Tag: SOAP

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Standing On The Promises

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:1-21; Psalm 56:3-4, 10-11; (SOAP: 56:3-4)

When I am afraid,I trust in you.4 In God—I boast in his promise—in God I trust; I am not afraid.What can mere men do to me?  Psalm  56:3-4  NET
Observation

In today’s Genesis’ passage we see Jacob prepare to meet Esau by setting a plan into motion that involved inviting Esau to meet him. Then Jacob prayed with bold honesty, telling God of his fears, remembering God’s faithfulness, goodness, and promises. He lays his fears before Him and they were overcome by all that He knew to be true about His God, the God of Abraham and Isaac. He stood on the promises of God and made plans to meet Esau rather than run – this is evidence of His trust.

We see the same thing in our focus passage from Psalm 56:3-4. Like Jacob the Psalmist had or was experiencing fear but chose to trust in God and to boast in the promises of God rather than cave to the fear what man could do to him. To boast in something is to put our confidence in it – to stand on what we know to be true of a person, place, or thing. What a great lesson to put into action in our relationship with God and the world.

*Note on Jacob’s strategies… Some would say that Jacob didn’t really trust because he came up with a plan even after praying for God to rescue him. Perhaps this is a right interpretation, however, I believe praying in faith and believing God is going to do something does not negate the need to act or plan wisely. After all, don’t forget it was God who let Mordecai hear the plot of Haman to kill the Jews, just as it appeared to be God who allowed Jacob to hear the conversation of his brothers-in-law – revealing how Laban felt, and for that matter Rebekah hearing Esau’s plan to kill Jacob. In all of these circumstances the people acting wisely upon what they heard represented their trust in God.

Application: How Then Should I Live?

When we are afraid we are to put our trust in God. In this way we will not fear the circumstances of our life nor the men who make us afraid. The key to this, throughout all of Scripture is standing on the promises of God. When the fears of the world assault us we must choose to trust in God.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for teaching me to trust in You more than I fear what man can do. Thank You for Jacob’s example of remembering Your promises – and speaking them out loud to You. He boasted in You and counted himself as unworthy of Your faithful love. Thank You for showing me You incomparable greatness, not only in Your Word and the history of Your people but in my life. – Oh how I praise You – Amen!

It’s Your Turn
  • In what areas of your life do you often ask God for deliverance but then create your own rescue plans?
  • What would happen if you waited on God for deliverance?
  • Do you believe waiting on God for deliverance means do nothing more than have faith?
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Love Defines Us

Week-2, Day-3 of Choosing God Instead Of The World, A Love God Greatly Study
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:18-24 (SOAP: 23-24)
Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment. 24 And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us. 1 John 3:23-24
Observation:
Jacob’s story ….

Our focus will be on 1 John 3:18-24 and letting our love define us, but first let’s look at a few observation’s from Jacob’s continuing saga. I particularly love the opening line, “Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining …” For me these pop off the page as fingerprints of God. I often ask God, at the beginning of the day, to let me hear what He wants me to hear and to guard me from the thins I should not or do not need to hear. I believe he often allows us to hear things for a reason – which seems to be the case with Jacob, as it set in motion his return to his homeland. The passage is a tad long but I encourage you to read it. I know you won’t want to miss the drama stirred up by Rachel stealing from her father, Jacob deceiving Laban, the hot pursuit that followed, anger, and a heated argument, and the six ways God intervened, guided, and protected to ensure that all things worked together for the good of those who loved Him, those who were called according to His purpose.

Our Focus …

John writes instructions, in the first part of this particular letter, about being lights in the world. In the second portion he focuses on following the commandments of God, and here in the third part, while he continues to touch on keeping His commandments he also zeroes in on letting love define their behavior – both in “deed and truth”. The sincerity of our love can be expressed in words but it is seen and experienced through our actions. Jesus said it like this, “love each other, just as I have loved you, you should love one another.” John goes on to say that we will know that we are of the truth when we love in this way. I believe Paul said something similar that makes it even clearer when he told those in Rome to not make a pretense of love (don’t just say that you love) but truly love. He followed that with “hate what is evil, hold tightly to what is good.” When we make this choice and love is evident in us – we not only have assurance that we belong to Christ but both God and others will know that we are abiding in Christ.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

If you love Me, you will obey my commandments.

Romans 12:9 NLT; John 13:34-35 NET; John 14:15 NET

Ok, so I chased a few ‘Scripture squirrels’ on my way to verses 23 and 24, but I think they will help us in our understanding of the His commandment to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and love one another – just as He commanded. Verse 24 is my favorite of the passage though, as it is even more reason for the confidence that we are in God and He is in us! When we hold tightly to this truth we will not be shaken, we will more likely choose God instead of the world, as the old song says – they (the world) will know that we are Christians by our love and we will bring God the glory He is due.

Application: How Then Should We Live?

Believe in (trust in) the name of Jesus tops the list here in 1 John 3:23 – and rightly so as it is the basis of our relationship with the Godhead and the only way we will truly love others – which is the second part of the commands listed by John. This part seems to be a reference to Jesus’s words in John 13:34, where He said to love others as He has loved us. The third application may be a bit obscure but I believe we are taught here to walk in confidence that we are His and have His Spirit in us.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, You have loved us in deed and in TRUTH – giving Your Son to die for us. Help us to love in this manner – as You have commanded. Help us to live by the Spirit You have given us – who enables us to love You with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength – and to love others as ourselves. When we love like this You will know that we love You, others will know that we love You, and we will know that “we are of the TRUTH”. Love truly does define us as Yours, God – even as Your love gives us confidence that You are our God! – May all the honor and glory be Yours as we display this love to the world around us in deed and in truth – AMEN!

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Honor the LORD

Week-2, Day-2 of Choosing God Instead Of The World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:34 and (SOAP: Proverbs 3:1-12)

Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.  Proverbs 3:9-10
Thoughts on the Genesis passage:

There is no question that the LORD had been gracious to Jacob during the fourteen years of servitude to Laban. Now we see Jacob rely on God for his departure from Laban. While it seems Jacob might be trying to manipulate Laban, we will see in chapter 31 that he was simply following God’s lead.

[Interesting Note: because Jacob had become a servant/employee of Laban, in order to marry Rachel and Leah, he was not free to leave without Laban’s consent. If he tried to do so and take his family with him he could be accused of theft.]

Observations: Proverbs 3:1-12

Proverbs 3 contains some of my favorite verses, specifically verses 5-8. It is the wisdom to “trust in the LORD with all your heart”, found in verse five, that has gotten me through many rough times where “relying on my own understanding” would have only ended up making things worse. It was verse six that played a part in teaching me to pray about everything, Verse nine and ten have been both needed instruction and appreciated hope – when I’ve had to trust Him with what He has given me even when it didn’t always look like there would be enough. When we live like this – trusting Him in all things and honoring Him with all He gives, we will surely know His blessing – and this, as the song says, should be poured out in praise! Matt Redman wrote it like this, “… Every blessing You pour out, I’ll Turn back to praise When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say… ” Take some time to worship Him with this song and pour out your praise –

Source: Musixmatch

Application: How Then Should We Live?

Looking at the fuller passage, Proverbs 3:1-12, it is clear from the instructor that God wants us to remember His teaching and keep His commandments. He wants us to always be kind and faithful (guided by mercy and truth). Trusting Him and seeking Him are vital to finding His favor, as are respecting Him and turning away from evil. When we live like this we Honor Him with what He has given to us and in return we will be richly blessed.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, You find favor in those who keep Your commands and live guided by mercy and truth. You call us to trust You and to seek You in all things, turning away from evil and honoring You with all You have given to us. Help us to be faithful and true in all of these things so that You are glorified and find favor in Your servant. – To Your Glory!

Father, thank You for Your teaching. Thank You for showing me the wisdom through the years of walking according to Your Word – or trusting and seeking You in all things. So often the lessons have been learned the hard way but through it I have seen the truth of Your Word and the riches of Your blessings.

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KEEP ON SEEKING …

Week-2, Day-1 of Choosing God Instead Of The World, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:34 and (SOAP: Colossians 3:1-3)

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  Colossians 3:1-3 NET
Observation:

If I had one of those fancy computers that allows you to circle words, highlight, draw arrows and make endless notes as though you were using a notebook or the pages of Scripture – I assure you, you would see circles and numerous colors of lines and highlights and notations all over this passage. I love marking up and making notes when I read God’s Word. I do it for a number of reasons but none more important than remembering what the Spirit (John 14:26) has shown me as I read.

In today’s passage, you would see the very first word circled with green and highlighted with yellow, along with arrows that point to notes in the margin alerting me to the fact that this verse connects to the previous chapter – where Paul was warning the Colossians to stand firm in their faith and be careful to not be captivated by the philosophies and thinking of this world.

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. Read more of Paul’s warnings on earthly things

Colossians 2:1-12 NET

I back-up because these three verses in chapter three will not make the impact intended by Paul if we don’t understand why we need to keep “seeking” and “thinking on” – things above. Equally important is the third instruction of Paul in these three verses – which is to NOT think about (dwell on) things on the earth. Why is it so important? Because when we are thinking or caught up with the things of the world our faith and godly standards can be easily shaken. Being “rooted and built up in Christ happens when we dwell on and with Him and His ways – and as Paul teaches here – when we “keep on (continually) seeking things above” (where Christ is seated beside God), and keep on (continually) thinking about things above” (where Christ is seated beside God). In other words, think about (dwell on) godly, spiritual things – in contrast to dwelling on the things pleasing to man, or the flesh. This takes great discipline because as citizens of this world we will no doubt have to give consideration to ‘earthly concerns’, but when our minds are filled with things above, the necessary worldly concerns that have to be dealt with will not over power us – rather the things above will over power them.

Application: How Then Should We Live

Paul answers this questions for us in today’s reading. “If [we] have been raised with Christ” we are to “keep seeking the things above“, things that are godly. We are to “keep thinking about things above“, things of God; and we should “not think about things on the earth”, or ungodly things as described by Paul later in chapter 3 of Colossians. 

5So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it.  Colossians 3:5,8-10  NET
Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for making those who have come to You by Faith in Christ new creations in Christ Jesus. So that we no longer live but Christ lives in us. As we seek to walk by faith help us to keep our eyes on Him – on His Way – and Your will. Guard our minds from dwelling on or being captivated by the ungodly activities and fleshly desires of this earth that we live on. When they tempt us, help us to remember we have died to this life and our real life is hidden with Christ – in You, our God! Amen and hallelujah!

THOUGHTS ON GENESIS 29:31-30:24

In the margins of this passage you would see words like drama, manipulation, jealousy, pride, control, weakness, guilt, warped thinking, never satisfied and discontent. In light of this synopsis,I couldn’t help but think how Jacob and his family would have greatly benefitted from Paul’s teaching.

Your Turn:
  • What are some of the great blessings God has given you? (list as many as you can)
  • Are you more likely to celebrate the blessings you have received or compare them to the blessings others have received from God?
  • How can you fight a spirit of comparison today?

What’s your take away from today’s journey?

Want more?

Visit Love God Greatly for today’s blog

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Choosing God Instead of the World: Looking Ahead to Week 2

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

In the second week of our study, we will watch as Jacob contends not only with his “sister-wives” but their servants given to him as early prototypes of ‘surrogate mothers’. If it sounds like a lot of drama – it is, with all of the jealousy, guilt, manipulation, and discontent you might imagine. We will also watch as Jacob becomes the father of 11 sons and at least one daughter, he seeks Laban’s permission to leave for his homeland, and prepares to reconnect with Esau. In the midst of the unfolding story we will continue to learn why and how to choose God instead of the world.

We will continue to work on our memory verse from John 14:15

But 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.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3

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

This week, record the major events of Jacob’s life. Do these things occur because of Jacob’s plans or God’s deliverance? How does Jacob’s manipulations or impatience affect each outcome? Take time to reflect on the ways you attempt to “help” God accomplish His purposes.

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Choosing God Instead of the World – Recap of Week-1

A Love God Greatly Study

What a week we’ve had traveling through the early stories of Jacob, from his birth as a twin to his most recent ordeal of thinking he had married Rachel, only to wake up to discover it was Leah he had married. We’ve seen him trick his twin brother, Esau, out of his birthright … deceive his father, Isaac out of the covenant blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau … leave home and family to look for a wife among his mother’s people – an unplanned trip prompted by Esau’s plan to kill Jacob … connect with his mother’s people, fall in love with Rachel, work for his uncle Laban for seven years on the promise of Rachel’s hand in marriage, and now realizing that Laban had deceived him just as he [Jacob] had deceived his brother and father. I think you would agree we’ve seen some pretty good examples of why we should choose God over the world – why we should walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

During our second week we will explore the rest of Genesis 29 through Genesis 32 with a couple of side-trips through the New Testament as well as the Psalms and Proverbs. I hope you’ll stick with me on this journey through God’s Word – as we explore the ways and benefits of Choosing God Instead Of The World .

If you missed any of the posts – no need to search – you’ll find the links below.

https://wordpress.com/post/mefromthensideout.com/7446

https://wordpress.com/post/mefromthensideout.com/7529

https://wordpress.com/post/mefromthensideout.com/7464

https://wordpress.com/post/mefromthensideout.com/7473

https://wordpress.com/post/mefromthensideout.com/7482

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Harvesting What You Plant

Scripture Reading: Genesis 29:1-30; Galatians 6:6-10(7-9 SOAP)
 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.    Galatians 6:7-9
Observation:
The sequence of events…

Jacob dupes Esau, deceives his father, and because his life is in danger he leaves home to find a wife among his mother’s people. On the way he has an encounter with God in a dream – which leads him to both worship and commit himself to God, following the encounter he finds his mother’s brother,Laban… falls in love with Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel … offers to work for Laban for seven years in order to marry her … works the seven years – but wakes up the morning after the wedding only to find out he had married her sister, Leah. Apparently, Laban had done to Jacob what Jacob had done to his brother and father. [Of course now we have an ‘elephant in the room’ – because the question begs to be asked, how in the world do you not know which sister you married until the morning after? While the answer isn’t given in Scripture the possibilities could be anything from “too much wine for Jacob, elaborate veils, cultural modesty, or Jacob’s wedding night nervousness caused him to miss this key fact, but we don’t really know1“.]

1quote from bibleref.com on Gen 29:25

The Result?

Just as Jacob’s deceitfulness had lasting consequences on his father, mother, and brother – as well as untold others – so it was with Laban’s trickery. The trick not only affected Jacob but Rachel and Leah and generations to come.

The Lesson

As we learn from Paul in Galatians 6:6-10, God’s grace does not negate the consequences of our choices and actions.

Application: How Then Should We Live?

According to the passage in Galatians, where Paul warns, “a person will reap what he sows”, and in light of Jacob’s experience, both as the one who deceived and the one who was deceived it is clear by God’s Word that we are to be careful with our choices – neither deceiving nor allowing ourselves to be deceived. This being true we must walk by the Spirit and not the flesh, and we would be wise to remember that while we may not aways see that what we do matters – it does. Therefore we must keep living in a way that agrees with our profession of faith. Or as Paul said to Timothy,

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV
Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father – discipline is never easy and Your discipline is even harder to bear – in part because of the consequences we face but also because it grieves my spirit to know I’ve disappointed You. Thank You for the reminder to make good choices, to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, and to consciously live in a way that reflects my profession of faith. – In His Name and Power – AMEN!

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today’s reading?
  • Have you experienced times when God has clearly disciplined you?
  • Do you view God’s discipline as a blessing?
Want More?

Read today’s LGG Blog Post

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Grace Grace

Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-22; Genesis 28:15 (SOAP)
What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”  Genesis 28:15
Observation:

“Meanwhile Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran.” Isn’t it always in the “meanwhiles” of our lives that hope is most appreciated? Such is the case here with Jacob. Such a beautiful story of God introducing Himself to Jacob in a dream. God confirmed with Jacob the very thing His father had prayed over him would come to pass. The descendants and the lands and even more than Isaac asked or imagined … Jacob and his descendants would be the conduits of the blessings to all the families of the earth. God promised His presence and protection and to never leave him until all the promises had been fulfilled.

The beauty of the story doesn’t end with the promise of blessings that God speaks to Jacob but it culminates with Jacob’s response of worship and commitment to God.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Genesis 28:18-22 ESV
Application: How Then Should We Live?

While we may not trick a family member out of their ‘birthright or deceive an aging father into thinking we are the one who rightfully deserves his blessing, or encounter God in a dream like Jacob did. We would be wise to listen and look for the daily blessings He lavishes on us that reveal His grace, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, just like it did Jacob’s. When we see this clearly like Jacob did we will be much more likely to respond like he did – with worship of and commitment to God.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Thank you for words of hope God. Whether we are fleeing for protection from danger or looking to find a mate – a job – or something else – These words fill us with HOPE that reminds us You are there – in control. You are with us and in Your goodness, You go ahead of us, and You are faithful to Your promises! – To Your name be all glory and praise – Amen!

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today’s reading?
  • How do you respond when God intervenes in your life?
  • Are you led to worship like Jacob was, or do you tend to explain His work as mere coincidence?
Want More?

Worship Him with a hymn acknowledging His grace

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Famished

Day 2, Week 1 of Choosing God Instead of the World, a love God Greatly Bible Study

Scripture Reading: Genesis 25:27-34; 1 john 2:15-17(SOAP)
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.  1 John 2:15-17
Observation:

Sight, sound, touch, hearing … our senses are catalyst for desires. From things we need to things we enjoy to things we’ve never tried but know someone else enjoys – from the time of the garden – our desires have been an issue. John’s warning about these desires is simple – they are not from God but from the world. He also reminds his readers that the world will one day come to an end while God’s kingdom and all who choose His will over the world’s- will live forever.

Seems like an easy choice, right? So why is it that, like Eve, we see something and it looks pleasing to the eye so we ignore what we know to be the right choice and go for the desirable? We all know the eyes aren’t the only culprits, all of the senses we have get involved and pull our attention in all sorts of directions that ultimately lead to desires and choices that may not line up with God’s will. Oh that we would consider John’s warning and check our desire against His Word before we take a bite of what the world is offering, which in Esau’s case was food versus his birthright.

He was famished, and most likely depleted of strength and energy to make the right choice or to care about anything other than his hunger. This is obvious by his reaction to Jacob’s proposition of the bowl of stew for Esau’s birthright. Esau certainly wasn’t about to die – he simply valued and desired the appetite of his flesh more than his birthright as Isaac’s oldest son.

Application: How Then Should We Live?

1 John 2:15-17 is a perfect companion, though an antithesis of sorts, to the example of Esau and Jacob that we find in the Genesis passage. John teaches his readers “[don’t] love the world or the things in the world”. So sure is he of this teaching that He declares the person who loves the world “does not have the love of the Father in Him”. He zeroes in on the “desires of the flesh”,  pointing out that “the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions” (NLT). These, John says, are not from the Father. BibleRef.com’s explanation of verse 17 says it best – concluding “John’s condemnation of worldly thinking. John notes that this world is temporary. The world is temporary for each person, since every person dies. The physical earth is also temporary, since God will make a new earth in the end (Revelation 21—22). As a result, the desires of this world are also temporary.” The bottom line to our question of application and how we should live is this, “Believers are to resist evil desires, following the example of Jesus” (Matthew 4:1–11).

My synopsis, Don’t allow ourselves to become so enamored with the desires, the teachings, the thinking, of this world that they overtake us– and change the focus of our faith and what’s important to God, our heavenly Father. Feed the Spiritual-self, actually saturate ourselves with the Word so we don’t fall prey to the desires of the flesh. Finally, value what the Father values so that we do not trade the will of the Father and “a life lived in fellowship with Him”, for the ways and things of the world. To be sure, “doing God’s will cannot save us, — We are saved by Christ’s sacrifice, when we put our – faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8–9). However, a natural outcome of salvation is a desire to do God’s will (Ephesians 2:10). This is a hallmark of the believer, and only the believer will live with God forever. — Doing God’s will or desires is to be the goal of the believer.”1

1quotes from Bibleref.com on 1 John 2:15-17

Having opened their eyes to the wrongness of loving the things of the world John drives the point home by making sure they understand the futility of choosing the world – since “this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever”.

MefromtheNsideout and 1 John 2:17 NLT
Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, the world offers us much to love and to choose from – they are readily available and accessible – guard us from temptations of thinking, acting, and talking or living like the world. Help us to be so saturated with Your Word and aware of Your Presence so that we don’t fall prey to the deceivers of this world. – In Jesus’ Name!

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today’s reading?
  • What does it mean to choose the things of God?
  • Can you choose the things of God and the things of the world? Why or why not?

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Sin and the Need for Jesus

Day 4 of Jesus, I Need You – Part 2, a study of Thistlebend Ministries

Scripture Reading: Malachi 1:6-8, 3:1, 4:5-6; Matthew 11:14, Luke 1:17; and Isaiah 57:14-19

God Forgives the Repentant14 God says, “Rebuild the road Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.” 15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity the Holy One, says this: “I  live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble  and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. 16 For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away—all the souls I have made. 17 I was angry,
so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way. 18 I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn, 19 bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.  Isaiah 57:14-19  NLT
 Observation: What’s the Message?

Every day, throughout this study, I have read the verses and looked for ways that they point us to our need for Jesus. Some passages have been more obvious than others but today’s proved to be challenging for me. Here’s where I landed …. Malachi 1:6-8 was a reminder that our sins require a sacrifice acceptable to God, but then it also prompted to praise God that Jesus is forever a perfect sacrifice. This reminded me that The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God will not despise a broken and humbled heart. The other two passages from Malachi as well as the ones from Matthew and Luke seem to point us yet again to John the Baptist and his role as the one who would prepare the way for our Lord.

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

Psalm 51:17

It is the passage from Isaiah however, that captured my attention. I confess it grabbed my attention mostly because I couldn’t figure it out and that always bugs me – so I chased down some information on its meaning and was glad I did. From all that I read, my synopsis is – it’s all about Christ making a way for us to have a relationship with God! However, I want to share with you a few bullet points from an article I read that I hope will help you reach the same ‘hallelujah’ I did.

  • Christ is the one who opens the way for a great returning to God (14)
  • Christ is the one in whom the “lofty one” – whose name is Holy comes to dwell with the oppressed and lowly (15)
  • Christ’s death is why God can acquit a guilty people without dropping the charges (16)
  • It is by Christ’s stripes that we are healed (18)
  • Everything hoped for in this passage comes to us – even to us Gentiles – in Jesus Christ.

Piper, from whose article I borrowed these points, went on to say, “We can read it as a personal offer of hope to any of us who will accept the healing of humbling and the cure of a crushed spirit.”

Application: How Then Should We Live?

From the inferior sacrifices of Malachi’s day to yet more reminders of John coming to prepare the way we are once again reminded of our need for Jesus. If we do not acknowledge this need daily, in both our hearts and minds, I am convinced that we will live as though we do not need Him.

We must not allow ourselves to live as though we can save ourselves or make ourselves better – we need a savior and that savior cannot be a pastor, a church, a child or spouse or friend, it can not be a job or good works. The only savior able to meet the demands of our Holy God is His Righteous Son, Jesus Christ.

Sin is the key because it is often the stumbling block that keeps us from dealing with the daily reality of our need for Jesus. We convince ourselves the questionable things we think, do, say, or watch really aren’t that bad. We play the grace card sometimes before we’ve even committed the sin – content that He will forgive us – we proceed with the sin. We should not make light of sin or treat it as a mistake – we need to humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin for what it is and deal with the sorrow that contrition brings. Remember, a humble and contrite heart He will not despise and according to this passage in Isaiah it is with the contrite and humble that He lives.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, how blessed we are that You sent Jesus to open a way to You, to acquit us of our quilt, to come and dwell among us, to heal us by His stripes, and to offer us hope and an eternal future with You. May we daily consider what You have done for us and live accordingly. Guard us from living in ignorance or rebellion – knowing what You’ve done for us but choosing our own way over Yours. Help us to be aware of our sin and may it make us contrite and humble, for it is with a humble and contrite heart You will dwell. To You be the glory, honor, and praise now and forever – Amen!

Your Turn:
  • What’s your take away from today?
  • How can you plan to walk humbly with your God?
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