Our study group got together at the girls' house last night. We covered a couple of chapters in our book, which pretty much dealt with the same topic. It turned out to be a very good study and generated a lot of discussion.
(I'm switching to a different translation for the purpose of these studies - unless it contradicts the KJV.)
Isa 61:1 The spirit of the Lord is on me, because I am marked out by him to give good news to the poor; he has sent me to make the broken-hearted well, to say that the prisoners will be made free, and that those in chains will see the light again; 2 To give knowledge that the year of the Lord's good pleasure has come, and the day of punishment from our God; to give comfort to all who are sad; 3 To give them a fair head-dress in place of dust, the oil of joy in place of the clothing of grief, praise in place of sorrow; so that they may be named trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, and so that he may have glory. (BBE)
Jesus came to heal and give joy to His followers. He tells us in Luke 4 that this passage in Isaiah was fulfilled in Him. (Lu 4:21 Then he said to them, Today this word has come true in your hearing.)
When we become followers of Christ, we no longer live to ourselves...to decide how to live based on our own wants and think-sos. We allow Christ to direct us in everything...to allow our brokenness to be healed by Him.
Ga 2:20 I have been put to death on the cross with Christ; still I am living; no longer I, but Christ is living in me; and that life which I now am living in the flesh I am living by faith, the faith of the Son of God, who in love for me, gave himself up for me.
Heb 12:1 For this reason, as we are circled by so great a cloud of witnesses, putting off every weight, and the sin into which we come so readily, let us keep on running in the way which is marked out for us, 2 Having our eyes fixed on Jesus, the guide and end of our faith, who went through the pains of the cross, not caring for the shame, because of the joy which was before him, and who has now taken his place at the right hand of God's seat of power.
I liked this commentary from our book: "Throw off all that hinders you (stop and think about what this is asking of you)...say no to the sin that has you tangled in knots...run the race that is marked out for you (don't run anyone else's marathon, only yours)...fix your eyes on one focus only: Jesus"
Tit 2:13 Looking for the glad hope, the revelation of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, so that he might make us free from all wrongdoing, and make for himself a people clean in heart and on fire with good works.
Php 3:13 Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before, 14 I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus.
We have a tendency to judge ourselves by others, and the standards that the world hold forth. We need to turn from those tendencies and see ourselves as God sees us. (1Sa 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.) Each of us have our own talents. We should focus on using and growing these talents to God's glory and not bemoan the fact that someone else has other talents that we don't. When we work as a body, the church grows and things get done!
Eph 4:7 But to every one of us has grace been given in the measure of the giving of Christ.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching; 12 For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ: 14 So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error; 15 But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ; 16 Through whom all the body, being rightly formed and united together, by the full working of every part, is increased to the building up of itself in love.
Life deals with us in many ways, many of which are painful and difficult. God uses those experiences to change us into His daughter...a thing of beauty. Just as a pearl is formed over years from the irritation of sand in an oyster, our struggles and "irritants" create in us patience, maturity, compassion, and all of the traits that Our Fathers desires to be within us. We need to train ourselves to view our trials as blessings...embracing the changes.
Ro 5:3 And not only so, but let us have joy in our troubles: in the knowledge that trouble gives us the power of waiting; 4 And waiting gives experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope does not put to shame; because our hearts are full of the love of God through the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
Mt 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader searching for beautiful jewels. 46 And having come across one jewel of great price, he went and gave all he had in exchange for it.
Insecurities and fear keep us from being all that we can be in Christ. We need to put away those negative thoughts and allow the Spirit to work in our lives.
2Co 3:2 You yourselves are our letter, whose writing is in our heart, open for every man's reading and knowledge; 3 For you are clearly a letter of Christ, the fruit of our work, recorded not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in stone, but in hearts of flesh. 4 And this is the certain faith which we have in God through Christ: 5 Not as if we were able by ourselves to do anything for which we might take the credit; but our power comes from God; 6 Who has made us able to be servants of a new agreement; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter gives death, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there the heart is free. 18 But we all, with unveiled face giving back as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord who is the Spirit.
"What makes us special is...the signature of God on our lives." (Max Lucado)
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