Acceptance - 10

Text: Romans 12:9-21

Today we will close our study on Acceptance. I don’t know what God has for us in the future but will be in prayer as we put together a new study to follow this one. If you would join me in prayer to that regard I would be grateful.

For today, though, we’re going to get a final grasp on a concept that ties all this acceptance together. We’ve looked at when others don’t accept us, or when we don’t accept others. We’ve studied the beautiful love of God in His acceptance of us. We’ve looked at surrendering our desires and accepting God’s plan for our lives. But I believe the bottom line that would boost the effectiveness of all of these is accepting Him. Accepting God for Who He says He is, accepting what He wants to accomplish in our lives, and how He wants us to be used in His awe-inspiring plan. Accepting His character as Holy, complete, and our ultimate standard.

While there is no way we could really go in depth into this entire subject in a single post, or even in our entire lifetime, we’ll dig into it enough that we can apply the principles to our lives today, and build a foundation for the way we think and act.

DO: Begin in prayer. Ask God to clear your mind of anything that might be a distraction today, and that might persuade anything other than His precious Words to speak to your mind and heart right now.

In our text today we see some of the commands God gives us. I want you to look just past the command and into the character of the Holy God behind it.

Read Romans 12:9-21.

By looking at even just this small list, and realizing that God would never hold us to a standard that He Himself does not uphold… realizing that these give us a small picture of who God is and what He is like, does that sound like someone you would love to emulate? Love to follow? Even love to just be around? Of course it does.

DO: Write out a list of those commands, starting at verse 9 and going all the way through to verse 21. This may take a few minutes, but I’ll wait.

Did you pretty much write out the whole passage? I did.

It’s a tall order that’s for sure. And I bet, if you’re anything like me, some will come easier and some will be harder. But know that God has got them all down pat. In fact, He’s the basis for this kind of behavior. This kind of behavior would not even cross our minds on our own. Our sinful nature is wired opposite of His, and so we not only don’t exhibit this behavior naturally, we naturally reject it. We reject it because it’s in opposition to our nature. Following me?

But as a child of God, everything changes. We accept Him, because He accepted us just as we were. No cleaning up needed. No façade, no polish… not even makeup. Just us.

1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.” KJV

Love here is from the word agapaō, meaning to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly.

Q: Which part of the meaning of agapaō touches you most deeply?

And that’s it. That’s the only thing we can claim- is His love. Ours is merely a response. And that’s all He asks. The rest – the list of instructions, and everything right would come as part of that response. Part of accepting His unspeakable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” NASB

Indescribable here is from the Greek word anekdiēgētos, and it’s the only time we find it in the Bible. Its meanings are

Anekdiēgētos: unspeakable, indescribable

or the negative form of ekdiēgeomai: to narrate in full or wholly; to relate, tell, declare

In other words, there’s no way to fully relate it. No way to completely tell how great and awesome His gift is.

How then, do we even begin to accept it?

Doesn’t God just blow you away?

And that’s what faith is. Accepting without fully seeing. Without fully knowing. One day, sisters, we will know, see and understand Him. One day, but not this side of Heaven. But aren’t we grateful? Here’s why this makes me grateful. Because to fully know and understand Him it would be easier to put myself in a position I do not belong. I belong in the finite. I belong where I don’t understand. This keeps me humble.

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” NASB

John 13:7 “Jesus said to him, you do not understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later on.” AMP

Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” NASB

Job 9:10 “Who does great things, unfathomable, and wondrous works without number.” NASB

So, accepting Him isn’t some lofty, unreachable aspiration. It is a humble one. To humbly just accept. Ungrasp your stubborn fist, and open your hand to accept.

Acceptance - 6

So you’re not accepted.

You don’t fit in.

Fit in, may I ask, to what? With whom?

How you answer that question may well be the solution to your problem.

You see, when we try to fit in with the world, and continually have to change and adapt, and may I be so bold as to say compromise, we will continually fail, because it is not who God made us to be. Not who God saved us to be.

Please read 1 Peter 3.

I’m going to jump back a few verses and add 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” NASB

If we want to be accepted, we ought to pick the One whose acceptance matters most, n'est-ce pas?

And what are our criteria for acceptance?

Q: What do you tend to try or do to attain acceptance?

Q: How’s that working out for you?

I want you to take a look at 1 Peter 3:3-4.

Q: Who ought we be looking to please?

Q: What are His criteria? (see verse 4)

I would bet that His list looks a bit different than our list. We try and do and attempt at anything and everything, because then we can look back and say, “Look at me. Look at what I accomplished, when really, nothing we did caused the all-holy, ever-just God to look on us with mercy. He gave us that mercy, and on top of that, the profound gift of grace. What more could a girl ask for?

To have the world love us, too? Is that it?

We are supposed to shine. Stand out. Why would we want that acceptance? Why would we want that acceptance?

See verse 12 in our text:

1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,And His ears attend to their prayer,But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” NASB

Theorize with me: Would you rather have the world accept you for a time, and continually have to chase it? And be accepted by a world who is going to be separated from our all-holy all-loving God for eternity? OR would you rather have a bit harder time fitting in, but have an eternal God who is all powerful and all-forgiving sweep you off your feet and invite you into His holy Heaven?

We must keep this in mind. Our aim to fit in ought to have nothing to do with this world. In our next session we will look briefly at being accepted by God. Right now, though, I want you to focus on striving to be unaccepted by the world – because if the world is at odds with us, we ought to be glad. Here’s why:

James 4:4 “You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” NLT

Romans 8:7 “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.” NLT

Our steadfast focus should be on Christ. Convinced, sure, certain, solid:

2 Timothy 1:11-12 “And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” NIV emphasis mine

Any hatred toward you for being a Christian, for living like Christ, for being different, standing out (or sticking out), is not truly directed toward you.

John 15:18-21 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” NASB

Q: Why does the world hate you, according to verse 21?

Q: If you are hated, then, what should be our desire for that person?

Should we get angry or hurt when someone doesn’t accept us? Someone who is not a child of God?

I argue that we shouldn’t. Here’s why. Because our greatest emotion in that moment ought to be compassion for their souls- because they are not headed for an eternity in Heaven.

Pray this week for God to help turn your hurt into compassion – a desire for them to know our God. More than likely, you will not be feeling it. Often when I don’t feel it, I ask God to help me use His love for them until I feel it myself. Be a channel for His mercy love and compassion toward His precious creation. In this way, we focus less on our own rejection, less on our own hurts, and turn our hearts outward. And I believe that’s just what God wants from us.

Acceptance - 4 Dealing with Rejection

Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” NASB

It’s bound to happen. If it hasn’t plagued you for a portion or all of your life already, trust me, it will happen sooner or later. Someone is going to reject you.

There are a variety of grounds they may choose to reject you on – anything from your faith, your personality, something that transpired between you, or for no seeming reason whatsoever. It’s going to happen.

Please read our texts: Romans 8:1-18, John 15:18-21, John 16:32-33 These are going to be our base texts for the next couple sessions, so you might want to find a bookmark.

Rejection hurts. There’s no way around that. It just really hurts.

Q: In your journal, please list some people who have rejected you. Do your best to contain your emotions for now. Let’s look at this as objectively as we can; we’ll deal with emotions in a minute.

DO: Now take your list, and categorize those people (as best as you can, for only our Heavenly Father truly knows the hearts of them) into two categories: believers and non-believers.

Though rejection from both categories certainly hurts, I can tell you that for me personally, rejection by other believers is far harder to deal with. Over the next couple days we are going to look at both. In some ways we deal with them the very same way. But there can be a bit different approach between them at times too.

I’d love for you to realize one very important thing.

Jesus suffered rejection every bit as much as you, and then some. And He remained sinless through it all.

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” NIV

I find it interesting that in NASB the word for empathize is written as sympathize. The meaning is rather a dual one; the Greek word is sympatheō, and it carries meaning of both sympathy and compassion. The King James Version uses the word “touched” (source). In any and all of these, we know the very important truth that Christ also suffered like us, and He is understanding, compassionate and sympathetic toward our situation. He does know what you’re going through. It would be immature and childlike for us to declare to Him “you don’t understand” or “nobody understands me”. He does. Completely.

Please look again at our text in John 16, specifically verse 33:

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” NASB

We are promised trouble. This life was never meant to be easy. Christ knew the pain we would face, and that’s part of why He came here to overcome it. To conquer it on our behalf.

So how do we handle it when a believer rejects us? This person is supposed to be on our side, are they not? Yes. And they are, technically speaking. They just may not be doing what they should be doing.

What? May not be? How about ‘they are certainly in the wrong’! I am hurt here, and they are to blame!

Did I catch you? Is that what you’re thinking? I would be if I was you.
But here’s why I can’t draw a blanket conclusion that they are in the wrong. Sometimes, I believe God moves people apart for a very specific reason. If both parties are Christians, then I’d say the odds are even more in favor of this. Here’s why. God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He alone can see the bigger picture. He alone knows the steps that must be taken to shape and mold His children in the best way possible. If that means separating two of His children for a period of time, then that’s the way it must be.

Are any of you parents? You know, then, certainly, that at times you need to intervene and separate your children – for their good. Is this making any better sense when I put it that way? Can you relate?

At other times, when you are rejected by another Christian, it may be that they are not walking in obedience to God. They, just like anyone, yourself included, are still human. They are still capable of failing. I’m not here to excuse anyone, believe me. I am here, though, to let you know that you’re not responsible for them. You’re just simply not. You are responsible for you, and nobody else.

Romans 14:12 “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” NASB emphasis mine

Look again at Hebrews 4:15. Check out behind the scenes on the word tempted:

peirazōto try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himselfto test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgmentsinflict evils upon one in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faithsource 

Sometimes, as hard as it is to swallow, God may be allowing rejection in your life so that your faith is strengthened. So that you learn that He alone is your constant. He alone is the one who you should put your faith and confidence in.

Psalm 71:1 “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.” NKJV

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” NASB

I’d like for you to look again at our text in John 15 before we close. I have two admonitions for you.

1) Don’t take it personal.

In verse 18, Jesus says any rejection you receive is actually directed at Him. You are His child.

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” NASB

Which brings me to my second admonition:

2) Remember He will help you through it.

Every day might be a struggle. It may not become resolved this side of Heaven. But know that He’s got your back. And your heart. And He’s sent you help. See John 15:26. That Helper is referred to in other passages as our Comforter. And in this case, they’re One in the same.

In your prayer time, ask for that help. Now’s the time to unleash your emotions – tell it all to Him, He can handle it, and it brings Him such joy to hear you tell it to him, even if it brings searing pain or rips open a wound you were trying to ignore. Have God help you through it. He’s no stranger to rejection, and he does know what you’re going through. He’s been there. 

Set Free 9 – Negative Thoughts and Words

It hits you when you’re at your weakest. When you’re tired. When something rubbed you the wrong way at work. When you didn’t get that raise. When you got reprimanded- whether or not it was your fault. When your husband was late home from work. When your dress was a bit tighter than you remembered. When you got laid off. When your child didn’t obey.

Whatever happened, it did not make you feel good about yourself, or your life.

And it replays again and again in your mind with “what-if’s” and “If only I’s” punctuating the story.

And then come the lies. Ones like “You’re not good enough.” “You’re a failure.” “You are trash!”

And you believe it.

It’s the horrible downward spiral of negative thoughts and words.

But where does it come from?

Q: What is the primary source of negativity in your life? It may be your thoughts, it may be a person, or a media source, some combination of all of these. It may be something else entirely. Please write down your answer after careful thought. You may share if you keep your answer vague. Please remember this is not a gripe-fest. This is for healing.

Please read our text: Philippians 4:8-9 and Psalm 103:2-4

Fix your thoughts on what is true!

John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” NLT

Q: I would like for you to prayerfully consider this: When you have negative thoughts, do you believe they are an attack from Satan, or do you believe that it is your sin nature of doubt and pride showing up?

(it may be a combination of the two)

Knowing the source of the negativity help you tackle it.

If it is a lie from Satan, remind yourself of these precious words from Scripture:

Psalm 103:2-4 “Bless the Lord, O my soul,And forget not all His benefits:Who forgives all your iniquities,Who heals all your diseases,Who redeems your life from destruction,Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies” NKJV emphasis mine

When you think a thought such as “I’m not good enough,” or someone criticizes you, “You keep messing up!”, take heart. God doesn’t see you that way. He has already lovingly carried a heavy cross on a back rubbed raw, just for you! A heavy wooden cross built from all the shame, guilt, and ugly across time. Child of God, that’s where your ‘not-enough’ went to. You don’t hold that any more. Your not-enough was crucified with Christ on the cross. It’s dead. It’s gone. The Christ-in-you is what remains. Just Christ. And with Christ in you, you most certainly are enough.

Don’t you see?

Romans 8:10 “And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” NLT

But Satan knows our weakness, and will do his best to remind us of where we failed. He will try to convince us to turn back, ‘because it’s not worth it anyway. You’re not worth it.’.

Satan is wrong.

Read our next passage, Genesis 18:22-33, looking carefully for God’s heart- because, Sister, God’s heart is the same today as it was yesterday, and the same as it was 4500 years ago back in Abraham’s time.

I believe if Abraham had continued asking for smaller numbers all the way down to one, God would have still agreed.

So if Satan is trying to get you down with guilt over something you’ve done, either recently or before your walk with Christ, remember whose you are. Remember Who cleansed you from all of it. All of it.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV emphasis mine

So if you are cleansed from that, and freed from the guilt, power and punishment from sin, you are truly truly free. It bears repeating. You are free. No matter how often or how cruelly Satan tries to re-chain you to your sin, to your sin’s punishment, to the shame and poor image carried by the old you that Christ freed you from, he cannot. Because you are free.

John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” NKJV

If it is not a direct attack from Satan to get you cycling down the negative way, then is it pride taking you there?

Consider this. Pride is a form of self-focus, correct? So, if we’re looking at a situation, accepting blame or fault when it’s not ours to accept, could that be a form of pride?

Q: Why or why not? Please share.

I believe it can be. If you are so focused on yourself in a situation that you feel like if only you were better, you would’ve done this better, or that sooner; if you feel like you are to blame for your poor circumstance, lack of acceptance, or missed promotion; if you perform better, your husband would come home from work sooner; if you this or that…. maybe we need to adjust your lens.

It’s not all about you! It’s not all about me! Are you following me?

Maybe, just maybe God’s working on someone else in this situation, and you are a civilian this time. What do you think about that?

Isaiah 55:8 ““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”” NLT

Romans 11:33 “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” NLT

As good as we think we are at reading God by now, He may just have a plan we can’t see this side of Heaven. No need throwing a pity-party when our situation isn’t ideal, as long as another soul comes to know Jesus, amen?

We just never know what God’s plan is. If our situation didn’t work out, it doesn’t mean that there’s something the matter with us- it may mean that God’s got a scenario lined up to reach another child, or to bring another child into the molding and shaping they need to be like Christ. If you get a little bent out of shape (or molded and shaped too) in the meantime, then so be it. It doesn’t mean that you’re all that bad to have deserved it.

Make sense?

God thinks highly of you, no matter what He allows across your path. No need fretting, looking at yourself in self-pity, or berating yourself for who you aren’t or what you did wrong. Look at yourself the way God does; as a child of God, imperfect and saved by grace; on this earth to bring Him glory. If we’re wrapped up in what ifs, we are not glorifying our Savior. He saved you from the what-ifs.

His positive thinking is more than the Dr. Phil variety. It’s Kingdom thinking. It’s thinking about God’s bigger picture, resisting the enemy, and shining His light.

Let’s unwind from the negative spiral and focus our thoughts on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2 “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” NLT

Set Free 7 - Defeating Defeat

Defeat.

Middle English deffeten, from Anglo-French defait, past participle of defaire, desfaire to destroy, from Medieval Latin disfacere, from Latin dis- + facere to do

source

The word itself means destroy.

And that’s just what it does.

It destroys us from the inside out, and it doesn’t just make us discouraged. It destroys joy, destroys love, destroys hope, destroys faith. It destroys rest and peace.

It destroys grace.

We were called to victory.

Anything less is not what God wants for us.

Please read Joshua 1:5-9.

We are going to cover several passages today, so have your Bible-fingers ready.

In our text, God is talking to Joshua, who just had a huge responsibility passed off to him. A frightening, tiring, and mentally and emotionally taxing responsibility.

Does that resound with you at all?

It does with me, time and time again.

Not only do we have to do this thing called life, but we’ve got the whole spiritual warfare thing to fight now too? Time for a coffee break, right?

Q: What is an area (or areas, plural) in your life that has got you overwhelmed?

It is overwhelming. And God does ask a lot of us sometimes. But please take heart. He’s here alongside you.

Joshua 1:5 “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” NLT emphasis mine

And, Sister, He doesn’t want you to live defeated. He wants you to live in victory. That’s the whole reason He came. That’s the reason He left His Spirit to live inside of us.

Satan would love nothing more than for us to feel like we’ve lost the battle. Become battle-weary and allow our emotions and fatigue to take over our reasoning; our focus.

He wants us weary. He wants us dragging. And the longer he can get us to drag in the dirt, the more that’s all we’ll see, that’s what we’ll believe, and it will have us so covered in dirt that our light won’t shine.

He wants to steal our light. Steal our joy. Steal our faith.

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” NKJV

Did you see it? Destroy. Defeat. Satan’s goal.

But do you also see the solution?

Jesus.

Just like we read in Joshua 1:5. We have already won because of Him.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” NKJV

(despair: to be utterly at loss, be utterly destitute of measures or resources, to renounce all hope; source)

God is there.

Romans 8:31b “…What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” NKJV

Our cause is His cause.

The heart of God in Joshua and countless other places through His Word shows that His desire for you is victory through Him.

Isaiah 54:17 “But in that coming day    no weapon turned against you will succeed.You will silence every voice    raised up to accuse you.These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;    their vindication will come from me.    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Do you see a resounding theme?

Q: In Isaiah 54:17 this victory is the heritage of whom?

Q: In Ephesians 6:10 we are told to be strong how?

Q: In Philippians 4:13 we are told that we can do all things, but how?

Look at 1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” NKJV 

So it is already ours. If we are living with a defeated heart, where is our focus?

Not where it should be. Not on Christ.

DO: Pray for God to reveal the areas you’ve been feeling defeated. In your journal, please describe them, and your thoughts as you encounter these situations from day to day. Pinpoint the time when your gaze shifts from God to self-sufficiency – I’ll bet that’s when you start battling feelings of defeat. Pray – visit with God about these issues and ask for His help keeping your focus on Him.

Grip His hand. Don’t let go.

Please read the last verses of our base text again;  Joshua 1:7-9.

Q: What tool did God give Joshua for success that he was to use day and night?

See also Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:11.

Though the command in Joshua 1:8 was spoken to Joshua, we would do well to obey it also. The war is the same one we’re fighting; the tools, reconnaissance and strategy are still the same.

God’s Words are the tools we need with us. And because we need it handy always, we NEED to memorize. This is not optional. We need to memorize to become a strong warrior. And so much of the battle is in our head, so wouldn’t it be prudent to put the weapons there too?

It may be a little daunting to realize that we are actually commanded not to feel dismay, however, when you look at the nuts and bolts of it, it looks like this:

Eyes off Christ = dismay.

Eyes on Christ = no dismay.

Not so daunting now, is it?

Take heart.

Take peace.

Don’t be defeated – because we are not defeated. Christ has the victory in hand already. Take His hand and accept victory. And keep looking to Him.

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” NLT

We see the importance of memorizing God's Word. Start today! Get free printable index card of our memory passage here 

Set Free 6 - Battling Perfection part 3

Today’s the day we bring it home. Perfectionism stops here.

Our text today is Galatians 5-6. (Specifically 5:1-8, 13, 15-18, 25-26; 6:1-3, 7-8, 14-18)

Read as much as you can and we’ll begin.

Galatians 5:1-2 “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.” NLT

Now replace “circumcision” with something on your list. (If you’re just joining us, read about the list here)

Look closely again at Galatians 5:2 and 5:6. Do you see the contrast?

It’s either one or the other. You can’t have such a focus on being perfect all the time- if we rely on one good thing (i.e. church going, good deeds, serving in poor countries, etc) to give us good brownie points with God, then Christ is no benefit to us. According to verse 3, if we are counting on good things to give us good standing with God, then we would have to uphold every. part. of. it. Every single rule. And let’s face it. We will fail.

On our own.

So would we rather try (and inevitably fail?) or would we rather choose to humbly accept (and know that it’s fail-proof)? Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

We are called to the latter. Called to freedom.

I don’t believe in destiny, but this is the closest thing to it in my opinion – God’s will.

Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” NLT

1 Timothy 2:3-4 “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” NASB

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” NKJV

So how do we pull it all in to the reality that is the every-day of this flawed world?

We will be tempted. Tempted to try to carry it on our own. Do perfection by ourselves. It will likely even be second nature to many of us – especially people pleasers, checklist people, and those with OCD tendencies.

Just remember (as God does, thank Heaven! Psalm 103:14) that we are human and we will fail. Others around us will fail.

Enter grace.

Enter Holy Spirit – for any holy living – actual holy-living comes from the overflow; comes from the Holy Spirit in us. Choose to surrender to His desires.

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” NLT

Your natural human tendencies will likely be opposite that of the Spirit. Actually, there is no ‘likely’ about it. They will be. God says so. (5:17)

See our flesh-tendencies in verses 19-21 and contrast them to the Spirit-tendencies in 22-23.

 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” NLT

Indeed, we are new. Because it’s not us anymore.

If we keep our focus on our actions being prodded by Christ, keep in mind that it is the Spirit doing it. Picture yourself the latex glove, and God and His Spirit the careful surgeon. The glove doesn’t get the credit or the blame, does it?

Galatians 5:26 “Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” NLT

Galatians 6:3 “For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” NASB

Keep a careful watch this week on our actions. If it is better this week to push pause on a particular ministry until you can determine your motive, I think God would honor that decision. He hates pride (Prov 6:16-17), and so if you need to take a step back to determine whether your service to Him is done out of pride or not, please do. Because you’re not fooling God. Galatians 6:7-8

Q: Do you think that self-imposed standards are always a matter of pride?

Q: Why or why not? Explain. (Use the space in your journal and share in the comments here.)

In my opinion I don’t think they always are. Sometimes we can set up rules to protect ourselves or others, just because we know our own flaws and tendencies and sometimes it is easier to draw the line at a safe distance from the actual breaking point.

Just bear in mind this picture. We are branded by faith. What we do because of that (or in spite of that) does not define us. It may show others Christ’s work in us, to God be the glory, but it does not make us who we are. Christ’s brand alone does.

We are His, and we are covered by His grace.

Let’s act like it; let’s allow that grace for ourselves and let’s allow that grace for others.

Galatians 5:14 “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”” NLT

John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” NASB

Galatians 6:17 “From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.” NASB

The Way the Truth and the Life

We are looking at something akin to the concept of a three-legged stool:

The way and the life with no truth gets you nowhere.

The way and the truth with no life is just senseless.

The truth and the life with no way is pointless.

Do you see how we need all three?

Jesus knew this, wise God that He is.

Please read our text: John 14:1-6

Isn’t it just beautiful?

Picture it. Jesus, lovingly saying, just as a father would say to his child as he leaves for work in the morning:

“I love you, child. I have to go for a bit, but I will be back.” And when He comes back, we get to go with Him.

And like a child, not understanding, perhaps also not wanting Him to leave; not feeling confident without Jesus’ presence, Thomas asks,

“How? We don’t know the way.”

Stay, Jesus. We need you. We’re lost without you.

Indeed. We are.

Jesus then answers with the line we are likely familiar with.

John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”” NLT

I AM.

I AM God.

Because I AM, you can have life.

You can trust Me, I AM Truth.

God is Truth.

And I AM the way.

The only way to live. There’s no way around Him. He IS the way.

3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” NJKV

Walk with Him, hand in hand. Walk in Truth.

And walk as a worthy heir and child of God.

Romans 8:17 “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” NLT

1 Thessalonians 2:12 “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.” NLT

Let’s pull it all together now: We are to walk worthy of Him, yes?

Re-read that.

Worthy of Him?

I’m with Thomas (John 14:5), “How, Lord?”

It makes me want to crumble.

But He didn’t say “crumble, you worthless sinner,” now did He?

He said walk. And He said walk in truth.

In other words, “Walk in Me.”

It makes me picture a Daddy dancing with his little girl’s feet planted on top of His, letting Him do the steps, holding His hands so she doesn’t fall.

Isn’t that us?

3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” NJKV

And it brings Him such joy. He loves to be leaned on; He loves to be depended on.

Let Him be your Enough. Let Him be the answer to your “how?”

As in the last part in our brief I Am study, I want to leave you with a challenge.

Pull out a pen and paper (Really do, I’ll wait.)  There’s something so effective about not only taking the physical time and effort to write it down, but also having the paper/journal entry as a reminder.

Okay, prayerfully, make a list of a few areas you’re not totally leaning on Him for and letting go. 

I will give you an example – for me, before I had my baby, I had to surrender to God the idea of ever being a mother.  Being okay with that if that’s what God wanted.  Before that, I had to come to the same place about getting married.  Don’t get me wrong – both were a struggle!  I would spend days where my conversations with God would go like this, “But God, you wouldn’t have given me this desire if it wasn’t what you wanted for me.  Why do I need to give it up?” 

“I just need you to let me be enough.”

“You are enough – but I want____.”

“Enough.  Just Me. enough.”  I pouted inside.

 “I don’t know how to let go.”  But eventually with enough prayer for Him to help me surrender, then I did.

See it?

“How Lord?”

“In me.  By me, me.  I AM enough for you”

He is the way.

After you make your list, pray about it with Him.  He wants His little girl dancing on His toes.  He wants to be the way for you and He wants to be enough.

Feel free to share here in the comments if you would like some accountability and community.

Light of the World

Text: John 8:12-9:41

John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”” NLT

Light here is from the Greek word phōs, from the word phao meaning to shine, or make manifest. It also carries with it the idea of knowledge and truth; understanding with spiritual purity; the reason and mind; the power of understanding of spiritual things. Understanding truth.

This is the claim Jesus is  making here. And the people (namely the Pharisees, the deeply – or at least outwardly – spiritual ones) basically told Him “you can’t say that – you’re not God!” And what dangerous ground to tread upon.

And Jesus calmly puts them in their place, and even tells them that for all their spirituality, they don’t even really know God.

Darkness, you see, is the absence of light. Darkness cannot enlighten darkness, no matter how you try. Again, like our Bread of Life session stated, there’s no way around it. Light is the only thing. Jesus is the only answer.

Those Pharisees, for all the studying of Scripture they did, for all the head-knowledge they had, should have been able to recognize fulfillment of it through Christ.

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walk in darkness    will see a great light.For those who live in a land of deep darkness,    a light will shine.” NLT

Isaiah 60:1-2 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.    For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,    but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.” NLT

But they were probably in denial – especially since these following verses depict Christ as Salvation for the Gentiles – the Pharisees thought that only Jews were going to be saved.

Isaiah 42:6 “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.    I will take you by the hand and guard you,and I will give you to my people, Israel,    as a symbol of my covenant with them.And you will be a light to guide the nations.” NLT

Isaiah 49:6 “He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.    I will make you a light to the Gentiles,    and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” NLT

Isaiah 60:3 “All nations will come to your light;    mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” NLT emphasis mine

So we understand what it means then, in John 1:4-5

John 1:4-5 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” NKJV

They did not recognize Him. They did not comprehend.

But they did not recognize, they did not believe, because they did not want to. They chose not to.

John 3:19 “And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.” NLT

At the end of our text, all the way in the last 3 verses of John 9, He re-emphasizes this. He says that because those people refused to admit their own weakness, that would be their downfall.

Let us not make that same mistake. We are weak. We are flawed. We are incapable –

Without Christ.

But with Him? With Him, all things are possible (even our entrance to Heaven!).

Mark 10:27 “Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”” NLT

But we must be humble enough to admit it.

And humble enough to accept Him.

James 4:6 “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”” NKJV emphasis mine

Let’s accept the grace and step into the Light. The light that leads to Life.

John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”” NKJV

The Resurrection and the Life

I just really like Jesus. I do love Him, but I really am starting to like Him too. Taking a look at His personality and presence while He was physically present on earth.

So much mystery and so much simple transparency all wrapped up together. He speaks like a poet one minute and like a teacher of children the next, putting everything plain and simple.

In the end of John 10 (Jn 10:22-24) Jesus plainly claims diety. But in many other passages, Jesus is more subtle and used the name God used for Himself “I AM” (Exodus 3:14) Whenever Jesus used ‘I Am’ He was not only saying what He was saying (I am the Vine; I am the Door, etc), but He was also saying, “I am God.”

Our text today is John 11. Please read it now and I’ll wait.

See what I mean about how Jesus talks? I noticed it again in verses 11-14. Praise Him for not criticizing our feeble understanding, Amen?

Our key verses are 25-26

John 11:25-26 “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

(Why don’t you fill in your name in place of Martha’s?)

There’s that ‘I Am’ statement again. Don’t you love it? I don’t know about you but I’m glad Jesus is God. Otherwise I think there’d be a lingering doubt that the Sacrifice really wasn’t good enough.

Let’s back up a bit and look at the passage from the beginning. Lazarus was sick and they sent to Jesus for help. His plan was not their plan.

See verse 33. I don’t like the NLT for this one, where it says “a deep anger welled up within him”. Let’s look at either the AMP version, or the NASB

John 11:33b “…He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.]” AMP John 11:33b “…He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” NASB

I don’t believe Jesus was angry as much as vexed or grief stricken. It grieved Him to see them hurting. I can’t believe Christ was really grieved about the loss of Lazarus, because He knew they’d be together again. Maybe Christ was grieved because just because of death itself – because sin had entered the perfect, God-filled creation. That was never how God had intended for it to be. What a scorching reminder. (I encourage you to share your thoughts on this in the comments. This is just my opinion. What do you think?)

What a man of emotion.

John 11:35 “Then Jesus wept.” NLT

And in His weeping, they recognized His love for Lazarus. That love He holds for each of us.

Death hurts.

Separation hurts.

And it was never part of God’s ideal world.

But we messed it up and as a fallen world, death comes with it.

Praise Jesus that He is Life, and that with Him there is no real death. Just transfer from one life (temporal, earthly) to the next – our eternal, painless one in Heaven.

If God doesn’t like death either, then why did He allow it? The answer is all over our passage – note these verses:

John 11:4b “…it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” NLT

(Note: He is claiming deity again, and claiming glory.  He, Christ, must be recognized as God.)

And verses 40-42; before Lazarus was even raised. Jesus prays His thanks, praising God out loud for testimony, and again to claim sonship. Notice His prayer before Lazarus walks out.

John 11:40-42 “Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” NLT

It worked. People believed, and God got the glory.

John 11:45 “Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.” NLT

 Now can you see God’s plan in this death? Lazarus’s sisters Mary and Martha, and likely many others there, did not understand why Jesus didn’t come sooner. (See verse 32) But those who believed because of this occurrence wouldn’t have believed otherwise. He does always know best, praise Him.

Let’s take a real quick look before we close at verses 46-57. Because of this act, Jesus became a wanted man. Not for lawlessness, but really for God-ness. The Pharisees did not want to believe His deity, and so sought to kill Him.

Christ, being God, saw everything – so He knew this was to come, did He not?

But did that stop Him? No way.

He trusted in the Father’s plan; He knew this was best. God’s work is always worth the risk.

Always.

In summary I’d like to add one thought.

“I am the resurrection and the life” – Lazarus wasn’t the only life restored that day. Because really, in our sin, we are already dead, so salvation is a form of resurrection, yes?

I love that He doesn’t say, “I give resurrection and life,” or even that “I will resurrect from the dead.” Rather, it is so much a part of His nature that He says, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”

He is.

Praise Him.

In your prayer time, spend some time thanking Him for what may seem like an unanswered prayer. He may just have a better answer waiting. And thank Him that He is Resurrection, and that He is Life.

Death is not forever. God has a purpose in allowing His children hurt, suffering, loss, and yes even death.

Trust Him, dear ones.

This post is in memory of my friend, a dear sister in Christ who God brought home 6 months ago today, seemingly before her time. God does have a purpose, and may we recognize and bless Him for that.

We will see you again soon.

Bread and Water

Our most basic needs. Hunger and thirst. When we think of needs – actual needs – it always seems to boil down to three: food, clothing, shelter.

But I’d like to argue that there’s really only one basic basic need. Food. Food and water.
Yes, our culture demands clothing, and shelter is optimal, but there is not getting around the need for food.

Jesus knew this. Why else would He claim to be the Bread of Life?

He knows we need Him, and there is just no getting around it.

Our text is John 6.

Jesus had just gotten through feeding the five thousand. Overnight, some of the people stayed. Overnight, there was also a storm, and Jesus walked on water.

Interesting to note verse 20 – He says “Do not be afraid, I am here.” Or, “The I AM is here.” source What a great reason to not be afraid. Because our God, the Beginning and the End, and the Self-Existent One [Who relies on no one else, having no need for help, and is entirely self-capable] is here.

Would that we were just as eager to let Him in, and let Him take the wheel. (John 6:21)

Then, in the morning, many of the people from the 5,000 crowd were still there, and Jesus sees through their eagerness.

Look at verse 26:

John 6:26 “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth,”

(and doesn’t He always tell the truth?)

“you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”” NLT

Don’t we often fit that bill?

‘Dear Jesus, please let me score well on my exam today.’

‘Dear Jesus, please help me finish this before deadline.’

‘God, help me arrive safely to work this morning… and on time!’

Please let this or that happen.

We know His power.

And those things are fine and good, but is that it?

John 6:27a “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you…” NLT emphasis mine

Spend your energy. Not just a quick ‘God is great’ prayer before our meal. Work at it. And if your salvation is already secured, whose life then should we be seeking?

And the people still didn’t get it. Verse 30:

John 6:30 “They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?” NLT

Give me, and then I’ll believe.

And then Jesus says, “I give.”

Even after that, I’d have wanted to correct their attitude – but He stoops, explains, teaches. "My Father does give you Bread. I am that Bread."

John 6:35 “Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” NLT

John 6:48 “Yes, I am the bread of life!” NLT

John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” NLT

And they still didn’t get it.

So He explains what He means again. See verses 63-64.

Human effort is us, trying to do, to be enough, to win our way. Humbly just accepting isn’t enough for some of us, is it?

But that’s all He wants.

John 6:29 “Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”” NLT

He is it. He is the sustenance. The bread we need to survive. Believe it. He is the Water, living water.

This passage is sandwiched in between two other times Jesus says He is living water. In John 4:14 and John 7:37-39.

So He meets that primal, basic basic need that we have no way around. For we don’t truly need any other thing.

For any needs we have on earth unmet lead to death and our eternal existence – in which we need Living water and the Bread of Life to enter Heaven.

Do you see it?

Peter had it right this time. See verses 68-69

John 6:68a “Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go?...”” NLT

What else is there?

He is it, and there’s no way around it.