You for the HOPE in which I have been saved, and in which I now eagerly wait for Christ’s return! Thank You for leading me to put my faith in Jesus – And – Thank You that Your perfect timing in all things – perhaps, especially so in Your “coming glory”, when all will be restored and completely made right. – In and through the name of Jesus! – Amen
Scripture Reading: Malachi 1:6-8, 3:1, 4:5-6; Matthew 11:14, Luke 1:17; and Isaiah 57:14-19
God Forgives the Repentant14 God says, “Rebuild the road Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.” 15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. 16 For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away—all the souls I have made. 17 I was angry,
so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way. 18 I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn, 19 bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them. Isaiah 57:14-19 NLT
Observation: What’s the Message?
Every day, throughout this study, I have read the verses and looked for ways that they point us to our need for Jesus. Some passages have been more obvious than others but today’s proved to be challenging for me. Here’s where I landed …. Malachi 1:6-8 was a reminder that our sins require a sacrifice acceptable to God, but then it also prompted to praise God that Jesus is forever a perfect sacrifice. This reminded me that The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God will not despise a broken and humbled heart. The other two passages from Malachi as well as the ones from Matthew and Luke seem to point us yet again to John the Baptist and his role as the one who would prepare the way for our Lord.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.
Psalm 51:17
It is the passage from Isaiah however, that captured my attention. I confess it grabbed my attention mostly because I couldn’t figure it out and that always bugs me – so I chased down some information on its meaning and was glad I did. From all that I read, my synopsis is – it’s all about Christ making a way for us to have a relationship with God! However, I want to share with you a few bullet points from an article I read that I hope will help you reach the same ‘hallelujah’ I did.
Christ is the one who opens the way for a great returning to God (14)
Christ is the one in whom the “lofty one” – whose name is Holy comes to dwell with the oppressed and lowly (15)
Christ’s death is why God can acquit a guilty people without dropping the charges (16)
It is by Christ’s stripes that we are healed (18)
Everything hoped for in this passage comes to us – even to us Gentiles – in Jesus Christ.
Piper, from whose article I borrowed these points, went on to say, “We can read it as a personal offer of hope to any of us who will accept the healing of humbling and the cure of a crushed spirit.”
Application: How Then Should We Live?
From the inferior sacrifices of Malachi’s day to yet more reminders of John coming to prepare the way we are once again reminded of our need for Jesus. If we do not acknowledge this need daily, in both our hearts and minds, I am convinced that we will live as though we do not need Him.
We must not allow ourselves to live as though we can save ourselves or make ourselves better – we need a savior and that savior cannot be a pastor, a church, a child or spouse or friend, it can not be a job or good works. The only savior able to meet the demands of our Holy God is His Righteous Son, Jesus Christ.
Sin is the key because it is often the stumbling block that keeps us from dealing with the daily reality of our need for Jesus. We convince ourselves the questionable things we think, do, say, or watch really aren’t that bad. We play the grace card sometimes before we’ve even committed the sin – content that He will forgive us – we proceed with the sin. We should not make light of sin or treat it as a mistake – we need to humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin for what it is and deal with the sorrow that contrition brings. Remember, a humble and contrite heart He will not despise and according to this passage in Isaiah it is with the contrite and humble that He lives.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, how blessed we are that You sent Jesus to open a way to You, to acquit us of our quilt, to come and dwell among us, to heal us by His stripes, and to offer us hope and an eternal future with You. May we daily consider what You have done for us and live accordingly. Guard us from living in ignorance or rebellion – knowing what You’ve done for us but choosing our own way over Yours. Help us to be aware of our sin and may it make us contrite and humble, for it is with a humble and contrite heart You will dwell. To You be the glory, honor, and praise now and forever – Amen!
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
3:11“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
11:15Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Matthew 3:1-3,11 and 11:15 NLT
Observation: What’s the Message?
Today’s message is undoubtedly the message of repentance because the “Kingdom of Heaven was near”, perhaps best explained by Bibleref.com
John’s Jewish listeners would have been familiar with the idea that a new kingdom would one day be established by the promised Messiah. John will point to Jesus as that Messiah, and to the imminent establishment of His kingdom. John will insist, though, that repentance—turning from sin—was necessary for his Jewish listeners to be included in that kingdom. The mere fact of their Israelite heritage would not be enough. This would have been a new idea to some.
However, let’s also look at the underlying message – the one we find in Matthew 11:15 which is nearly the same as what we previously read in Revelation 2:7. Both passages call us to listen to what’s being said. We’ve seen it twice already in our study. Once as a warning about being alienated from God and the other in the message from Jesus to the Church at Ephesus concerning how they had left their first love. In both passages He wants the people to know how imperative it is for them to listen to what He’s saying. He wants them to listen so they will know how to live and choose to turn from what is wrong and do what is right.
In today’s passage, we read how John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the Lord, the long awaited Messiah. His message is one of repentance in order to prepare the hearts of those who will listen – to be ready to receive the salvation that Jesus is bringing. It is so important to realize that if we fail to listen to His instructions or if we fail to make much of His Word we will lose the opportunity to draw close to God and to have Him draw close to us.
So Why A Message Of Repentance?
Repentance is to make a turn – a change of heart and mind that changes the actions or thoughts and words of a person. One commentary described repentance like this, “To stop going the wrong way and start going the right way.” So John was preparing the people to think differently and respond differently to people and situations. Jesus would be bringing the message of Salvation – “He who believes in me will have eternal life the one who does not believe will not have eternal life”, (John 3:36).
Application: How Then Should We Live?
To be sure, salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone -but repentance is part of that faith. The understanding or foundation of our faith is that we are all sinners (Rom 3:23), in need of a Savior because the wages of our sin is death (Rom 6:23), the requirement – an atonement we could not provide – a spotless, sinless sacrifice, (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the sacrifice God sent because He so loved the world (John 3:16).
Because we have believed, we – like John, are now witnesses and messengers meant to prepare the way for others to come – making sure they know the way. If we don’t listen to this teaching and follow we may well be a hindrance to the Gospel message.
Since John’s message was one of ‘repentance’, we must understand what repentance is and make sure that we turn from our sin and walk in the ways of the Lord, who left a bold and lasting legacy for us to follow – namely, loving God with all of His being and loving us more than He loved Himself – even to the point of death on the cross.
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
God forbid that we would be a hindrance to the message of Jesus Christ! Help us to make straight the path so that all will come to You and be saved. Help us to understand the promise isn’t ours through our goodness or family heritage – but – as Your Word teaches – it is through faith alone in Christ alone. Help us to not forget the importance of listening to the message Jesus and John and others like them came to bring – for as Timothy said,All Scripture is inspired by [You] and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. Use it to prepare and equip us to do every good work! In His Name — and for Your Glory! Amen –
Your Turn:
What’s your take away from today’s message?
What are some things you can do to make sure you are listening to God’s Word?
Are there things you currently need to repent (turn away from)?
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. NET
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. NLT
Romans 8:27
This has been one of my favorite and most comforting verses since my early twenties. Somehow knowing that God searches our hearts – not just looking for sin and things that need to be removed, as David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24, but also to help us in our weakness, like when we want to pray but just can’t find the words. The Father, who knows our hearts – the good, and bad, and ugly of our hearts – doesn’t turn away from His children but instead cares so deeply for us and wants us to be able to communicate with Him – that He sent His Spirit to intercede on our behalf. Actually verse 26, in the New Living Translation, says thatthe Spirit prays for us with groans that cannot be expressed in words.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words
Psalm 139:23-24 and Romans 8:26
Imagine it – the Creator of the universe not only says come … bring me your burdens, your heartaches, and tiredness. Turn to me when you’re tempted or in need, cry out to me in your distress or when you’re afraid. He even invites us to bring Him our sin so that he might forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness … and as if that’s not enough – He says, when You don’t know how to pray about something – don’t worry, I have you covered. Oh the rich rich goodness of our God!
May you find hope and encouragement from these truths today!
In today’s reading Matthew shares insight and wisdom from the life of Christ that will help us overcome the temptations we will inevitably face. Christ had just been baptized and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He was to be tested. Bibleref.com explains, that “it was God’s intention that Jesus should endure this time of testing.” [For a full explanation of 4:1 visit https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/4/Matthew-4-1.html. ] However, the focus of today’s passage for me became verse 4, which follows Satan’s pointed temptation to Jesus, who had been fasting, to turn stones into loaves of bread (4:3). While Jesus, no doubt, could have easily met this temptation He instead answers Satan, directly, with a firm “No!” He then uses Scripture to confirm His choice.
3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:3-4 (NLT)
Actually, every other time I have ever read or heard this Scripture taught my mind has been drawn to the use of God’s Word to combat the temptations, and rightfully so. We should always be ready with Scripture when we meet temptations – after all God’s Word is our primary weapon against sin which is why David answered his own question in Psalm 119, “How can a young man keep His way pure?” with these words, “By obeying God’s Word.” He goes on to explain how he does that, “I seek You (God) with all of my heart, do not let me stray from your commandments. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Temptation is clearly combatted with God’s Word. However, it is equally clear to me today that it is good and right to be direct and firm with the ‘tempter’ and say “no”! What a great example of handling our temptations, “But Jesus told him, ‘No!'”.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping your word.
10 I have sought you with all my heart;
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have treasured your word in my heart
so that I may not sin against you.
Psalm 119:9-11 (CSB)
Jesus’ example makes me think of the campaign, “Just Say No!”, used in the “War on Drugs during the 80’s and 90’s to discourage children from using illegal drugs. Perhaps, as children of God, we should make this our campaign against temptations this year – “Say No to Satan!”. We are only 10 days in to the new year, yet it is already clear to me that there will be, as with every other year, daily temptations. Perhaps we will be tempted to mimic the behavior of the world (Romans 12:2), or to fear (Isaiah 41:10), or complain (Phil 2:14-16), or become angry (Eph 4:26, James 1:20) and unforgiving (Col 3:13), or to use our words to tear down instead of build up (Eph 4:29), the list of temptations are endless (the combatting Scriptures are equally endless) … but regardless of how or when the temptation comes may our answer be, like Jesus’, a firm and resolved NO! Let’s “Say NO to Satan!” and watch him flee in 2022.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Me From the Inside Out 