IBS Lamentations 3:22-26 (11-24-14)

Inductive Bible Study for Lamentations 3:22-26 (11-24-14)

"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

I read this passage about a week ago and I was struck at how incredible the love of God is. I love the song by Ascend the Hill called The Love of God. The chorus goes "Could we with ink the oceans fill and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky." With all the resources we have in this world, we couldn't write the love of God in its entirety. I can't comprehend it, nor should I! There would be no mystery or awe if we could understand everything about God.

So the first part of this passage says that we are not consumed because of Gods mercy and compassion. We are a people who are constantly in defiance of God and we deserve to be consumed by His anger. So why does He continue to be patient and allow us to spit in His face? It's because He gives us all a chance - usually many chances - to turn from our sin and throw ourselves on His compassion. The next part says that His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great. We get a "second chance" every single morning, all the days of our lives. I'm reminded of 2 Timothy 2:13, which says "If we are faithless, He remains faithful". Even when we completely reject Him, He promises to love us and forgive us if we ask.

The next part says that God is our portion and we hope in Him. All of Him is so much more than enough for us! Hope is to believe and trust that something is going to happen. We have confidence that when God promises us something, it will happen. I was reading in 1 Peter and I came across 5:11. It says "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." Job's life is an example of how God is good to those who seek Him - Job waited quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

I struggle every day with fear, anger and anxiety... but God. I am waiting on the Lord, I am seeking Him and I hope in His salvation. God is my portion - He is my everything. I am not going to let these things move me because I know where my Help comes from! I may not know where I'm going or what I'm doing, but I do know that nothing is too hard for the Lord. My God is faithful and I trust in Him.

IBS Hebrews 7:25 (11-16-14)

Inductive Bible Study for Hebrews 7:25 (11-16-14)

"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

First of all, let's get some context and understand what the "therefore" is there for. This passage is talking about priesthood and covenants, and how Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood. We have a better covenant because of Jesus. The priests under the Levitical law had to offer sacrifices to God for themselves (daily) in addition to the sacrifices they offered for the people (daily). In contrast, Jesus did this once and for all when He offered Himself for our sin. The better covenant is then that instead of continually having to be covered by the blood of sacrifices, we can choose to be cleansed once by the blood of the perfect Sacrifice. 

Sawa sawa (okay in Ki'Swahili), now we know that the "therefore" is there to say "because of Jesus' one-time, all-covering sacrifice". Jesus is able to save to the uttermost. Uttermost. That's kind of a weird word. It means: most remote or outermost; farthest; of the greatest or highest degree or quantity. Wow. Jesus is able to save the most far-gone person, the person farthest from God, the person who has sinned in the highest degree! Not too long ago, I felt like I couldn't come to God because I had been faking a relationship with Him my whole life, I thought I was too far gone to be saved. This verse throws my argument away. 

So the next part says "those who come to God through Him". It takes a realization that I cannot make it on my own and a crushing of my pride to see that I need someone besides myself to help me in order to come to God through Jesus. Anyone can try to go to God, but we often don't see that we can't go directly to God because of our sin. John 14:6 says (Jesus is speaking): "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." I didn't like that I had to go to Jesus - to humble myself and admit my sin - in order to get to God. However, Jesus is the only Way to God!

We see that Jesus is able to save anyone out of their sin if they are willing to surrender to Him. The next part says "He always lives to make intercession for them". What is intercession? To intercede is to plead or act on behalf of someone, to attempt to reconcile differences between two peoples, to mediate. Jesus is our Mediator and He lives to plead our case before God. Our case is that we are sinners and we have no hope of going to heaven unless we surrender to Jesus and allow Him to save us. Once we are saved by Jesus, Satan has no way to bring us to hell. Our debts have been paid by Jesus' sacrifice. He steps in our place and shows God that He has paid our debt and has cleansed our sin with His perfect blood. 

These are the very basics of the Christian faith, yet I didn't truly understand this until this past year. I didn't see that Jesus needed to intercede for me to the Father. I am in awe of Jesus' sacrifice and that He loves to show God that we belong to Him. I'm going to write "Jesus saves to the uttermost" on my hand and in my journal to remind me that there is nothing too hard for Him. 

IBS Hebrews 4:15-16 (11-7-14)

Inductive Bible Study for Hebrews 4:15-16 (11-7-14)

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

So I'm home now, in good old New Hampshire, and there have been a massive amount of changes since I left. Half of my family lives in another house and it's weird. I feel so alone sometimes - but God is comforting me and showing me that He feels what I'm going through. The verse before (14) says "let us hold fast to our confession". Sometimes it's hard to hold fast to my confession. Sometimes I just want to give up and run away from everything and everyone. I have made a confession of my faith in my Savior and I am to fully rely on Him to meet all my needs.

It's so easy to get caught up in the cares and lusts of this world and that's why it's so important to be surrendered to Christ. I've really been struggling these last few days - and God uses my daily devotions time and time again to push me towards Him. How crazy is it that God, the King and Maker of this universe, can empathize with us in our temptations and struggles? It boggles my mind. Really. He is so much bigger and stronger than we can even imagine, yet He understands our pain. He WANTED to understand our pain. He WANTED to bear the cross for us so that we could have a relationship with Him. Jesus Christ was tempted in all points that we have been, are and will be tempted - yet He did not sin. 

They say that God won't ever give you more than you can handle. That's a lie. He won't tempt you beyond what you're able to bear, but He will most definitely give us more than we take. What's the point of needing Him if we can handle everything on our own? He doesn't say to come to Him even though our burden is already light - He says "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28. The weight of this world is constantly on our shoulders, until we give it to Him. I will never be free of the need to be strong on my own until my heart understand that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. 

We don't have to be afraid to come to God. Yes, I am ashamed sometimes to make my requests known to God. Yes, I am embarrassed sometimes when I've sinned and don't want to confess for fear of condemnation. But none of my feelings matter - Jesus didn't die for my feelings, He died for my sins. I don't need to be scared because Jesus knows exactly what I'm going through. So instead of being fearful, let us come boldly to the throne of grace. Wow. Having boldness is to not hesitate in fear, to be courageous and daring. We can take courage in the fact that our God loves us with a love we can't even comprehend, a love that has no end. 

So we can expect to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need (which would be all the time). Our God is truly an awesome God. He is glad when His children come before Him, and He desires to bestow upon us grace and mercy. I do not deserve His love at all, yet He pours it out on me every day. I'm going to write these verses down in the front of my new journal, so that I can remember that my God understands what I'm going through and that He wants to give me grace and help in my time of need. 

IBS Isaiah 43:1b-2 (10-19-14)

Inductive Bible Study on Isaiah 43:1b-2 (10-19-14)

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you."

I'm reading in Isaiah for my devotions and I came across this verse. I was encouraged and comforted. God is speaking to His people here - telling them to not be afraid because He will be with them no matter what they're going through. I love the illustration of going through water and fire - He promises that the water won't overflow them and that the fire won't burn them. My question about this verse is "How do they know for sure that God will protect His people?". The answer is right there - they belong to God and He has redeemed them.

What does the word redeem mean? The definition is to buy back or purchase. God has paid for us and we now are His. How incredible is that? I'm just sitting here, wondering how much it took for God to pay for us. I know that He accomplished that by pouring out His wrath on His Son, but I don't think I'll fully grasp that until Heaven, when I can feel the scars in His hands and side. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." Jesus knew the cost of redeeming those He loved and He asked if there was any other way. If Jesus was scared of the torture and death to come, we can be assured that it was an incredibly costly purchase.

Just because we belong to God doesn't mean trials won't come. This verse clearly says that water and fire WILL come, but that God will be with us every step of the way. I'm reminded of Joshua 1:9 - "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for The Lord your God is with you wherever you go." My class and I memorized this verse during a Kid's Club in Kenya and it's stuck with me since. I don't want to forget that my life was bought at a price and really doesn't belong to me. I'm going to write "I have redeemed you, you are Mine" on my hand. 

IBS 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (9-23-14)

Inductive Bible Study for 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (9-23-14)

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Today during my devotions, I was meditating on the Word and praying. I also looked back on previous months in my journal to reflect on the change that God has done in me. For example, last month on the 23^rd was my birthday, and I prayed fervently for my family instead of making a wish as I blew out my candles. I kept going further back - July 23^rd, June 23^rd, and so on. I finally got to January 23^rd and found that I had written about my parents and my conflicted heart about my ex-boyfriend. I looked at the next day (24^th) and saw that it was on this day that I surrendered to the Holy Spirit for the first time. All these pressures in my life had driven me to see my incredible need to relinquish control to my Savior.

That was the night that Pastor Mike had given the invitation to surrender to the Spirit. I wrote “I was fighting so hard for the first couple minutes during the invitation - I did NOT want God to have His Way in me. I was content to just be saved, and I didn’t want Him to have my whole heart. I broke down and went forward - I was bawling. I needed the Holy Spirit to have my life, I had been making a mess of my life. I have so much peace inside now.” I can’t even describe the peace and joy that flooded over me in those precious moments of brokenness. I’m not sure when I got saved, but that night was the first time I experienced true freedom from fear, depression and the need for control. I saw my neediness, my distresses and all my imperfections.

These verses talk about when Paul was asking God to take away a thorn in his flesh, and God tells him that His grace is sufficient. I begged God to make my life perfect and take away the pain I was feeling, but I see now that these things were vital to me seeing my need for Jesus. God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. If I had never gone through pain and heartache, I never would have been broken. If I had kept struggling (in vain) to stay strong on my own, I never would have had to admit that I needed anyone else to help me. I am not strong because of anything I’ve done - I am strong because Christ is having His perfect Way in my heart and life. I am so weak, broken and empty by myself, but Jesus loves that! He wants me to be fully reliant on Him so that He can strengthen, shape and fill me.

I never want to forget how much I need Jesus. I never want to walk in my own strength. I never want to leave my Savior for something or someone that will let me down. The problem is that I’m human - I’m going to be prideful and fail. This is why it’s so important to have a constant relationship with God - He knows we can’t do it on our own, and all we have to do is ask Him!!! It’s ridiculous how simple it is, yet how difficult we make it. This is my application - I’m going to keep it with me wherever I go to remind me of what Jesus is doing in and through me. 

IBS Proverbs 23:17-18 (9-21-14)

Inductive Bible Study for Proverbs 23:17-18 (9-21-14)

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.”

I came across this passage during one of my morning devotions recently. It immediately reminded me of all the times I’ve been jealous of people in the world - wishing I could go to parties, be a flirt and wear less clothing. Looking back, I am so thankful that my parents didn’t allow me to do those things. I’ve been humbled by the fact that if I had the choice before, I would definitely have done those things (and more). The only reason I didn’t get into more trouble growing up was that my parents were relatively strict in the world’s eyes. In my early-mid teen years, I imagined all the things I would do when I didn’t have to obey my parents anymore. I may have no been that rebellious on the outside, but I planned and plotted a lot in my heart.

So instead of envying sinners and the supposed “freedom” they have, as believers we should be zealous for the fear of the Lord. This means to be passionate, eager, devoted and intensely enthusiastic. The reason for this insane diligence? This verse says that is surely a hereafter. There is more to this world than the plans I have for my life? Not only is God’s plan for my life better than I could ever imagine, that’s also Heaven to look forward to - a place of glory, splendor and bliss. Our hope will not be cut off. God promises us that if we follow Him, He will never leave us nor forsake us. God is faithful, He keeps His promises and He don’t dash our hopes!

These verses are a really good reminder that my devotion to Jesus is not in vain. There will be a reward for living my life for Christ- in the now and in the hereafter. When it seems like the whole world is against me, I can know for certain that God is on my side. I’m going to write “Your love is better than life” on my hand.

IBS Ephesians 2:8-10 (9-20-14)

Inductive Bible Study for Ephesians 2:8-10 (9-20-14)

“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

I am so in awe of how much it took for God to save me. I have so much sin and wickedness in my heart that if I was the only one Jesus died for, there would have been no change in how much suffering He went through. God loved this world so much that it pleased Him to crush His only begotten Son in order to save us. That’s why it’s ONLY by grace through faith that I’m forgiven. There is nothing I could ever do to earn God’s gift and I have no right to boast in Christ’s sacrifice. In a previous IBS, I talked about how I thought the only way God was close to me was if I did good things - that’s completely opposite of what this verse says. 

The truth is that there’s nothing I could do on my own to be close to God. It must be by grace through faith that I see my need to surrender to Him, and see that salvation is a gift I could never earn. That’s really difficult for me to swallow. My pride wants to think that my skills, talents and amazingness are what drew God to want to save me. In reality though, I am disgusting and wicked, and it’s incredible that God loves me - but He does, and that’s why I love Him. When we strive to please God by our accomplishments before we are surrendered to Him, He sees them as filthy rags. Ouch. That’s why it’s so important to see our desperate need for Him. After we repent and accept His free gift of grace, our works might still be in vain! I also talked about this in a previous IBS. The point here is that our works are only accepted by God after salvation and if our heart’s only desire is to glorify Him.

We are God’s workmanship - that means that we are the product of Christ’s skill and labor. Jeremiah 1:5 says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”. We were made by God, for God. We were created in Christ for good works - remember, not the works which are filthy rags, and not the works that will be burned up because our hearts weren’t in the right place - prepared before we were made, that we should walk in them. How incredible is it that God made our good works before He even made us! Does this mean that God didn’t make good works for those who won’t choose Him? I don’t know. What I do know is that we are all given a choice (usually many) to either follow Christ or live how we want to. I also know that God sees the beginning and end, so He knows who will choose Him.

What I’ve been learning while in Kenya is that I can’t do anything or take credit for anything - all glory to God. Also, I need to be surrendered to Christ so that I can be walking in the Spirit and seeing the works God has prepared for me to do. I am going to memorize these verses.