Tag: Study

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Gospel, Triumphs over Trials

Grounded in the Word

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Triumph over Trials / w5d5

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: 2 Peter 1: 19-21 and SOAP: verses 20-21

Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, 21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:20-21 NET

Peter continues the thoughts shared in the previous verses concerning his eyewitness account of Jesus’ transformation from His earthly appearance as a man into His eternal, glorious appearance as the Son of God! Now, Peter backs that up with a reminder of the tangible and reliable prophetic words of Scripture.

Like Peter, the prophets did not concoct the words or make up stories; they simply and faithfully spoke or wrote as the Spirit of God led them. – Thus, the Word is living and active, able to penetrate – even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and to judge the attitude of the heart. Likewise, it is trustworthy and true – a pure and powerful Holy light that we must pay attention to – even as a moth is drawn to the flame. – May we persistently run to the Truth, the Word of God, born by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

For by this Word, we are: 

given life Pro 4:20-22 … able to see where we are walking (Ps. 19:105) … comforted (2 Cor 1:3-4)

strengthened (Ps. 119:28) ,,, convicted (Heb. 4:12) … protected (Ps:119:11) … set free (Jn. 8:32)

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Ground yourself in the Word. Paul wrote to Timothy that we are to be students of the Word. The idea is that we need to know God’s Word, so we understand what He expects from us and what offends Him. When we know His Word, we will live in a way that receives His approval, and we will be able to correctly explain His Word of Truth to others so that they might hear the Gospel and be saved.. 

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 NLT
QUESTION FOR THE JOURNEY

How are you allowing the Holy Spirit to unveil the treasures of God’s Word in your heart?

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Holy Spirit, the Father sent you as my Advocate, my helper— to teach me everything and remind me of everything Jesus taught or told His disciples when He walked on this earth as a man. Please help me open the Word faithfully and understand it so that I walk/live in a manner pleasing to the Father and correctly explain the Word of Truth to others. Help me to faithfully hide the Word in my heart so that I might not sin against You. Unveil the treasures of God’s Word in my heart and let them shine from me as light and flow from my tongue as encouragement and blessings to all around me. In Jesus’ sweet and mighty name, I pray – amen!

THE MORE WE KNOW

For more insight be sure and read today’s blog post by the Love God Greatly team

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

A Heavenly Perspective

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Triumph over Trials / w3d4

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:1-6; SOAP: 1 Peter 4:5-6

They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God’s standards.

1 Peter 4:5-6 NET

From the journal of Love God Greatly, Trials over Triumphs / p106

There is a profound reality that we, often conveniently, keep in the back of our minds: one day, we will all stand before the throne of God. That moment will be the most significant in our existence – a divine appointment where all people will be judged. For believers, this will be a time when we will be viewed, not by our sins, but through Christ’s atoning sacrifice and the faith and forgiveness we have found in Him (Romans 8:1). We will also receive the rewards for a life lived in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12). For unbelievers, it is a sobering reality of facing punishment for rejecting the free gift of salvation in Jesus.

Imagine standing there, in the presence of God, giving an account for every word, every action, and every thought of our lives. Peter’s words are not meant to paralyze us with fear but to ignite a holy urgency within us. He urges us to live our lives with a heavenly perspective, knowing that our time here is but a breath in light of eternity. We are to steward this life – every second of it – as a precious gift, intentionally living in ways that are honoring to God.

So, how are we spending our days? Are we investing in what is eternal – loving others, deepening our relationship with Jesus, and sharing the Gospel – or are we getting sidetracked by this world’s fleeting comforts and pursuits?

Peter emphasizes why the Gospel is preached. It stands as a beacon of hope, offering the promise of eternal life – a life with God and untouched by sickness, pain, or sin (John 17:3; Revelation 21:4). This message is the treasure we hold in our hearts and the very message the world desperately needs to hear.

Sweet friends, Jesus is returning, but His second coming will be vastly different from His first. He will not return as a helpless infant; He will come as a righteous Judge. In light of this impending reality, now is the critical time for us to share the Gospel – far and wide – with the precious days we have been given.

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Invest in what is eternal:

  • loving others
  • deepening our relationship with Jesus
  • sharing the Gospel
  • live by God’s standards
  • turn away from the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

This is not simply a list of sins to avoid but a list of addictions that entangle those who live for comfort and pleasure. Those who live for the will of God (like Christ)—with a willingness to experience physical suffering to accomplish it—set the course of their lives in a different direction.

Bibleref.com / 1 Peter 4:3
Question FOR THE JOURNEY

How can we shift our daily perspective to be more in line with eternity? What steps can you take to live a life that faithfully stewards the time you’ve been given in light of the coming judgment?

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the life You have given me. Help me to live it with a constant awareness of eternity. Give me the strength and grace to live a life that is pleasing to You. Prepare my heart for that day when I will stand before You and give an account for my life. Let my life be an offering of love and gratitude to You—Amen.

THE MORE WE KNOW

1And yet, God is paying attention. Pleasure-seekers will stand before God and “give account” of their lives at the final judgment. God—More insight on 1 Peter 4:5

2More insight on 1 Peter 4:6

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

His Loyal Love Endures

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Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In GOd’s Character
Today’s Reading /Psalm 136 / SOAP Psalm 136:23-26

to the one who remembered us when we were down,
for his loyal love endures,
24 and snatched us away from our enemies,
for his loyal love endures,
25 to the one who gives food to all living things,
for his loyal love endures.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his loyal love endures!

Psalm 136:23-26

How sweet and comforting it is to know God’s love is loyal and it endures. I can’t help but think how beneficial it would be for us to imitate the Psalmist and make a list of reasons to thank Him and to follow each reason with the phrase – for His loyal love endures – if for no other reason than to rehearse it in our minds so that when there doesn’t seem to be any miraculous deeds or creation seems to be crumbling rather than ‘awing’ us. Or when chaos and our needs are overwhelming us, or we find ourselves wandering in a desert or walking into battle, even then may we say – to God belongs all thanks and praise because His loyal love endures!

To endure is to abide … to last … to remain … to continue …
in other words … God’s love is forever

Me – from the Inside out 🦋

It’s also a healthy exercise to reverse the order of the Psalmist’s wording. For instance,

  • ‘Because your loyal love endures, God remembers us when we are down -‘
  • ‘Because His loyal love endures, God saved us from our enemies’ – or
  • ‘Because his loyal love endures, He provides our food.’

This is what I call a biblical perspective that impacts or changes everything! When this is our perspective we find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow! And, we find countless reasons to praise the father.

Reflection Question

What’s something you have to thank Him for?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study
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Eve: Women Are Needed

Day 1, Week 1 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24; SOAP: 18, 22-23

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” … Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23 “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”

Genesis 2:18, 22-23
Observations:

Don’t you love that God didn’t just create but became intimately involved with His creation? He could have simply created man to name and tend the animals and all that He had made but instead He wanted the best for man. God demonstrated not only His interest but His concern for man’s needs and providing the exact fit. The man not only noticed what God had done but was pleased with what the LORD God had done for him. We hear his pleasure in his exclamation, “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh!” Then he gave her a fitting – and if you ask me – a romantic name, a derivative of his own, saying – “She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.'”

Application: How then should we live?

Sometimes when we are looking to see how we can apply Scripture the only answer is to take notice of what God has done or is pleased with or would like to happen. In this case …

  • Take notice of how God worked in and for His creation and remember that He never changes. His behavior with Adam and Eve, here “in the beginning”, is a picture of how He is with us now and we should respond accordingly
  • Take notice that God created a woman – not a carbon copy of man but a “counterpart” – one who “fit” him perfectly
  • And don’t miss that she was “just right”, not only in man’s eyes, but in God’s – see Genesis 1:31.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. … Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Genesis 1:27 and 31
Prayer: Response to his word

Father, how creative You were and how blessed we are to get to know how and why You created ‘woman’ for man. It is good to be reminded that You were pleased with both man and woman and that we weren’t simply a carbon copy but a perfect fit and compliment for the man, and that we were both meant to be used for Your glory. – In Jesus’ Name be glorified in each of us participating in this study. Help us to learn how to become beautifully surrendered woman in every area of our lives. Amen and Amen!

More Insight: Available at Love God Greatly – Monday morning, June 13, 2022

https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

I welcome your comments here – thoughts, insights, questions … or join me on my facebook group, Journey Through the Word at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2825151424418487/