Tag: sins

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

Repentance or Regret?

Posted on by

The first chapter of Joel is not an easy or feel-good read. However, two things are made clear through the prophet. First, the message is of great importance and meant for all of Judah to hear (vs2). Second, and most important, was the need for repentance (vs. 13-14). Without repentance, as chapter one describes, there would be dire consequences. From swarms of locusts to the destruction of life and land, and even animals, nothing and no one would be left unaffected.

I wrote very little in the margins of my journal today, but of the few things I did write down, this one stood out: Are you sorry for what you did (repentance) or sorry you were caught (regret)? When I turned from my personal journal to the LGG journal entry, I was a bit relieved to find similar wording written by the LGG writing team – indicating that I wasn’t too far off in my understanding of what Joel was saying, namely that “true repentance is seeking forgiveness and running to Christ.”

True repentance is more than simply being sad that you were caught or sad over the consequences of your sin. Rather, true repentance comes from deep sorrow over our sinfulness and the realization that we have grieved God and hurt other people. It is seeking forgiveness and running to Christ.

Our God Who Pursues/p45

Another thing worth noting is that it wasn’t just that the people had stopped bringing offerings to the Lord – it was that these offerings were offerings of faith, given as acts of worship which represented their trust in God – that He would provide. It wasn’t that they couldn’t come; it is that they stopped coming. The bottom line is that their sins had separated them from their God, and anything that puts distance between us and the Father grieves Him and should grieve us. It is why He calls us to repent, to turn back to Him, and it is why Joel warns of the impending doom that awaits those who do not repent. May we be people who faithfully follow the ways of God, but when we sin, may we be swift to practice true repentance – letting nothing stifle our faith, hinder our worship, or harm our relationship with God.

Prayer

Father, like the Israelites, we are sinners, and like them, we are called to repent of our sins. According to Your promises, when we confess our sins and ask Your forgiveness, You forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us always stay alert to any sin in our lives and to remember the grief and separation it causes between us and You. We cannot live apart from You, so help us walk in obedience and quickly repent when we fail so that nothing will separate us from Your Holy presence. In the name of Jesus – we trust and pray – amen.

The More We Know

Book of Joel – an article from Got Questions Ministries

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Living Out Our Faith

Posted on by

based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation, W4D4

SCRIPTURE FOR THE JOURNEY: HEBREWS 11:1-7/ROMANS 10:9-10/ SOAP: HEBREWS 11:1 AND ROMANS 10:9-10

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

Romans 10:9-10
Observations of the Journey

As we have already seen in this week’s journey, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is essential to our faith. He not only helps us understand God’s Word, but He empowers us to obey (live out) God’s Word. John emphasizes this in 1 John 3:24, where he taught: “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.“

Day three of this week’s journey revealed a beautiful and powerful picture of God’s grace that was poured out at the cross so that we might be made right with God, be adopted as His own, made joint heirs with Christ, be empowered with His Spirit, and have a relationship with the Father by means of faith in the Son – it is a gift of God not by works. Nothing good we do can earn it, and nothing bad we do can render the gift invalid.

So, how do we live out a faith that requires no work?

Application: Living Out the Journey

Paul addresses the issue of living out our faith with the Philippians when he tells them to “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, [obeying God] with deep reverence and fear. For God (is working in you, giving you the desire and the power) to do what pleases him.1” That desire and power are from His Holy Spirit in us. Please note: Paul is not calling them to work for their salvation but rather to live it out, in other words, to put it into practice – or as James wrote.“being doers of the Word and not hearers only,”2 In other words the result of our faith and subsequent relationship with God should lead us to want obey/please God. We should want others to know that we belong to Him.

For the record, if salvation were granted according to our goodness, there would be no salvation. 🦋

I used to think I could right my wrongs (sins) – somehow securing my salvation – by being better/doing better or praying more. Somehow, I had come to think if I were good ‘enough,’ God would love me and keep loving me. It’s a story for another day – but I will tell you this – I was very relieved and overcome with joy to hear the truth that God never loved me because I was good – there was no amount of goodness that would have earned His love, there was nothing I could do to keep His love – He simply – yet profoundly loved me because He is love and because He is good. – John made this clear in his declaration that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes (note: not behaves) will be saved. We’re forgiven and made right before God – not because we obey or behave according to His Word – but simply because we have placed our faith in His Son. Hallelujah! – For the record, if salvation were granted according to our goodness, there would be no salvation – for as Paul wrote: “There is no one good – not even one!”3

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(Romans 5:8)
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, thank You for Your invitation for us to place our faith in Jesus. Help us to live out the call of Christ and make Him and His ways the most important priority of our lives. May we live and love like Him, and may we be found serving and honoring You by laying down our earthly desires for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You for revealing the truth and Your love for me. May my love for You be seen in my faith and obedience – Amen!

But either Christ is our most important priority, above even our lives, or we’re putting something above God in our hearts

Bibleref.com/Luke 9:23
The More We Know
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

More than a Miracle Birth

Posted on by

based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation/w2d5

Scripture and Observation
Read: Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:18-25/ SOAP: Matthew 1:20-23

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

Matthew 1:20-23

Fresh out of the Christmas season, it might be easy to breeze right over/through this passage. However, this portion of the “Jesus story” should not be relegated to Christmas alone. For it is the long-awaited promise of God in action. The gift of God’s salvation is an everyday story of love – and hope – and life.

She will give birth to son
and you will name him Jesus
because he will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

As I read through this today, letting it sink in like fresh water for my soul, several thoughts flowed through my mind – but this one was at the center: the miracle wasn’t just in His immaculate conception but in what He would do and who He would do it for! The son of God – Jesus, incarnate – God in the flesh came to save the enemies of God from their sins1. He came to offer us a real and lasting relationship with the God of Heaven so that we might live with Him forever.

Living it Out, the Application of the Journey

It occurs to me that the miracle gift we’ve been given is meant to be embraced. I believe we are to make the most of the opportunity to know His forgiveness … the power of His Spirit in us … the blessing of being a child of God instead of an enemy …, boldly embracing the relationship with God … and following the examples of Jesus’ life so that we honor You – wherever we are.

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, how great Your love is for us that You would give us Your only son to save us from our sins, to make us new creations in Christ Jesus, the one who came to save His people from their sins. Thank You for keeping Your promises and for opening the door for us, Your “enemies,” to believe and be called the ‘children of God.’ Help us to live and love like Jesus, telling His story with our lives and words wherever we go so that others will know Him also.- Amen!

The More We Know

For more insight into today’s journey be sure and read today’s LGG Blog –

Posted in Bible study, From Broken to Restored, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Conviction, Confession, Forgiveness

Posted on by

based on the Love God Greatly study, From Broken to Restored / w4d3

Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-4; Leviticus 26:39-45 / SOAP: 1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

All of our passages in today’s study reveal the seriousness that God places on sin. It is so serious that it requires action on our part – that action is the confession of sin, meaning we admit our guilt before God – and in repentance turn away from the sin back to God and His way. In the Old Testament this meant offering a sacrifice to make atonement for the sin, however, in the New Testament that all changed with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. His righteous blood was sufficient to ‘once and for all’ pay for the sins of man unlike any animal sacrifice that was or could ever be given.

While 1 John 1:9 is God’s promise to beleivers – that when/if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive the sins. The added blessing is that God doesn’t just forgive the sins but He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. However, we must not ignore or miss the fact that this forgiveness comes “when/if” we “confess” our sins to God. When sins remained unconfessed they become a problem for us1, a stumbling block for others2, and a hindrance to our relationship with God3.

1Hebrews 12:7–11; 1 Corinthians 11:30

2Matthew 18:5-7; Matthew 18:8

  • 3If, as children of God, we choose to remain in our sin, then we choose the consequences that go with that choice. Broken fellowship and lack of growth result. However, those who persist in sin need to reexamine their true relationship with God (2 Corinthians 13:5) – Gotquestions.org;
  • See also Isaiah 59:2
    • Unconfessed sin works like a drape. Imagine standing by a south window on a cold winter day. The air is frigid, but the sun is shining through the window. It begins to warm you, and you bask in its glow. Then you pull the drape closed. Instantly, the warmth stops. Is it because the sun has stopped shining? No, it is because something has come between you and the sun. The moment you open the drape, the sun can warm you again. But it is up to you. The barrier is inside the house, not outside.
Making it Personal – Reflection

Was the people’s repentance genuine? How does genuine repentance differ from ritual repentance? Which one honors God more?

Going Further

Don’t miss today’s insight in the LGG Blog

A Sin Offering: https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-offering.html

The Danger of Unconfessed Sin

A Stumbling Block

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

One In The Spirit

Posted on by

 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:3

We live in a world that is ‘self-driven’. The ‘I have to have the best’, ‘be the best’, and ‘be better than her’ attitude is prevalent. Not only do we expect better than the best from ourselves we demand it from others, and we have little to no tolerance for those who do not measure up. While there is nothing wrong with being motivated and wanting to ‘do your best’, or even expecting others to do their best – Paul teaches us here and throughout his writings, that we are to be God-driven rather than ‘self-driven’. His words to “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,” are preceded by the wisdom of how to do this, wisdom that basically teaches putting others first. He teaches humbleness, gentleness, patience, and making allowance for other’s faults – and he bases it on our love – which, according to Jesus’ teaching, is supposed to mirror His love for us, (john 13:34) – and His love was anything but selfish and self-driven. Where this love is absent, self will be prevalent and there will be no true unity. This is why Paul doesn’t suggest that we do this on our own but instead says to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

It strikes me as I’m writing and glancing back up at verse 1, where Paul begs the believers to lead a life worthy of someone who is called by God – that we are not just called to salvation but rather to live out that salvation. To love as Jesus loved, to be His hands and feet to the world, to go and make disciples, to edify and encourage others, to lift up the weak, and pray for the sick, and so much more. God’s calling is not easy but He made it all possible by giving us His Spirit – who not only binds us together with peace and in love but empowers, teaches, and guides us to do all that God has called us to do, even live at peace with other believers who we may not see eye to eye with.

Are you having trouble living at peace with someone or a group of someones? The Spirit of God is your answer – your strength and hope of overcoming the barriers to the unified peace God has called us to. May we heed Paul’s words and “because of [our love] make every effort to keep ourselves united in the Spirit, binding ourselves together with peace“. In this, God will be glorified and we will know His peace.

Response to God’s Word

Father as the old hymn says, “bind us together – with cords that cannot be broken – bind us together in love” – In Jesus’ name I pray, amen and amen!

Notes from the insideout journal –
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time
Posted on by

The Ministry of Jesus Begins

12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
    beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
    in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
16 the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
    a light has shined.”

Isaiah 9:1-2

17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4:12-17

So where do we focus our attention today?

  • John being arrested?
  • Jesus hearing of the arrest and heading back to Galilee?
  • A prophesy fulfilled?
  • or – Jesus beginning His preaching ministry, with the message “repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of God is near? *note the message didn’t change, just the deliverer

I believe they must all be considered to gain the full impact of verse 17, where Jesus begins to preach. Clearly each event led to the next and was laced with the fingerprints of God’s perfect timing. John was sent as a messenger, to prepare the way for the Lord, the Messiah whom he had baptized. The one of whom he said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” . Once Jesus entered the scene , John was well aware that his ministry was nearing its end and this, by the Gospel’s accounts, began with John’s arrest. The same is true of Jesus who, when He heard that John had been arrested, did not hurry to his aid but rather back to Galilee. Why? Because He knew the message John had been preaching – one of repentance and turning to God because the Kingdom of Heaven is near- had to continue; He also knew God’s intention was for Him to carry the news to the lost, which according to the prophecy of Isaiah would begin with the Gentiles in Galilee “where so many Gentiles lived“.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:10

Both Jesus and John knew the Father’s plan was for Jesus to be exalted and they were committed to it. I do not suggest that John knew he would be arrested but simply that he understood things would be changing. He was yielded to God’s calling on his life, yielded to Christ increasing and him decreasing, but he continued to speak the truth in boldness, unapologetically preparing the way for the Lord. John’s message led him to prison and ultimately to his death. (Read the story) Jesus also knew and understood the Father’s plan – His timing, purpose, and the importance of the message – and He went in that direction. His commitment to the Father’s plan, like John’s, also led to His arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

Wow! If we didn’t know the rest of the story we might be tempted to think – “if commitment to God means heartache and death – why commit?” The answer can be found throughout Scripture, such as in Jesus’ answer to the thief on the cross – “today you will be with me in paradise”, or in the promise and pledged love of God to give all who believe in Him eternal life, or even in the words of Jesus to the crowd when He explained that to be His disciple they had to give up their own way, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. If you think the first two requirements are harder than the last check out what Jesus had just told them about His life in verse 22 of Luke 9, “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.“  Following Christ may not be easy or desirous at times but as He told them at the conclusion of His discipleship requirements … the end result is LIFE.

“if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

Luke 9:24

May we seek to know the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15), His purpose for the world (John 3:16-17), His call upon our life (Matt 28:18-20), and, like John and Jesus, may we be committed and yielded to follow accordingly.

MefromtheNsideout

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time
Posted on by

The Ministry of Jesus Begins

12 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. 13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali,
    beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River,
    in Galilee where so many Gentiles live,
16 the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light.
And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow,
    a light has shined.”

Isaiah 9:1-2

17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4:12-17

So where do we focus our attention today?

  • John being arrested?
  • Jesus hearing of the arrest and heading back to Galilee?
  • A prophesy fulfilled?
  • or – Jesus beginning His preaching ministry, with the message “repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of God is near? *note the message didn’t change, just the deliverer

I believe they must all be considered to gain the full impact of verse 17, where Jesus begins to preach. Clearly each event led to the next and was laced with the fingerprints of God’s perfect timing. John was sent as a messenger, to prepare the way for the Lord, the Messiah whom he had baptized. The one of whom he said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” . Once Jesus entered the scene , John was well aware that his ministry was nearing its end and this, by the Gospel’s accounts, began with John’s arrest. The same is true of Jesus who, when He heard that John had been arrested, did not hurry to his aid but rather back to Galilee. Why? Because He knew the message John had been preaching – one of repentance and turning to God because the Kingdom of Heaven is near- had to continue; He also knew God’s intention was for Him to carry the news to the lost, which according to the prophecy of Isaiah would begin with the Gentiles in Galilee “where so many Gentiles lived“.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:10

Both Jesus and John knew the Father’s plan was for Jesus to be exalted and they were committed to it. I do not suggest that John knew he would be arrested but simply that he understood things would be changing. He was yielded to God’s calling on his life, yielded to Christ increasing and him decreasing, but he continued to speak the truth in boldness, unapologetically preparing the way for the Lord. John’s message led him to prison and ultimately to his death. (Read the story) Jesus also knew and understood the Father’s plan – His timing, purpose, and the importance of the message – and He went in that direction. His commitment to the Father’s plan, like John’s, also led to His arrest and subsequent crucifixion.

Wow! If we didn’t know the rest of the story we might be tempted to think – “if commitment to God means heartache and death – why commit?” The answer can be found throughout Scripture, such as in Jesus’ answer to the thief on the cross – “today you will be with me in paradise”, or in the promise and pledged love of God to give all who believe in Him eternal life, or even in the words of Jesus to the crowd when He explained that to be His disciple they had to give up their own way, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. If you think the first two requirements are harder than the last check out what Jesus had just told them about His life in verse 22 of Luke 9, “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.“  Following Christ may not be easy or desirous at times but as He told them at the conclusion of His discipleship requirements … the end result is LIFE.

“if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

Luke 9:24

May we seek to know the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15), His purpose for the world (John 3:16-17), His call upon our life (Matt 28:18-20), and, like John and Jesus, may we be committed and yielded to follow accordingly.

MefromtheNsideout

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

IN JESUS YOU ARE … RIGHTEOUS

Posted on by
READ AND SOAP: ROMANS 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Romans 5:1-2 NLT
REFLECTION QUESTION: According to today’s passage, what is the basis or foundation of our righteousness?

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, ask Him to forgive our sins, and commit our lives to Him, we are made righteous. –

Read the full LGG devotional here

YOUR TURN: WHAT’S YOUR TAKEAWAY? Share your answer in the comment bar below.

Don’t forget to check out today’s blog

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Quiet Time

Whatever We Do …

Posted on by

 In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.  He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”  Then David ...

2 Samuel 11:1-4

It isn’t clear why, but in this story, David had stayed behind in Jerusalem. Perhaps there was nothing particularly wrong with this action. Maybe there wasn’t really a need for him to go out to war with his officers – but what happens because he chose to stay behind is something we must not miss.

  • “from the roof, he saw her“
  • “David sent someone to inquire about her”
  • “Sent some messengers to get her“
  • “he went to bed with her“
  • … he murdered

For whatever reason David “stayed behind”, for whatever reason he got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace – I am certain adultery … pregnancy …. and murder were surely not on the King’s agenda. However, they are exactly the events that transpired, and I believe we would be remiss to not ask ourselves why?

How could a nighttime stroll – which I imagine took place because he was home and couldn’t sleep knowing his men were out at war – end so tragically?

The answer is profoundly simple – but one that isn’t pleasant to face. Much like Eve, and all-to-sadly human beings throughout the centuries – including myself, David saw something he wanted and without any apparent thought or hesitation, he acted on his desire. To be clear, the first two actions – appreciating beauty and sending someone to inquire of that object – weren’t in themselves wrong. However, from there if we follow the story we read that the messenger reported to David not just her name but also that she was the “wife of Uriah”. Following this answer, David’s actions were clearly sinful. He took what belonged to someone else, used it for his pleasure, and set about covering up the evidence through deception and murder.

While you may not fall prey to adultery or murder what happened to David can happen to you – it can happen to anyone. We are, after all, all sinners. God’s Word is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword – and It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. We must wield it as such here or we will miss the underlying message of impulsive actions and their consequences. We will miss how God is training us to not act impulsively but to think about what we do. and not just gratify the desires of the eye/flesh. We must make sure that what we do won’t hurt someone else … make sure it is loving and kind … make sure that it is a faithful act or a gentle and encouraging word … and make sure it will not cause someone else to stumble into sin. Above all, we must make sure that it brings glory and honor to God.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

Clearly, David fell short of God’s glory here. Clearly, he thought of his desires alone. So then what? He was confronted, convicted, and repented and The rest of the story tells us that while David and others in the narrative suffered great consequences, David was forgiven by God and did not receive the punishment that his sins deserved. We have this same hope in Jesus Christ, whom God sent to take our punishment so that we are not punished as our sins deserve – but loved with unfailing love. Me-From the Insideout

He does not punish us for all our sins;

    He does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him

    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

Psalm 103:10-11 a Psalm of David

I am blessed that you stopped by – If you would like to receive new posts from the NSIDEOUT please share your email with me here.