Tag: SOAP

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

That Will Be A Time to Fast

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based on the LGG Study, Lent – A Time of Drawing Close to God / w1d5

Scripture: Luke 5:33-35 / SOAP: verse 35

A Discussion about Fasting

33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?” 34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” This isn’t another trick question from the Pharisees but rather a legit question of wonder from unidentified people. Why do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast while the disciples of Jesus do not? Jesus’ answer is, and I paraphrase, ‘Because I am still with you. When they come and take Me away from you that will be a time to fast.’ Luke 5:33-35

From the Journal / LGG Lent Journal, pg 58

“When Jesus was with His disciples, there was no need for them to fast. But now, since Jesus is not physically with us, since He has completed the work of His first coming and is preparing fo rHis second, we fast.

Fasting reminds us that, without God, we are nothing. It heightens our longing for eternity and reminds us to recognize how empty we are without Him. We fast and pray, earnestly longing for Him to come and restore and redeem all things.

Now is the time to fast. Now is the time to turn our hearts toward our Risen Savior. Now is the time to remember His love, mercy, compassion, and grace. Now is the time to remember that without Him, we are nothing. And now is the time to remember and remind one another of God’s incredible grace and the victory we have in Him!”

While these are all incredible reasons to fast, it hit me as I was reading/studying and highlighting the passage in my journal – that while Jesus may not be physically with us now He rose again and walked among the disciples again and He ascended into Heaven with the promise that He will come again. We cling to that promise, not in mourning, but with HOPE and we look forward to that day with JOY – we no longer mourn as the disciples did in the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection after He had been led away or “taken from them” – but we rejoice in the grace of God poured upon our lives and we remember that the grave could not hold what “man took away!”

I”m not saying we shouldn’t fast – but for me the fasting isn’t in mourning His absence, for Joy and Hope follow the resurrection and ascension – because He is alive and will come again – just as He promised! – Me, from the Insideout 🦋

I wait, perhaps fasting and praying, as Anna did – for His coming – keeping my mind set on Him – watching and listening and hoping always … but I do not mourn at His absence for He is with me! Scripture says, I abide in Him and He abides in me. In an effort to comfort their sorrows, Jesus actually told the disciples in John 16:7 that it was to their advantage for Him to go away. The commentary from Bibleref.com on John chapter 16 is quite enlightening concerning the way the disciples would have felt following the resurrection –

Modern believers have the benefit of hindsight. We read the description of Jesus’ arrest (John 18:1–3) and crucifixion (John 19:18) knowing He will be resurrected (John 20:19). The disciples originally listening to Jesus didn’t have that perspective. That three-day period (John 2:19) will fill them with unimaginable sorrow, fear, and doubt. Jesus compares this to the experience of a woman in childbirth. During labor, pain is almost the only thing a woman can process. However, once the baby is born, agony is no longer the center of her attention. She doesn’t literally lose all memory of the pain, but the joy of a newborn vastly outweighs memories of labor. The same will be true for Jesus’ followers: they will quickly move through extreme pain and into tremendous joy (John 16:16–24).

bibleref.com

Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. – John 16:16-24 NLT

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Fasting, A Personal Practice

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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?
The More We Know

Christian Fasting

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Whatever You Do

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based on the LGG study, Lent, A Season of Drawing Close to God / w1d3

Scripture: Psalm 1; Joel 2:12-14 / SOAP: 1 Corinthians 10:31

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.

Ephesians 2:8-9
The More We Know

Do it all!

Whether you eat or drink …

Know The Truth

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 –

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

A Godly Fast

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based on the LGG study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God / w1d2

Scripture: Isaiah 58:3-9 / SOAP: verse 6

“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.

Me – from the Insdeout 🦋
The More We Know

Biblical Fasting

Reflecting on the Journey

What is the purpose of Biblical fasting?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Faith’s Demands

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Based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent: A Season of Drawing Closer to God!

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18; Mark 8:31-38 / SOAP: Mark 8:34-35

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: “If anyone wants 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 link https://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.

Father: “Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my moments and my days
Let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise

“I AM YOURS”
I am Yours set apart for You
I am Yours hungry for Your truth
Take my life You are all I live for
I am Yours 🦋

A new and beautiful version – https://youtu.be/xXPn8FiHuHA?feature=shared

The More We Know

1To Save or to Lose One’s Life ?

For more insight check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

Not My Own

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart / w4d5

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 / SOAP 19-20

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 I must honor God with my body … physically, spiritually, mentally

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?

The More We Know

we came to belong to God when we came to Him by faith in Jesus.

If we are truly in Christ, we are truly not our own.

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

A Different Lifestyle

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart, w4d3

SCRIPTURE:1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 / SOAP verses 3-5 and 7

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?

THE MORE WE KNOW

The Importance of Holiness

A Focus on Sexual Purity

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

A Fragrant Offering

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart, w4d3

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-5 / SOAP verses 1-3

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

Ephesians 5:1-3 NLT

“Imitate God in everything you do” can be an overwhelming command because God is the giver of all givers. He gave the most extravagant gift ever given, His only begotten Son. He gave His son so that a world full of sinners – His enemies, to be more precise – could forego their deserved punishment of death and obtain not only freedom from sin but eternal life with Him in a Kingdom unlike anything we can imagine. We are called to imitate God not just because of His extravagant gift of love but because He also chose us as His own children. God’s love obviously runs deep, and we are to live a life that matches that love by following the example of Christ.

“Follow the example of Christ, who loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God,” can also be an overwhelming command. Paul makes a clear connection not to the time Jesus spent with the disciples or to the miracles He performed or the lessons He taught – but specifically to the fact that He offered Himself up as a sacrifice for the undeserving sinners – and He did it, not because He would gain anything, but rather to do what pleased God.

So, exactly how do we imitate God in His giving or Christ in His dying? How do we imitate such an impossible love? Clearly, from Paul’s examples of ‘what not to do’ in chapter five verse three, we must follow the more holy and righteous acts the Father and Son have done and walk in the empowerment of the Spirit God has given us. Paul gives the answer this time by teaching that we must live pure and holy lives which can be equally daunting because it demands that we put off what is natural to the sinful man by sacrificing selfish attitudes, sinful desires, and the temptations of this life. Paul gave an example of this in his last words of chapter four – when He said “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” (Eph 4:32) – Forgiveness and compassion can be costly when they come at the expense of our pride or the anger we long to hang on to, or the love and compassion we just aren’t feeling. The good news is as we exercise our faith, we will grow in our faith and the holiness of our Father and the righteousness of our Savior will begin to rub off on us and shine through for others to see. As this happens we will find ourselves desiring to please God rather than join in the behavior and customs of this world.

Being set apart is a beautiful thing! It means that we’re living out our purpose, showing the world what it looks like to walk hand in hand with our Father. When we embrace who we are in Christ, as dearly loved children, we won’t want to reflect anything that is not a reflection of our Father. Instead, we will want to live sexually pure, kind, and generous lives because, in love, we want to reflect the One who so generously sacrificed so much for us.

LGG Journal Entry / Set Apart Journal, p127
Wisdom From the Journey

We must live differently from the world – because the ways of the world are not fitting for a child of God.

The acts described in verses three through five are not born out of love that comes from God but rather of sin and ungodly desires born out of a love for self and the world.

Paul reminds us that we are dearly loved children of God and that Christ’s love moved Him to sacrifice His life for ours and for the pleasure of God – so LOVE is definitely the dominating factor to be imitated. To do so requires that we understand and know the qualities of love … what it is and what it isn’t. The best answer to this is found in 1 Corinthians 13 where we read that Love …

  • is patient
  • is kind
  • i not envious
  • is not boastful
  • is not conceited
  • does not behave inappropriately
  • is not selfish
  • is not easily angered
  • is not a keeper of wrongs
  • is long-suffering
  • rejoices in truth
  • does not find joy in unrighteousness
Reflections From the Journey

In what ways can you be an imitator of God, demonstrating His love and grace to others?

The More We Know

Don’t forget to read today’s LGG Blog Post at https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

Set Apart in Word and Deed

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart, / w4d2

Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-16 / SOAP verse 15

 Instead, we will speak/practice1 the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 

Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Oh how I hope you will go back and read from verse one through verse sixteen. This larger passage will help you to understand that the focus and point of Paul’s message is on maturing or growing up, in Christ – and what that means and looks like. He is teaching the church at Ephesus – and by extension – all disciples – that the role of the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers – is to “to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” He goes on to say that, “This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

Paul indicates that when this happens believers will no longer be like children who are immature and easily swayed by every wind of new teaching. They will not be quickly influenced by those who try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak, or practice, the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

While most translations use the word “speak”, and rightfully so, I particularly love the NLT translation – which uses the word “practice”, giving the fuller meaning of Paul’s intent that we are to be growing in maturity, As Bibleref.com points out, this “maturity is a progression which includes both action and information.” In other words, it isn’t just our speech that should convey truth but our behavior should speak volumes as well. When the two are in sync the more we will reflect the truth of Christ in love – and it is then, as Paul concluded, that “Christ makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Wisdom from the Journey

Disciples of Christ are to be different in word and conduct-
no longer swayed by this world
but living out the Jesus-Way of life

MefromtheNsideout 🦋

We cannot and will not “grow up into Christ” – if we do not know Christ and His ways, or if we continue to “copy the behavior and customs of this world.” 🦋

Christ is TRUTH, and LIFE, and the very epitome of LOVE 🦋

The stronger we are in Christ and in our Christian walk – the stronger the body will be built up in love – 🦋

Reflection on the Journey

In what situation can you practice speaking the truth in love?

The More We Know

1God’s command is to grow in maturity, a progression which includes both action and information (Ephesians 4:11–12). see https://www.bibleref.com/Ephesians/4/Ephesians-4-15.html

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

Serve Others

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based on the LGG Study, “Set Apart” / w4d1

Scripture: Mark 10:42-45 / SOAP Mark 10:45

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45
Know the Story

It isn’t a physical position or the material possessions that we hold in this life that matters. What really matters is our heart’s position toward serving others.

James and John had asked Jesus for a favor – which was that He allow them to be the ones who would sit on His right and left when He was seated on His throne (35-37). When the others heard about the request, they were naturally angry – and Jesus responded to them – with an example. Actually, He gives them two examples. The first illustration was of the behavior and customs of the rulers of “this world.” The second was of His own servant’s heart. Sandwiched in between the two examples were the instructions, choices, and consequences of how they, as His disciples, were to live. He told them very clearly that they were not to live like the rulers of the Gentiles or those in high positions who used their authority over them. Instead, like Him, they were to operate from the position of a servant’s heart. Plainly put, they were to serve others.

The Love God Greatly journal entry today included this quote that is filled with wisdom and inspiration for living set apart through a “servant’s heart”.

“According to the world, what’s most important in life is your happiness, not your holiness. – Yet, Jesus calls us to a different way of life. He calls us to serve and love others, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Why? Because when we follow Christ’s example of serving others and putting their needs above our own, we display His love and grace to the world. When we choose to live like Jesus, we bear witness to the transformative power of the gospel. We become a light in the darkness, reflecting the heart of Jesus to those around us. – The truth is, serving others can look different for each person. The key to serving others is asking God for guidance and being willing to step out in faith when He shows us opportunities to serve and live set apart.”

Wisdom From the Journey

The time we live in may be different from the first disciples of Jesus, but the teachings we live by are the same. We are called to serve others. It will not always be easy or desirable but it will never be as difficult or undesirable as the way of the cross Christ took for us. 🦋

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:6-8
The More We Know

Bibleref.com points out that “It’s easy to mock James and John for their request, especially as it comes on the heels of Jesus’ third prophecy of His death. It’s important to remember three things, however. First, we don’t know how long after Jesus’ prophecy James and John make their request. Second, other Scripture makes it clear that these men don’t fully understand Jesus will die (Luke 18:34). Third, their mother apparently either pushes them to ask or makes the request on their behalf.”

More on 10:45

For more insight read today’s LGG Blog