Tag: SOAP

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

Loving God

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based on the LGG study, Set Apart – Living a Life for God’s Glory / w2d1

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-40 / SOAP verses 37-38

 Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 

Matthew 22:37-38

How do we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind? These three things represent the very core of our being and play a vital role in our relationship with and obedience to God – but how do we do it, and is it even possible?

Jesus’ concern was not the religious law but rather our love of God. In other words, it wasn’t obeying all of the laws that would bring us close to God, but rather, it was God’s love for us and our love for Him that would allow us to have a relationship with Him. Actually, Jesus illustrates this in John 14:15, where He said, “If you love Me, you will obey Me.” There’s a reason why He didn’t say, ‘If you obey Me, then you will love Me.’ You see, obedience flows from love. God’s love, as John 3:16 teaches, flowed through Jesus to us; when we receive His love, we will reciprocate it, and our love will flow to Him out from our hearts, souls, and minds through obedience, worship, and lives set apart for/to God. The more we understand the depth and richness of God’s love, the more our love for Him will grow and flow deeper, richer, and more freely every day.

We cannot love someone we don’t know, so knowing Him should be our first priority. Those who pursue God and His righteousness, who take seriously the command to love Him above all else, are those who are consumed with the things of God. They are eager to study God’s Word, eager to pray, eager to obey and honor God in all things, and eager to share Jesus Christ with others. It is through these spiritual disciplines that the love for God grows and matures to the glory of God.

Gotquestions.org

We must understand that God’s love for us and ours for Him is intended to involve our hearts, souls, and minds. It is not a trite surface type of love, and it must not merely be a rote response learned from the commands or training of a parent, teacher, or religion. Religious duty does not produce love in us. Instead, our love for God will prompt what may be considered a religious duty. For instance, we may be trained to pray before every meal. However, regardless of the training’s purpose, the words we pray are just empty words until they are met with the love and understanding of God’s goodness to provide our ‘daily bread.’ God desires – actually, as we read here – He commands that our love for Him flow naturally from our heart, soul, and mind. Please note that Jesus not only gives the command but accentuates its importance by saying, “All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

What practical steps can you take each day to cultivate a deeper relationship with God and love Him with all your heart?

The More We Know

IT”S IMPOSSIBLE

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog for more insight

Want to know God’s love for yourself? – Know These Truths

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

Seek First God’s Kingdom

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based on the LGG Study, “Set Apart, Living a Life for God’s Glory”

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34 / SOAP verse 33

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Matthew 6:33

Do you ever worry about life’s needs and wants – and the money that can supply those things? I know I have, and at times, I still find myself falling back to those concerns and worries. Apparently, so did the people in Jesus’ day, which is why this portion of the Sermon on the Mount contains teachings by Jesus about issues like treasures on earth versus treasures in heaven (6:19-21)1-3 and about watching out for the desire of “the eye” (6:22)4. He also warned them that they could not serve two masters (6:24)5, in other words, they could not serve the desires of their heart and eyes and God. This is when Jesus pointed out their worries and cares about the things of this world, like clothes, food, and drink. He wanted them – and us – to know and to remember that God would take care of them and their needs – their greater concern and pursuit (and ours) should be God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Actually, look at the verse again and pay careful attention to the fact that Jesus says, “Pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” 

To seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness means to live in that ongoing repentance from sin, and to lead the kind of sincere, from-the-heart, devoted-to-God lifestyles Jesus has been describing. In response, God will make provision for whatever it is we truly “need” in order to accomplish His will.

Bibleref.org / Matthew 6:24

The applicable message, then, for us, as disciples of Jesus or simply curious readers of His truths, is to know that it is God who cares for our needs, and we can and should trust Him to do this while we occupy ourselves with the pursuit of His Kingdom and righteousness.

Note that Jesus’ audience in Matthew chapter 6 included “His chosen disciples, committed followers, and simply curious listeners.”  Bibleref.com / chapter five context

The More We Know

1Treasures on earth

2Treasures in Heaven

3Where Your Treasure is

4(think about Eve and what happened when she saw the fruit)

5Two Masters

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog

Are you a disciple of Jesus or simply a curious reader of the blog? If you fall under the curious listener – welcome! I invite you to follow the link to Know These Truths, where you will find all you need to know about becoming a disciple of Jesus.

https://mefromthensideout.wordpress.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
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

Love, Knowledge, Insight

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based on the LGG Study, “Set Apart – Living a Life for God’s Glory“

Scripture: Read Philippians 1:3-11 / SOAP verses 9-11

And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight 10 so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11
Paul’s Heart for the Philippians

Verses three through eight should be mentioned as they give an insight to Paul’s feelings about the people in the church at Philippi. His words are a testament to his thankfulness and joy in the people and their dedication to God and the Gospel. It is evident that they held a special place in his heart. No doubt, this affection led to – or at least played a part in – the prayer we read above, in verses nine through eleven.

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-8

It is a beautiful prayer to pray for any church body, ministry leader, missionary, or believer. Actually, we would be wise to pray this prayer of Paul’s for ourselves and everyone participating in this study, that we might know the success of being “set apart” and living a life that brings glory and praise to our God.

Paul’s Prayer

Living a life for God’s glory, if we are honest, is like swimming against the current of the ocean. It is difficult at best and often seemingly impossible in today’s world. We can feel like strangers and aliens or like misfits in a culture that, as my Pastor preached this morning, is totally evil. It doesn’t take long to realize that we need help to live a life that is truly “set apart” for/to God; and the only true help there is comes from praying to and walking with God – our help and strength and defense.

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 

Genesis 6:5

Paul’s prayer for the believers of Philippi is a beautiful prayer and a wonderful example for us to pray. It is evident that he understood the difficulty of living a life that is set apart for (ie. dedicated to) God and the Gospel mission. He knew that it requires an increasing amount of love for, knowledge of, and insight to God and His Word. He knew the importance of a sincere and blameless testimony, and of a fruitful life that comes through Jesus Christ. Paul understood and emphasized that the goal of a believer is to bring glory and praise to God, and he prayed to this end.

A Response of Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You for the power and the strength and the hope we know when we talk to You or spend time with you in Your Word. It is a gift that allows us a relationship with You and the ability to engage in the lives of others as we lift them up in prayer. Thank You for Paul’s example and insight the prayer gives us. As we journey through Your Word together or as we daily live out the life You have called us to – I pray Paul’s prayer back to You, that our love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that we can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to Your glory and praise. – In the name of Jesus – amen!

The More We Know

The 21 Most Effective Prayers of the Bible /by Dave Earley

A Closer Relationship to God Through Prayer

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

The Importance of Praying

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart – Living a Life to Glorify God / w1d3

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7 / SOAP Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Regardless of how convinced we are that living set apart from the world is the right way to live the commitment can be daunting. It takes courage to look different, sound different – to be different than the world around us. We may lack boldness and at times true conviction, or we may fear the mocking or desertion of others that often come with the choices we make that are different than the norm. This is is why prayer is essential. God invites us to bring Him all of our anxiety, all our cares, concerns, and fears (1 Peter 5:7). He tells us to ask for wisdom (James 1:5), and to call to Him for help (Ps 17:6; 120:1) and strength (1 Chron 16:11). And He says He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). If you want to live set apart – simply tell God. Ask Him for His help, lean on Him for His strength, and watch expectantly for what happens in the days ahead. Trust Him, He is faithful and He will answer whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him – and we know when we live set apart from the world it pleases Him.

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 john 5:14-15
Today’s Prayer

Father, thank You that You hear us when we pray. Thank You for opening Your throne room of grace where we can bring You our anxieties, our fears, and concerns, our need for help and lacking of strength. Thank You for Your promise of wisdom and Your promise to hear and answer. We are most blessed to be Yours but it isn’t always easy to live set apart from the world – to look and sound different than those around us, to have to say no when we would sometimes rather say yes – but You have called us to live in the world but not of it. So we seek Your wisdom, Your strength and peace and help to be courageous. May Your Spirit quickly convict us when we are looking or sounding too much like the world so that our testimony will always be a reflection of Christ in us that brings You glory and lights the way for others to know You. – In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!

The More We Know

The following quote is from Gotquestions.org and address the question about what it means to Live in the world but not of the world. It is helpful in the quest to live set apart and why.

Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and commitment.

Gotquestions.org / in the world but not of the world

The LGG Blog offers even more insight

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

The Importance of Praying

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart – Living a Life to Glorify God / w1d3

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7 / SOAP Philippians 4:6-7

6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Regardless of how convinced we are that living set apart from the world is the right way to live the commitment can be daunting. It takes courage to look different, sound different – to be different than the world around us. We may lack boldness and at times true conviction, or we may fear the mocking or desertion of others that often come with the choices we make that are different than the norm. This is is why prayer is essential. God invites us to bring Him all of our anxiety, all our cares, concerns, and fears (1 Peter 5:7). He tells us to ask for wisdom (James 1:5), and to call to Him for help (Ps 17:6; 120:1) and strength (1 Chron 16:11). And He says He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4). If you want to live set apart – simply tell God. Ask Him for His help, lean on Him for His strength, and watch expectantly for what happens in the days ahead. Trust Him, He is faithful and He will answer whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him – and we know when we live set apart from the world it pleases Him.

And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 john 5:14-15
Today’s Prayer

Father, thank You that You hear us when we pray. Thank You for opening Your throne room of grace where we can bring You our anxieties, our fears, and concerns, our need for help and lacking of strength. Thank You for Your promise of wisdom and Your promise to hear and answer. We are most blessed to be Yours but it isn’t always easy to live set apart from the world – to look and sound different than those around us, to have to say no when we would sometimes rather say yes – but You have called us to live in the world but not of it. So we seek Your wisdom, Your strength and peace and help to be courageous. May Your Spirit quickly convict us when we are looking or sounding too much like the world so that our testimony will always be a reflection of Christ in us that brings You glory and lights the way for others to know You. – In Jesus’ name, amen and amen!

The More We Know

The following quote is from Gotquestions.org and address the question about what it means to Live in the world but not of the world. It is helpful in the quest to live set apart and why.

Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world—physically present—but not of it, not part of its values (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life—to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). This is a daily activity and commitment.

Gotquestions.org / in the world but not of the world

The LGG Blog offers even more insight

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

Making God’s Word A Priority

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based on the LGG Study, Set Apart – Living a Life for God’s Glory / w1d1

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9 / SOAP Joshua 1:8

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. – Joshua 1:8

The passage makes it clear that we cannot begin to live “Set-Apart” for Christ if we:

  • do not have a relationship with Him
  • are walking in weakness (on our own)
  • do not know and obey His Word
  • do not believe His promises

However, the passage also makes it clear how we can begin to live “Set-Apart” for Christ. God says that if we walk in His ways, “not swerving to the right or the left,” in other words not veering off His righteous path, we will prosper and know success (7). The question is how do we do this effectively while living in a world that pulls us in every direction? God makes it clear to Joshua in verse eight that the answer lies in knowing His Word, actually – he uses the phrase “meditate on it day and night.” The idea is to, as the NET version translates, “memorize” the Word – which of course means ‘to know it.’ David believed that doing this would help him not sin against God, (Ps 119:11). Paul taught the same principle to Timothy, when he encouraged him to know God’s Word so that he would be ready to use it correctly and not be swayed by false teaching, (2 Tim 2:15). If we are to obey God’s Word and correctly share God’s Word with others we must be more than familiar with it, we must know and progressively grow in our understanding of It – otherwise we will fall prey to ways that do not align with the Word of God.

I love the Old Testament passages that teach this so clearly, such as Psalm 119:9-11 and proverbs 4:20-22. These are two of the passages that reignited in me a pursuit of memorizing God’s Word more than three decades ago. As I find myself forgetting more and more these days – one of my frequent prayers has become for God to guard His Word that is hidden in my heart so that even if I forget everything and everyone else I know – I will never forget His Word – for it is my/our life-line, my/our peace and strength and hope – it is the light that guides me/us in God’s way – and it is my/our defense against sin.

Today’s Prayer

Father, without You – without Your promises or knowledge of Your faithfulness we have nothing and we are hopeless. However, with You and through You we have hope and strength and peace to live the lives You have called us to. We may not lead a nation, like Joshua – but You have called us to be salt and light – to be bold with the Gospel – to make disciples – to love as You loved and serve as Christ served. Help us to walk and talk with You daily and help us to know Your Word so that we can trust Your heart. Help us to be strong and brave so that we do not turn away from Your Word and Your calling to walk in all Your ways. – In Jesus’ Name, amen!

Reflections of the Journey

How does saturating our hearts and minds with God’s Word help us live a set apart life and remain anchored to truth?

What are some steps you can/will take to hiding God’s Word in your heart?

The More You Know

Today’s LGG Blog

Memorization tools and techniques:

If you do not know Jesus as your Savior I invite you to visit the following link

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

The Promised Messiah

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Today’s Scripture is Luke chapter 2. (SOAP verses 10-12)

but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

Oh, how I love this chapter of the Bible, the cast and characters of Christmas on grand but humble display. Shepherds and angels, Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus, Simeon and Anna the prophetess who had both faithfully waited for the promised Messiah … Each of them a beautiful part of the Christmas story – the Advent of our Christ.

I know it’s easy to zero in on the soap passage, but I invite and encourage you to read each verse with fresh eyes and an undistracted mind that takes it all in as though it were unfolding before you on a stage with all the pageantry of Christmas. Walk with Mary and Joseph on the streets of Bethlehem, see the baby lying in the manger, Mary and Joseph in awe and wonder of it all. Listen with the shepherds to the angelic announcement and to the army of angels proclaiming – “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to men!” Hear the words of Simeon and Anna the hope fulfilled and the worship that poured forth. I pray that it will lead you, on this last day of our journey, to stop and worship Christ, the new born King – saying with the angels – “Glory to God in the Highest!”

“Rejoice rejoice of Christian, lift up your voice and sing – Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King – The hope of all who find Him …” the long awaited and promised Messiah! May we, like Simeon, find ourselves saying, “-my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all people: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And, and like Anna – may we give thanks to God and speak about the Messiah to all who need the salvation He came to bring.

Going Further

Be sure and visit LoveGodGreatly.com for today’s blog post

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

Salt and Light

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based on the Love God Greatly Advent study, The Promised Messiah / w4d4

Scripture: Luke 1:57-80 / SOAP verses 68-71

This is like a segment from the memorable Paul Harvey and his segments known as “The Rest of the Story.” Previously in Luke’s story we learned of an angel named Gabriel who appeared to a priest who was serving in the Temple, with an announcement that the priest and his wife, both very old, would have a son, whom they were to name John; and John would be the messenger for the coming Messiah. Which of course, is exactly where the story picks up today. Elizabeth gives birth to a son and she named him John. Their neighbors and relatives rejoiced with the miraculous birth but questioned the name she gave since it was not a family name. Zechariah, though still mute because of his disbelief in the angelic proclamation, confirms by writing on a tablet – “His name is John.” Scripture says that Zechariah immediately regained his speech and blessed God and then, filled with Holy Spirit, he prophesied, saying:

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior
    from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us.

Luke 1:68-71

I love this response and am quite convicted by them. Zechariah’s words, his first words spoken in months, weren’t a story about what had happened to him but they were about God. They were words of praise that would have brought to the people’s minds God’s long awaited promises to His people – promises of a messenger (Malachi 3:1), a savior (Isa 7:14 and 9:6; Micah 5:2), and of salvation from sin (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

“But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. . . . Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Gotquestions.org

I see several applications as I read through and study this passage. Certainly we learn the importance of believing and obeying God’s word. I also noticed and was reminded of the importance of keeping our minds on God, whether we are in the midst of hard times or celebratory ones. The ultimate example being how in all of the excitement of the birth of a son to a couple well beyond the years of having a child – the fulfillment of the angel’s message – and the return of his speech – Zechariah’s focus remained on God. Undoubtedly, this was a result of the the filling of the Holy Spirit – but let us remember, this is the same Spirit that fills us who have believed, the Spirit of whom Paul said bears within us the fruit of self-control. Both of these examples lead me to the third, you see – because Zechariah believed and obeyed God, evidenced in his naming the child John, Zechariah was given back the ability to speak and maintaining his focus on God, even in all of the excitement, his words poured forth a beautiful prophesy that pointed the people to God and what He had done and was yet to do. The combination of these examples led me to this ultimate application – when we obey God and keep our minds on Him – what pours forth from our lips will be about what He does or has done in the past – it stirs up thought and attention to who He is and what else He can and will do. Thus, we become the salt and light God has called us to be.

Reflection For the Journey

God undoubtedly saw Zechariah and Elizabeth in their years of pain and longing. He was merciful despite their mistakes and used both to encourage their community and make His name great. He is the same God today. What might He be working to restore in your life, even to your longing or momentary unbelief?

From the LGG devotion journal, p 134 / The Promised Messiah
Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

Trusting God

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based on the LGG Advent Study, The Promised Messiah / w4d3

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56 / SOAP verses

The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise

46 Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47     How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy,
    and he has done great things for me.

Luke 1:46-49

Nestled in this passage of 30 verses is a beautiful prayer by Mary and a delightfully powerful scene of the affect that our Lord has on others when His presence is detected in us. However, there is another verse that jumped off the pages to me. You see, as is my morning habit, I opened an email devo before diving into today’s Advent Study. The verse from the devotion in my email was from Mark 9:23, which teaches that for the one who believes in God everything is possible because there is nothing God cannot do.

“‘if you can?'” said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.'”

Mark 9:23

This is a great reminder for any given day to be sure, but when I got to verse 37 of Luke chapter 1, and read, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”, I realized God really wanted me to remember this truth today. Two separate passages, two distinct conversations – but both pointing me to the same truth – With God all things are possible! – Nothing is impossible! For the father’s son in Mark chapter nine, it wasn’t a matter of “if” Jesus could heal the boy it was matter of believing that He could; as for Gabriel’s words to Mary it was the encouragement that the same God who would deliver a baby through a virgin was also giving a child to Mary’s relative who was old and barren. In both passages the result is the same thing – trusting God for the impossible. May I never lose sight of this truth. For it is hope and strength and peace in Jesus’ Name! May I say with Mary, my soul exalts You Father and, indeed, my spirit rejoices in You – my God and Savior. Because You, in grace and mercy, have looked on this humble ‘servant’ and have made known to me Your love and Your Son and by faith I have been made new. You have done great things for me, and holy, holy, holy is Your name.

Going Further

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

God’s Grand Plan of Redemption

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based on the LGG Study of Advent, The Promised Messiah / w4d2

Scripture: Luke 1:1-25 / SOAP verse 25

“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

Luke 1:25

I love when the goodness of God is so visible on the pages of Scripture. I see it here in the words of Luke and I here it in the words of Elizabeth’s response to the great surprise of her pregnancy. Luke’s account of the ‘grand redemptive plan’ through Christ starts with the announcement of another prophecy to be fulfilled. It was a prophecy of Isaiah who told of a messenger, who would declare, “Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight”. In Luke’s account of the Christmas story, there would be a child who would be born to a priest and his wife, who, as Luke describes, were childless because the woman was barren and they were “both very old.” The child would be named John and grow to me the messenger that Isaiah spoke of – a messenger that would prepare the hearts of the people to receive Jesus and the message He came to bring. The center of the Christmas story will always be the redemptive work of God through the gift of His Son, born of a virgin, to take away the sins of the world; but as we see in today’s story the redemptive plan isn’t just a collective salvation of all who believe but a personal plan that works through individuals like Zechariah and Elizabeth to deliver the messenger who would prepare the way for Christ. Likewise, the plan involves those God would call to prepare the way throughout the centuries – catalyst of the Gospel like John and the disciples who would join Jesus in spreading the Gospel during and after His time on earth.

I find great encouragement in seeing and knowing that redemption wasn’t just collective but personal and deeply meaningful, as Elizabeth and her words of praise testified. God not only used her to bear the forerunner of Christ but, in using her, He freed her from the shame and disgrace and burden of childlessness in that day.

Like those who came before us, God’s “grand redemptive plan” continues to reach down through the ages as He sets all who believe in Jesus – free from slavery to sin and the shame it places on us. He also assigns us to carry the love of Christ, (John 13:34) and His Gospel Message to the world, (Matt 5:13-16). May we, like Elizabeth, realize what the Lord has done for us and give Him praise – not just with our lips but with our obedience to His call upon our lives.

Going Further

How did John the Baptist fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy?