Tag: Bible

“Jesus is Better” Continued

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 22-24

POETRY: Song of Songs 2

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 8

“Jesus is better” talk continued…

Jesus is a better high priest because the Lord set it up, not man. He was chosen. The Lord (Yahweh) chose Jesus to be high priest of his New Covenant due to his loving obedience, as opposed to being appointed by men after their predecessor in lineage died (like in the Levitical priesthood). Jesus’s place as high priest is in heaven itself, not on earth as it was under the law of Moses, where there could only be a mere copy of the sanctuary.

Jesus wasn’t in the priestly line of Levi, he was in the line of Judah – whose line was chosen to be the king-ly line (after Saul (Benjamin’s line) screwed up and another (David) was found who chose God). It was after this chosen man (David) set his heart on choosing God that God swore his oath regarding the new priesthood that was to come in Psalm 110:4. God was going to make his new forever priest one who chose him, after the order of Melchizedek (chosen to be both king and priest; no lineage that made him so). And through him (the new high priest Jesus), he made a New Covenant with people who chose him from their hearts and had God’s laws in their minds.

The Old Covenant promised Israel that they would be God’s people – a kingdom of priests and a holy nation among all the inhabitants of the earth (Exodus 19:6). To serve God in this way, they had to know God’s will in how to live rightly, or at least better than how the rest of the world had been living (and hurting each other). God gave them laws to help them become holy, for their own good and the good of the world. But not all of them were faithful to uphold their end of the deal.

Although God chose them, some didn’t choose God back based on their actions. The law was not in their hearts. If it was, they would have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil (to stop the evil and do good). They didn’t, hence, the need for a new covenant made with chosen people, through a perfect high priest.

The New Covenant through Jesus is written on the minds and hearts of God’s chosen people. To be chosen means that God chooses us because we choose God. We choose God by obeying him from the heart because we know that he loves us and sets up his commandments for our good, and for the good of the world through us. He’s a good father who establishes our ways for us so that it will be well with not only us, but those whom we affect by following God. We are the people who want that. We want it so badly, that we train for it. 

I understand that God set up the Old Covenant for the people’s own good – because they needed it to live well in their time – to be the people that God wanted them to be for their own good, to affect the lives of those around them positively as God’s holy people. But they didn’t want it (based on their behavior). God says of them, “For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord.” We know that God cared for his firstborn son Israel. He showed them mercy time and time again. But eventually, their continuously evil actions caused God to cease from his pleading with them to be faithful – until the better man Jesus inaugurated the better covenant based on his faithfulness.  

In this better covenant, all will know God, because they are people who choose to know him. In this better covenant, God will be merciful to them, because they will choose to repent. In this better covenant, God will not remember their sins, because they will choose to ask for forgiveness and do better, in the name of their high priest Jesus, because God’s laws are in their minds and written on their hearts (because they chose to put God’s laws in their minds, and on their hearts for their own good, and for the good of those around them). Don’t let Calvin persuade you otherwise.

There is usually a good reason people are chosen. They aren’t generally going to be randomly selected when it comes to matters of importance. And if they were chosen, they generally have to maintain the qualities that got them chosen in the first place to remain chosen. Throughout our bible history, some did, some didn’t. When God chooses someone, it almost always has to do with that someone choosing him. If God is choosing you, I pray you choose him back.

-Juliet Taylor

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you think God cared for the Children of Israel, even though he’s quoted from an Old Testament statement that he did not (Hebrews 8:9)?

2. Do you think God puts his laws into our minds and writes them on our hearts under the New Covenant (which would take away our autonomy) or do you think action on our part is involved?

3. Hebrews 9:13 says, “When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. What does obsolete mean here?

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Able to Save Completely

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 19-21

POETRY: Song of Songs 1

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 7

The whole point of the letter to the Hebrews, it seems, was to show them how much better Jesus and the New Covenant were than anyone, or anything, that God used or worked through to fulfill his plan of salvation in the past. I think the writer is doing this because the Hebrews needed to hear it. In chapters 5 and 6, they were just scolded because they had become poor listeners, in need of milk like infants, instead of solid food.

I have a hunch that meant that they had heard the gospel, took it to heart, maybe applied it for a time when they were still excited about it, then slumped back into their old ways over time. They didn’t train themselves in it to distinguish between good and evil for the sake of endurance. I think they were getting sluggish and therefore falling back into their old habits/ways of life, because it’s so much easier to continue what you are used to, especially if there’s persecution for doing it God’s way. For them, their old habits were those pertaining to the law of Moses.

It’s hard for me to be too harsh however, as we’ll soon read about what they had already endured for the gospel’s sake (e.g., having their homes taken away and enduring it with joy). If people like that were in need of some rebuke and encouragement, I can only imagine what I need.

To make the point (about Jesus being better) in chapter 7, the writer applies these “better” characteristics and principles of Melchizedek to Jesus and the New Covenant, to help explain why Jesus’s priesthood in the New Covenant is far superior to the Levitical priesthood under the Old Covenant.

The writer is quick to point out that Melchizedek’s name means something that can easily be applied to, and understood of, Jesus. Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness” and he’s the king over Salem (now Jerusalem). That makes him the righteous king over the land of peace. That can easily be applied to Jesus (but he’s better). Jesus is THE king of righteousness (always doing his father’s will). He is not only going to rule over the land of peace from his father David’s throne, in Jerusalem, he’ll rule the entire world from there in peace in the kingdom age.  

Oh, and the Levitical priests served Melchizedek, so Melchizedek’s priesthood is the better priesthood (and Jesus is a priest after his order, so he’s better yet). The Levitical priests paid Melchizedek a tithe because Levi was in the loins of his father Abraham when Abraham paid it (I’ve come to expect the writers of the New Testament to talk like this; we all should). The point is—the one after Melchizedek’s priesthood is far superior to the priests after the Levitical priesthood the infant acting Hebrews were following.

Like Melchizedek’s priesthood, Jesus’s priesthood was made by God (after his exaltation). He was chosen, or made perfect by God, because he fulfilled his role in his father’s plan of salvation through his suffering. That’s much better than obtaining the priesthood based on genealogy like the Levitical priesthood.

Better still, God swore an oath, that if another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, his priesthood would never die. That oath is fulfilled in Jesus, by the power of an indestructible life. That means that he always lives to make intercession for those who come to God through him. He’s always available to save someone. That’s much better than being after the order of Aaron, where there’s continuous turnover as each predecessor dies. And they can’t save.  

It seems like the writer to the Hebrews had some pretty profound words to share with them to get them out of their sluggish state of life. Thankfully, we have a great high priest to help us out of our sluggish state of life too. He set up a system where brothers and sisters in the body exhort each other to do good works and discipline each other when we are falling short (by training each other to distinguish between good and evil). If you’ve become sluggish, consider how great a high priest you’ve got, and get going by following him. Train yourselves as a body, with Christ as your head, to distinguish between good and evil, and then do good.   

-Juliet Taylor

Reflection Questions

1. New Testament writers often apply characteristics of people or things from the Old Testament to the New to help in their apologetics. One of these examples is that of Melchizedek. Some have interpreted that Jesus is Melchizedek incarnate. It’s nonsense, but unfortunately, we’re reading someone else’s mail over 2,000 years after it was written. We’re going to lack in some understanding as they would have understood things 2,000 + years ago. What is something you notice in this chapter that needs a little more exploration in understanding?

2. Jesus’s priesthood was made perfect by God, the Levitical priesthood was not. Perfection for a priest came after the sinless man Jesus chose to suffer and die for us, always being faithful to God’s will. Levitical priests were made priests because of their genealogy. What do you think perfection means in this chapter?

3. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” What do you think this means?

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What should we do in this backward world? 

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 3-5

POETRY: Psalm 106

NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 1

How many of you feel like we are living in a backward world today? What we think should be happening doesn’t happen. We see injustices abound. Regardless of your political party or worldview, there is something clearly not right about our current world, something broken. 

Think in your mind of one instance that shows this backwardness, this brokenness. It may have to do with the upcoming presidential election, health scares, social problems, or wars and rumors of wars. But, the thing in your mind is indicative to you that the world isn’t as it should be. And, it’s a reason why we wait for the kingdom when everything that is wrong will be made right. 

Isaiah is doing something similar in this section of his prophecy. Isaiah 3 details several instances where someone who should be paying honor to someone more deserving instead is receiving honor. This happens in three different ways: 

  • Isaiah 3:4-5 – “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them. The young will rise up against the old”
  • Isaiah 3:6 – “The nobody against the honored.”
  • Isaiah 3:12 – “ Women rule over them.”

Now, before these verses start to offend anyone, let’s just think about what they are saying (and be sure to read the full chapter for context). In this time of destruction, there is a genuine lack of leadership. It gets so bad that anyone with a cloak is being grabbed and made the leader of the people (an honor to which that cloak-wearing brother says ‘No thanks’). 

As the people bicker and fight with one another and inept leaders try to make something out of the ‘heap of ruins,’ God sits on his throne. The true sovereign leader of the people still reigns, and the destruction is coming because he is issuing judgments from his throne.  

He says in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”

God makes proclamations against the people who oppress his people, those who harm the poor, and the proud. After his judgments are passed, he gives a hopeful picture of the ‘branch that will be beautiful and glorious’ that will be left for those who are still faithful to him. The sins are washed away and fortunes are restored. Israel is brought back to life. 

We often look to our earthly leaders to make this current world right. We know that there is brokenness in the world, so we are quick to grab anyone who seems like a remotely good fit for a leader and put them in power. Meanwhile, there are plenty of power-hungry leaders around, who pass laws and oppress people. Who perpetuates injustice. People who should not be in charge and yet they are. 

What should we do in this backward world? 

Well, we can rest in the truth that the true leader of the world is not one that we elect or put in charge. The true leader of the world is God. He is reigning now, and he will also put everything that is wrong to right in the future age when the kingdom is brought to Earth. 

So the next time you feel afraid or lost, you can trust in God. He is the one who is really in charge, and he is the perfect leader.

-Cayce Fletcher

Cayce Fletcher is a teacher-turned-SAHM mom of two. She blogs and podcasts at A More Beautiful Life Collective where she focuses on how you can create a life you love and cultivate your heart for God. Currently, she is working through a systematic theology series on her podcast. You can find her latest post on Bibliology here. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. What is the significance of the child being the leader? Do you think the child is the leader of our current society? 
  2. What is the danger of being haughty or prideful? Why would this be something God would punish? 
  3. Reread Isaiah 5:20. How have you seen people call evil good and good evil? How can you guard against doing this yourself?
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Remind the People

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 31-32

Poetry: Psalm 105

New Testament: Titus 3

Life is so busy and complicated that I have to create lots of reminders for myself.  Fortunately, my phone and computer and watch all have features where I can set reminders for myself.  “Doctors appointment Tuesday at 3:00.  Take the garbage to the dump on the way to work in the morning.  Stop by the store after work and pick up some milk and bread.” I can even set reminders months or years in advance.  I can set alarms to remind me that in 2 hours I have a meeting.  In 1 hour I have a meeting.  In 15 minutes I have a meeting.  The Meeting is now starting.  Maybe I’m too busy or maybe I’m getting old, but I find myself more and more needing reminders.

Do you ever need reminders?  Little kids need to be reminded to brush their teeth, make their bed, do their homework.  What do you need reminders for?

The Apostle Paul thought reminders were important for Christians.  I guess he understood how easy it can be to forget what’s important when we are busy living life and doing  what’s necessary or urgent.  Do Christians ever forget important things about God, about Jesus, about how we are supposed to live?  Yep, we sure do.

In Titus 3 Paul tells Titus to remind the believers of some important things.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” -Titus 3:1-2

Those reminders were important in the first century when Christianity was brand new and people were still learning the basics, but it’s been 2000 years.  We’ve certainly got being a Christian all figured out by now, don’t we?  Do we really need to be reminded to obey people in authority?  Do we need to be reminded to always be ready to do good?  Don’t all Christians always do what is good?   Certainly we never  slander or falsely accuse someone of wrong doing.  I’m always peaceable and considerate and gentle toward everyone, aren’t you? (My tongue is in my cheek- that means I’m kidding).

To tell the truth, I still need to be reminded of all of those things.  Just because I’ve been reading the Bible for over 50 years doesn’t mean I always remember to do good.  I still need to be reminded to be considerate and gentle, and so do you.  That’s why Christianity was never designed to be lived in isolation, but in community.  We need each other.  There’s a passage in Hebrews (a different book from today’s reading,  but important) Hebrews 10:24-25 says that Christians shouldn’t get out of the habit of meeting together, because we need to encourage (I think Hebrews says “spur one another on”, like a rider spurs on a horse) each other.  

Following Jesus is hard some times.  Being obedient to God is hard some times.  Remembering to do good and be gentle is hard sometimes.  I need help, I need encouragement to keep on doing what is right.  I need you, and you need me, we need each other.

I’ve read the Bible many times in my life and I need to keep on reading it to help me remember all the important things I need to remember.  Today’s readings in Isaiah 63-64 and Titus 3 remind us both about God’s wrath and about God’s mercy.  God has both.  God hates sin, he hates it when his children are brutal to each other.  He hates it when his children fight and argue.  He hates sin because he loves us and he knows that sin hurts us.  We hurt each other when we sin.  No parent likes to see their children hurt each other.  We learned that from our Father, God.

So keep reading your Bible and keep coming to Church and meeting with other believers so that you can remind them and they can remind you to keep on following Jesus.

“Hey Siri  set a reminder for 7 a.m. tomorrow:  be considerate and gentle to everyone.”

“Alexa, remind me to get up for Church Sunday at 8:00.”

-Jeff Fletcher

(Originally posted here on October 4, 2021 – when we were reading Titus and Isaiah together. This year, we get to start Isaiah tomorrow.)

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you need reminders for?
  2. Look at the list of things Paul told Titus to remind the people to do. For each one ask yourself why is this important and how well am I doing this? If you were to choose one to focus on reminding yourself to do for the next 14 days, which one needs your most attention right now?
  3. What is your attitude toward those who give you reminders?
  4. How can you encourage others to do what is right?
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He Made Them All

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 29 & 30

Poetry: Psalm 104

New Testament: Titus 2

Our family loves camping and traveling and finding new places to hike or kayak through God’s beautiful world. The variety of his creation is truly amazing! Desert, forest, plains, mountain, ocean. We love them all and the chance to explore a new little corner of His world we haven’t seen yet. And, along the way, trying to capture a photo to remind us of the beauty and creativity we had the privilege to see.

Psalm 104 is a beautiful poem of creation. I would love to make a photo book or photo wall with pictures from our family hikes and travels depicting each verse and phrase.

“he stretches out the heavens like a tent” (vs 2) – expansive blue sky from horizon to horizon

“He makes the clouds his chariot” (vs 3) – white and multi-shades of gray amazing textured rolling clouds with shafts of sunlight shining through with the brilliant blue sky behind

“He makes springs pour water into the ravines” – hot springs bubbling from the ground and flowing down the mountain side

You get the idea. There would be photos of waterfalls, lightening, mountaintops, ocean waves on the shore, rainstorms, the moon, plants and animals, sunrises, sea creatures, and people. Each one accompanied with God’s text.

I recently taught a unit on creation to the adorable children in children’s church. And it was so much fun spending a week (or often more) on each aspect of God’s amazing creation. We brought in shells and rocks and leaves and bird feathers to touch and play with. We matched plant photos to foods we eat and counted plant products in ingredient labels. (Do you know how many plants are in a box of Cheerios or mac’n cheese?) We classified plants and animals and brought in a bird expert. We watched videos and explored books on clouds and planets and sea creatures and the animal kingdom and the incredible human body. And all the things that we take for granted everyday.

Not only is God’s world a beautiful world – but so incredibly functional, too! He thought of EVERYTHING! The more I learn of science and the human body in particular, the more I am amazed at His creation.

I have never made anything nearly as intricate or useful as the smallest, tiniest, most simplistic, most ‘insignificant’ part of God’s creation. But, I do like to create quilts – little scraps of colored fabric (which came from a cotton plant) sewn together in patterns to make a cozy cover to bring comfort and warmth. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I were to meet someone who explained that those quilts just came to be one day – that it grew from nothing and became strings that wove themselves together and the fabrics cut themselves into the perfect shapes and even stitches magically formed just as they were needed to piece the top together and the materials used to create the final layered project appeared at just the right time and space and lined up just so to automatically go through the final steps to create my quilt. Foolishness. It is foolishness that leaves out the thought, intention, desire, creativity, vision, purpose and ability of me, the quilt creator. Or, equally painful – maybe they would give all the credit for the making of the quilt to another.

It makes sense that the Creator of the Heavens and Earth wants us to enjoy and admire His creation – and give Him all the credit He so much deserves. But, what happens when people don’t? What happens when they take away the glory that belongs to God and call it chance instead or give it to another? What happens when they refuse to listen to God’s words – His first recorded words being – “Let there be light”? What happens when they attribute God’s creation to another? We see in the book of Jeremiah. “These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless!” Jeremiah goes on in today’s reading to describe the drought, famine and sword that will be used in judgment of those who have stubbornly turned from God. Jeremiah 14 ends with God telling Jeremiah to speak to the people, telling them to acknowledge their guilt and wickedness and sins against Him and ask God to remember His covenant. The final verse of chapter 14 says,

“Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?
    Do the skies themselves send down showers?
No, it is you, Lord our God.
    Therefore our hope is in you,
    for you are the one who does all this.” (vs 22 NIV)

Not only did Our Great God create this world for us – He made a covenant with us – He has power still today – and He holds out a blessed hope for those who acknowledge and worship Him for all He has done, is doing and will do.

Thank you God for your incredible Creation – help me see and appreciate each amazing part!

Thank you God for the rains today – help me see you at work today!

Thank you God for the hope you set before those who believe and worship you alone – a New Heavens and Earth that will be beyond all we can ever dream or imagine!

You are our hope – for you are the one who does all this!

-Marcia Railton

(taken from a devotion originally posted here on Oct 12, 2021)

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you love most about God’s creation? What do you often take for granted in His creation? In your opinion what are some of the most useful things He created? What are some of the most creative things He created?
  2. What have you created? Has anyone ever disregarded your creation or the part you played in its creation? What are the biggest problems with the theory of evolution?
  3. Looking at the final verses of Psalm 104 (verses 31-35), what response to all that God has done does the psalmist have – and also ask for? What response does he expect, ask or look for from God? What response do you have to God’s creation?
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Take Your Child to Work Day

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 27 & 28

Poetry: Psalm 103 (5th day)

New Testament: Titus 1

Today is our fifth and final day of our questioning look into Psalm 103. So far we have spent some time looking at God’s character, love, compassion, righteousness, justice, forgiveness and eternal qualities as well as mankind’s sin, gifts from God, frailty, brief existence, and duty to praise, fear and obey God. We have been looking at God’s relationship with man, and man’s relationship with God, here on earth, which is the view of God we are most familiar with. But today we have an interesting conclusion to Psalm 103 as the focus of our eyes shifts and looks up and up and up and up…

VERSE 19 – Where is God’s throne? How far is heaven above the earth? (Oh, never mind, we already covered that two days ago when David had us asking how deep is the Father’s love for those who fear Him.) What does the Bible teach us about heaven? What does the world tell us about heaven and how are the two views very different? (You might be interested in doing a word study on heaven in the Bible and see what you find.) Who established the Lord’s throne? What does God’s kingdom rule over? Have you ever participated in a Take Your Child to Work Day? Consider how it could open the eyes of the child to see this whole new side of Dad and what he can do, and does do, and the associates he works with, and who listens to him, and what he spends his day doing when he goes off to work. How could this same thought apply to you and I getting a glimpse of God in His heavenly throne room? How might your view of God change if you witnessed His throne room, everything He did at work, and the authority He has over the heavenly host?

VERSE 20 – Who is instructed to praise God in this verse? What does the Bible teach us about angels? What does the world tell us about angels and how are the two views very different? What description is used for the angels in this verse? What are the angels doing, besides being told to praise? What are some Biblical examples of angels doing God’s bidding? How often do you pause to consider what is going on in heaven right now? What jobs might God be handing out to His angels today? What other verses can you find about the work God’s angels do for God?

VERSE 21 – Do we have any new information in this verse or is David saying the same thing as the previous verse using different words? What is the parallel between mighty ones (in verse 20) and servants (in verse 21)? What is the parallel between obeying His word (in verse 20) and doing His will (in verse 21)? Do you think this applies to human servants of God and God’s will for humans as well as for angelic servants?

VERSE 22 – Who is told to praise the Lord in this verse? Who and what does that include? What are God’s works? Does it include you? What is His dominion? Does it include you? How does this psalm end? How did it begin? How will you praise the Lord today? What will you be envisioning as you praise the Lord? Why are you praising the Lord?

What thoughts and feelings or other questions do you have after reading verses 19-22? What is the value of picturing God in the heavens? Why do you think David included these 4 verses as the conclusion of Psalm 103?

What is your biggest take away from Psalm 103 as a whole? Have you gained anything from your time in Psalm 103? What might God want to show you in Psalm 104?

-Marcia Railton

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From Everlasting to Everlasting

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 25-26

Poetry: Psalm 103 (day 4)

New Testament: 2 Timothy 4

Welcome to the 4th day of questions on Psalm 103. Yesterday we focused our questions on verses 11-14, looking at God’s love, forgiveness, and compassion as well as the incredible facts that, “he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14). This verse says so much about God – and about man. The next couple verses continue on the topic of mankind.

VERSE 15 – Why do you think David compared man’s days to grass – what are the similarities? If you compared yourself to a flower of the field which kind of flower in what field would you be most like? Why? What might make the flower flourish? What else could have David compared man to? What ideas about mankind was David using poetry to explain? How might a scientist or a psychologist have explained these same ideas?

VERSE 16 – What happens to the flourishing flower of verse 15 in verse 16? What does David say caused this to happen? What do you think the wind symbolizes? What do you think of when you think of a flourishing flower suddenly gone? What emotions come with these thoughts? What do you feel when you read the second line of verse 16? What truths are David expressing in a poetic form?

VERSE 17 – What do the words, “But from everlasting to everlasting…” mean? What changes as we go from verse 16 to 17? How is God different from mankind? Is the Lord’s love for one generation more so than another? In what other verses in Psalm 103 have we seen a similar thought as we see in the first half of verse 17? What would it look like for God’s righteousness to be with your grandchildren? Will His righteousness be with ALL grandchildren? If not, then with whose? Do you fear the Lord? (Interestingly, this concept of fearing the Lord – and instructing others to do the same – came up in our Old Testament reading for the day as well. Did you find it in 2 Chronicles 26? How were similar ideas shared in the New Testament reading of 2 Timothy 4?) Do people just automatically know how to fear the Lord? What happens if it is not taught? If you do fear the Lord, who do you know that you want to see also fearing the Lord?

VERSE 18 – Who is verse 18 referring to? Who do you picture as part of this group? Are you included? What do they do? What will they receive (see verse 17)? What is a covenant? Do you have a covenant with the Lord God? If so, what does it say you will do? What does it say God will do? What are precepts? How is your memory? Do you remember to obey his precepts? When did you recently forget to obey and which precept did it involve? How can you work on further developing your memory so as not to forget God’s laws? What else is needed to stand firm against temptation?

What did you take away from these 4 verses? How will you live today because of them? Who will you share these truths with?

-Marcia Railton

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How Far is Heaven Above the Earth?

Old Testament: Joel 3

Poetry: Psalm 103 (day 3)

New Testament: 2 Timothy 3

Yesterday we left off seeking to recognize our sin and what we deserve because of our sins. It is an important place to be, but thankfully, God doesn’t leave us there. So today we get to continue our question format for Psalm 103 verses 11-14, some of my personal favorite verses from this Psalm.

My very first question for verse 11 was actually for Google because I wasn’t sure it was very fair of me to ask you, “How far is heaven above the earth?” So of course AI was happy to give an answer. AI’s answer did not disappoint as I found it surprisingly accurate: “The Bible doesn’t provide any linear measurements for heaven’s distance from Earth, so its exact size is unknown.”  I loved that AI recognized the authority of the Bible for this question. If only AI, you, I and the rest of the world would be so wise with all our answers. Since we are accepting verse 11 and 12 as figurative language we don’t really need to know how high heaven is above the earth or how far the east is from the west – as long as we know what God says in His authoritative Word about His great love and forgiveness. So, let’s open up His Word and ask some questions!

VERSE 11 – How great is God’s love for you? What other figurative language could be used to attempt to describe God’s indescribable love? What does it feel like to be loved by such love? Is there a limit to God’s love? What does the rest of this verse say – who is this love for? (You might be interested in reading the verse in some additional Bible translations here. ) What does it mean to fear God? How should we treat God if we truly fear/revere/worship Him? Do you fear God? Do you think it is possible to believe in God – and perhaps even love Him – but not fear Him? Does this verse say anything about God’s love for those who don’t fear Him? How important do you think it is to fear God?

VERSE 12 – Remember back to yesterday and consider again, what are your sins? And what do you deserve because of them? What does it feel like to have your transgressions or sins laid on you? What weights, burdens, shame, guilt, questions do they add to your life when you are carrying them around with you, or only slightly better, when they are hanging over your head? What would it feel like if these same sins were flung as far as only God could fling them? What other descriptions could be used for having sins removed? Does having transgressions removed mean there are no more consequences for those sins? Are all of everyone’s transgressions removed? Why or why not? How does God’s love and forgiveness compliment one another?

VERSE 13 – What does a healthy father/child relationship look like? What is the role of dad? What is the role of the child? What does it look like when the child tries to be in charge? In your relationship with God do you more often try to play the part of adult or child? What does it feel like to be a child of God? What are the benefits? Give some examples of what it looks like when a human father has compassion on his child(ren). Give some examples of when our Heavenly Father has shown compassion on you (and/or His other children). According to verse 13 who does God show compassion to? Where else have we seen this wording? So we could ask again, how important do you think it is to fear God? Can you think of any times where you have not feared God? Is there anything you might consider doing now to help you fear God more or better or more consistently?

VERSE 14 – What does it mean to you that God knows how you are formed? What do the facts that God knows how we are formed and remembers you are dust say about God? What do these facts say about you? What questions do you have for God about His creation process and reasoning, especially as it relates to creating people? How does this verse relate to the previous verse about God’s compassion as a father? Do you think it is important for us to remember that God remembers our creation and how we are formed? What happens when people decide that we just came to be? How many Bible authors referenced God creating? Do you accept the authority of God’s scriptures?

What qualities or characteristics of God do you find in these 4 verses today? What other questions do you have from these verses? Hope to see you back tomorrow as we continue on with verse 15.

-Marcia Railton

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The Lord Is..

Old Testament: Joel 2

Poetry: Psalm 103 (day 2)

New Testament: 2 Timothy 2

Today we continue what we started yesterday – a list of questions to consider for each verse of Psalm 103. Open your Bible and let’s get to work on five more verses.

VERSE 6 – What groups of people do you think would make up the “oppressed” spoken of here? Who do you know personally who falls into the oppressed category? What might adding righteousness look like in their life? What might adding justice look like? Have you seen God working righteousness and justice in their situation – yet? In what ways have you seen and heard of the oppressed receiving righteousness and justice? If this is important to God should it be important to us? How might God want to see you work righteousness and justice for the oppressed?

VERSE 7 – What did God make known to Moses about Himself and His ways? Why? What deeds did God do for the people of Israel? Why? What is the spiritual use of learning history and studying the Old Testament? What about in more recent history? What did God make known about Himself and what deeds did He perform in the New Testament? What about in your family’s history? What ways of God does He want us to know about today? What deeds has He done for you?

VERSE 8 – Where else in the Bible do we find a similar description of God as we find here in Psalm 103 verse 8? (There are multiple places, but don’t miss it in our Old Testament reading for today. God lined that up pretty well for us today! It is also included when God reveals Himself and His ways to Moses as referenced in the previous verse. Where is that passage? HINT: the search feature in BibleGateway.com is pretty useful. Try searching something like compassionate gracious. Sometimes searching in different Bible versions helps.) How would you define/describe and give a Biblical example for each of these qualities of God: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Now, when have you experienced each of these characteristics from God in your own life? When have you shown others God’s character by reflecting these characteristics to others in the way you treat them? Which one is the biggest struggle for you? How can remembering God’s character help you act more godly towards others?

VERSE 9 – Have you ever known someone who is ALWAYS accusing? What is it like to be with him/her? Would the perfect God still be RIGHT if He was always accusing – could he always find something wrong with what we do/have done? Why do you think He chooses not to always be accusing? When, in history or in your life, have you seen or experienced God giving up His right to accuse or be angry? When have you seen or experienced God letting go of His anger, not “harboring his anger forever”? How can we mirror His attitude?

VERSE 10 – What are your sins? Wait. Stop – don’t go on yet. Seriously – spend more than 2 seconds thinking about this answer. It is important. What are you guilty of? What have you done that has grieved God’s heart and the heart of others? What are you ashamed of? Also, are there sins you haven’t even acknowledged yet or feel guilty of yet, perhaps because of your pride or selfishness – 2 other sinful attitudes? When has your sins blocked the opportunity you have to share God’s characteristics with others? What do you deserve because of your sins? What repayment would be just because of your iniquities? Has God given you everything your sins deserve?

It’s not the most pleasant place to end for the day. But, recognizing our sin and what we deserve is such a vital point before we can truly appreciate the incredible verses that come next. See you again tomorrow as we Seek Grow & Love together.

-Marcia Railton

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Questions, Questions, Questions

Old Testament: Joel 1

Poetry: Psalm 103

New Testament: 2 Timothy 1

Some days do you feel like you have more questions than answers? Me, too. But, that’s okay. Because, actually, every educator knows that when we can ask and eventually start to answer some really good questions on our own we learn a lot more than if we just read someone else’s answers. So, today, I have NO answers for you. But instead, here’s a whole devotion full of some reflection questions to get us thinking more about Psalm 103, a beautiful psalm of David. In our Bible reading plan we are going to spend today and the next four days reading and re-reading Psalm 103 so today we will just include questions for the first 5 verses but go ahead and read the whole Psalm over and over this week.

So, let’s open up our Bibles and start to look at Psalm 103 verse by verse. Besides thinking about these questions below – what other great questions can you think of?

VERSE 1 – How many times is the word “praise” repeated in this Psalm? What is praise? What does it look like to praise God with “all my inmost being”? How deep does your praise go, or is it more often somewhat shallow? What would be needed to praise the Lord with your inmost being – and do it more regularly? What makes God’s name holy? Do you treat it in a holy manner?

VERSE 2 – What are at least ten (feel free to list more) of the “benefits” God has given you personally? Which ones do you often take for granted? How can we work at not forgetting them – or the God who gave them? What happens when people DO forget what God has done and given to them? What is the relationship between praising and thanking and remembering?

VERSE 3 – Have you asked for and accepted God’s forgiveness for ALL of your sins? How does asking for God’s forgiveness look different now compared to what it looked like when David wrote these words? Why does God want to forgive you of all of your sins? What would it be like to serve a god who loved but never forgave? What diseases (perhaps some physical and some not) has God healed?

VERSE 4 – What does the word “redeem” mean? What pit does God redeem you from? King David says that God “crowns you with love and compassion”. What does it mean to you to be crowned by God – with His unfailing love and compassion? How does it feel? Why do you think He does it? What would it be like to serve a god who forgave but never loved? How would you explain this verse to a kindergartener?

VERSE 5 – What desires have you had that God has already satisfied with good things – perhaps in the way you were imagining, perhaps in another way? What can we learn from David in a similar (but slightly expanded passage) about the desires of our heart – Psalm 37:3-5? What desires are you still waiting for God to satisfy? What do you do while you wait (see Psalm 37)? Might that change what you desire? What might King David be thinking of/imagining/feeling/experiencing when he writes about God satisfying desires, “so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”? It might depend on what your actual age is, but have you ever felt like God’s blessings were knocking years off your life, renewing you, or just plain, helping you soar? Where would you be without God’s goodness and generosity in your life? How do His blessings renew you?

What can we learn about God in His Word? What can we learn about our relationship with Him?

Thank you for trying something new with us today. Enjoy your time in Psalm 103! Is there someone you can start a conversation with today by asking them a question about Psalm 103?

-Marcia Railton

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