“Today is Maundy Thursday. The name comes from the Latin mandatum, the first word in the Latin rendering of John 13:34, “A new commandment (mandatum novum) I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This commandment was given by Jesus on the Thursday before his crucifixion. So Maundy Thursday is the “Thursday of the Commandment.”
Excerpt From: Piper, John. “Love to the Uttermost : Devotional Readings for Holy Week.” Desiring God.
Yesterday our Savior shared with His disciples that His soul was troubled. It’s hard to imagine that Christ, the God-Man, ever had a moment of conflicting emotion… but here in the Word, from His very own lips we see that He did. He knows what it means to have inward commotion going on… He knows how it feels to lose the calmness of our mind. Tarasso. Troubled. Our Jesus knows it well.
Today our Jesus will have met with His disciples to share the Passover meal… He will meet with them and He will show them that the greatest among them is the one who humbles himself to serve another. It would be this night that Jesus, the Teacher, the Master, the Rabbi, the Lord… would lay aside His outer garment and get down on His knees and wash the feet of the disciples… even the one who would betray Him… the one that Jesus already knew would betray Him… because Jesus sees right into our hearts. Our intentions and secrets and motives and desires are not hidden from His sight… ever.
Even when He sees the wickedness within us… He willingly washes our feet. If we sit before Him… because He knows that we can never get ourselves clean.
So He came to Simon Peter.
He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I do you do not realize now,
but you will understand hereafter.”
Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him,
“If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
John 13:6-8
Have you been washed?
Washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood, In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Do you rest each moment in the Crucified? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
After Jesus washed their feet… after Judas fled the scene… Jesus gets serious.
Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me?
John 13:38
Peter claims he will lay down his life for Jesus, but Peter has no clue about what he is saying. He claims something he knows nothing about… but he will get the opportunity to see the true condition of his heart. His good intentions simply will not meet his ability of execution.
However, Jesus already knows this as well. Knowing the betrayal by Judas, knowing the denial by Peter, knowing the doubting by Thomas, knowing the scattered disciples hiding in fear behind a locked door… Jesus looked them all in the face and said…
“If you love Me,
you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:15
This is My commandment,
that you love one another,
just as I have loved you.
John 15:12
Jesus has loved us in our ugly. He has loved us in our fear. He has loved us in our big talking. He has loved us in our days of doubting. He has loved us in our hiding, and in our running, and in our fighting, and in our bickering, and in our grandeur seeking, and in high and mighty thinking, and in our moments of finally getting it.
And He tells us… love one another, just as I have loved you.
So the first question is, Will you let Him wash you?
The second question is, Will you lay down your life for Him?
The third question is, Will you keep His commandments?
The fourth question is, Will you love one another as He has loved you?
Think precious one…
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday. Tomorrow is when we remember the Last Supper. We remember the washing of the disciples feet by their King…
Today we remember that Jesus knew He was to die… He knew He was born to die.
“Now My soul has become troubled;
and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’?
But for this purpose I came to this hour.
Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came out of heaven:
“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
So the crowd of people who stood by
and heard it were saying that it had thundered;
others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered and said,
“This voice has not come for My sake,
but for your sakes.
Now judgment is upon this world;
now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men to Myself.”
But He was saying this to indicate
the kind of death by which He was to die.
John 12:27-33
Jesus will go to the cross.
The kind of death that He shall die will be one of the cross.
Jesus came not to just save the Jews, but He came to save the whole world.
We discover through the book of Romans, that both Jew and Gentile stand guilty before our Creator God. The Jew is guilty of transgressing the Law, of manipulating the Law, of adding to the Law, of trying to work around the Law… and the Gentile is guilty by their suppression of the truth on which is the Law. Guilty. Jew and Gentile stand condemned before a Holy God. Both being dead in sin. The obviousness of their deadness being seen in and by their suppression and rebellion to Truth.
Jesus came to die for both Jew and Gentile…
We see this even displayed in the death that He would die.
He would not be merely condemned by the Jews and stoned by their Law… leaving all guilt on their hand… but He would be condemned by the Jews… and then judged by the laws of the Gentile.
He would be sentenced to death both by Jew and Gentile.
Both would carry the blood of Jesus, King of the Jews, on their hands. Both would carry the guilt of putting to death the Son of God, the One who was Fully Man and Fully God, the Word made flesh that came to dwell among them, to live to know them, to suffer to be able to sympathize with them, to be tempted to be able to understand them, and then to die to save them.
This day… many moons ago, the Savior of the world, the Lamb who was to be slain… said His soul had become troubled within Him… our God, our Creator, our Lord… His soul became troubled.
Troubled is tarasso in the Greek and it means:
to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro)
to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity
to disquiet, make restless
to stir up
to trouble to render anxious or distressed
to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread
to perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts
Then tomorrow He will wash His disciples feet… even the feet of the very one who would betray Him.
Reverence Him… reverence Him with trembling and awe.
We continue in our study in Romans… Here is the study for Romans 2:11-29.
Romans 2:11-29
11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Read Romans 2:11. What does it mean to you to know that God treats all people the same?
______________________________________
______________________________________
Read Romans 2:12. Now fill in the blanks with the word “Bible”.
For all who have sinned without the __ __ __ __ __ will also perish without the __ __ __ __ __, and all who have sinned under the __ __ __ __ __ will be judged by the __ __ __ __ __;
According to this verse can a person use NOT having a Bible as an excuse to not receive the wrath of God? Circle your answer.
Yes No
Read Romand 2:13. Once again fill in the blanks with the word “Bible”.
for it is not the hearers of the __ __ __ __ __ who are just before God, but the doers of
the __ __ __ __ __ will be justified.
Look up and read Matthew 5:20.
Whose righteousness must you surpass in order to get into heaven?
the __ __ __ __ __ __ __
and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:13 again.
According to this verse if a person can keep all of the Law and Word and will of God perfectly and never break any of it then they can be saved by the Law. Can you do that?
Circle your answer.
Yes No
Do you know anyone who can or did do this?
Circle your answer.
Yes No Jesus
Read Romans 2:14-15. Then once again fill in the blanks with the word “Bible”
For when Gentiles who do not have the __ __ __ __ __ do instinctively the things of the __ __ __ __ __, these, not having the __ __ __ __ __, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the __ __ __ __ __ written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them
Read Romans 2:15 again.
Where is the Law written?
in their __ __ __ __ __ __
What bears witness to them?
their __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
The word conscience in this verse is Suneidesis
and it means:
the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, encouraging to do the good and not do the bad
Look up and read Romans 1:19-20.
How do we know about God?
That which is known about God is evident __ __ __ __ __ __ them
What does that mean about us?
What are we all without __ __ __ __ __ __
Look up and read Acts 17:24-31.
What do we learn about God in Acts 17:27?
He is not __ __ __ from __ __ __ __ one of us
Check out this to illustrate Romans 2:14-15 and help it stick.
THINK ABOUT IT…
When you are faced with an opportunity to do something, how long does it take you to decide if it is okay to do it? What do you use to decide if it is okay?
Ask your parents or grandparents or teacher to tell you a story about a time they let their conscience be their guide. Then ask them if their is a difference in their conscience since they asked Jesus to be their Savior and the Holy Spirit moved inside of them.
Spend the next couple of days trying really hard to listen to your conscience and see how it leads you.
Read Romans 2:16. What will judge all men by?
Unscramble the words to find the answer.
GSPLOE the __ __ __ __ __ __
What will God judge? Fill in the blanks.
the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of men
Who will He judge them through?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:17. What does this verse begin with?
__ __ __ (remember this is one of our important words)
Read Romans 2:17.
Now replace the word “Jew” with “Christian”. Replace the word “Law” with “Bible”.
In the blank following the word “you” write your own name.
But if you, _______________________________ bear the name “__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __” and rely upon the __ __ __ __ __ and boast in God,
and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the __ __ __ __ __,
and are confident that you, _____________ yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the __ __ __ __ __ the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
you, therefore, who teach another, do you, ________________ not teach yourself? You, ___________ who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Look up and read Matthew 5:20-22.
What commandment is Jesus talking about?
You shall not commit __ __ __ __ __ __.
What did Jesus say made you guilty enough before the court to send you to the fiery hell?
everyone who is __ __ __ __ __
and whoever says to his brother “__ __ __ __ __ __ __-__ __ __- __ __ __ __ __ __ __”
whoever says “__ __ __ __ __ __ __”
Look up and read and Matthew 7:1-5.
Whose sins do we need to point out first?
Your own Your brothers A strangers
THINK ABOUT IT….
When we grow up in church we learn a lot about the Bible and God’s Law. We hear what He says is good and bad. Sometimes we use what we know as a tool to point out other people’s sin just to keep people from seeing our sin. Have you ever told on someone else to get your mom or dad’s eyes off of you hoping you would not get in trouble for what you did wrong?
Read Romans 2:23-24. Once againreplace the word “Law” with “Bible”. Also replace the word “Gentiles” with “world”
You who boast in the __ __ __ __ __, through your breaking the __ __ __ __ __, do you dishonor God?
For “the name of God is blasphemed among the __ __ __ __ __ because of you,” just as it is written.
THINK ABOUT IT…
Many times a person calls themselves a Christian, they even claim they know the Bible, but they live their lives the exact opposite that God says to in the Bible. When we do this we blaspheme the name of God to those who do not know Him yet.
How important is it that our words and our lives match? Is it more important to your parents that you say that you love them or that you show that you love them by respecting them, obeying them, and wanting to spend time with them?
Read Romans 2:25. Do you know why Paul is talking to the Jews about circumcision?
Let’s do some background research. Sit down with your mom or dad and read Genesis 17:1-14.
Now look back at Genesis 17:11. What was circumcision meant to be?
a __ __ __ __ of the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Exodus 20:1-17.
This is the Ten Commandments. Usually when we think of the Law of God we think of these, but the Law also included God’s ordinances and the rules for worship and sacrifices in the tabernacle.
Read Exodus 24:3-8. What was the “words of the LORD and all the ordinances”?
Circle your answer.
a sign the covenant
Read Romans 2:25 again. Now that you know more about circumcision and the Law, according to Romans 2:25 which is more important to God? Circle your answer.
Be circumcised. Obey the Law
Hang on to all this information about circumcision, signs, Law, and covenants. We will come back to it later as we go farther into the book of Romans. I am so proud of you for studying all this!!! Keep going! You are doing great! It doesn’t have to all make sense to you yet… just keep praying and studying!
Read Romans 2:25-29.
If you are not a Jew, then circumcision is not a sign that you might connect to being a Christian.
To help us understand these verses we are going to replace the word “circumcision” with “baptism” and replace the word “Jew” with “Christian”
For indeed __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ has become un__ __ __ __ __ __ __
So if the unbaptized man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his un__ __ __ __ __ __ __ be regarded as __ __ __ __ __ __ __?
And he who is physically unbaptized if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
For he is not a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ who is one outwardly, nor is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ that which is outward in the flesh.
But he is a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Look up and read Deuteronomy 10:16. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy. What does he say we need to circumcise?
Do you think you can circumcise your own heart? Circle your answer.
Yes No
Look up and read Deuteronomy 30:6 and see who it is that can circumcise your heart. Fill in the blanks with your answer.
The __ __ __ __ your __ __ __
According to Deuteronomy 30:6 what is a circumcised heart able to do?
Fill in the blanks.
To __ __ __ __ the Lord your God with all your __ __ __ __ __ and with all
your __ __ __ __, so that you may __ __ __ __.
Read Luke 10:25-28.
Who is speaking?
a lawyer and __ __ __ __ __
What does Jesus say one must do to inherit eternal life?
“You shall __ __ __ __ the Lord your God with all your __ __ __ __ __, and with all your __ __ __ __, and with all your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and with all your __ __ __ __; and your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ as yourself.”
Read 1 John 4:20-21 and 1 John 5:1-3.
How do we know that we love God?
__ __ __ __ others
__ __ __ __ God and __ __ __ __ His commandment
THINK ABOUT IT…
Draw a heart below. Spend some quiet time today and ask God to show you what is in your heart. Draw pictures inside the heart of what you find.
As we approach the Holy Week. Let us look at this name of God in our study today, in a way that prepares us to meditate upon this season. Let us see today that our Jesus is our Pascha.
Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump,
just as you are in fact unleavened.
For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:7
Pascha is the Greek word for Passover, and it means:
the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people’s deliverance of old from Egypt)
the paschal lamb,
the lamb the Israelites were accustomed to slay and eat on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (the first month of their year) in memory of the day on which their fathers, preparing to depart from Egypt, were bidden by God to slay and eat a lamb, and to sprinkle their door posts with its blood, that the destroying angel, seeing the blood, might pass over their dwellings;
Christ crucified is likened to the slain paschal lamb
We are introduced to the passover in the book of Exodus…
Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails. And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire. Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover.
Exodus 12:7-11
When we think of this passover event many moons ago in the land of Egypt, when God called Moses to go to Pharaoh to let His people go… that they might serve Him… we often times just think of the blood that was to cover the outside frame of the door.
We rarely discuss the context of the blood on the doorpost… there was much more to this night, this Passover. Just as there was more to the freedom of the Israelites than just freedom.
Moses was sent to Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free, not just for freedom’s sake, but so that they might serve Him.
We serve the one we obey… always.
As we look back at this Passover night we see that there was much more to this night than just slaying an unblemished lamb and wiping its blood on a door. They were to:
* eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs
* Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.
* you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire.
* eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste
What we so often times ignore about this first Passover is that the blood on the doorpost and lintel was simply a sign on the outside of the house of the obedience taking place on the inside of the house. The lamb’s blood on the outside doorpost on this night would mean nothing if those on the inside did not follow all of God’s instructions.
As we fast forward a couple thousand years we once again find our God giving instructions to eat…
Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.
John 6:52-57
What I want us to see now is that the word “eat” in John 6:52-57 is actually two different words.
John 6:53, …unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man…
Esthio:
to eat
to eat (consume) a thing metaph. to devour, consume
to take food, eat a meal
John 6:54, He who eats my flesh…
Trogo:
to gnaw, crunch, chew raw vegetables or fruits (as nuts, almonds)
To me this word, trogo, tells us that we are not to partake of our Pascha in a light manner. We also need to know that He doesn’t go down easy. We have to put Him in between our teeth and chew. We must take Him as He is, straight off the tree, raw and alive and living.
He is our Pascha, our Passover, the Lamb that was slain. His precious blood put on the doorpost of our heart and the lentil of our soul that death might pass over us. We are to partake of Him as the Hebrews partook of the lamb slain in the first Passover. We are to eat all of Him, and leave nothing until morning. He went through the fire for us that we might eat of Him and be saved, that is, we who eat of Him in obedience to every Word of God.
We are to eat of Him with our loins girded with truth, the gospel of peace on our feet, and the sword of the Spirit in our hand.
In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Hebrews 5:7-9
Now lets rewind back two thousand years go…
Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.
Exodus 12:3
A person could not just walk up to another’s lamb’s and grab a hyssop and smear blood on their outside doorpost and then walk inside their house and go to sleep, ignoring the rest of God’s instructions, and actually expect the death angel to pass over his home. They were each one to eat of the lamb. It was about much more than smeared blood. It was about personal consummation and individual obedience.
Our salvation is about much more than just being covered in the blood… Or claiming we are covered in the blood. It’s about what is going on inside the house under that blood. The outside is for display. The inside is what is saved. Remember the Hebrews left those blood stained doorpost in Egypt…
Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb.
Exodus 12:4
Notice that God expected only what each man should eat.
Precious one, this walk of faith and obedience is not issued out by an unjust God. When He stands before us and says eat and obey… Know that He is never, and will never, ever, put more on your plate than you can chew.
If He has set it before you, it is because He knows you can get it down.
However, beloved of God notice that there were NO unnecessary side dishes on that night. There was no big honkin’ slice of cake with overloaded icing for dessert. When it came time, this night, to sit before the Passover table and partake of that pascha lamb they were to clear their plate of everything and eat only what God had commanded them.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…
I rarely read the news or watch the news… because it breaks my heart. I suppose I should do it more… then I could post more of the injustices I see that drive me to my knees and cause me to cry out “MARANATHA!”
I read Ann’s post and I was back, back there again… tears brimmed my eyes and my heart pounded.
I remember it well…
The day that I laid on that bed, my belly full of a living soul. I lay there in absolute terror that I would hear “it’s a girl“. I should have walked out of the room rejoicing. I should have been smiling from ear to ear knowing that growing inside of me was a healthy heart beat, but my heart stopped.
I could not smile, fear doesn’t smile.
My husband didn’t understand… and I couldn’t explain. I chose to refuse to believe the ultrasound. It would be a boy. I refused to believe until the very moment I held that baby in my arms… that baby who was clearly girl… clearly beautiful blue eyed girl. She was beautiful and perfect and I was broken… so very broken.
All I could see was a little one who would never be strong enough to fight them off. Never strong enough to keep the eyes, and hands, and minds, and hurts away. And I knew that I would never be strong enough to protect her if someone came to hurt her… I knew.
To this very day I hate being held down, even in play, I hate it because it is a reminder that I am too weak to get away. Too weak to set myself free. Claustrophobic. The fear of having no escape.
I wanted everyone to go away. I wanted no one to hold her. No one to damage her. No one to touch her in a way she didn’t want to be touched. No one to play with her heart and crush it again and again in their cruel hands to the point that her choices were made out of desperation for someone to value her… or even just appear to value her.
I cried.
Then, I met my Jesus. Six months later, six months after laying in that bed birthing this beautiful blue eyed wonder from my body, I met the One who knit her in my womb. Fear began to be cast down by Faith.
Faith is stronger than fear.
Then again, almost three years later, another girl.
Now a new creation in Christ. A woman of God. A mother of future women of God. I stood there in the middle of another church building’s fellowship hall. One daughter of God at my feet. One daughter of God in my arms, not even able yet to walk, my arms and hands full of beautiful treasure. I stood there with my sisters in Christ and sisters of the flesh by my side. I stood there and he walked up.
I stood there, arms full of the one’s I fought with faith over the most and with both my hands full, in the presence of everyone, he violated me. Here in this place where I was supposed to be safe. I was abused. In front of my daughters, my sisters, my Jesus.
I went home afraid. Afraid that when I told what happened, my husband would blame me. They always blame the girl… don’t they? It was and has always been Eve’s fault… right?
My husband was angry.
BUT NOT AT ME.
Relief washed over me. I had a defender.
We went to the elders…
I walked in there, in that room, three old men sat in front of me, my husband beside me. I sat there and I sat there trembling, feeling so very small. My stomach was in my throat and my throat struggled to speak. They talked about fishing. Crappy. My stomach is in knots, they know why I am here, yet they discuss fishing.
Rage begins to boil in my gut, rage and fear and doubt all mixed.
Finally the point of our visit breaks through the fishing lines of chatter… I share my side. I open my mouth and pour out the violation that I experienced… and they asked me… they never said they were sorry it happened… they asked me,
“what were you wearing”
As though the clothes I had on my body gave this man permission to do what he did while I stood there with both hands full of another daughter of God who could not fight for herself…
My heart sank and I knew they did not care… they then defended him. “He was just a cut-up.” “He didn’t mean anything by it”
They defended him and accused me.
It’s always Eve’s fault… right?
My husband and I walked out that night from these men and I knew nothing would be done.
I prayed.
I turned it over to my Avenger. To the One I am in eternal covenant with. The One who judges the secrets and intentions of every man’s heart. I could have pressed charges, but I knew I could let it go, because God would not. I tried to find the letter I wrote to the elders that were there and the man that did what he did, but I couldn’t find it. That is just as well. God knows what it said.
Dear daughters of God… I have been there.
In every way.
Before Christ and after Christ, I have been there.
But know that there are defenders.
There are more than a few good men, Son.
Real men like their Father — who laid down His life for His daughters. (Ann Voskamp)
God gave me one for a Daddy
And another for a Husband.
I remember well the night my husband lay there and looked into my eyes. He stroked my hair and my face and he never looked away from my eyes. It was as if for the very first time I was seen. A girl never forgets the day she was seen.
So daughters of God know… they exist. There are men who are the Church and don’t just go to church. There are elders that won’t defend the attacker, but defend the attacked.
And Dad’s and Mom’s of sons of God… please for the love of the daughters of God… raise up more defenders.
I was looking through old journals this morning trying to find a letter that was written several years ago that will be shared about in a later post… but as I searched I found a couple of poems I had written. I wrote this one after studying through the book of Ruth. I thought this one fit this Easter season. I also added a Poetry category to my blog, so if you enjoy reading poetry, you can easily find them.
Here is the Easter Poem. Worship with me… or maybe you read this and maybe just maybe… you are led to cry out to this Beautiful Redeemer to be saved.
My Jesus, my Savior, my Friend
In complete awe of You I stand
To know that You Creator and Lord
Rich beyond measure, willingly became poor
You left the majesty of heaven, Your glory behind
To become flesh and blood, to live and to die
You looked down from Your throne and my chains You did see
I was a slave to sin, in bondage, in death, unable to be free
I was sold for nothing to a stranger in this land
Owned by one who ruled with a deceptive, evil, heavy hand
He kept me in shackles and blinded me with his lies
Surrounded me with darkness, convinced me that in shame I should hide
But You in Your infinite mercy and grace
With love beyond measure left your heavenly place
I needed a redeemer and this You did know
I needed a blood relative willing and able to purchase my soul
You fully God and fully Divine
Became fully Man to become a relative of mine
God in the flesh and on earth You did dwell
You humbled Yourself in the likeness of man to know how I felt
You saw my depravity and experienced temptation all for my sake
With a heart beating and lungs breathing You were willing my place to take
You in Your holiness never did fall and You became able to pay the price for us all
The price was high for my master was sin
I was deep in debt my life blood dead and dying within
For the wages of sin is death, and eternal destination to fire
I needed forgiveness, I needed life for my life, this alone I could not acquire
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin
But not just any blood, but precious blood, blood not stained within
You, my Jesus, the Christ, the living Son of God
The Word made flesh became obedient to death, even death on a cross
You became my Kinsman so my Redeemer You might be
You gave Your life for my life, took my sin upon Yourself
Committed Your Spirit to the Father and said, “It is finished”
Yet You being perfect having no sin of Your Own
The grave could not keep You nor could death keep its hold
Three days passed and out of the tomb You came
The Living Risen Christ, my Redeemer, forever to reign
The free gift of salvation through redemption by Your blood
Offered to all who will believe, and receive, and obey just as You showed
I love You my Jesus for I was purchased by Your blood
You are my Redeemer, You live, therefore I live, free from sins great hold
do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,
which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you
1 Peter 4:12
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Do not be surprised, brethren,
if the world hates you.
1 John 3:13
Do not be surprised. It just does not get any clearer than that. God has never hidden or tried to smooth over or water down the reality of what it means to follow Christ. Only deceivers do that…
I thought of writing this post after I read this from my Swindoll devo this morning:
If you determine to live according to biblical standards, be sure that your enemy is seeking to devour you. You will encounter the darts of the devil.
Someone put it this way: “Whoever desires to walk with God walks right into the crucible.” All who choose godliness live in a crucible. The tests will come. But all is not lost. Far from it!
Our great hope and assurance is that the One in us is greater than the one in the world.
We do not face such a formidable enemy that we cannot fight him or stand firm and secure in our decision. Our Lord is the God of hope. . . . His supply line never runs short. When His godly followers are in need, He is there to supply the necessary reinforcements.
As you do battle, God will provide for all of your needs.
~ Swindoll
We have been watching the The Bible series here in our home. The DVR’d version, of course, so we can skip through the commercials, and well because we rarely are home after church before 9pm. We have only seen the first two episodes and I still highly recommend watching it. It’s a great opportunity to give visual to the stories of the Bible and an open door for you to fill in the blanks of what is skipped in the mini-series. As God would have it the very night my children’s bedtime devotionals lined right up with what and who they had just watched in The Bible series, Saul, Samuel, David, and Samson.
God has a way of working His truth in us… It’s really absolutely beautiful.
As we watched the series, Bekah, my youngest, noticed the devil weaving in and out of the people. On our way to Co-op Monday morning she was sharing this info with her five year old cousin, Bo. The conversation went a little like this:
BEKAH: “Is the devil still roaming the earth?”
ME: “Yes he is.”
BO: “Nay-Nay, I’m scared of the devil!”
ME: “Bo, don’t be scared of the devil. Who is stronger than the devil?”
BO: “Uncle Patrick is stronger than the devil!”
ME: “Well, yes, but how is Uncle Patrick stronger than the devil? Who is always stronger than the devil?”
BO: “God!”
ME: “Yes! So we never have to be afraid of the devil, because God is bigger.”
Well, in case you didn’t know, I am “Nay-Nay” and “Uncle Patrick” is my Man. I absolutely love the fact that my nephew looks at him and sees this kind of strength in him. I pray that he always does because here is the truth, he is stronger than the devil. Not alone. But in and with and because of Christ his Savior. Jesus did not come to this earth to live and die and be raised for us to remain in ignorance and fear and bondage.
Fear is an unwanted friend that most of us wrestle with every day. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointment. Fear of pain. Fear of the unknown. Fear follows us everywhere we go, and we cling to it like a life preserver. Yet, fear is a topic God is very clear about in the Bible: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).
We are commanded not to live in fear because we have everything we need in the person of Jesus Christ. That’s why He came as a baby. That’s why He died. That’s why He defeated death. So we wouldn’t have to be afraid.
~ Lindsay Williams
Now please know that I am not one of those who will ever walk around belittling the power of Satan and the demons of darkness. I am very much aware of their strength, their cunning, their deception, their oppression, their ability to break and bind any man… if they could bind Samson… trip up David… blind Samuel… and derange Saul… please do not think they could not do the same to you.
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass,
you who are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;
each one looking to yourself,
so that you too will not be tempted.
Bear one another’s burdens,
and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
For if anyone thinks he is something
when he is nothing,
he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:1-3
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Take care, brethren,
that there not be in any one of you an evil,
unbelieving heart
that falls away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12
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You therefore, beloved,
knowing this beforehand,
be on your guard
so that you are not carried away
by the error of unprincipled men
and fall from your own steadfastness,
but grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory,
both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.
2 Peter 3:17-18
But what we do know is that God has clearly told us to be aware of our enemy. He has clearly told us to not be surprised by any attack that comes against us. He has clearly told us to prepare for battle. He has clearly supplied us with everything that we will need to stand and fight. He has promised us victory if we will choose to fight in and with and for Him. He has clearly told us that greater is the One who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). He has clearly told us, do not fear. Fear is the exact opposite of faith. When fear is present, faith is fleeting.
Therefore we must battle all fear with faith.
And faith…
So faith comes from hearing,
and hearing by the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
I do not know what giant stands before you today. I do not know what battle has been brought to your feet. I do not know what fear threatens to overtake you. I do not know what ordeal has been laid at your doorstep. I do not know what of this world is attacking you this very day at this very moment. I do not know what lies the enemy of your soul is whispering in your ear today even as you read this post.
I DO KNOW THAT CHRIST IS GREATER.
I DO KNOW HIS WORD WILL TRIUMPH.
I DO KNOW THAT HIS GLORY IS WORTH EVERY BATTLE.
I DO KNOW THAT YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO FIGHT BECAUSE HE SAID YOU WERE.
We continue in our names of God study. This may be the first time you have read about our names of God study. If it is, go ahead and jump in with us! You can dig into all the other names we have studied at Names of God Study.
Today we will be looking at the name/title Soter.
for today in the city of David
there has been born for you a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
Soter is the Greek word for Savior and it means savior, deliverer, preserver.
Jesus, the Logos made flesh, is not only our Parakletos, but He is our Savior.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:3
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whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ
our Savior
Titus 3:6
The root word of Soter is Sozo and it means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, save one (from injury or peril) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.
As we look at this root word definition we see a little deeper the despair of our situation. We see that Jesus is our Savior, but we also see why we need a Savior. We need rescued from danger. We need rescued from the destruction that we are headed to because of our sin. We need someone to save us from our peril. We are suffering from the effects of our sin, from our own choices, and from the choices of others. We are sick in our sin, spreading it on to our children and our children’s children. We need to be healed. We need to be restored. We need to be saved. Then in our salvation, in our restoration, we need someone to preserve us in it because we can’t preserve ourselves.
We are all in the same state. We all, every one of us, need a Savior. If we stop long enough to be honest with ourselves we can’t help but see this need. Even the Disney Channel recognizes that it is not the goodness of man that we all have in common… but it is indeed sin.
for all have sinned
and fall short
of the glory of God
Romans 3:23
We all need a Savior and there is only ONE who is able to do the kind of saving that we need.
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
Hebrews 7:25
Many times throughout history and even throughout our own lives we find ourselves needing help. We will cry out for help. In that time of need, someone may come. They may come and they may save us at that time, in that moment, from that danger… but then they are gone. Sometimes God allows times of distress in our lives just so that we will call out for help…
Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them,
But when they cried to You in the time of their distress,
You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion
You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors.
Nehemiah 9:27
Nehemiah is reminding us of the time of the judges in Israel. As long as the judge lived and led them, then the people obeyed God, but as soon as the judge died, they went right back to living however they pleased.
Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of theLord; they did not do as their fathers. When the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.
Judges 2:11-19
Yes, God will even allow distress in our lives to lead us to look for a savior, but He never wants us to get satisfied in a temporary salvation. He wants our cry for THE SAVIOR.
He wants our cry for the One who delivers not from a sin, but from the sin. The One who is able to lead us for all time because He doesn’t die. The One who is able to save forever.
The One who is able to save because he was born to save…
for today in the city of David
there has been born for you a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
The One who is able to save because he died to save…
For while we were still helpless,
at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man;
though perhaps for the good man
someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
The One who is able to save because He didn’t come to save one nation, one people, for just a small amount of time… but He came to save the world for all time.
and they were saying to the woman,
“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe,
for we have heard for ourselves
and know that this One
is indeed the Savior of the world.”
John 4:42
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We have seen and testify
that the Father has sent the Son
to be the Savior of the world.
1 John 4:14
The One who is able to save because He came to destroy not that one sin, that one bondage, at that one time of the cry… but He came to destroy the works of the devil!
the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
The word destroy in this verse is Luo and it meansto loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened bandages of the feet, the shoes, to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free, of one bound up (swathed in bandages), bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go, to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together, an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up, laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds, to annul, subvert, to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act
Let this definition just soak in for a moment… take the time to apply it to what you think binds you today.
The authority, binding force, chains of the works of the devil in which he bound you because of your sin… Jesus came to loose you, to make them let go of you, to set you free from them and from Satan himself.
Let’s look at Hebrews 7:25 again… this time in the KJV.
Wherefore he is able also to save them
to the uttermost
that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)
The word uttermost in this verse is Panteles and it means all complete, perfect, completely, perfectly, utterly
Jesus, our Soter, our Savior. The One who is able to save… not for just yesterday, not for just today, not for just tomorrow… but forever and to the uttermost.
Here is the latest handout for the Romans Study for Kids. You can find any previous information in this study in my Romans Project category.
Romans 2:1-11
1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of Godrightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality,eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,
10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God
Read Romans 2:1. What word does this verse begin with?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Remember that when we see a “therefore” we want to ask ourselves what the “therefore” is there for… think about this “therefore” as you continue your study in Romans 2:1-3.
Read Romans 2:1 again. Who is the “you” in this verse? Look at Romans 2:17 to find out.
if you bear the name __ __ __
Look to the Romans outline that was given. What is the focus of Romans 2?
__ __ __ of the __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:1 again. What were the Jews doing?
passing __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Who were they passing judgment on? Remember the “therefore” in Romans 2:1. The Jews were passing judgment on those who practiced the things Paul wrote of in Romans 1:18-32. The Jews thought they were better because they had the Law to make them righteous, but when Jesus came he showed them that they were guilty of these sins even if they thought them one time.
Read Romans 2:2. What did the Jews know about the judgment of God?
it __ __ __ __ __ __ __ falls upon those who practice such things (Rom 1:18-32)
Read Romans 2:3. What word does this verse begin with?
__ __ __
If you have time and availability type this in your URL to find out
The book of Romans is full of “but’s”. This is another word that you will want to pay close attention as you study through this whole book.
Read Romans 2:3 again. The Jews were passing judgment on others, but what were they doing?
the __ __ __ __
Remember when I asked you to think about the last time you “told on” someone? Now knowing that you told on someone for that… have you ever done it yourself?
I bet that you have.
Read Romans 3:23 and fill in the blanks.
for __ __ __ have __ __ __ __ __ __ and fall short of the glory of God
According to Romans 3:23. What do we all have in common, no matter who you are or where you are from?
__ __ __
If you have time and availability type this in your URL and see how even the Disney Channel recognizes that it is sin that unites every human being on this earth.
Read Romans 2:3-4. What do you think Paul wanted everyone in the church in Rome to understand? Do all of us need the kindness the God? Do all of us need a Savior?
YES or NO
If you grew up in church and still go to church every Sunday and Wednesday and you read your Bible every day and you try very hard to keep all the Ten Commandments does this mean that you are good enough to get into heaven?
YES or NO
Read Romans 2:4. What does the kindness of God lead to?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:5 What word does this verse begin with?
__ __ __
Read Romans 2:5 again. What do they have that is causing them to store up the wrath of God for themselves?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ heart
Here’s what stubbornness looks like:
THINK ABOUT IT…
Have your parents ever said you were being stubborn? This is what stubborn looks like on the outside.
God can tell when our hearts look like this on the inside.
Read Romans 2:5 again. What word is used to God’s judgment?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:6. How will God render His judgment and wrath?
according to our __ __ __ __ __
Look up and read Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 24:12, Matthew 16:27, and Revelation 22:12.
Write out how God will repay and judge us according to these verses?
_____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Read Romans 2:6-8.
What do those who persevere in doing good by seeking for glory and honor and immortality receive?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What do those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness receive?
Read Romans 2:9. What will there be for every soul of man who does evil?
tribulation and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
THINK ABOUT IT…
When was the last time you did something you knew you should not have done and you did not get caught doing it. How did you feel in your stomach? How long did it take you to tell your parents or someone else what you did? How did you feel after you told?
Read Romans 2:10. What comes to those who do good?
__ __ __ __ __ and __ __ __ __ __ and __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:9-10 again. Who is included in these verses?
the __ __ __ first and also to the __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:11. What do we learn about God in this verse?
there is no __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ with God
God doesn’t play favorites. He treats everyone the same.
This is what the Pre-K through 5th grade studied last Sunday in Children’s Church. They will get this handout to take home with them after we have completed all of Romans 2in class together. I hand out the take home study at the conclusion of each chapter (unless there is a major divide within the chapter) so that they can over the chapter at home with their parents. Their parents are also studying through the book of Romans in “Big Church”.
The writing and teachings of Nicole Love Halbrooks Vaughn
