Tag: Word of God

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 2

Ruth, Part 1&2

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Adapted from She, Volume 2, pp 63-66

Read: Ruth 1-2:13

In yesterday’s journey, we focused on Naomi, who, along with her husband and sons, had left their Bethlehem home during a drought to dwell in the land of Moab. While they were there, not only did Naomi’s husband die, but her sons, who had married Moabite women, also died. For at least ten years, Naomi continued on in Moab with her widowed daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Our journey picks up today with the story of Ruth, who, when Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, left all that she knew behind and committed herself not only to her mother-in-law but to her God.

Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth did not have to do this; Naomi had released both of her daughters-in-law from any obligation they may have felt by cultural tradition or allegiance to her sons that they owed her. She encouraged them to return to the homes of their own mothers. Orpah chose to do so, but Ruth, as Scripture bears witness, chose to leave not only her family but the gods of Moab behind.

Ruth was strong, courageous, bold, brave, and determined.

She, Volume 2, p64

As today’s study journal points out, Ruth was not only strong but she was also courageous, bold, brave, and determined. As we journey through her story, we will see how God used these characteristics to accomplish not only His purpose for her life but also for His people. We will watch Naomi’s bitter spirit come alive with joy, and we will see God divinely direct Ruth’s path to a “happily ever-after, purpose-filled ending”. Though I’m sure it didn’t seem that way to her at first.

Ruth is new to town, widowed, along with her widowed mother-in-law, who is admittedly struggling with bitterness. “They have no man to protect or provide for them, and no source of income,1” but Ruth does not shy away from doing what is necessary to survive and provide. It would not have been uncommon, in their situation, for her to have to beg, become a prostitute, sell herself as a slave, or glean.2 However, as God would have it, Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, so Ruth sought Naomi’s approval to glean. While gleaning sounds like the best of the options the women had, it came with its own problems and dangers, and, depending on the field you found to glean in, there was little to no promise of a profitable haul, as gleaners were limited not only in what would be left but in what they could take. In addition to these hurdles, there was the added challenge that Ruth was a Moabite and may not find a field where the owner would allow her to glean. There was also the real and present danger of assault because she was not only a young widow but a foreigner.

“There is nothing safe about Ruth going to glean in an Israelite’s field. She is wise to request permission from the harvest manager.”

I am a firm believer that there are absolutely no coincidences with God. So when we read that Ruth ended up in the field of Boaz, a relative of her dead father-in-law, Elimelech, we are allowed to see that she was divinely directed by God to this particular field.

So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

Ruth 2:3

When Boaz arrives and sees Ruth, he is curious and talks to his foreman about her. The foreman explains who she is and gives a glowing report of her work, which moves Boaz to talk to Ruth and encourage her to stay and work with them, telling her she will be safe and enjoy the privilege of water to drink and food to eat. Ruth is so moved by his kindness that she fell at his feet with gratitude, and asked him, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?“

Boaz gave Ruth his field to glean from freely.
God has given us His Word and He shares it with us freely.

May we be mindful of where we are spending our time, and from what (whose) field(s) we are gleaning.

She, Volume 2, p66

As we read in verses 15 and 16, Boaz also made sure she would have good success in her gleaning. She had so much success that when she arrived home, Naomi’s surprise and joy were evident as she gathered details from Ruth about the day and how the Lord had blessed them by sending her to Boaz’s field.

That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.

Ruth 2:20

Friends, it is worth noting that if Ruth had returned to her mother’s home as Naomi had encouraged her, she might never have met Boaz and known the blessing of God’s hand on her life in the days and years to come.

It was no accident that God directed her to the field of Boaz.

“she went”
God gave her the faith to go.
“and came”
God directed her steps of where she should go.
“and gleaned”
God provided exactly what she needed, when and where she needed it.

She, Volume 2/p45
The More We Know

I love that the journal for today points out that not only did Boaz encourage Ruth to stay, but that he knew no other field could meet her need, and that “the field” is a picture of the Word of God. Oh may we continually glean3 from His Word.

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

Verses of Encouragement, part 1

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For every discouraging circumstance of your life, God’s Word has an encouraging answer filled with hope and light. Print them off, write them down, or snap a picture with your phone.

The collection of verses was originally shared by gotquestions.org

When you’ve lost something, or someone, who has been very precious to you:
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Revelation 1:18 “I am alive forevermore.”
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies’”

When excruciating waves of chronic pain and weakness are crashing over your head:
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

When your cupboard is bare, and your last crumb has been scraped up:
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “… give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

When no one seems to understand, or even to care:
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

When you are being persecuted for your faith:
2 Peter 2:9 “the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment.”
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

When the nation, the world, and even the family and the church, seem to be disintegrating:
Isaiah 14:24: “The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand.’”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When life’s fears and insecurities gang up on you:
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Romans 8:1 “There is, therefore, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

When your mood is dark:
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice, and be glad in it.”
Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

When worn out and worn down to the point of giving up:
Hebrews 12:2-3 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and completer of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

When abandoned by everyone meaningful:
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 “… God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”

When friends and even family seem to be abandoning God:
Psalm 100:5 “God’s faithfulness endures through all generations.”
2 Timothy 3:1-4 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”

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

The Authority of Scripture

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation / w5d3

Scripture: (Read and SOAP) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21

Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

2 Peter 1:20-21
Observation from the Journey

While I enjoyed spending time chasing the ‘Scripture squirrel’ that you’ll find below, I would be remiss if I didn’t zero in on today’s key element to a firm foundation of our faith – that being that “all Scripture” – every Word that is written in the Bible – is inspired by God. Consider these words from today’s LGG Journal entry to understand why I believe If we do not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and treat it as such – we not only waste our time reading it, but we1 dishonor God and 2 do ourselves an injustice.

  1. “The Bible is not merely a collection of human writings but the very Word of God. … It highlights God’s power and love to create humanity and redeem His people through His Son in order that we may be restored to a right relationship with Him.” The journal also points out that “It’s through Scripture that we receive spiritual nourishment and guidance for our daily lives.”
  2. “As believers, we are called to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. It is through reading, studying, meditating on, and memorizing Scripture that we open our hearts to hear God’s voice. The Bible reveals God’s character, His promises, and His plan for our lives, drawing us into a deeper relationship with Him.”

Application: Living out the Journey

We would do well to live out the Word of God, “aligning our lives with biblical truths.”1 Solomon explained to his son that he should pay attention to the words Solomon was sharing with/teaching him. He encouraged him to let them penetrate his heart and not let them out of his sight – saying that the words would bring life to those who find them and health to their whole body.2

When we are dedicated to God – we spend time with Him in His Word, and when this happens, we are being trained and prepared for righteous living. It also offers correction when we are wrong. As the writer of Hebrews puts it – “The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword …” Why? Because it is inspired … given … and breathed out by the true and living creator God.3

ME🦋

The Scripture Squirrel I chased today:

I have used a variety of translations with today’s passage from 2 Timothy. to show that they are all nearly identical. This is especially true with the opening statement that All Scripture is inspired by God. I remember learning these two verses in high school in Mrs. Hall’s English class. She was one of my favorite teachers, fostering in me the love of words and the art of writing. She is also one of the reasons I worked on memorizing God’s Word, as it was a weekly requirement. We had to use the KJV then, so that is how I first learned these verses; however, since then, I have memorized it in the NIV translation, but I am now determined to work on the NET version – because of the one highlighted phrase below (See the NET bullet point).

  • NLT: All Scripture is inspired by God 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. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work
  • KJV:  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
  • ESV: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
  • NET: Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
  • NIV: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work

There are not a lot of differences between the translations, as you can see. However, the NET is used in our study journals, and the words in verse seventeen captured my attention as Paul’s reasoning for the usefulness of God’s Word is translated as “that the person dedicated to God (or ‘the man/servant of God,”) may be capable and equipped for every good work.” All the other translations mean the same thing but there’s something about the way the NET defines “a man of God” as “the person dedicated to God…” – As I read the words in the journal, I jotted down these words in the margin: “When we are dedicated to God – we spend time with Him in His Word, and when this happens, we are being trained and prepared for righteous living. It also offers correction when we are wrong. As the writer of Hebrews puts it – “The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword …” Why? Because it is inspired … given … and breathed out by the true and living creator God.3” – Friends, if we are dedicated to God and His inspired Word, we will forever be growing in faith and grace and deeper in love with Him.

Friends, if we are dedicated to God and His inspired Word, we will forever be growing in faith and grace and deeper in love with Him.

ME🦋
Prayer of Response to the Journey -from the LGG Journal

Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Help me to understand its authority and read it daily. Use Your Word to teach, correct, and train me in righteousness. May it nourish my soul and transform my life as I seek to know You more deeply. In Your name – Amen.

The More We Know

For more insight, please be sure to read today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

He’s Coming Again!

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Based on the LGG Study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w2d3

Scripture: Revelation 3:10-11 (11)

 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. – Rev 3:10-11. NET

Despite the fact that I frequently share the devotions from the study journal, I will not always do so. However, I do believe they are most helpful in gaining further insight. I find this to be especially true in this particular study since some passages, like today’s, deal with eschatological events; I’ve mentioned before that while I have heard many messages preached about the end times and have read through the book of Revelation, I have never delved into a study of Revelation and/or the end times. So, as it arises in this study and others, I lean even more heavily on trusted resources, friends, and Pastors to help me understand what I’m reading in order that I might correctly explain the Word of God. 1

This one thing I do know and cling to daily – Jesus is coming again!

Coming again coming again
Maybe morning maybe noon
Maybe evening and maybe soon
Coming again coming again
Oh what a wonderful day it will be
Jesus is coming again

Jesus is Coming Again / John W. Peterson

INTO THE WORD from p 64 of the Come, Lord Jesus, Come / an LGG study

Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. Revelation 3:11

These verses, originally written to the church in Philadelphia, can be considered controversial depending on your view of the end times. Some scholars have read these verses and believe they are a promise that the church, as a whole, will be spared from experiencing the tribulation in the end times (1 Thessalonians 4:13—5:11). However, other scholars believe these verses apply to only the church in Philadelphia, regarding a specific hour of testing and persecution in their time and region.

Either way, we know Jesus is coming back. That is both a fact and a promise. So, whether God chooses to remove the church before His final testing, sometimes called the tribulation, like He did with Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom, or He allows the church to go through the tribulation and protects her as He did with Israel in Egypt or with Daniel in Babylon, we know that God has made a provision for us. He has been providing the church with strength and courage in the midst of horrific persecution throughout the centuries and is doing so to this day.

Instead of allowing division to form around the interpretation of eschatological events, let’s remain united around the promise of Jesus’ return and our hope of eternity spent with Him.

PRAYER

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for the promise that You are always with us, to the end of the age. Help us not allow our hearts and minds to give in to fear, but give us supernatural courage to face the world without fear, knowing that You are fighting our battles. Help us remember our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who are currently facing great difficulty for Your name. Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness in our lives and the blessed hope we can carry in our hearts as we look to our future spent with You in heaven for eternity! Until that glorious day, we will continue to pray come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

The More You Know

Are you ready? If you have believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then you are by the grace of God part of the family of God, and your eternity is secured forever in Heaven with God. However, if you have not believed, I plead with you to read Know These Truths and call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

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 Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Psalm 119, Quiet Time, Wisdom

Wonderful Truths

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Psalm 119, Seeking Him With All Our Heart/ w1d4

THE JOURNEY (SCRIPTURE AND OBSERVATION)

Scripture: Psalm 119:17-24/ SOAP 18, 23-24

Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live and keep your instructions.
18 Open my eyes so I can truly see
the marvelous things in your law.
19 I am a resident foreigner in this land.
Do not hide your commands from me.
20 I desperately long to know
your regulations at all times.
21 You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.
22 Spare me shame and humiliation,
for I observe your rules.
23 Though rulers plot and slander me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.

Psalm 119:17-24

I don’t know which I like more, the beauty of the Psalmist’s heart or the way the way he writes. Both capture my attention and arouse an ‘amen and hallelujah!” Not only does he understand that he is a servant of the Most High God, he also realizes that he is totally dependent on God and His goodness – to the point of life and obedience and eyes to see the wonderful truths in His Word. As a foreigner in a land that most likely was much like ours, filled with wicked and perverse people who challenged, if not condemned, his faith, he seemed to fear that somehow God’s Word would be hidden from him. If you’ve ever gone long periods of time without the Word, you understand the fear that grips the heart when you need to ‘hear from God’ and He seems to be silent. Though he was scorned and insulted, the Psalmist knew that he had obeyed the laws of God and was determined to meditate on God’s decrees, declaring he was pleased with God’s laws and knew that they gave him wise advice.

Living the Journey (Application)

Understanding that we do not belong to ourselves because God bought us with a high price (1 Cor 6:19-20) is crucial to having a heart that beats for God. We are utterly dependent on God, and if we do not understand this, we will not be committed to living obediently to His Word or having our eyes open to see the wonderful truths that it holds. We will not care and perhaps not even notice that we are foreigners here on earth and are desperate to keep His commands at the ready; instead, we will live like the arrogant and wander from His commands, letting our sin alienate us from Him. When others speak against us, we will lose a desire to meditate on His decrees and we will find no pleasure in His laws nor see them as wise advice.

We must be careful to remember who we are in Christ and live accordingly – as:

  • servants of God
  • dependent on Him for life and godliness and even the ability to see the truths of His Word
  • a citizen of Heaven and foreigners here on earth who realize a need to know God’s commands so that we do not wander outside of His will or lose heart and desire for Him/His Word when others scorn or plot against us.
Prayer for the Journey

Father, grant us a servant’s heart that lives to please You and longs for Your Word. Guard us against wandering from your commands. Let us not lose heart when others plot against us or slander us, but meditate all the more on Your Word. We are desperate for You and long for You in this dry and thirsty land to open our eyes to Your truths and hold to them as the wise advice that they are. We love You, Lord – and are so thankful for Your Word and the examples You have set before us. – Amen!

Music for the journey

Boy, this is a blast from my past. I used to love to listen to the Satlers – 😀

Question FOR THE JOURNEY

It’s easy to think of ourselves as God’s child and forget that we are also Lord and Master. Why is it important to remember that we are also His servants?

What do you think the Psalmist meant when he said that he delights in God’s rules?

THE MORE WE KNOW

Another prominent theme in Psalm 119 is the profound truth that the Word of God is all-sufficient. Psalm 119 is an expansion of Psalm 19:7–9: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.” There are eight different terms referring to the Word of God throughout the Psalm: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, words, and ordinances. In almost every verse, the Word of God is mentioned.

gotquestions.org
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, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

Human Standards or Christ’s?

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God / w6d3

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 / SOAP: verse 3-5

For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

In the first two verses of the Scripture for today, Paul makes it clear that he doesn’t want to be seen as living according to human standards but rather by the meek and gentle qualities of Christ. As Paul has made known in many if not all of his letters – while we are human beings we are not to live by the old nature of the flesh but by the new nature of Christ and His Spirit in us. This is true in every situation of life, even, if not especially, the times when we seem to be at war.

When the enemy engages us in battle it is important to not fight back from our own strength or our human emotions – these get us no where in the spiritual battles. We must use the weapons that are made powerful by God, such as the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, as well as prayer and praise. Only with these will we be able to tear down the arguments or arrogant obstacles that set themselves up against the knowledge of God. Only with God’s Word will we be able to take our thoughts captive, making them obedient to Christ. God’s Word is not only a light to our path and a lamp to guide our feet but it is His power for every situation we will face. It is His power against sin and for salvation, and for life and breath and peace and all else we have need of. With it we have victory and without it we face anxieties and sure defeat.

Prayer of Response

Father, Your Word is a lamp to our feet it is a light that guides us in the way we should go, it brings joy and strength and peace to every day. Through it we have hope and know Your love. Help us to know Your Word Father and to use it well in the spiritual battles of this world. Help us to lift up our prayers and praises to You faithfully for in them there is great power to defeat the enemy! Thank You that this world is not our final home and that Your Word and the truth of who You are and what You’ve done is ours to know and use as victorious weapons in the battles that wage around us. Thank You for not only equipping us but for being with us in the battles – for we know that You never leave us or forsake us – and we know that we do not fight alone!

Worship Through Song

Check out Michael W. Smith’s – Surrounded (Fight My Battles) for a beautiful time of worship and emphasis that we do not fight alone. God has provided His Presence, His Armor, and a Garment of praise (Isa 61:3). https://youtu.be/YBl84oZxnJ4?feature=shared (I do not own the rights to this song.)

Reflecting on or Journey

How can we destroy the strongholds and arguments in our lives?

Going Further in the Journey

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Armor of God

The Way of Success

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based on the LGG Study, The Armor of God / w6d2

Scripture: Joshua 1:7-9 / SOAP: Joshua 1:7

Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep. Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do.

Joshua 1:7

In today’s verse, Joshua charges the people with three things that will lead them to success as God’s people. As believers, we are to live in this same way. Joshua gives a list to the people in his day of what this looks like, and it carries over throughout Scripture. We see it in the verses we have used consistently throughout this study from Ephesians 6:10-18.

According to Joshua, we are to be strong and brave, to carefully obey God’s commands, to stay on God’s path, which leads to success for the believer, and to memorize, or to know, God’s Word. Note the similarities in Paul’s instructions to find strength and power from the Lord and to clothe themselves with the whole armor of God. We also know that both the belt of Truth and the Sword of the Spirit – which are the first and the last pieces of armor have to do with knowing the Word of God; in actuality, every piece of the armor comes back to the Word of God. For surely there is no righteousness or peace or faith aside from God’s Word. As Joshua told the Israelites, their success depended on their obedience, and so too does ours, as failure to use the weapons God has given us will undoubtedly lead to our destruction rather than the victories we experience when we live obedient to Christ.

Knowing God’s Word

We cannot live obediently to something we do not know, and we will not know that which we do not expose ourselves to often.

ME from the Inside-out

I know that memorizing Scripture can be daunting, but clearly, it is our calling as God’s people. However, please remember that while the word memorize means to commit something to memory, it also means to learn something by heart. I would venture to say that while you may not be able to tell me word for word what the Bible says, if you have been a believer for very long, you would be able to tell me the way to Christ or the way of forgiveness or who created the world and in how many days. Spending consistent and meaningful time in God’s Word will always lead to knowing God and His Word, and the more time we spend, the more we will know. I would also remind you before you say you just can’t – that God has empowered us to do everything He has called us to do.💜

I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.

2 Peter 1:3
Prayer of Response

Father, I confess that without Your Word I am not strong and brave, without Your Word and the power of it I would live by the fleshly desires of this life rather than by the godly ways you have made known to us. Thank You for today’s reminder that we are to not just come to a saving faith but we are to know Your Word so that we can know the way You want us to live and so that we will live successfully as Your sons and daughters. Help us to remember Your Word. Help us to spend quality time in Your Word so that we can remember It – help us to remember that Your Word is a sure and present and victorious weapon agains the evil one and those who prey upon Your children. We are Yours – In Jesus Name – help us to be strong and brave. Amen and Amen.

Reflection of the Journey

How does Joshua 1:7 encourage us to be strong and courageous in the face of challenges and difficulties?

Going Further in our Journey

Posted in Bible study, From Broken to Restored, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

The Power of God’s Word

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based on Love God Greatly, From Broken to Restored / w3d3

Scripture: Nehemiah 6:10-14; Psalm 119:9-16 / SOAP Psalm 119:10-11

With all my heart I seek you.
Do not allow me to stray from your commands.
In my heart I store up your words,
so I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:10-11

In the continuing story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall, the enemy is proving to be relentless – using a variety of tactics. This required Nehemiah and those working on the wall to be continually on guard, and not just physically but mentally. Because of this guardedness – Nehemiah was able to “recognize” the attempted trick to get him away from the wall in our passage today. Verse twelve says that he recognized that the man he was talking to and the invitation/suggestion the man made was not from God. Nehemiah knew the man was trying to scare him and have him sin by entering the temple – because Nehemiah knew God’s law and teaching. He understood that there were rules about who could enter and how that was to happen.

In our SOAP verse today we see how this knowledge and guardedness plays out in the lives of believers still today. Note how the Psalmist both poses and answers a crucial question for those who belong to God and want to “maintain a pure life” as we have been called to do. The question: “How can a young person maintain a pure life?” The answer: “By guarding it according to God’s instructions, or commands as many translations say. The Psalmist then seems to clarify that these instructions/commands come from God’s Word, and that he hides these words in his heart in order that he might not sin against God. Don’t miss verse fifteen though, for here he gives the rest of the formula for being able to recognize whether something or someone is from God or not. He doesn’t just guard his heart, he doesn’t just remember God’s commands – he meditates on God’s Word and he focuses on God’s behavior. In other words the Psalmist was intentional – and we must be too.

He hides God’s words in his heart in order that he might not sin against God.

Psalm 119:11

We may not be able to commit to memory every word in the Bible but we can read it and listen to it taught – again and again and again … until we know His voice from the world’s (Jn. 10:27) and recognize godly behavior or requests from the ungodly ones. Keep in mind this is a lifelong growth of faith and pursuit of holiness but as these begin to happen life changes, decisions are different, love and grace and mercy are richer and fuller – both when received and given away. God’

Reflection on Today’s Journey

When you receive counsel or instruction, how can you make sure it aligns with God’s Word?

Going Further

Remember you can find more insight at LoveGodGreatly.com

How to memorize the Word of God https://www.savortheword.org/