Tag: SOAP

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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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LIFE AND LIGHT





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





Scripture Reading: John 1:1-28 





In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 
John 1:1-8  NLT





Observation: What’s the Message?





The message could just be that Jesus is the Word, that He was with God in the beginning, or that He was involved in all of creation. Certainly, before today when I thought about John chapter one that is the message I would have repeated. However reading it again today I was reminded that there is perhaps an even deeper more pertinent message – and that is that “life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. His was a light that could not be overcome by the darkness – a light that God sent so that all might believe and be saved through Him. A light that never goes out and is never overcome by the darkness. His is the light that guides our path and leads us to God. 










Application: How Then Should We Live?





Day after day the Scriptures we have been going through point us to our need for Jesus. The one John the Baptist was sent to announce and prepare the way for. The One who is The Vine, our source of life enabling us to bear fruit. The One who is our Hope. The One who saves us from being alienated from God. The One who “became human and made His home among us … and who revealed God to us. The One who is both life and light to those living in darkness, dead in their trespasses and sins. 





These truths, that in one way or another led us all to Christ, are the truths we are meant to cling to, motivation to seek Him daily and that remind us – we are to be lights for Him – the One true Light! We are messengers sent by God into all the world to bear witness of Him and testify of Him so that all will be believe and be saved. 





Prayer: Response to God’s Word





Father, thank You for shining the Light of Jesus into the world, and especially – into my life so that I might be saved!. Thank You for those You sent to share the message with me, to testify about Jesus so that I might hear the good news and know who Jesus is! Father, may I be Your messenger and testify of Your goodness so that others might believe and be saved – In Jesus’ name –





Your Turn: 





  • What’s your take away from today’s message?
  • How can you be a messenger?
  • What can you testify about Jesus?
  • What do you believe you were sent from God to do?





Want More? 





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  • What does John 1:7 mean?  John the Baptist’s role as a witness is central to verse 7. He is sent to tell other people about the coming Messiah, which is Jesus. “Light” was the ultimate standard for Israel. Everything good was said to be “light,” evil was “darkness.” This not only implies good and evil, but knowledge and darkness. Just as Moses, the Old Testament law, and the temple were small lights pointing to Jesus, John the Baptist is a tiny light leading people to the One True Light. And, not just so that they would see, but so that they would believe. John’s ministry heavily revolved around baptism, which was already known to Jews of that time. Jews would sometimes baptize a person who wanted to convert to Judaism. But the Baptist was “converting” Jews! This is one reason he was interrogated by local religious leaders: why would God’s chosen people need to repent and convert?  Bibleref.com






	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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Repentance and the Kingdom of Heaven





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





Scripture Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 and 11:15





 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was,  “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
    Clear the road for him!’”
3:11“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
11:15Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Matthew 3:1-3,11 and 11:15  NLT





Observation: What’s the Message?





Today’s message is undoubtedly the message of repentance because the “Kingdom of Heaven was near”, perhaps best explained by Bibleref.com





 John’s Jewish listeners would have been familiar with the idea that a new kingdom would one day be established by the promised Messiah. John will point to Jesus as that Messiah, and to the imminent establishment of His kingdom. John will insist, though, that repentance—turning from sin—was necessary for his Jewish listeners to be included in that kingdom. The mere fact of their Israelite heritage would not be enough. This would have been a new idea to some.





However, let’s also look at the underlying message  – the one we find in Matthew 11:15 which is nearly the same as what we previously read in Revelation 2:7. Both passages call us to listen to what’s being said. We’ve seen it twice already in our study. Once as a warning about being alienated from God and the other in the message from Jesus to the Church at Ephesus concerning how they had left their first love. In both passages He wants the people to know how imperative it is for them to listen to what He’s saying. He wants them to listen so they will know how to live and choose to turn from what is wrong and do what is right. 





In today’s passage, we read how John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for the Lord, the long awaited Messiah. His message is one of  repentance in order to prepare the hearts of those who will listen – to be ready to receive the salvation that Jesus is bringing. It is so important to realize that if we fail to listen to His instructions or if we fail to make much of His Word we will lose the opportunity to draw close to God and to have Him draw close to us. 





So Why A Message Of Repentance?





Repentance is to make a turn – a change of heart and mind that changes the actions or thoughts and words of a person. One commentary described repentance like this, “To stop going the wrong way and start going the right way.” So John was preparing the people to think differently and respond differently to people and situations. Jesus would be bringing the message of Salvation – “He who believes in me will have eternal life the one who does not believe will not have eternal life”, (John 3:36).










Application: How Then Should We Live?





To be sure, salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone -but repentance is part of that faith. The understanding or foundation of our faith is that we are all sinners (Rom 3:23), in need of a Savior because the wages of our sin is death (Rom 6:23), the requirement – an atonement we could not provide – a spotless, sinless sacrifice, (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is the sacrifice God sent because He so loved the world (John 3:16).  





Because we have believed, we – like John, are now witnesses and messengers meant to prepare the way for others to come – making sure they know the way. If we don’t listen to this teaching and follow we may well be a hindrance to the Gospel message. 





Since John’s message was one of ‘repentance’, we must understand what repentance is and make sure that we turn from our sin and walk in the ways of the Lord, who left a bold and lasting legacy for us to follow – namely, loving God with all of His being and loving us more than He loved Himself – even to the point of death on the cross. 





Prayer: Response to God’s Word





God forbid that we would be a hindrance to the message of Jesus Christ! Help us to make straight the path so that all will come to You and be saved. Help us to understand the promise isn’t ours through our goodness or family heritage – but – as Your Word teaches – it is through faith alone in Christ alone. Help us to not forget the importance of listening to the message Jesus and John and others like them came to bring – for as Timothy said,  All Scripture is inspired by [You] and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. Use it to prepare and equip us to do every good work!  In His Name — and for Your Glory! Amen – 





Your Turn: 





  • What’s your take away from today’s message?
  • What are some things you can do to make sure you are listening to God’s Word?
  • Are there things you currently need to repent (turn away from)? 





Want More? 





Go deeper with…





 Thistlebend’s devotional 





An understanding of Matthew chapter 3, who John the Baptist was, and what he was doing to prepare the way for the Jesus, The Messiah






	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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HOPE WAS ALWAYS COMING





Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-7, Isaiah 53 and 61:1-4; Psalm 22; 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 1:18-25; 





Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.
Isaiah 9:1-2





hope was always coming: The light in the darkness





The message of a prophet is not always easy to understand. They can often sound depressing or foreboding but if we keep reading we will most likely hear them deliver a message of hope. Such is the case in Isaiah chapter nine. 





Having just mentioned the people living in darkness and despair, he then announces a time is coming when the land will be filled with glory and a great light will shine on those living in darkness. He speaks of a time when they will grow in number and be found rejoicing like those at harvest or warriors following a great conquest. Chains will be loosed, burdens lifted, and the rod of their oppressor will be broken – not because of great and wonderful things the people have done but because a baby will be born. 





For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen!
Isaiah 9:6-7





HOPE WAS ALWAYS COMING:The victor





This baby was not a surprise. The baby was spoken of in the days of Adam and Eve, when God spoke  to the serpent following the fall of man in the garden (Genesis 3:15). Yes, this child was the ONE who would one day defeat the enemy.  From His birth to His ministry to His role as the sacrificial lamb, and even to the uncanny details of His death – imaged through the words of David – Jesus Christ is scattered throughout the old testament and fills the New Testament giving us the HOPE we have in Christ! 





And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:15





Application: How then shall we live





Live with HOPE not despair





Walk in the LIGHT not the darkness





Keep your eyes on God and His promises, remember that all of His promises are yes and amen in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20) – the HOPE of the world (Matthew 12:21). 










For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory …
The nations will put their hope in His name. … And in his name shall the Gentiles hope. … And in his name the nations will hope.” … All nations will place their …
  https://biblehub.com › matthew





Prayer: Response to God’s Word





Father, from the beginning You planned to give Your people HOPE and an everlasting future. You spoke it in the Garden and delivered the message through Your prophets, as well as King David and others. Your passion and commitment are obvious! Your promises are good and true – and in this we have HOPE! Yes and Amen – in Jesus!

	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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Alienated From God





Day 2 of “Jesus I Need You, part 1” A study by Thistlebend Ministries, as posted on Youversion





Scripture Reading: Isaiah chapter 1 (focus verses 2-4); Ephesians 4:17-19





Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth!
For the Lord speaks:
“I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!
3 An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; 
but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand.”
4  Beware sinful nation, the people weighed down by evil deeds.
They are offspring who do wrong, children who do wicked things.
They have abandoned the Lord, and rejected the Holy One of Israel.
They are alienated from him.
Isaiah 1:2-4   NET





Observations: What’s the Message?





The message in Isaiah chapter one is from the LORD, Himself. He is obviously offended, angered, and grieved over how His children do not even recognize Him and how they have chosen to live. Their choices have alienated them from God. Verses two through four paint the main part of the picture but reading the entire chapter is to more fully understand the perspective and emotion of God. 





Paul’s message in Ephesians chapter 4, specifically verse 17-32, is about living in holiness. While we are focusing on verses 17-19, it is worth reading, and quite helpful, to read the larger passage. In doing so we realize not only the danger of living an unholy life like the Israelites were in Isaiah’s time, but we also gain a comprehensive look at the choices we should make in order to not alienate ourselves from God. 





Application: How Then Should We Live?





Paul answers this question quite well with his instructions, actually His insistence, that the Ephesians [Christ Followers, like us] should “no longer live as the Gentiles do”. The description here in these verses is that the Gentiles were alienated from the “life of God”,  their hearts had grown hardened to sin which caused ignorance in their choices and a callousness to the way they lived. Basically, Paul is telling the believers to make better choices. He paints a vivd picture and exhorts them not to allow their hearts to grow hardened toward sin and  rebel against God, or lose sight of Him or His Word, but that they should, as we saw in our previous lesson from John 15:5, abide closely and stay familiar with Christ and His ways. 





– no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
A description of the Gentiles, as described by Paul in Ephesians 4:17-19  NET





One other application we can and should make from both messages – is to Encourage others in this way. I believe this is the same message we find in Hebrews 3:13, where the writer tells the believers to encourage each other daily for the specific reference to not allowing themselves to be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 





But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may 
become hardened by sin’s deception.  Hebrews 3:13  NET





Prayer: Response to the Word





Father, set a watch upon our hearts, that we not lose sight of You. Keep us ever hungering and thirsting for Your Word and living and loving like Jesus. Help us to encourage one another daily so that none of us become callous to sin and it’s deceitfulness. These things I pray in Jesus’ name and power – Amen an Amen!





Want More?





Visit Thistlebend Ministries for their encouraging devotional  – Be sure and check-out what comes after their devotional! It’s a great and profitable way to go deeper in the Word. 

	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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Jesus, I Need You





Scripture Reading: John 1:14-18; SOAP – John 15:5 





Day 1 of “Jesus I Need You, part 1” A study by Thistlebend Ministries, as posted on Youversion





“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5  NLT





Observation: Of the Teaching: 





Christ’s teaching that He is the “vine” is a well known and wonderful illustration of our need to stay close to Him. However, because it is so familiar, it is easy to gloss over, which means we would be wise to ask the Lord for fresh eyes to look closely at what there is to learn even from the most familiar passages. Let’s dissect it and see what reminders or perhaps even some new insight the Spirit (John 14:26) might lead us to in this reading. 





But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:26





In John 15:5, the following observations can be made:





  1. I [Christ] am the vine
    • Christ is the source of life
    • He became human and “made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14)
  2. You [disciples/followers] are the branches
    • His followers are dependent on Him for life, strength, wisdom … 
  3. Those [disciples/followers] who remain [abide/stay – meaning they are truly engaged with Jesus rather than just in it for appearance sake]
    • 2 Cor 5:17 says: Therefore if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation the old has gone the new is here
    • Gal 2:20 says: I have been crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live, the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me
  4. And I [Christ] [abide/stay in them [disciples/followers] 
  5. will produce [grow/develop] much fruit [evidence of new life]
    • Galatians 5:19-26 bears witness that followers of Christ will bear fruit when they live by the Spirit
  6. ‘but you [disciples/followers] cannot do this without me’
    • Paul emphasizes this truth in Philippians 4:13 with this antithesis – “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”





Application: How Then Should I Live?





Clearly, we are dependent on Jesus Christ and will only be healthy followers when we remain connected to Him – the Living Word. Abiding in Christ is both a privilege and a responsibility that is ours by Grace through Faith. It is vitally important that we realize this so that we do not neglect the responsibility nor forfeit the privilege by attempting to walk through this life in our own strength or according to our own desires. 





LESS OF ME MORE OF CHRIST





This means we must SEEK and STRIVE to ABIDE in Christ and not be pulled away by the desires of the heart/flesh. We must be alert to the enemy’s tactics to steal, kill, and destroy. ABIDING IN CHRIST is our key weapon against our great enemy, the devil! The best formula for ABIDING is for there to be less of me and more of Christ. This happens when we saturate ourselves with Christ, the Word made flesh to dwell among us, John 1:14. 





We must be alert to the enemy’s tactics to steal, kill, and destroy.





 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 





The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:10










Prayer: Response to the Word





Father, I praise You for sending Your only begotten Son – Jesus – The Living Word and Lover of my soul. So deep and lasting is His love that He gave His life for mine! Sadly, I so often crave other things more – forgive me for these times and work in me a discipline to never put anything before You – my Savior and my God. Thank You for Your faithfulness to love me, to forgive me, to abide in me, and to hear me when I call to You. Change my desires – lessen the hold this world and my flesh have on me. May there be less of me and more of You LORD -that Your glory may be known and seen in me! For Your glory,  Amen – 





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Visit Thistlebend Ministries for their encouraging devotional  – Be sure and check-out what comes after their devotional! It’s a great and profitable way to go deeper in the Word. 

	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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Jesus I Need You, Part 1





a study by Thistlebend Ministries, as posted on YouVersion Bible App Plans










Jesus is not an option for my life – He is the source of my life, my strength, and my access to God the Father. Without Him I can do nothing but through Him I can do all things (John 15:5 and Phil 4:13).  To make Him an option is to put myself in a place where I can choose Him on some days or occasions and not others. This is a dangerous mindset for anyone but especially for the believer. 





You see, as a believer we have become a new creation, according to Paul  – the old has gone the new is here, (2 Cor 5:17)! Having been crucified with Christ we no longer live apart from Him. The life we now live – we live by faith in Him, the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us, (Gal 2:20). So you see – we NEED JESUS like we nee oxygen to breathe. 





This is why I am inviting you to join me on this part of our journey through the Word. As we wait for the next trip with Love God Greatly to launch we will stroll through passages that remind us who Jesus is and why it is vitally important to stay connected to Him.  invite a friend, a family member, a co-worker, or a neighbor and join me for this 12 day journey, Monday through Saturday for the next 2 weeks.  I believe it will be just the stepping stones we need for our trip, “Choosing God Over the World”, with LGG – launching August 8, 2022. Trip-tickets [aka -Journals] are available through the Love God Greatly site. 





https://lovegodgreatly.com/

	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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Reflections of Week 6, Beautifully Surrendered





Beautifully Surrendered, God’s Heart for His Daughters is a Love God Greatly Study





The women we’ve studied this week showed us that leaving a legacy of faith is important, not only for the lives of our own children but for the generations to come. From the mid-wives to the proverbs’ 31 woman we have seen that our faith has an impact on the lives of others. It became clear that it not only affects those close to us but the generations to come. This was especially evident in the lives of Lydia, Lois and Eunice, and excitingly evident in Mary Magdalene as she delivered perhaps the best news ever when she shared the news that Christ had risen, with her exclamation that she had seen the Lord!





.As with the other stories that we have read, they are certainly worthy of reading and sharing again and again. If for no other reason they will undoubtedly spark praise and joy in our own hearts as they refocus us not only on the greatness of our God but on the important role He has called us to play in His plan. 





Leaving a legacy of faith may sound daunting and undoubtedly will not be without it’s challenges, but has as been pointed out this week – if we fail to do so, we put all of the generations coming behind us in certain danger of being like those in the day of Noah, whom the LORD saw and said that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. The LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved His heart. Or, like the days when it was said of the Israelites that, after Joshua’s generation died, they did not know the LORD or any of the things he had done for Israel.





After a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the LORD or any of the things he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:10





This is why I have said many times during the course of our study: Consider these stories and their truths often so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your eyes on Him and not the circumstances of Your life – only then will we truly live the beautifully surrendered life that God desires for His daughters.  As we saw again and again over the past six weeks, the choice is ours. May we choose well – so that Jesus may say of us, “they chose the best part”.





“Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:42 NET





Want More?





If you missed any of this week’s devotions from me you’ll find them at this link





If you missed any of the Love God Greatly Blogs for week 6 you’ll find them at these links:





https://lovegodgreatly.com/god-be-near/





https://lovegodgreatly.com/what-we-have-seen-and-heard/










Jesus, I Need You Part 1





6 Days





As I have been announcing, our next LGG Study will begin on August 8, until then I hope you’ll stay in the Word with me. On this leg of our journey we will follow the map of Scriptures laid out by Thistlebend Ministries, in their study, Jesus, I Need You. The study is intended to help us deepen our relationship with Jesus – and who doesn’t need to do that? You’ll need your Bible or your favorite Bible app, a notebook and pen. Hope to see and/or hear from you Monday, July 25. 

	







	
			

			
				
							
		

	
	

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Women of Nobel Character: Fearing the Lord





Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31; SOAP: Proverbs 31:28-30





Her children have risen and called her blessed;
her husband also has praised her:
29 “Many daughters have done valiantly,
but you have surpassed them all!”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting.
A woman who fears the Lord—she makes herself praiseworthy.
Proverbs 31:28-30  NET





OBSERVATION: What’s the story?





Can i be honest? Ever since my divorce I have tuned this verse out. Once seeking to strive for it but now no longer feeling qualified because of lacking the title – “wife”. So when I saw it on this week’s schedule and sat down to reread it and then write a devotional – let me just say there was some resistance. However, God is good and His Spirit gentle and swiftly brought peace and gave wisdom to delve into the passage from a different angle. This involved some “Google Searches”, namely, “can an unmarried person have noble character?”.  To my delight I wasn’t the only one that had googled such a question and I found a wonderful answer that pushed me to another look at the passage. The author, Lauren Oquist, wrote: 





…if you read Proverbs 31 closely, none of the skills she has depend on her husband or kids. She has these skills because she exercises wisdom in everything she does.
The standards for a “virtuous wife” are the same standards for a virtuous woman — single or married.
Can I Be a Proverbs 31 Woman if I’m Single?
NOVEMBER 27, 2017     Lauren Oquist





She goes on to give a list of character traits that are seen in verse 13-25, including: trustworthy, hard worker, resourceful, Makes good use of her time, Good with money, generous, thinks ahead, and she’s wise. All worthy traits right, but here’s the quote that got me and freed me from the agony of  hearing or coming across this passage again. (Don’t you just love the way the Spirit works?)





This is what will characterize us as a “Proverbs 31 Woman”: our fear of the Lord. Our genuine desire, from the core of who we are, to please Him.
Can I Be a Proverbs 31 Woman if I’m Single?
NOVEMBER 27, 2017,  Lauren Oquist





I truly believe that even if I were still married this go-round with P31 and the beautiful devotion by Lauren Oquist would have still brought the relief and encouragement I now feel. Of course this means I will also be purposefully honing some of these traits again – so then there’s that – LOL!










Application: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?





While fearing the LORD is the thing that characterizes us as being of ‘noble character’, or a Proverbs 31 woman, the character traits listed above are still important to our lifestyle. The good news is the stronger our “core desire to please Him” is, the easier – or perhaps I should say, the more natural, the traits will be. 





PRAYER: RESPONSE to the Word





Father, thank You for hearing by prayer to guide me through this last and dreaded lesson. Your Spirit graciously did not let me lay it aside nor did He fail to open my eyes and mind to understand it better. Strengthen my core desire to please You and to be characterized as a “woman who fears the LORD – and makes herself praiseworthy.”





YOUR TURN:





What’s your take away from the Proverb 31 passage?





REFLECTION QUESTIONS:





  • Why is it important to live our lives focused on Jesus?





  • How does this one simple choice impact all areas of our lives?





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Don’t miss the Love God Greatly Blog Post





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