SOAP – Page 55 – Me From the Inside Out

Posted on August 30, 2022September 4, 2022 by

WEEK 4, DAY 4 OF CHOOSING GOD INSTEAD OF THE WORLD, A LOVE GOD GREATLY STUDY

Scripture Reading: Genesis 39; James 1:2-18 (SOAP – James 1:12-13, 17)

The Crown of LIFE

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. ¹⁷ Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.  NLT

Observation:

The Genesis Saga: Joseph’s Story

After being sold by his brothers (chapter 37) Joseph was taken down to Egypt. Away from his father and all the “comforts of home” he now belonged to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officicals and the captain of the guard. Scripture makes it quite clear though that the LORD was with Joseph, so much so that Potiphar could see that the LORD made everything he was doing successful, so he appointed Joseph over all that he owned, and the LORD blessed it all.

the Lord began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. ⁶So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned.
Genesis 39:5-6 NLT

Potiphar was not wrong to trust Joseph as he did. However, it does seem that he was wrong to trust his wife. I’m sure you’ve heard the story – she continually propositioned Joseph and while he faithfully turned her down, in the end he was forced to run away from her bold advances – unfortunately not before she grabbed his outer garment. She used this as a weapon against Joseph making Potiphar believe that Joseph had taken advantage of her. Potiphar, of course, was furious and threw Joseph in prison. Even there, the LORD was with Joseph, showing him kindness and granting him favor in the sight of the prison warden – so that he was put in charge of all the prisoner’s care.

If we watch and listen – even in the hardest times, we will see and hear God with us and around us.
Me-from the inside-out

TODAY’S FOCUS VERSE

James writes that the one who “endures testing”, or testing and temptation as the NLT translates it, is blessed. While most translations explain this blessing as happening because “he has stood the test”, I love the way the NET phrases James’ words of explanation: “because he has proven to be genuine in his faith.” Regardless of which translation you read, the result is the same – the one who endures receives the “crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” While there are differences of opinions among commentators as to whether the crown of life is equal to eternal life, I fall on the side of those that say they are different – in that, all believers are promised eternal life based on their faith in Christ, while the crown of life seems to be a distinct reward for loving God and enduring the testings of this life.

Other note worthy observations in these three verses would be ….

God cannot be tempted and does not tempt anyone.
Every good and perfect gift is from God.
God does not change.

APPLICATION: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?

Today’s application is, like most applications of God’s Word, challenging. I mean, let’s face it, enduring the trials and temptations of this life is rarely easy and can at times seem impossible. I have found a helpful key to this challenge is to remember Paul’s words to the Corinthians about temptations. He told them that when they are tempted God would show them the way out so that they could endure. We can and must TRUST GOD to show us that way of escape, actively looking for the escape in each struggle. We must purpose in our hearts and minds to endure, meaning we choose to press on to prove ourselves genuine and obtain the ‘crown of life’. We must guard against the mental and spiritual battle of questioning God’s motives in our troubles and trust that they are to strengthen our faith and produce endurance, (James 2:2-4, 13). We must also guard against trusting God less because of our trials and instead rely on Him even more. To paraphrase one commentator, if we don’t see Him as trustworthy we will move away from Him when trials come.

A Little Extra Insight from james

In light of today’s portion of the Genesis saga, I think we would be remiss to not make note of why we are tempted. Like Esau, Judah, Tamar, and so many others we have seen throughout our cast of characters, we are tempted when we are lured and entice by our own desires. Once the desire is born, it gives birth to sin and grows – and gives birth to death. James’ final warning here is a notable application for us – “Do not be led astray” or in other words – “choose God (life) instead of the world (death).

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1 Corinthians 10:13

PRAYER: RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

Father, when we remember that every good and perfect gift is from You – the enemy flees*! As we name the good gifts we defeat his use of the trial to move us away from You. He seeks to steal, and kill, and destroy – help us to constantly be in the habit of naming the gifts and blessings of Your generous hands. Alert us to the temptations of this world and help us to always choose You! – Your ways – Your power – Your love – and Your strength! To Your Glory and the promised reward of The Crown Of Life! – AMEN and AMEN – In Jesus’ Name!

*2 Chronicles 20:22; Joshua 6:20; Acts 16:25-40

YOUR TURN:

How can you prepare today to resist temptation in the future?

WANT MORE?

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

You can also dive deeper into James with these helpful commentaries from BibleRef.com

[James 1:12] makes the connection between our love for God and our ability to remain faithful to Him in hard times. Those who truly love God trust Him, and those who truly trust Him continue to obey even when life gets hard. https://www.bibleref.com/James/1/James-1-12.html

[James 1:13] The temptation attached to trials is to trust God less. We might decide He is not strong enough to provide for us, not faithful to meet our needs, not compassionate about our pain and heartbreak. Is God good? Is He loving? Is He powerful? James is talking about how we choose to answer those questions about God on our worst days. If we decide to tell ourselves God is not faithful, we may declare our independence from Him by choosing not to obey. If we decide He is trustworthy, we will move closer to Him looking for more help, more connection.

James makes clear that blaming God for tempting us to reject Him, by allowing trials into our lives, is not a valid response. God never orchestrates the events of our lives with an intent to lure us away from Himself. He always roots for us to move closer. That’s who He is. The purpose of trials is not to drive us away from God, but to draw us closer to Him.

https://www.bibleref.com/James/1/James-1-13.html

In the previous verse, James urged his readers not to be deceived. Emotions and sinful thinking can trick us into turning away from God. It’s important to cling to the truth, which is that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God. In the midst of our trials, we are tempted to change our opinion of the trustworthiness of our God. We start to make lists of all the things we think we are missing in our lives, of all of the things we have lost. If God were good, wouldn’t we have those things?

This attitude leads to even more temptation. We begin to look elsewhere for the good things we think we’re missing. “If God won’t provide them,” we think, “we’ll have to go and get them for ourselves.” We attempt to take control. We struggle to find our own satisfaction.

https://www.bibleref.com/James/1/James-1-17.html

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 29, 2022 by

Look Who God Used

WEEK 4, DAY 2 OF CHOOSING GOD INSTEAD OF THE WORLD, A LOVE GOD GREATLY STUDY

Scripture Reading: Genesis 38; Ruth 4:12; and Matthew 1:2-16 (SOAP – Ruth 4:12)

The Prayer of the Elders for Boaz and Ruth

¹²And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.” Ruth 4:12  NLT

Observation:

The Genesis Saga: Judah’s Story

Judah, Jacob’s fourth son born to Leah, is the focus of today’s portion of Genesis. He marries, has three sons of his own, acquires Tamar as a wife for Er, his oldest son, and shortly after this he buries that same son. Now Judah requires his second son to fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to his brother’s widow, his son’s refusal -of sorts- brings death to him as well; soJudah – fearful that his third son would also die – sends Tamar away with the lie that when the son is old enough he will send him to her. If you haven’t read the story, you may want to – so that you don’t miss all the details I’ve left out. However, the real story comes when Tamar realizes that Judah has lied to her. Not only did he lose his two sons but he lost his wife as well. When Tamar learns that he is traveling near her she positions herself in his path – disguised as what Judah believed to be ‘a temple prostitute’, so he did not recognize her. Judah’s fleshly appetite overcomes him and he barters his very identity (his seal, cord, and staff) for sexual pleasures. You need to read the rest of the story but suffice it to say her plot worked and twins were born – Perez came out first then Zerah.

TODAY’S FOCUS VERSE

Ruth 4:12 is literally a one sentence prayer, but in conjunction with the story played out in Genesis 38 that one sentence carries a lot of weight. I wonder what you hear or see in your mind when you read the prayer. Do you see Tamar’s veiled face, as she played the prostitute along the roadside hoping to entrap Judah? Or do you hear Judah’s desperation fueled by his fleshly appetite for sexual pleasures. Perhaps you gasp when you realize that his desire was so great he pledged his very identity by giving her his seal, his cord, and his staff. Maybe you see Perez and can only think of how God used Tamar, the shamed, lied to, and embittered daughter-in-law who sought her own kind of justice … or is it the fearful father-in-law, Judah, who had lost two sons, protected the third, and having now lost his wife is so desperate for physical satisfaction that he literally and figuratively gives himself away.

There are so many things that can come to mind when we hear these names and recall their story – not exactly a love story for the centuries … or is it? We only have to read the genealogy recorded in Matthew to see that in some beautiful way it is the love story of God. Love that for the sake of fallen man led him to send His son to save the lost and dying world. Love, poured out in grace and mercy, that used the fallen of this world to play a role in the birth of that Savior.

From Abraham, the one chosen and called by God to be the father of a new nation, to Joseph, the husband of Mary, and all that were listed in between – none were perfect. Each man and woman and generation made their share of bad choices but God was always there – working all things together for the good of those who loved Him and were called according to His purpose – and this was JESUS. The sinless Son of God, sent to make a way where there was no way – sent through a human in human form – descended through Judah and Tamar. – Now this is love!

APPLICATION: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?

While we can see great beauty in this story – we must not miss the application of wisdom that says … learn to trust God and leave the outcome to Him – rather than take it upon ourself to fix what we see as wrong in our life or someone else’s. I battle this sometimes, do you? One of the things that helps me in the battle is reading through these genealogies. I love looking to see who God used – and always appreciate the fresh reminder that God uses whom He pleases to accomplish what He pleases – when He pleases. Again, as in our previous day’s journey we also see the importance of learning to choose God instead of the world is learning to walk by faith and not by sight.

God uses whom He pleases to accomplish what He pleases – when He pleases.
Me from the Insideout

PRAYER: RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

Father, who would have believed that the actions of Tamar and/or Judah would have ever lead to something (Someone) so good? Yet, as Your Word allows us to see – not only did it bring about good – it led to life and light and hope for a world lost in sin and darkness. You, in Your goodness, take all things and work them together for Your glory and for the good of those who love You and have been called according to Your purpose. No scheme of man can thwart Your plan! In this there is great HOPE! – And in this HOPE I pray and trust – AMEN!

YOUR TURN:

Have you faced a situation where you have felt the need to resort to desperate means to bring about God’s purposes?
How can you remain obedient to God even in difficult situations?
How can you trust Him today even if you are in the middle of a mess?

WANT MORE?

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 28, 2022August 28, 2022 by

To Walk By Faith and Not By Sight

Week 4, Day 1 of Choosing God Instead of the World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:12-26; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (SOAP – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

¹⁷ For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.   NLT

Observation:

Joseph

Today’s passage from Genesis gives us another look at Joseph. This second look bears witness to just how far hatred and jealousy can drive us to do horrible things. If you’re familiar with Bible stories at all, you most likely remember how his brothers plotted to kill him but ended up selling him to a caravan of Ishmaelites instead. I can only imagine that Joseph, the youngest of eleven brothers, most loved by his father, and a ‘dreamer’ would have been traumatized at by these events. Sent by his father to check on the flocks and his brothers he finds himself stripped of his special tunic, placed in a pit, and then headed toward Egypt away from all he had known.

Don’t miss the fingerprints though – look for them throughout Joseph’s story – they are actually a story within the story. In this case we see Reuben’s intervention that changed the plot from murder to leaving him in a dried up well, and then Judah’s intervention and plot to make money off of the situation moves him from the pit to being sold to a band of traders. One set of fingerprints kept him from being killed and the other led him to Egypt. I can only imagine how he felt. A 17 year old boy, a dreamer, the youngest and most openly loved of Jacob’s 11 sons. Scared, angry, hurt???

²⁷ Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.' His brothers agreed.  So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.  When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.  He went back to his brothers and said, 'The boy isn't there! Where can I turn now?' Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, 'We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe.' He recognized it and said, 'It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.'  Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.  All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. 'No,' he said, 'I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.' So his father wept for him.   Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard. Genesis 37:27-36  NLT

Today’s Focus Verse

Joseph’s story is certainly an example of today’s passage. For surely he was going through trouble and more is on the way but he’s not going to be destroyed. Instead he will be the display of God’s extraordinary power, just as Paul describes in our text from 2 Corinthians. His strength to deal with the circumstances he faces through the years that follow never cease to amaze me but it isn’t from himself – it is, as we will see, clearly from God’s continual presence and glimpses of hope along the way. Joseph’s suffering will produce an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison or our understanding. Paul explains that this is what happens when we aren’t looking at the trouble that can be seen but at what God has promised for eternity. It is safe to say that Joseph is (and will be) learning to walk by faith and not by sight.

Application: How then should we Live?

Surely our lives, have from time to time, or perhaps even now for some of us, seemed to be filled with suffering or trouble on every side, as Paul said. We too must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. We must learn to trust the One who goes before us and comes behind us, the One who knows the beginning and the end and works all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. Despite what we can see here in the world we must choose to fix our eyes on the eternal things we cannot yet see.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for all the ways Scripture defines Scripture and allows us to see Your fingerprints and sovereign power. Thank You for Your extraordinary power in Joseph’s life and in ours. Strengthen us to walk by faith and not by sight. Help us to fix our eyes on the eternal things belonging to You and not the troubles of this world. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Your Turn:

Have you ever had to endure hardship, like Joseph?
Have you ever found yourself in the place of the brothers before, full of jealousy and hate and tempted to oppose or hurt the one in ‘Joseph’s’ position?
How can you maintain an eternal mindset in these situations?

Want More?

Check out today’s LGG Blog

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 27, 2022August 27, 2022 by

Reflection and Preview

A Look Back at week three

In week three we have seen everything from reconciliation to horrific revenge, the difference between choosing life and death, the benefit of holding on tightly to our faith, and the importance of being faithful even in a little thing. With all of these lessons we have seen the wisdom in choosing God instead of the world in our own lives.

A Look AheaD to week four

Your turn: (Comments are welcome below)

What stood out to you this week from the story of Jacob?
What were your early impressions of Joseph?
What benefits or reasons are you seeing for choosing God instead of the world?

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 27, 2022March 11, 2026 by

Choosing God Instead of the World: Looking Ahead to Week 4

A Love God Greatly Bible Study about the lives of Jacob and Joseph

As we move into week four we will get to know Joseph and see his extraordinary reaction to the horrifying and challenging events of his life. We will read shocking details about the life of Judah, another of of Jacob’s sons, and get a glimpse of God’s fingerprints in the outcome generations later. We will also listen as Joseph moves from dreaming dreams to interpreting the dreams of others; and no matter how many times we’ve read or heard the stories – I believe we will yet again – perhaps even more so – stand in awe of how God uses it all to position Joseph exactly where he needs to be.

Don’t forget our memory verse from John 14:15

This week’s focus verse(s) will come from day one’s reading of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18. A message from Paul that would have no doubt been encouraging to Joseph during the challenging days of suffering that lay ahead.

^{¹⁷For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! ¹⁸So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.}
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

This Week’s Challenge from the team at Love God Greatly:

God allowed Joseph to endure great suffering in his life to bring about His divine purposes. As you read, note Joseph’s suffering. After you complete this wee’s reading, go back through the moments of his suffering and reflect on how God redeemed each of these events. Do you believe God can work the same way in your life? How has God already redeemed some of your seasons of suffering?

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 25, 2022August 26, 2022 by

A Faithful Servant

Week 3, Day 4 of Choosing God Instead of the World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:2-11 (SOAP – Luke 16:10)

¹⁰ “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  NLT

Observation:

A glimpse of Joseph

Today’s passage from Genesis gives us a sneak peak at Joseph, whom we will continue to learn from in the coming weeks. Some of the things from today’s reading may be helpful to remember in future passages. While some speculate that Joseph was more loved than his brothers because he was the son of Rachel, the truth is that Joseph was loved more than all of his brothers because he born to Jacob in his old age, Genesis 37:3. As you can imagine, this caused problems with the brothers, as jealousy and hatred arose, fueled not only by the obvious display of Jacob’s love for Joseph, Genesis 37:3, but made worse by the dreams Joseph shared with them that seemed to be prophecies that he would one day rule over them. It also didn’t help that he gave a bad report to his father on how the brothers were caring for the sheep, Genesis 37:2. Scripture makes it clear that the brothers hated Joseph, leaves no doubt that the hate was fueled by jealousy, and clearly reveals that the hate destroyed relationships, Genesis 37:4, 8, 11.

Today’s Focus Verse

Today’s verse, Luke 16:10, is short and to the point. Basically it can be a stand-alone statement, “if you are faithful in a little you will be faithful in much and if you are dishonest in a little you will be dishonest in much”. However, there is much to be learned from it and the verses that surround it that make it much more than a general statement.

Learn more about the parable of the ‘unjust steward’, found in Luke 6:1-13, from Gotquestions.org
- https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-unjust-steward.html

Application: How then should we Live?

We should be a faithful steward, not unfaithful. Being faithful with our ‘earthly’ wealth or things entrusted to us here will bear witness to what kind of stewards we will be with the responsibilities and treasures that God will entrust to us in His Kingdom.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, help us to be faithful stewards here so that we may be found even better stewards with the responsibilities and treasures of Your Kingdom. This to Your glory both on earth and in heaven. – Amen!

Your Turn:

Over what areas has God given you responsibility?
How can you be faithful in the small things in you life?
How can you be faithful in the big thing God has given you?

Want More?

Check out today’s LGG Blog

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 24, 2022August 25, 2022 by

Hold On Tightly …

Week 3, Day 4 of Choosing God Instead of the World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 36:1-37:1, Genesis 27:28-29, Genesis 27:39-40 and Hebrews 10:23, Hebrews 11:20 (SOAP: Hebrews 10:23)

 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.  Hebrews 10:23  NLT

Observation:

As I was rereading this verse a sing-song-ditty from my childhood came flooding back to my mind. I really only remember this one part … “hold on tightly, hold on tightly – swinging high, swinging low”. We would sing it over and over as we soared high into the air and descended low to the ground and back up again. It seems like a nice little reminder that regardless of how high or low the events of our swinging pendulum of our days/lives take us we must hold on tightly to our hope. We should clarify that the hope we refer to is the faith and hope we have placed in Christ Jesus and the promises God has made through Him. This is especially important when we are being pressured because of our faith, which was the case of those the author of Hebrews was addressing. His readers were Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and being pressured to return to Judaism. While we may never face the persecution they were facing we certainly face daily pressures in this fallen world to choose the ways of Jesus or the ways of the world. We would be wise to take this wisdom and make it our own – so that whether the pendulum of life has us on a mountain top or in the valley – our “hope” will not be shaken. Whether we soar on the swing to the mountain-top or descend on it to the valley floor we must remember and be resolved to hold on tightly to Jesus, Paul told the Galatians, we wait eagerly for the hope of righteousness, by faith, Galatians 5:5. According to the commentary from gotquestions.org, on this verse, Paul is referring “to the day of judgment, when we will hear God Himself declare us righteous because of our faith in Christ. Until that day, we wait, placing all our hope in just one person: Jesus.” Now, doesn’t that sound like something worth holding on to?

Application: How then should we Live?

Hold on tightly to Jesus and the hope that is ours through Him. Don’t lose sight of Him when everything is going right – and when everything seems to be going wrong and there seems no way out – hold on tightly and trust in the promises that God has made to us, for we know that they are ‘yes and amen’ in Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, help us to live faithfully – unswayed by the pressures of this world to take the easier road or to revert to the way we used to be – to live for self or others. Help us to hold on tightly to the hope of our faith and to Your good and trustworthy promises. – In His Name – AMEN!

Your Turn:

What examples have you seen of secular greatness or success growing faster than spiritual greatness?
Why do God’s promises demand patience from the recipient?

Want More?

If you have the journal for this study then you will already have access to this devo – but for those of you without the journal – I think you will find this to be quite helpful in understanding the connection between our focus passage and the continuing saga of Jacob’s life.

https://lovegodgreatly.com/devotional-choosing-god-instead-of-the-world-w3d4/

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 21, 2022August 21, 2022 by

Reconciliation

Week 3, Day 1 of Choosing God Instead of the World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 33 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (SOAP: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

¹⁸And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. ¹⁹For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.  2 Corinthians 5:18-19  NLT

Observation:

Reunited: A glimpse at Jacob and Esau

After twenty plus years and all of the fear and planning Jacob and Esau are finally reunited and reconciled to one another. No longer was there a fear of death or present anger over the other’s past deceit or threat of death. While the scene reveals more of Jacob’s careful, or what I like to call – “just in case” planning, it also reveals a beautiful reunion and open reconciliation.

New Testament Reconciliation

As our focus verse points out – without the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus we would have every reason to live in fear of death like Jacob did. We were God’s enemies according to Paul, in Romans 5:10, when we were restored/reconciled by the death of Jesus.

¹⁰For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
Romans 5;10 NLT

Like Jacob, we have been given a new identity in Christ, the old character is gone and the new is here. It is a gift of God. Not only has He clothed us with the righteousness of Christ, no longer counting our sins against us, but the title ‘Ambassadors for Christ’. He has given us a purpose, a ministry of making His Son known so that others can be reconciled to Him. – Til the whole world knows.

Application: How then should we Live?

We have been made ambassadors for Christ and should live faithfully proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel and what Christ has done for us. We should also faithfully praise Him for laying our sins on Christ and not counting them against us.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, as Jacob and Esau were reconciled to one another – so You have even more so – reconciled us to You – through Christ. And You no longer count our sins against us because we are new creations in Christ, the old has passed and the new has come! Glory to Your Holy Name!

Your Turn: Personal Reflections

Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation?
What is God prompting you to do as you wait for His perfect timing for the reconciliation?

Want More:

Check out today’s LGG Blog

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 21, 2022August 21, 2022 by

Choosing God Instead of the World: Looking Ahead to Week 3

A Love God Greatly Bible Study about the lives of Jacob and Joseph

In the third week of our study, we will watch as Jacob and Esau finally meet up again, there will be trouble over his daughter Dinah, and both tragedy and blessing on his return to Bethel. We will meet Esau’s descendants and be given our first glimpse of Joseph as a teenager. All events will continue to strengthen our understanding and resolve of choosing God instead of the world.

Don’t forget our memory verse from John 14:15

This week’s focus verse(s) will come from day one’s reading of Colossians 3:1-3. A passage that we will see the need for in Jacob’s life story as well as our own.

¹⁵“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. ¹⁶For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NLT

This Week’s Challenge from the team at Love God Greatly:

Reflect on the events of Jacob’s life you have read so far. Would God have delivered Jacob without Jacob’s shrewd behavior? Did Jacob miss out on the blessing of God’s blessing of God through self-reliance and deception? How did Jacob’s children display the same tendencies of self-reliance and deception?

Bible study, Choosing God Instead of the World, LGG Study

Posted on August 20, 2022March 11, 2026 by

Choosing God Instead of the World – Recap of Week-2

A Love God Greatly Study

Reflections

This week, through the continuing saga of Jacob and his family we have learned the wisdom of setting our mind on Things Above instead of things on the earth that tend to draw us away from God. We have learned how God wants us to honor Him with what He’s given us, even when we aren’t completely satisfied with what that is. We’ve seen the difficulty and yet the benefits of loving others in the way we live and not just by the things we say. Without question, we have seen how we must trust God’s promises if we are going to choose His ways over the ways of the world, especially in times of fear and difficulty. On our final day – probably my favorite – and a great summation of the week – we witnessed God giving Jacob a new name and we learned that sometimes even when we walk away limping from a battle, prevailing can be determined by how long we stay in the battle. Those who hold on to God and don’t let go receive the blessing.

Preview

During our third week we will dive into Genesis 33 and wind up the week in Genesis 37 with the story of Joseph’s dream. , We will hear from authors of the New and Old Testaments along the way – as we continue to explore the ways and benefits of Choosing God Instead Of The World .