Advent Words ~ Word 1:Promise

 

Word 1: Promise

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

Hope is the first theme of the Advent season. Yet it is also a thread that we find woven throughout the whole of Advent because hope is at the very core of our faith. Advent is a season of looking back and looking forward. The cast of characters that will guide us through this Advent season provide us with examples of people who lived in hope of God’s promises fulfilled. Through the longing and waiting, through times of trials and suffering, and even times of peace, it is hope that provides the lifeline needed for God’s people to endure. What we hope for is certain because we believe in the God of hope (Romans 5:13) whose promises rest on His grace, mercy, love, and faithfulness. As we look back at the prophets and the people of God who lived in hope, depending on the faithfulness of God to provide the promised Messiah, we are encouraged in our own hope to look forward to the promised Savior and King who will return in glory.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

Hope always looks forward but rests on what is behind, on seeing the promises of God fulfilled in our own life and in the lives of others. As we look back on the characters of the Advent season, may our hope be renewed and refreshed to live in this present time confident in the living hope we have in Jesus Christ and certain of the lasting hope we have in Christ’s return when His glory will be complete in our lives.

King David

Our church recently finished a year of going through the book of Deuteronomy. One of the things that continually comes up in this book is the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9

Throughout the book God’s people are continually called to remember what God has brough them through, just as He promised He would do. Our God is a covenant making, covenant keeping God. One of the covenants, or promises, that God made was to David. If you remember the story, David was a simple shepherd who God chose to be king of His people because David was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Despite the many ways David sinned – adultery, murder, etc. – David was faithful in loving and following God, as we see throughout the Psalms where his repentant heart continually cries out for God’s mercy and love. David would be known as a righteous and loving King, and a strong ruler who protected the people.

God’s love for David is seen in the many promises He made to him. They are detailed in 2 Samuel 7:8-16. Verse 16 summarizes God’s covenant with David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” The promise God made to David, that His kingdom would be established forever, was a promise to God’s people for a righteous king to lead them forever. This promis, known as the Davidic Covenant, would become the hope that God’s people held onto for the coming Messiah – the One who saves.

The later prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah would point to God’s salvation through David’s line in the coming of the promised Messiah.

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

“‘In those days and at that time

    I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;

    he will do what is just and right in the land.

In those days Judah will be saved

    and Jerusalem will live in safety.

This is the name by which it will be called:

    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’ “

Jeremiah 33:14-16

 

In Jeremiah’s words, we see the promise of God, made to a people in exile that a day is still coming when He will fulfill this promise.  A “righteous Branch” will “sprout from David’s line – from his descendants, and this king, the Messiah, will save His people. This gave a people longing and waiting for deliverance, hope.

And so, centuries later, Matthew's gospel begins with hope fulfilled, "the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David...". We then see how Jesus is descended from David’s line in Matthew 1:1-17. We see the fulfillment of this prophecy repeated throughout the Christmas story found in Luke's gospel:

The angel said to Mary:

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33

From Zechariah’s Song:

“He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—“ Luke 1:69-71

The angel to the shepherds:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Jesus Christ came as the fulfillment of the promises God gave to David, the prophets, and the people. He is the promised One who will do what is just and right. He is the LORD our righteousness!  

I think my Advent journals are some of my favorite art journals.

This year I made a simple signature journal using a heavy weight drawing paper.

I kept a page in front to add the words as I complete a page.

Share how you respond to today's word in the Words Facebook Group or on Instagram using #adventwords2022.

 

 

 

 

Galtians Words Introduction

 

Galatians Words Introduction

Tomorrow, we begin the Galatians Words Challenge! Today I would like to give a bit of the background for Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches, offer a few study tips, and explain the format for this Words Challenge. This post is a bit long, but I promise the challenge posts will not be so long.

First, let’s look at the format as I have changed it a bit for this Words Challenge based on feedback from past challenges. Beginning tomorrow I will post a Bible study devotion on my blog for the first word. From there I will post each word and Bible study devotion every other day. The day in between posts is a day for you to study and make art if you choose. At the end of each post, I’ll give you some suggestions for studying for the next word. You will get so much more out of this challenge if you participate in studying yourself before reading my posts about what I saw in the study. Remember that I will be using a new study tool, the ESV Scripture Journal for Galatians. I posted a few days ago about how I added extra note pages. You can read that here. You can click on the picture below to be taken to Amazon to purchase a Scripture Journal.

Now, let’s look at some background information about Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches. This letter is thought to be one of his earlier letters, probably written after 1 & 2 Thessalonians. 

The book of Acts tells us the story of how the Galatian territories, and other Gentile areas, heard the gospel of Christ and then formed churches.  I am going to make this a quick overview but will provide Scripture references if you would like to read the full story.

• The book of Acts begins after Jesus' resurrection and the forty days he spent among his disciples. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says his final words to his followers telling them, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The rest of the book of Acts tells the story of how this took place,
• Acts 2:1-13 tells the story of the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus' followers. This follows with a great gospel presentation from Peter in 2:14-41. In this presentation, Peter shares how the coming of the Holy Spirit fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the New Covenant in Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Joel 2:28-32. God promised to put His Spirit in His people, enabling them to live His ways. He would pour out His Spirit on His people. 
• As we continue through the book of Acts, we begin to see the story of the Gospel of Christ spreading throughout Jerusalem, Jude and Samaria as Jesus foretold. But at this time, it is mainly spread through the Jewish synagogues and populations to the Jewish people. That is until we reach Acts 9. 
• In Acts 9:1-18 we read the story of a man named Saul who was Jewish and a member of the Pharisees. Scripture tells us that his job was to persecute those who were turning to faith in Christ. But this wonderful story in Acts 9 shares how Saul himself meets the Risen Christ and he becomes a Christ-follower as well. We read in 9:15 that the Lord "has chosen this man as my instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles..."
• And so, begins the story of how Saul becomes the Apostle Paul and takes the Gospel of Christ to the Gentile nations, which will lead to it being spread to "the ends of the earth". This is the story of the book of  Acts; the Gospel spreads to the Gentile nations and local congregations are born.
• In Acts 13 and 14. Saul and Barnabas take their first missionary journey. They begin in Antioch, sail to the island of Cyprus, then continue to the regions of Asia Minor which included the Galatian region. On this journey Paul preaches in syagagues but begins to face persecution from the Jewish people who see people turning to Christ as a threat to their religion's ways and to the synagogue's financial means. Part way through his journey after facing repeated threats and beatings, Saul states in 13:46-47 that the Jews rejection of the Gospel of Christ will now result in him "turning to the Gentiles...becoming a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth." It is at this point in his journey that he travels to Galatia. It is also on this journey to Galatia that we begin to see Saul become known by his Gentile name, Paul.
• At each town where many Gentiles came to faith in Christ, Paul would teach them and train elders, and a local church would be established to continue their spiritual growth in this new way of life and to continue the spread of the gospel in that town. Many of the New Testament letters were written by Paul to these churches he had established. He would receive reports back from the elders and respond with letters which would be read aloud and taught to the congregations. These letters would contain theology of the gospel, instruction on how to live as God's people, and would often address solutions to specific problems that the local churches were facing. Our job in the 21st century is to learn about the problems and challenges the 1st century churches faced and then apply them to the situations we face today.

Paul's letter to the Galatian churches will deal with problems unique to their churches that had implications for all churches and all Christ-followers. We will learn about their unique problems and receive Paul's solutions for them, and hopefully, find ourselves in both the problems and the solutions and come away encouraged and transformed. At the heart of the Galatian message is the cry of the Protestant faith: 

Sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus.

Which is Latin for by grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone. Our journey through Galatians will reveal the heart of Paul for the gospel of grace.

So, what steps can you take to prepare for this journey? 

1.  Get a Scripture Journal (link above) or print out the full book of Galatians on copy paper.

2.  A great way to start any book study is to mark key words throughout the book, which is why it's a good idea to use something other than our Bible for study notes. The calendar and list of words will be at the end of this post. Assign a different color for each of the 15 words. This is a great set of markers for a great price: here. There is a blank page in the Scripture Journal right before chapter 1. I recommend writing your words on it, showing your color code, and writing down the verses where each word appears, Here's an example from my Scripture journal:      

                                       

3.  I did a post the other day about how to add extra notes pages to the Scripture Journal. You can find it here.

4.  If you want to study today in advance of tomorrow's first word, grace, here are my suggestions: The first two words are found in chapter 1 (as well as other places throughout the book). So read chapter 1, mark your key words, and as you read see if you can determine the problem the Galatian churches are facing. I have other study tips and tutorials on the Bible Study Tips & Techniques page in the menu above, or follow this link. 

5.  If you are going to participate with a creative response then purchase or make an art journal or journal to hold your art, poems, photographs, or any other creative practice. I wrote about the accordion art journal I made for the study here. I will be sharing the art page I made for each word in each Bible study devotion post.

6.  Join the private Facebook group for the Words Challenges. You can use the button in the right hand sidebar or click here. Not on Facebook? Use #galatianswords on Instagram. I can be found on Instagram @foundonbrighton. Not on social media at all? Then subscribe to my blog and you will receive blog posts in your email box each morning they are published.

My hope for this challenge, and all of the Words challenges, is that we engage personally with the God of the Word through His Word, that we engage deeper as we meditate on the Word through study and creativity - imitating our Creator God -, and that we encourage one another through our art and sharing our study insights through the community we build in the Facebook group and on Instagram. We are God's people - people of the Word! May we grow deeper in our relationship with Him as we grow in our knowledge of Him (Colossians 1:9-14).

Click on photo to download a printable version

How to Add Extra Notes Pages to ESV Scripture Journal

 

How to Add Extra Notes Pages to ESV Scripture Journal

In just a few days the newest Words Challenge will begin as we go through the book of Galatians together with Bible study and creative response. If you missed the intro post you can read it here and a sneak peek at my Galatians Words art journal here. In both posts I mentioned that I would be using a new study tool this time: An ESV Scripture Journal. ESV has a Scripture Journal for each book of the Bible. They give you the text on one page and lined pages for notes on the facing page. It's a great way to keep all of your study notes in one place. You can purchase them on Amazon by clicking on the picture link below.

However, as much as I like these Scripture journals, I found that at times one page for notes was not enough. So let me share today how I added extra pages. All you need is some washi tape or masking tape (1/2 to 1" wide) and extra paper - lined, dotted, or blank - and some scissors.

1.  Cut your extra paper to 5 1/4 x 7 1/2". The pages in the Scripture Journals are a bit larger but they have rounded corners. At the size I specified the extra page will fold into the journal nicely.

2.  Cut some strips of tape 7 1/2" long.

3. Lay a piece of cut paper next to the Scripture Journal page you want to add it to. If possible keep a very slim margin between the two papers, less than an 1/8". This will help your taped page fold nicer. Place one 7 1/2" long piece of tape so that it overlaps both pages. Press firmly using a bone folder or the handle of your scissors.

4. Next you will place another piece of tape on the opposite side, making sure it overlaps boths pieces of paper. Press firmly. Once tape is on both sides of the paper, fold the extra page into the journal page. Then run a bone folder or the edge of your scissors along this fold on top of the tape to create a crease.

5.  You can even add extra pages to the extra pages! I wanted to take notes on each of the words separate from my study notes. So, with my first extra page taped in place, I then added another page going through the same steps. I then added another page behind the second page.

 

Using patterned washi or masking tape will give you a decorated edge.

Get your Scripture journal, add in your extra study pages, make or buy an art journal, and get ready because the Galatians Words Challenge will begin on September 1st! There is a calendar of the words below. Also, join the Words Challenge Facebook group and share your photos and join the conversation. You can also share on social media with #galatianswords and #wordsartandfaithgroup. 

I truly enjoy doing these Word challenges in community. Bible study and art are both best shared!

Click on photo to download a printable version

Galatians Words Journal Sneak Peek

 

Galatians Words Journal Sneak Peek

After two and a half years of dodging it, Covid has finally hit our house. I've been down for the count most of this past week. By Thursday I managed to feel well enough to get a little creative. Here is the promised sneak peek at the journal I made for the Galatians Words challenge.

Last month The Handmade Book Club held a five day challenge making accordion fold books. I decided then to make one for Galatians Words. My accordion journal has 8 panels, which gives me 15 pages plus a cover. It has a flap where, eventually, I will add a closure of some type. 

For my art pages I made 15 background pages of collage. They measure out to be 1/2" less than my journal page size all around, which makes the collage page float on the book page with a border. It also allows me to work on the pages apart from the journal and add them when they are complete.

If, by chance, you also did the accordion book challenge, I used the directions for the "4 Panel Accordion" and made two of these, gluing them together. If you did not take the accordion book challenge, I would recommend googling accordion fold books. They are quite simple to make and there are many instructions to be found online. But, of course, use whatever type of journal you like!

The cover of my journal gives a great clue to what is at the heart of the book of Galatians. Each phrase is Latin for the heart of the gospel: Sola gratia = grace alone. Sola fide = faith alone. Solus Christus = Christ alone. Salvation is by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.  As we explore the book of Galatians together next month we will experience Paul's passion for nothing but the gospel of grace and its call to unify us.

If you haven't read my last post announcing the challenge you can read it here. I mentioned in that post that I am using an additional study tool that I found quite helpful. The ESV Scripture Journal for the book of Galatians. It gives you the book with the text on one page and a lined page next to it for notes. You can mark up your passages, write observations and study notes, and have it altogether in one place.

You can click on the photo for a link to purchase the Scripture Journal on Amazon. *Please note that as an Amazon affiliate I do receive a small percentage for sales made through links on my blog.

If you want to get a head start on connecting with the book of Galatians, get a Scripture Journal, take the list of the words we will be using, set up a color code for them and mark them throughout the Scripture journal. You can also do this by simply printing out the book on copy paper. Those words will then stand out as you read and study the book.

Next week I will post a tutorial on how to add the additional study note pages to your Scripture Journal, like you see in the photo above. I'm so excited to dive into this book with all of you!

Click on photo to download a printable calendar

Galatians Words Challenge Coming Soon!

 

Coming Soon!

I feel the need to blow the dust off of this blog. It's been so long since I have posted here. I have spent the summer studying the book of Galatians. A book study is always a sure-fire way to re-ignite both my passion for the Word and my spark for creativity. So, haing done that  - and thoroughly enjoying it -  I am ready to announce a new Words art and faith challenge!

Galatians Words: September 1-30

Let's jump right into some of the details.

1. What is a Words art and faith challenge and how does it work? My Words challenges combine Bible study and creative response. They takes place in this manner: I provide a list of words that are key to the book of the Bible we will study. The words will "walk" us through the entire book. Along with the words are a key verse or passage. Then I will post a Bible study devotion each day of the study to help us see how the author has used that word in the book. I encourage you to study as well, then read the devotion, and then respond to it in whatever creative manner you choose.

2. That sounds like a lot! I may get overwhelmed, so how do I keep up? First of all, you don't have to keep up. Reflection on Bible study is best done at a pace that enables the Word to permeate your heart, mind and soul. So, don't worry about schedules! But for those of you who will worry about the schedule, I've slowed down the pace for this Words challenge. I will post a word and a Bible study devotion every other day in September, giving you a day in-between to do your own study and to respond creatively. The calendar is at the end of the post.

3. That brings me to the study part: My desire with the Words challenges is to encourage you to dig into the study too, not just to read what I have studied through my Bible study devotion posts. To that end, this time I used a different tool. The English Standard Version (ESV) has published a scripture journal for every book of the Bible. It gives you the book with the text on one page and a lined page next to it for notes. You can mark up your passages, write observations and study notes, and have it altogether in one place. I even added some tip-in pages in mine for extra notes and will do a tutorial post about this before the study begins.

You can click on the photo for a link to purchase the Scripture Journal on Amazon. *Please note that as an Amazon affiliate I do receive a small percentage for sales made through links on my blog.

4. Where can I share my creative responses and join in conversation about the study? You can post on Instagram using #galatianswords and #wordsartandfaithgroup. You can also join the private Facebook group set up for the Words challenges:  Words Art & Faith Challenge Group. Click on the link here or the button in the sidebar on the right.

I made an accordion fold journal to put my Galatians Words art in, which I will give you a preview of toward the end of the week.

I would encourage you to get a Scripture Journal and begin marking the key words. Pick a different color for each word and circle or box them throughout the book. Noticing key words and color coding them is a great way to jump into Bible study and be creative at the same time! (BTW,one of my favorite fineliner markers for Bible study are the Stabilo point 88. Amazon has a great deal right now on a set of 40.)The word list and calendar are below.

Click on the photo for a printable version without the background

Formed By the Word Week 10: Prayer

 

Week 10: Prayer

As I have mentioned before, my intent for this weekly post is mainly to take words from my studies and use them as a way to be formed by God's Word. I can think of no better means of spiritual formation than to be saturated and filled by the Word of God. For the past year I have been studying 2 Corinthians with a friend. We have moved through it very slowly, taking any rabbit trails that come along. And it has been so good. So here we are 15 months into our study and we have just completed chapter 7. We decided to reconnect ourselves with the first seven chapters before moving on, and as I was doing so this week I was struck by the significance of a few verses that I didn't really catch the first time. I love and appreciate that God's Word is living and active. Each time we engage it, we can see totally new things; things that may have a different significance based on what our current circumstances might be.

So, the passage is 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 and the verses that connected with me in a different manner this time are verses 10 and 11.

"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

While I chose prayer as today's word, I specifically want to focus on intercessory prayer. What I clamped onto when I read this the other day is the word "as" at the beginning of verse 11. Paul directly connects his hope in God continuing to deliver him from the trial he is facing to the prayers for him offered up by others. As pastor and author J. Hampton Keathley says, "God has chosen to use our prayers to accomplish his purpose." This elevates the need to be faithful in intercessory prayer. It also elevates the need to make sure that we are bringing others into our needs and struggles, so that they can pray for us and appeal to God on our behalf. 

 "God has chosen to use our prayers to accomplish his purpose." ~J. Hampton Keathley

Let me dig into these vereses a bit more and then draw some conclusions from the context of the larger passage they are connected to.

Paul is confident in God's deliverance of whatever trial he is facing because 1.) He has deliverd us. Paul can look back on his faith journey to date and draw deeper faith and encouragement from the times that God has delivered him in the past. 2.) Because Paul knows that God is faithful, he can trust that God will deliver him again now. And 3.) Paul says he has set his hope on God that he will continue to deliver him. Paul is confident that God has, will, and will continue to deliver those who are in Him. Again quoting Keathley, "Paul's perspective of life  is to live with his hope firmly fixed on God alone as his deliverer." Why can Paul have this perspective?

This is where the full context (2 Cor. 1:3-11) of the passage these verses are in come into play. Paul has learned to have a proper biblical perspective on suffering and trials because Paul sees God the Father as "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (1:3). Through faith and the circumstances of a life that is devoted to following God, Paul has learned that suffering and trials have a purpose in the lives of those who are in Christ:

• The comfort we receive from God in our trails and suffering enables us to comfort others who face affliction. (1:4)
• Trials and suffering help us to rely on God and not on ourselves. (1:9)
• Trials and suffering help us set our hope on God, our deliverer, and not on other things in the world or ourselves to deliver us. They train our eyes on hope, so to speak. (1:10)
• God's deliverance is closely connected with others praying for us. So we must bring others into our suffering and trials to enable them to pray for us and implore God to work on our behalf. (1:11)
• Thus, prayer binds us together and initiates the comfort of God. We cannot receive comfort as God intends unless we let others know of our needs. God's comfort is for the one who is suffering and for the ones who are praying.
• Finally, when we share our trails and sufferings with others who then pray for us the result is thanksgiving, praise and glory to God. (1:11)  In all things the ultimate goal is glory to God. 

Let me end with a word picture from the Greek words used in verse 11.  The NASB says "so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf".  The Greek word used here for persons is "prosopon" it literally means face.  So we have the image of many faces lifted up toward God in prayer. What a great picture of intercessory prayer.

I mentioned earlier that sometimes we will see a verse or passage in a different light due to circumstances in our own life.  Currently both my husband and my pastor/boss are facing health issues - these are the two most important men in my life. In light of this and the Russian invasion of Ukraine I am struck by God's deliverance coming "as" we help others by our prayers. May we bring comfort and be comforted as we turn our faces to God in prayer on behalf of others.

I would love to have you to join me in being formed by the Word this year. After reading the above post, do some study on your own. Dig deeper into the verses and passages mentioned and then respond creatively. Share your thoughts and creative responses in the comment section below or on social media with #formedby theword and #wordsartandfaithgroup, and in our private Facebook group for words challenges the Words Art and Faith group.

Formed By the Word Week 9: Virtue

 

Week 9: Virtue

I came across a quote recently that I have been mulling over.

"The way to get rid of the defects is to cultivate the virtues." ~Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones was a Welsh minister of the Westmintster Chapel in London. He was also an author of  many Bible commentaries, and is one of my pastor's favorite authors. The quote above comes from a larger quote:

"Indeed, as I have already said, you cannot truly deal with the negative unless you are at the same time doing the positive. The way to get rid of the defects is to cultivate the virtues. To use a well-known phrase of Thomas Chambers, what we need is to apply the :Expulsive power of a new affection". I use a simple illustration. The way the dead lives of winter are removed from some trees is not that people go around plucking them off; no, it is the new life, the shoot that comes and pushes off the dead in order to make room for itself. In the same way the Christian gets rid of all such things as bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking and all malice. The new qualities develop and the others simply have no room; they are pushed out and they are pushed off."

The trees Dr. Lloyd-Jones mentions are some varieties of Beech and Oak trees. Our neighbors behind us have a huge Oak tree that holds onto its brown, dead leaves all winter. It always seems strange to me to see those leaves still attached to the branches. I like this analogy he uses for spiritual growth. If we simply focus all of our energy on trying hard to eliminate the negative things in our lives, it is simply that, us trying hard in our own strength. This usually does not produce much change. But it does produce much frustration and ultimately leads to feelings of failure and hopelessness.

On the other hand, putting our energy into cultivating the virtues requires that we grow in our knowledge of God, and as we do so, He provides the power in us to develop the virtues He desires. It requires action on our part and Divine power on God's part. We see this throughout the scriptures.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:3-11

Here in 2 Peter is the "formula" to living out the virtues of God. God has given us "His divine power". For what purpose? To live a godly life. How do we live this godly life? Through our knowledge of God, "him who called us by his own glory and goodness". Through God's glory and goodness he has given us great and precious promises which enable us to participate with God through his Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are called to make every effort - work to participate with God - to grow or cultivate the virtues that please God: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. Why? Because growing in these virtues leads us to growing in Christlikeness and living a godly life.

Some other passages to ponder:

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.: Galatians 5:16-17

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  Ephesians 4:22-24

This is not about just using "positive thinking". A line from an old Bing Crosby song comes to mind here, "You got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative...". Positive thinking alone will not take us very far in removing our vices and negative thinking. We need to act in conjunction with the power of God that comes to us through our union with Jesus Christ. Without that Divine power, it is simply positvie thinking. Eventually the negative creeps back in and no true change in behavior and lifestyle results. To cultivate virtues we need to grow in our knowledge of jnjnGod through His Word, which in turn enables us to partner with His Holy Spirit in getting rid of the defects (vices) and living a godly life.

I would love to have you to join me in being formed by the Word this year. After reading the above post, do some study on your own. Dig deeper into the verses and passages mentioned and then respond creatively. Share your thoughts and creative responses in the comment section below or on social media with #formedby theword and #wordsartandfaithgroup, and in our private Facebook group for words challenges the Words Art and Faith group.

Formed By the Word Week 6: Imitate

 

Week 6: Imitate

Last week we looked at two passages that showed how we are to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. We looked at what His attitude looks like in Philippians 2:5-8 and then we looked at how Paul modeled the attitude of Christ in Philippians 3:7-9. What becomes clear from these passages is that the way we have the same attitude or mind as Christ is to imitate Him and to imitate those who imitate Him.

Jesus gave us clues to the need to imitate His life throughout the gospels:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24

Jesus is very clear about the cost of following Him. It requires a life of discipleship, where we cease to make ourself the object of our life and actions, instead becoming totally committed to Christ and to His way of life. The cross is the symbol of total commitment to Christ for us. When we "take up our cross" we imitate Christ who denied His own rights for our sake and who made himself nothing. (Philippians 2:6-7). We sacrifice our rights in order to serve others as Christ did. This is the cost of discipleship.

"Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:38

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24

"Take my Yoke upon you and learn feom me..." Matthew 11:29

Jesus was clear that following Him meant imitating Him.

Paul, then, took the words of Jesus to heart, and continued His message in his writings.

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1

"Therefore I urge you to imitate me." 1 Corinthians 4:16

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord..." 1 Thessalonians 1:6

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

The way of imitating Christ is to love and to sacrifice through service to others.

Peter and John take up the same call in their writings:

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." 1 Peter 2:21

"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6

My art for today is something I actually made back in September for a different post (check it out here.) but it fit so well here that I didn't see a reason to make a new page.

My focus this year in being "Formed By the Word" is to explore what the Bible says about spiritual formation in Christ. More and more as I study, I'm struck by how much our spiritual formation in Christ is focused on how we view and serve and relate to others. A thread we will need to continue to explore.

I would love to have you to join me in being formed by the Word this year. After reading the above post, do some study on your own. Dig deeper into the verses and passages mentioned and then respond creatively. Share your thoughts and creative responses in the comment section below or on social media with #formedby theword and #wordsartandfaithgroup, and in our private Facebook group for words challenges the Words Art and Faith group.