Tag: The Word

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Fruit of the Spirit, Uncategorized

Rest For Your Souls

Posted on by MaryEllen

Inspired by LGG’s study, The Fruit of the Spirit, w5d2

Roadmap for Our Journey: Matthew 11:25-30; SOAP: verses 28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

In His infinite knowledge, God knew that those who chose to follow Jesus would carry heavy burdens and need rest. Jesus Himself told those (this includes us today) who wanted to follow Him that they would have to turn from their selfish ways and take up their cross daily. They would have to hate what is wrong and cling to what is good. These requirements aren’t easy for us today, and they certainly weren’t easy when Jesus and His disciples walked this earth. Because of this, God not only sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins; He also offers His followers, including us, a rest only Jesus can give. We have this rest through the power of His Spirit, who enables us to carry out God’s call on our lives.

It is not only helpful but necessary to understand that Jesus is speaking to a crowd. Some, perhaps many, of the people would have been Jews. “These Jews,” according to bibleref.com, “would have been struggling to know God the Father. Their religious leaders had placed enormous burdens on them (Matthew 23:4), and they were laboring to carry those burdens in hopes of being approved by God. Jesus has just said that He can reveal His Father to anyone, and He immediately offers rest to everyone who is weighed down.”

The rest for the soul that Jesus offers is an internal, spiritual respite, peace of mind, and emotional stability rather than the removal of physical work or life’s trials.

Leslie Schmucker

Core Aspects of Jesus’ Soul Rest (source unknown)

DimensionDescriptionBiblical / Theological Meaning
Nature of RestInward calm and refreshment (anapauo)It relieves the exhaustion of fear, worry, grief, sin, and self-reliance.
The Giver’s CharacterGentle and lowly in heartJesus does not shame or crush the weary; He offers a compassionate, steady presence.
The Method (The Yoke)Taking Christ’s yoke and learning from HimWalking alongside Jesus as a partner in a shared, balanced load rather than carrying life alone.
The ResultPeace of mind and heart (zoe)It replaces performance pressure, perfectionism, and heavy legalistic burdens with grace.

Jesus describes the rest not as a physical rest, but as “rest for your souls.” Bibleref.com explains it like this:

The path to the Father through Jesus is not one of weary labor and heavy work. Jesus’ earlier analogy about the path to life being narrow and “difficult” (Matthew 7:14) is entirely separate, and speaking from a different perspective. From the view of the world, following Christ means taking on difficult circumstances and giving up worldly pleasures. From the view of eternity—of salvation—following Christ means giving up the impossible task of carrying our own sin.
Christ does not say it here, but the gospel will reveal that Jesus is offering to carry the burden and do the work in order to lead those who come to Him—those who are “yoked” to Him—to the Father (Matthew 11:30; John 6:29).

Bibleref.com/Matthw 11:28

THE PERSPECTIVE OF ETERNITY

What Jesus refers to here, however, is the perspective of eternity. Compared to the impossible task of earning one’s own salvation (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16), Jesus offers something infinitely “easier” (Matthew 11:30). By making this comment, Jesus is not offering freedom from commitment. His yoke is still a yoke: it still comes with demands from a holy God. But the apostle John will later write that obedience to the God we love is not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This is true in part, the gospels will reveal, because Jesus will carry the ultimate burden of our sin for us and will provide power in the Holy Spirit to carry out His will. ~Bibleref.com

COMPARED TO

EARNING ONE’S OWN SALVATION

Jewish people described living under obedience to the Law as having a yoke upon them. In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees made that load even heavier by adding manmade requirements and regulations on top of the law of Moses (Matt 23:4)

Friends, Jesus’ offer to swap yokes meant our sins would be placed on Him, and His “yoke and burden”, described as “easy and light”, would be placed on us. ‘While Jesus offers rest and partnership, accepting his yoke still means living under the authority and demands of a holy God, though his grace and strength make them bearable.’1 But these demands (obedience to the God we love) are not burdensome. When we truly understand what God has done for us, what He requires of us, and what comes from following Him, we see that following Him is not a burden but a privilege we do out of love for what He has done for us.

Scripture makes it clear that we are saved by grace, not by works, but through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9). However, Paul goes on to explain that we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,2 so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. So while salvation is a free gift, it comes with a commitment to God,3 but this commitment is not a burden but rather a privilege, as Jesus “carries the burden, the yoke of our sin for us and provides power in the Holy Spirit for us to live out the commitment.”

We must come as disciples to learn, willing to be guided by His yoke – not merely to receive something. 4

· The yoke of Jesus is easy and light as compared with the yoke of others.

· The yoke of Jesus is easy and light as long as we do not rebel against it.

· The yoke of Jesus has nothing to do with worries that are forbidden to us.

· The yoke of Jesus does not include the burdens we choose to add to it.

Jesus is Gentle and Humble in Heart

Jesus knew that gentleness was what weary people needed most. They don’t need more demands, pressure, or performance. Rather, they need a gentle, humble Savior who sees their exhaustion and says, “Come. I’ll take that. Rest here.”

Jesus doesn’t just model gentleness for us. He invites us to learn it from Him. Gentleness is something we absorb as we stay close to Jesus and watch how He treats people. His gentleness toward us shapes our gentleness toward others.

Are you weary today? Come to Him first. Let His gentleness toward you fill you back up. The gentleness you extend to others will always flow from the gentleness you have first received from Him.
You cannot give what you have not received. So receive it today. He is waiting.5

d. For I am gentle and lowly in heart: Jesus revealed His nature when He described Himself as gentle and lowly of heart. It is His servant’s heart, displayed throughout His ministry, making Him qualified to be the one who bears our burdens.

e. And you will find rest for your souls: Jesus described His gift to His followers as rest for your soul. This unmatchable gift – both powerful and profound – should be considered the birthright of those who come to Jesus and are His followers. They should believe that something is wrong if they don’t experience rest for their souls.6

Response of Prayer

Lord, I was weary and burdened, and I came to You, and You gave me rest for my soul…Rest from striving, from shame, and so much more through the years. You have taken my yoke, the sin and heavy burdens of my life, upon You, and You have allowed me to experience the ease and privilege of Your yoke, Your gentleness, and Your gentle and humble heart in so many ways. I am most blessed to belong to You and pray that You will help me imitate Your gentle, humble, servant’s heart to the world around me. ~ Amen and Amen

Response of Worship

The More We Know

https://www.leslieschmucker.com/blog/2021/1/30/33pmprzaq2i4ykl26jw3igpb9jryy6

  1. Bibleref.com and others ↩︎
  2. A New Creation ↩︎
  3. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ↩︎
  4. Enduring Word, David Guzik, Matthew 11:28-30; 3.c. ↩︎
  5. LGG The Fruit of the Spirit, digital journal, p. 149 ↩︎
  6. Enduring Word, Matthew 11:28-30; 3.d,e ↩︎

i. “You will find rest for your souls is an echo of the Hebrew text of Jeremiah 6:16, where it is the offer of God to those who follow his way; Jesus now issues the invitation in his own name!” (France)

Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Gospel

Letting the Word Get into Us

Posted on by MaryEllen

Friday / The Word of Christ / Week 5, Day 5
Read: Colossians 3:12-17; Psalm 119:9-16 SOAP: Colossians 3:16

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:16-17 NLT

Paul has written to the Colossian believers that, because they belong to God, certain virtues should be displayed in their lives. He actually refers to the virtues as though they are pieces of clothing to put on. They are meant to replace the behaviors of the old nature he listed for them earlier in the letter. Such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language, and lying should no longer be a part of their lives. Instead, they/we are to live as representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ, clothed in mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Peace is to rule in their hearts now; thankfulness should be evident, and love is to be the glue that binds all of these virtues together.

… love is the glue that binds all the other virtues together

Undoubtedly, we may feel overwhelmed when we read this, questioning how we can be expected to live so differently than the world. I believe the answer is found in verse 16, where we are instructed to “let the word of Christ [or the message about Christ] dwell in us richly. Friends, when the words of Christ and those about Christ fill our lives, we are equipped to focus on Him rather than on self or other distractions of this world. We are empowered to live as His representatives, not only being taught and exhorted by the Word that fills us, but being able to teach and exhort each other with wisdom from His Word. This is why one of my mottos/goals for the groups I have taught has always been: Getting into the Word and letting the Word get into us. I believe this is so important to our faith, our Christian walk, and our relationship with God and others. As we continue on our journey through His Word, may we keep this goal in mind and faithfully strive toward that end.

Exhortation: a strong, earnest attempt to persuade, encourage, or urge someone to take a specific, positive action.

Paul also mentions singing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Bibleref.com explains that Paul’s purpose in mentioning music is that it could be used to help keep the word of Christ actively dwelling within us. Praise and worship music and old hymns are my love language with God, and I know many of you enjoy incorporating music into your worship/study time as well. Not only can the music draw us closer to Him, but He uses music to help His Word come alive in us, or to encourage, guide, or comfort us.

I love that the Scripture reading for today’s journey included Psalm 119:9-16. It is a beautiful complement to this portion of Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers. It is also a wonderful example of how we can allow the Word to dwell in us by hiding it in our hearts. This happens when we meditate (focus on it continually) or commit to memorizing it. David said that he stored the words up in His heart. He kept thinking about them with the purpose of not sinning against God. I especially love that the result of David’s commitment was not only finding delight in God’s Word but remembering it. We may be intimidated at the mere thought of ‘memorization’, but if my feeble mind can do it, anyone can. If nothing else, we can write it on note cards that we carry with us or keep in strategic places so that we see/read them often. We can also pray for God to help us remember His Word ~ after all, He has equipped us with His Spirit, who will not only teach us everything but remind us of everything He has told us.

 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you. John 14:26

Reflection and Application

What are some practical steps you can take to let the Word of Christ “dwell” in you?

Response of Worship

Response of Prayer

Father, thank You for Your Word and for the privilege it is to have it dwell in us. Thank You that it is able to guide us and urge us to live in the way You have called us to live. Thank You for the light it sheds on our path as we walk through this world full of landmines and temptations of every kind. Thank You for the reminder from the words of David that when we hide it in our heart, it helps us to not sin against You. Your Word is powerful and encouraging; it equips us to walk in this world and empowers us to share You with others. Cause it to dwell in us richly. – Amen

The More We Know

What is the Word of Christ in Colossians 3:16?/Gotquestions.org

 Warren Wiersbe, interpret the expression to mean the Word of God: “The Word will transform our lives if we will but permit it to ‘dwell’ in us richly. The word dwell means ‘to feel at home.’ If we have experienced the grace and the peace of Christ, then the Word of Christ will feel at home in our hearts. We will discover how rich the Word is with spiritual treasures that give value to our lives” (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 2, Victor Books, 1996, p. 139–140).

Holiness and unity, both individually and in the body of Christ, are cultivated when we let the word of Christ make its home in us—when we give the truth of God’s Word ample, comfortable space in our hearts and lives through teachings and Bible study, counseling one another with its wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16), and meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:1–2). https://www.gotquestions.org/word-of-Christ.html

God’s Word is meant to permeate our lives so profoundly that it takes up permanent residence. This abiding infilling is made possible through the indwelling Holy Spirit, who reminds us of everything Jesus said and did (John 14:26; 16:13). As we let the word of Christ dwell in us richly and are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–20), we become living representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ for God’s glory in whatever we say and do (see Colossians 3:17, 23; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 6:16). The life of a born-again believer, fully submitted to God and occupied by Christ, “will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God . . . and that word is the Good News that was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:23–25, NLT).

Consider these words from today’s LGG Journal Entry/p160

What a beautiful name Paul gives to the Bible when he calls it “the word of Christ.” Jesus is the center of the Bible. Its prophecies and laws are there to direct us to Him, and “every one of God’s promises are ‘Yes’ in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

What an exhortation to let this Word “dwell in you.” In order for something to dwell in us, it first has to enter in. We must first read and hear what the Bible says. Then we let the words “dwell” in us, to remain and live there.

God’s Word will dwell in us when we love it, use our minds to really understand it, believe it, and obey it. It will dwell in us when we sing it. We should have the Word of Christ dwell in our memory.

Pick two or three promises from the Bible. Write them on pieces of paper. Stick them above your sink where you do the dishes. Review them and meditate on them until you have them memorized and dwelling in you.

This is how we live by faith and how we fight the battle against sin. When we feel tempted and discouraged, we must go back to the Word of Christ, calling it to memory and believing it. God will work mightily in our lives as we start meditating on His wonderful promises and learn to rest in them by faith.

May the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you put all your trust in God’s precious promises and as you pray: “Lord, please do as you have said.”

Father, I can’t thank you enough for your Word and all the precious promises that are mine through Jesus. Let it dwell in me today. Amen.

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Proof is in the Living

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based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus, w4d2

Read James 1:22-25 and SOAP: James 1:22

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

James 1:22-25

Our works do not save us, but they do bear witness to our salvation through Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

If you know me or have followed my posts, you most likely know that 2 Corinthians 5:17 is one of my key life verses.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

The truth of Paul’s words rocked my world many years ago and continues to push me to live as a new creation and not the old. For, as Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus, we have been created in God’s image–in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth. What a beautiful reminder of the need and reason for believers to abide in Jesus (the Way, Truth, and Life) – for how can we be like one we do not know or spend time with?

Today’s journal entry in Abiding in Jesus, by Love God Greatly, explains it like this: “When we become Christians, we are given a new nature, a new birth. The Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He is the sap flowing from the vine into the branches, producing a godly character. That is why when we abide in Christ, we will bear fruit.”

James reminds us that becoming a Christian is only the beginning. The real proof of a person having been born again is that he or she will now ‘live out the message.'”

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy redemption,
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus, Author: Thomas O. Chisholm (1917)

Of course, “Living for Jesus” comes with challenges that we all struggle with. As the Love God Greatly entry points out, “The walk of a Christian is not an uninterrupted series of victories over sin. We often stumble and fail. Sometimes it looks like we are going two steps forward and three steps backward. But if we belong to Jesus, we will have victories over sin again and again. We will be different from the way we used to be. We will steadily grow in holiness and godly character. We have a living faith, not a dead, fake one. We are a living branch, abiding in the Vine and producing good fruit. The Father will make sure His children walk in His ways, to prove that we really belong to Him. We know these works do not justify us, but they are the proof of our having been made new in Jesus.”

Friends, my prayer is that God will help us to be more than spectators or listeners of His Word. May we have the courage and faithful commitment to abide in Jesus, the Living Word, and to live it out every day. May we be always mindful that while our works do not save us, they glorify God in Heaven and give evidence that we have been made new through Jesus Christ. To God be all the glory, praise, and honor. Amen and Amen!

The More We Know

If you do not know Jesus, I invite you to read the truths about who He is and what He has done for you.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

Choosing The Jesus Way

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Based on the LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues,/w3d2

Read: MICAH 3:9-12; 4:1-5 and 4:10-12
Bad morals corrupt good character

Today’s journey through Micah reveals an unflattering picture of God’s people and disturbing news of what was to come. Israel’s leaders had forgotten the God whom they were committed to serve. Micah writes that they hated justice and perverted all that was right. They were building Zion through bloody crimes and Jerusalem through unjust violence. Legal cases were decided on bribes that the leaders received, even the priests proclaimed rulings for profit, and the prophets read omens for pay. As if this corruption was not bad enough, despite the fact that devastation and destruction were already wreaking havoc within the nation, the leaders continued to claim to trust the LORD and were telling the people, “The LORD is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!”

What About You?

We, too, face a similar choice. In a world that says that serving self and doing what seems right to you is the most important, we must, as Joshua told the people in his day, decide whom we will serve. Will we serve self or God? Take a moment to think about your own heart. Are you willing to set aside your wants and desires to follow what God may be calling you to? Are you willing to put others first over getting something you want? Is your heart’s desire to make the name of Jesus known over building your platform or building your own renown? It’s a choice we all must make.

Our God Who Pursues/LGG Journal p99
The hope of Future Days

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 2 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. 3 The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore 4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise! 5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.

Micah 4:1 -5

The Temple Mount/Mountain of the LORD’S House written about by Micah: A hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a holy site for thousands of years, including in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Jesus Way

Admittedly, serving oneself or garnering the applause or approval of others can be pretty enticing. Goodness knows I have succumbed to those choices more than I care to admit, but I can tell you it generally led to disappointment or heartache. Choosing the Jesus Way isn’t always the easiest, most desirable, or most comfortable way, but it is most certainly the best way, for it leads to immeasurable blessings and joys.

As I wrote that last sentence, A group of women I used to lead on Sunday mornings came to mind. The name of our group was JOY, which stood for Jesus … Others … You. Seems like a great acronym for our focus today. Jesus first, then others, and then yourself. Whether it is in serving or living out our day-to-day lives, or even in our prayer lives, pay our eyes to stay on Jesus, the One we chose to follow.

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Luke 9:23-24

But I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31
Prayer of Response

Father, do not let us be like the leaders of Israel, who forgot their commitment to serve You and Your call on their lives to serve the people. Help me to remember Jesus’ similar call to let go of my life and follow Him. It isn’t always easy, but You knew that, and You sent the Spirit to empower us to do all that You have called us to do. Holy Spirit, keep my focus Heavenward, guard me from the distractions of this world and the enticements of the flesh. May I be known for living a J.O.Y.-focused life: Keeping Jesus first in all things and serving and loving others before myself. In the name of Jesus – I pray and believe – Amen!

The More We Know
The Jesus Way Devotional
The Jesus Way Song

Posted in Bible study

GOD’S WORD, OUR COMFORT…

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by Jen Thorn | LGG Post of Jun 28, 2015 |

Welcome to week 3 of our Psalm 119 study!

What do you run to for comfort?

For me it is people.  If I am sad or scared or worried or discouraged I go to my husband or friends.

But people are not the only source of comfort, right? Some seek comfort in their money, retail therapy, food, work, or sleep. Others try to escape through fiction books or movies. And sadly, some pick really dangerous ways of coping by using  drugs and alcohol.

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort from others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us that we are to encourage each other. It is also fine to watch a funny movie to make us laugh when we are feeling a bit down. But we can’t rely on earthly things to bring real lasting comfort.

Once the friends leave or the movie is over we are right back in the midst of our suffering. Earthly things can only comfort us in part, but the Psalmist tells us that there is a place we can go to find real lasting comfort.

Each eight verse section in Psalm 119 has a theme, and today Psalm 119:49-56 deals with God’s word as our comforter. Verse 50, in particular, is a key verse for us:

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me.

If we accept them by faith then these words become personal. These words are not from some God, but from our God. They are words to us from our Father and from our Redeemer. We belong to him, and he cares for us.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction ~ 2 Cor. 1:3-4

God’s word can give us peace while we are in the midst of a wild storm. It can bring comfort while we are afraid, tired, and worn out. We can have hope that he will see us through to the other side.

Romans 15 tells us that “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

The best comfort we find in Scripture is that Christ died for us.  It puts everything else into perspective. We have something far better waiting for us. These hard times – while they are difficult – will only last for awhile.

God’s word has the ability to give us life in the midst of any circumstance… life that is made up of hope, joy, praise and strength.

Looking To Jesus,

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

The Value of Ancient Words

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Triumph over Trials / w4d3

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-15 and SOAP: verse 12

Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have.

2 Peter 1:12 NET

Since I often feel like a broken record—sharing the same message over and over again—I find this verse quite encouraging. We are never so well versed in the Scriptures/Truth of God that we should cease to be reminded of them, nor should we stop reminding others of them. God’s Word is vital to our walk of faith—not just for salvation but for day-to-day living. God made this clear from the Old Testament to the New. We are to talk of them when we rise up and when we lie down; we are to teach them to our children, Deuteronomy 6:7 and 11:19. The author of Hebrews tells us to encourage one another daily … and to stir one another up to love and good deeds (Heb 3:13; 10:24-25); and the writer of Proverbs 4:20-24 placed great value on the Word, saying – “My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight,
guard them within your heart for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.” Jesus Himself spoke of the value of the Word in the fourth chapter of Mark.1

Don’t be afraid to use God’s Word, both in your own life and in the lives of others – even if, like Peter -and myself – the message is repetitive.

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Talk of God’s Word when you rise up and when you lie down ( Deut 6:7)

Tell/teach them to your children (Deut 11:19)

Use them to encourage and to stir others up (Heb 3:13 and 10:25)

Go and make disciples (Mk 16:15)

Feed the sheep (Jn 21:17) – this was Peter’s primary goal – not to criticize but to encourage.

QUESTION FOR THE JOURNEY

What foundational truth has impacted your life the most? How can you pass it on to the next generation?

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Your Word, oh God, is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is life to us who are being saved by it. Let us be faithful to read it, to study it, and to repeat it to others – both to the perishing and those who know it well. Help us to encourage one another daily with it and to remember that it is good to use it as the light it is meant to be, whether for ourselves or for those around us. Surely, it is by Your Word that we will experience triumph over our trials. For this, we praise you and say amen – in Jesus’ name.

Music for the Journey
THE MORE WE KNOW

For more insight please visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Spirit

The Spirit

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Lent – A Season of Drawing Close to God

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Luke 4:1-15; and SOAP: 2 Corinthians 3:17

 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 4:17

I can’t help but start with the passage from Luke and the story of Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. This lesson on dealing with temptation has been a huge help to me in my walk of faith through the years. I have benefited greatly from the example of Jesus’ method of dealing with temptation and have put specific verses to memory to use as weapons of warfare when the enemy comes at me. However, this time, as I began reading, what caught my attention were the words: “Then Jesus, full of the Spirit … led by the Spirit … and returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” I love that Luke writes with details like, “Then Jesus,” which is a follow-up statement to the preceding verses that told of Jesus’ baptism and the heavens opening and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove.

 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Luke 3:21-22

Jesus, or the Word, as John describes Him in John 1:1, was victorious over the devil!

Though His fasting had emptied Him of food, it was clear that Jesus was filled, not only with the Spirit but also with the Word, and that the words He chose and boldly spoke to the devil overcame every temptation hurled at Him by the devil. The Word of God was the victory that empowered Jesus to return from the wilderness and eventually begin His public preaching. 🦋

LIVING THE JOURNEY (APPLICATION)

Like Jesus, we are full of the Spirit and led by the Spirit – and when we choose to keep in step with the Spirit we will be victorious over the enemy. Consider the words Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Holy Spirit before His ascension into Heaven, “But the advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told You.” When we keep in step with the Spirit, walking in and by the Word of God, the Spirit will help us to use the Word to overcome the enemy just like Jesus did. While we may not ‘fast’ for forty days as Jesus did in this extraordinary event, we can make it a habit to pray – Father empty me of me and of the things of this world and fill me up with You, Your Son abiding in me and I in Him, and Your Spirit leading me, teaching me, and reminding me of everything You have said.

PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

Father empty me of me and of the things of this world and fill me up with You, Your Son abiding in me and I in Him, and Your Spirit leading me, teaching me, and reminding me of everything You have said. For where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from the power of sin and its pull or hold on me! Thank You, Father, that it isn’t the name “Christian” that makes a believer strong, but rather it is the Spirit, Who is our strength and Who intercedes for us in my weaknesses. I am most blessed to belong to You!

THE MORE WE KNOW

Jesus came to set us free spiritually. 

The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses

The Lord is a Spirit

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The World-vs-Your Soul

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Today’s Verse: Mark 8:36

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36

Have you ever known someone that was never satisfied? You know, the person who seems to have everything going for them but they’re just never content. Their lack of satisfaction or contentment motivates them to grasp at the next best thing “the world” offers with the thought or the hope that “it” will make them happier. A better car… a bigger house… a better relationship…a better job… more money… more status… more accolades… more happiness… you get the picture. The list is endless and exhausting, and according to today’s verse – it can be dangerous.

Don’t get me wrong, none of these things in themselves are bad – but the danger comes when our motive is based on what the world offers or says is best rather than on the reality of what God has given us. For God has graciously gifted us with “life to the full”(John 3:16 and 10:10). This gift includes the Kingdom of Heaven and an eternity in paradise with Him! There is nothing better or anything in the world that can make our joy and contentment fuller than this. 

Check out today's inspiration for this post @ 'our daily verse'

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Good News of Great Joy

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Today’s Scripture: Luke 2:1-52; SOAP – Luke 2:10-12

As inspired by Love God Greatly’s – He Sees, He Knows, He Cares – W1D4

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news[that brings great joy to all the people: 11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:10-12

Today’s larger passage, vv1-52 of Luke chapter 1, is familiar to all believers, and aside from John 3:16, it may be the most popular passage of the Bible. Before we zero in on verses 10-12, it is helpful to look at what comes before. Basically, God sets the stage, aligning all things with His perfect will and timing. From the ‘unexpected pregnancy’, to the census, the genealogy of Jesus, and heaven’s army joining the angel and filling the sky – God is clearly the orchestrator of all these events.

Many things jumped out to me – but the one thing that connected the dots back to the beginning of Luke chapter 1 was the other angelic messages. The first two announcing a shockingly unexpected birth yet to come and the third – found in our focus passage – announcing the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds in the fields nearby. In today’s story, as well as the others, we hear the angel, speaking on the Lord’s behalf, saying, “don’t be afraid! However, there were some notably unique messages in this third announcement from the angel, namely that he appeared to a group and not just one person … he encouraged them to listen carefully, because the message was one of good news – not just for them – but for all the people. Perhaps the most exciting news came when he clarified that the good news was the arrival of the Savior of the world – but not just a Savior – He was their Savior! And then he told them where and how they would find the baby.

The shepherds believed the message and wasted no time in going in search of the baby – “So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw Him, they shared what the angel had told them about this child. And, not just that but they also returned to their fields glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, for everything happened just as the angel had said.“

How then should we live?

It is vitally important for us to live glorifying the Father, sharing the good news of great joy by telling others what He has done. We see this played out not only in the Shepherd’s response, but in the beautiful portrayal of Simeon’s and Anna’s lives and their words to Mary and Joseph, verses 25-38. We see it played out in the life and words of Jesus, delivered through the virgin Mary – just as the angel said. We see it played out in the life of John as he lived out his calling to prepare the way for The Lord. And we see it played out in the lives and writings of the apostles throughout the New Testament. May our legacy be that others saw and heard it played out in our lives as well.

My Prayer Response to the Word

Father, I can’t help but think of the words of the prophet Isaiah, who said, How lovely on the mountain are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says your God reigns. An angel brought good news of great joy to the shepherds as well as to Mary and Zechariah, and all of them made known what you had said and done. May this be true of Your people today Father. May we live obedient to Your Word and to the examples of Christ to be Your witnesses to the ends of the earth. For were we not chosen as a people for Your own possession, as Peter said, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light? Father help us to be faithful with the message so that others may share in the good news of great joy that is meant for all the people, for how will they believe if they do not hear? Thank You for Your intricate plans and timing and Your faithfulness to carry them out for us that we might know Your Son and share in the salvation He came and died to bring. Help us, as Mary did to treasure and ponder these things in our hearts – for from the the mouth comes the overflow of the heart! In Jesus’ most holy and powerful name! Amen –