Blog - Do Not Depart

And God Saw That It Was Good – The Beauty in Differences

November 15, 2016 by Lindsey 3 Comments

My seven-year-old son loves to draw. And he’s really good at it too!

(I know I’m a tad biased, but I honestly believe he has talent. Of course, it’s possible I think that because of how much I completely lack artistic ability when it comes to drawing!)

Lately, though, I’ve noticed that he gets frustrated easily when drawing new things. If it’s not what he considers “perfect,” he writes a giant X on the paper and throws it in the garbage.

A couple of days ago, I walked into the kitchen while my husband was trying to explain to him that things in nature aren’t supposed to look “perfect.” Each tree isn’t supposed to be exactly the same as the last. Each bird isn’t supposed to be identical to another bird of its kind.

In nature, the differences are what make it so beautiful.

I think that’s part of the reason God seemed to have so much fun in creation. He knew that the differences in nature would make it beautiful, so he had fun creating silly-looking birds, fish, and animals.

(Seriously, some of the animals God created are hilarious. Check out this post to view pictures of some of the weirdest looking animals you’ll ever see!)

God didn’t make all the creatures look similar to one another. He could have created much less variety, but He didn’t!

All this month here at Do Not Depart, we’re studying the Creation account. Here’s a little review in case you’ve forgotten or missed a post or two.

7 Days of Creation:

Day 1: Light
Day 2: Sky
Day 3: Land and Seas/Vegetation
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Day 5: Fish and Birds (what we’re focusing on today)
Day 6: Animals and People
Day 7: Rest

Let’s look at Genesis 1:20-23: “And God said, ‘Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.’So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.” (ESV)

I love the ESV translation of that first part: “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures.”

God didn’t create just one fish and call it good. He created TONS of fish!

“And God saw that it was good.”

The differences God made in nature are good. So are the differences God made in us.

God didn’t intend for us to all possess the same creative ability.

How boring would our world be if everyone was able to draw in exactly the same way…or write in the same way…or make music in the same way…or take photographs in the same way?

The differences among us are what make this world beautiful.

So instead of wishing you had the gift of someone else or feeling bad about yourself because you can’t do what a friend is able to do, thank the Lord for the variety.

1 Corinthians 12:15-20 says this: “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body.And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

The fact that we are all different isn’t a bad thing at all. Instead, it is what makes the body of Christ function well.

Let’s celebrate our differences today! What is one way God has gifted you?

Additional Study Steps:

Google “bird images” and “fish images” and look at some of the neat creatures God created. Also click on the link I shared above about funny-looking animals. Which one is your favorite?
What are some of the ways God has gifted you? How has He gifted some of the people you know? Why is it good that we are not all gifted in the same way?
Read Psalm 96:11-12 and Romans 1:20. In what ways do God’s creation worship Him? How can you join in their song this week?
Read Psalm 104:24-25. List as many things as you can think of that God created. (Grab a large piece of paper for this!) Then, thank God for creating so much variety.

What the creation account teaches us about our differences #GodTheCreator @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

The differences among us are what make us beautiful. #GodTheCreator @LindseyMBell

Click To Tweet

Are You Scared of the Light?

November 10, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 26 Comments

Are you scared of the dark?

Or scared of the light?

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,
Genesis 1:14
and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Genesis 1:15
And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars.
Genesis 1:16
And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
Genesis 1:17
to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:18
And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
Genesis 1:19

As we study our new series this month, God the Creator, we’re also looking at our own creations. Because God is creative, and we are made in His image, we also are creative.

When God created something, He displayed it. He made it available.

But when we create something, we often want to hide it.

Why are we afraid of the light?

If we show others who we are, what we’ve done, how we love, we’re often afraid of being rejected. Of not being good enough. Of our creations being unappreciated or devalued.

But human approval isn’t our goal. Striving for fleshly perfectionism only hinders, not helps. Creativity begets creativity, and with God involved, it’s always enough.

What Are You Making?

What are we creating anyway? Maybe you’re an artist by profession. You paint or sculpt or illustrate.

But there are infinite ways to be creative that extend beyond the traditional definition.

Perhaps you write a blog.
Or you work with children.
Or you prepare three meals a day for your family.
Maybe you heal broken bodies or keep track of finances or wait tables.

Each of those is an act of creation.

And more importantly, done with the motivation to honor God, they also are each an act of love.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Matthew 5:15
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

How can you use your creations as a light on the hill for God to be glorified?

Shine the Light

Start with one step. If there’s a project you’ve been wanting to start, instead of being overwhelmed by the workload to get to the finish line, just do the first next thing.

Then do it afraid. None of us wants fear as a sidekick. But we can’t wait for fear to disappear before we share our gifts of love with the world. We may have to hit “publish” on our blogs with trembling fingers or say “Nice to meet you” to a new neighbor with a shaky voice. Put fear in the shadows when your light needs to shine.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5

As God created the sun to shine in the day and the moon to shine in the night, He also created us to be brilliant reflections of His love.

Plants grow toward the light to feed their leaves; we, too, grow toward the Light to replenish our souls. When we mirror His image back to those in our lives, we release beautiful things that need to be seen.

Walking in the light is safer than hiding in the dark. Whatever our gifts and talents are, if we use them to serve others, they’ll illuminate and glorify God.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8

Walking in the light is safer than hiding in the dark. #GodtheCreator

Click To Tweet

Extra Study

Close your eyes for 10 seconds. Can you still tell where light is coming from?
Open your eyes and look toward the brightest source of light where you are. Is it natural or man-made? What is it helping you to do?
Read through these verses on “light” from Blue Letter Bible. Which one stands out to you?
Say a prayer of thanks to God right now for the Light in your life and how He will help you shine light on your own creativity for His sake.

Related:

Do you think you’re a creative person? What prevents you from releasing your creations to the world? Please share in the comments.

The Christmas Star From Afar – Create a New Family Tradition

November 9, 2016 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Today we welcome Natalie Ard, creator of The Christmas Star From Afar. Natalie’s unique activity helps kids focus on Jesus and stay in the Word as they anticipate Christmas. Be sure to check out the review Do Not Depart team member Ali Shaw wrote on her blog as well!

Learn more about The Christmas Star From Afar, a Christmas tradition that helps kids focus on the true meaning of Christmas

As a mother, I strive to find traditions that are both meaningful and playful for my children. I want traditions that we can experience together as a family, and when it comes to Christmas I want my children to understand the reason why we celebrate this special holiday. It’s not about the lights, the decorated trees, or the gifts we receive. Christmas is about the birth of a Savior.

Years ago I began searching for a Christmas tradition with these qualities, but there was nothing to be found. So I began to wonder… how could I bring a little more of Jesus to our Christmastime fun?

Through my desire to embrace my children’s excitement and my quest to find a fun daily reminder of Jesus during Christmastime, I began to dream and brainstorm about creating a new tradition for our family. I longed for a tradition that not only thrilled my children with a countdown to Christmas but also told pieces of the story of our Lord’s birth. God blessed me with the idea of the Christmas Star From Afar.

Our Star From Afar tradition began as a very simple activity. I used a nativity set we already had at home and I cut out a Star made of cardboard. We began by reading the scripture of the Three Wise Men and then our daily hide-n-seek fun began.

Every night my husband or I would hide the Star in our home. The next morning my children would hunt around the house until they found the hidden Star. Once they found it, they would bring all Three Wise Men to the Star’s location.

We would repeat this over and over until Christmas Eve. On that special night I would leave the Star on top of the stable, and on Christmas morning my children, and their Three Wise Men, would find baby Jesus. We have had so much fun with our family tradition and it brings me so much happiness that our fun is rooted in the true meaning of Christmas.

A couple of years after implementing our playful game, friends and family began to encourage me to do something with the idea. Finally, after many Godly nudges…. I said, “Yes!”

I began to draw and write again, which I had not done in years, and before you know it, The Christmas Star From Afar was born. The Lord would continue to open door after door on this project and within just ten months The Star From Afar was ready for the public.

Writing and drawing have been a passion of mine since I was a child but I am not a trained professional nor have I had a long-standing career in product development. So, I have often asked God, “Are you sure you have the right girl for this?” He gently reminds me that He doesn’t always call the equipped, but He will ALWAYS equips the called.

The Star From Afar creates the journey of the Three Wise Men through your home. Children learn through experience and play. We also offer scripture cards to go along with the story. This game has not only created special memories for my family, but it has given me a chance to show my children that Christmas is not about the presents they receive, or Santa, or snowmen. Christmas is about the greatest gift of all—the birth of our living God, Jesus.

The Star symbolizes not only the guidance and hope of the Three Wise Men, but it also represents the Light of the World. I love watching my children look high and low for their Star every morning, hearing their squeals of excitement when the first child has spotted it, and knowing they are being reminded daily of Christ’s birth.

I pray that your family will enjoy the Star From Afar as much as mine has, and that it may bring a little more Light into your Christmas.

Many Blessings,
Natalie Ard

View More: http://sharnimedinaphotography.pass.us/natalie-ard

Natalie Ard is the creator, author, and illustrator of The Christmas Star From Afar®, She is a wife and a mother to three children and has built her company on the foundation of creating lasting memories for children and their families. You can connect with her on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

Start a new Christmas family tradition with The Star From Afar! #LetTheChildrenCome

Click To Tweet

This Christmas focus on Jesus with your kids. Learn more about The Star From Afar.

Click To Tweet

God Said It…And It Was So

November 8, 2016 by Kelli LaFram 1 Comment

“And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis‬ ‭1:6-12‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

God said…and it was so

God said, “let there be a vault…” and into existance came our sky. The atmosphere that would shield us from meteors and from the rays of the sun God had yet to create appeared. This vault also would serve as a blanket to keep us warm in the night and in cooler winter months. It would be the greenhouse roof for the vegetation that He would soon speak into existence. It would contain layers of clouds to separate the waters above from the water below. God said it and it was so.

Next, He spoke and the waters came together and land, in the form of mountains, peaks, and valleys, was exposed. He gave the waters boundaries and the seas were created. And simply by the sound of His voice it was so. Not long after, He spoke into existence all type of vegetation — plants, trees, and grasses — that would yield or contain seed so that could continually produce. God said it, it was so, and it was good.

His Word Continues

God created simply by the power of His Word. And His word continues to speak today. As we look around us we can still see the vegetation spoke into existence long ago. We walk on the dry ground that God created when He commanded the oceans and rivers take shape. We breath in and feel the wind of the atmosphere that He created with us in mind. His Word speaks. Our surroundings are evidence that a Word once spoken by God continues to be spoken by God forever (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God).

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-5, 14 (ESV)

The same Word that was spoken in Genesis became flesh to create something else new. Jesus came into this fallen and dark world to make each of us a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Through faith in God’s grace, we are created to be righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24). We have also been created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This is the truth! It is God’s spoken word!

God said it…and it is so.

I realize there is great debate within the church today about whether or not a person can lose his or her salvation. Because of this debate you may be wondering, as I often have, am I really saved? Am I really a new creation? Dear friends, don’t wonder. Don’t question. Simply believe. If you have put your faith in the Jesus Christ for your salvation, then the answer is YES! You are a new creation! God said it and it is so.

If you can believe that He spoke into existence all that you see around you, the air that you breath, and the ground that you stand on, then please believe that He is powerful enough to make a new creation out of you.

Additional Study Steps:

Read Psalm 104:1-18. How does this passage compare to Genesis 1:6-13?
Read John 1:1-5. How does this passage compare to Psalm 104:1-18
Visit BlueLetterBible.org and do a keyword search for “creation”. Search using different Bible translations.
Read [amazon_link id=”1600661068″ target=”_blank” ]The Pursuit of God[/amazon_link] by AW Tozer, focus on chapter six if your time is limited.
Respond to God in prayer and worship. Honor Him for making you a new creation.

Our surroundings are evidence that a Word once spoken by God continues to be spoken by God forever.

Click To Tweet

The same Word that was spoken in Genesis became flesh to create something else new.

Click To Tweet

Friends,

Please remember that I am human and flawed and my thoughts on this passage and others may not always be right. Please hold what I write up against the Word of God and listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you directly. That said, I’m wondering if you are struggling to believe with all confidence that you are a child of God. I wonder if you struggle to believe that you are pure just as Jesus is pure. If so, please leave a comment or send me an email. I’d love to share some amazing truth with you. Truth about what Jesus has done for you and who He says you are as a believer.

Only by grace,

Kelli

Creation: From Nothing to Something

November 3, 2016 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

Genesis 1:1-5 tells us about the very beginning of the beginning:

1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1-5)

Like I wrote about last month, my oldest daughter often asked me very deep questions about the creation of the world when she was very little. When she asked me what was in the beginning before God created the world, I answered, “Nothing was made before it was made.” But honestly, that concept is very difficult to imagine.

Our world is full of “something-ness” so it is impossibly difficult to wrap our minds around “nothingness.”

But that’s how it was in the beginning. There was nothing. Then there was something.

I think that simple (yet mind boggling) concept tells us much about God’s character. He is the Creator that needs no materials to start His design with. He is the Builder that crafts His projects from nothingness.

The First Day

It’s God’s business to go about creating something from nothing, isn’t it? And I love the fact that the initial few verses of Genesis explain that He first created the heavens and the earth, and then light. It was only when He pulled the good light away from the darkness that the dawning of a new day could begin.

The whole concept of creation is a little like what happens inside of us when we become believers in Jesus, isn’t it?

Prior to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, we are a bit like a dark, formless world. Without the Son (the Light of the World, see John 1:5-13), there can be no life or growth. So, we exist in a state of spiritual darkness— spiritual nothingness. (See 1 Peter 2:9, John 8:12)

But when the Light dawns in our hearts, something happens. A new day comes and a new creation is born. (2 Cor 5:17) The light is separated from the darkness. And our creator God molds us into the image of His son and we learn to walk in the eternal light of His glorious being. (1 John 2:6)

We pass from nothing to something… from death into life.

He created the world to show His glory. And He offers us the free gift of spiritual birth to glorify His son, Jesus.

Oh, thank you, Father Creator-God, for crafting this beautiful world around me, and thank you for creating newness in my heart through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus!

How do you see God’s character revealed in creating something from nothing? Tell us in the comments or on our Facebook page!

Ali

Additional Study Steps:

Read Genesis 1:1-5. Note every action God did and every word He spoke.
Copy Genesis 1:4. Journal through your thoughts on this verse and how it relates to spiritual birth.
Read John 1:5-13 and John 8:12. Think about the sun. As light, how does Jesus give life and growth, similar to how the sun gives life and growth to the world?
Who do you know that needs to know the Creator God? Pray that they would receive Jesus as their light and salvation. Pray about how you could witness to this person.

Creation: From Nothing to Something. How is the first day like spiritual birth? #GodTheCreator

Click To Tweet

It’s God’s business to go about creating something from nothing. Spiritual rebirth! #GotTheCreator

Click To Tweet

God the Creator {A New Series}

November 1, 2016 by Caroline 1 Comment

“In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1:1)

Aren’t those words just beautiful? God created. He literally created something from nothing, and from that nothing (that He turned into something) came our big (yet small), beautiful world.

He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1-2),

light out of dark (Genesis 1:3-5),

sky and sea and land (Genesis 1:6-10),

plants and trees (Genesis 1:11-13),

sun and stars (and with it, day and night) (Genesis 1:14-19),

creatures in the sky, sea, and on land (Genesis 1:20-25),

and then …

What did He do then?

He created humans, in His likeness, in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27).

God the Creator created us. He created us to trust, to praise, to love. He created us to create, in His likeness, in that praise and love.

That’s what we’ll focus on this November, in this season of gratitude. We are created to live creative lives. And, just like all of our other skills and personalities, our creative talents don’t always look the same as our neighbor’s.

Some of us create with words, some with pictures, some with food, some with service, some with leadership, and more.

But we all have this need to create in common, and this call to create in love and in gratitude because of love.

Join us this month as we read Genesis 1 and Genesis 2:1-3 together and learn more about God the Creator and what that means for our own creative lives as we follow Him.

How do you find yourself often creating?

Extra study until the next post:

Read through Genesis 1 and Genesis 2:1-3 once, or even twice, this week.
What ways do you find yourself creating in love throughout the week?
Write or say (or draw or sing, etc!) a short prayer of thanks to God for creating us and gifting us with creativity.
Read through posts from our archive on the Marvelous Creator that looked at other verses and instances where we see God as creative.

A new series at @DoNotDepart all about living the creative life with #GodTheCreator:

Click To Tweet

‘In the beginning, God created…’ and #GodTheCreator created us to be creative, too. Read along with @DoNotDepart this month:

Click To Tweet

Why Sound Theology Matters – Series Wrap Up

October 31, 2016 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

Has our series this month encouraged you to check and further develop your theology? It has definitely encouraged me! As we discussed in the introduction to this month’s topic, our theology affects the way we think, the decisions we make, the words we say, and more. That’s why sound theology is so important! Establishing our theology soundly results in fruitful growth and great joy!

Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman... Read the entire series at DoNotDepart.com

If you missed any of the posts this month, here’s a quick recap of why Sound Theology Matters:

To Help us Know God Well:

“When our theology isn’t right, we can’t know God well. And we don’t know God well, we can’t understand Him or what our role and position in relation to Him should be.” -Ali

To Help us Identify False Teachers and False Doctrine:

“Being in God’s word for ourselves and relying on the Holy Spirit for enlightenment will allow us to discern what is right from what is wrong, truth from lies, and the genuine Gospel from the many, many false gospels that are being proclaimed today.” -Kelli

To Believe God’s Worthy of Sharing:

“The more we know love, the more it spills out of us and onto others. …Knowing God matters. Not just for our own souls. But also in how we interact with others. Let’s know God as accurately as we can. Let’s worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Then we’ll believe He’s worthy of sharing.” -Lisa

To Learn the Formula for Becoming Like Jesus:

“…sound theology matters is because it is through sound theology that we become more like Jesus. It is through the study of Him that we become like Him. …Open your Bible and get to know Him. But don’t do it just to know facts. Instead, do it to know Him.” -Lindsey

To Understand the Theology/Trust Partnership:

“…theology and trust are partners. We need both to thrive and grow in His example. The more we trust, the more we learn, the more we lean into His wisdom, the more our eyes open to His peace (Philippians 4:7) and His love.” -Caroline

To Stand Firm… In Daily Life, When Culture Shifts, and In Spiritual Battles:

“Theology mattered in my life because I needed to be able to discern what was true from what was not true, and make life decisions accordingly. …Sound theology helps us navigate the smallest moments of our lives because it gives us a framework in which to process every detail.” -Patti

There are many more reasons why sound theology matters than the ones we covered this month: to understand what God has done, to understand what He won’t do, to know how God wants us to function as Believers, and the list goes on. (Can you think of more reasons? Add them in the comments!)

Theology matters. And it isn’t a dry, difficult subject fit only for scholars, but it’s for all of us… women, wives, moms, grandmothers, Sunday school teachers, mentors, and friends. Studying and knowing God is a lifelong, life-giving pursuit that yields sweet fruit as we abide in Him and grow to be like Jesus! We are all placed exactly where God wants us; let’s shine our light for Him strongly, and accompanied by a sound theology.

Why Sound Theology Matters for Every Woman. Month-long series recap #TheologyForWomen

Click To Tweet

My Daily Prayers – A Printable Prayer Sheet for Kids

October 26, 2016 by Patti Brown 2 Comments

Print our free daily prayer sheet for children. Create a prayer journal and encourage your child to have a daily conversation with God.

We are continuing our children’s printable prayer sheet series with a sheet that can be filled out each day. This prayer sheet is intended to be used to encourage your child to grow in the habit of daily conversation with God.

The last time we shared a children’s prayer sheet we focused on a list of people and situations to keep in mind to pray for at any time. Our last sheet was a static sheet that can be filled out once and slowly added to.

The daily prayer sheet can be used to create a prayer journal with a new sheet for each day.

Talk through the prayer page with your child when you first introduce it. The list follows the basics ACTS model:

Adoration (worship)
Confession (confessing sins and asking forgiveness)
Thanksgiving (thanking God)
Supplication (making requests)

Here is a child friendly way to explain the categories:

I love you because…
- There are so many reasons to praise God! This line is a great place to list some.
Please forgive me for…
- Confessing our sins and asking for forgiveness renews our hearts
Thank you for…
- We want to develop the habit of being thankful at a very young age, because thanksgiving is obedience!
Please bless…
- Ask for God’s blessing on someone you care about
Please help my friend…
- This is called intercessory prayer – praying for the needs of others. Who is needy in your life today?
Please help me to…
- We pray for others, and we also pray for God to help us to grow. What are you struggling with?

Download the “My Daily Prayers” sheet

Download our “My Daily Prayers” printable for kids! #LetTheChildrenCome

Click To Tweet

Start a prayer journal for your child with our free resources. #LetTheChildrenCome

Click To Tweet

Save

Stand Firm {Why Theology Matters}

October 25, 2016 by Patti Brown 2 Comments

When I was a young believer, I was both passionately committed, and continuously confused.

I wanted more than anything to follow Jesus and walk in His ways, but I had almost no Bible knowledge. I would hear someone talk on Christian radio, or see a sermon on TV, and not know whether what they were saying was true. I’d have conversations with people of varying Christian backgrounds, and their positions would contradict. Who was right?

Then I would go grocery shopping at the health food store, and see New Age books, and talk with non-Christians, and some of the things they said made sense to me. What was going on?!

I knew that Jesus had saved me. I was absolutely certain of it in my heart. But I had barely cracked a Bible, so my theology was terrible. I didn’t know how to navigate all these conflicting ideas.

I was not studying apologetics or aiming to be a theologian. I was just a young working wife who wanted to understand what she believed.

Theology mattered in my life because I needed to be able to discern what was true from what was not true, and make life decisions accordingly.

I wanted to be able to stand firm for Jesus, but I had to know what that meant first.

~~~~~~~~~~

Faith is the keystone of Christianity, but knowledge is the foundation.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

In 2 Peter 1:2-9, Peter uses the word knowledge five times, underscoring the need for us to know God so that we are able to live fruitful lives.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1: 5-8

If you don’t know what God’s Word says, you stay confused about what you believe. This affects your ability to stand firm in many areas.

Stand Firm in Daily Life

One day my daughter came to me with tears in her eyes. “Mama, I can’t get any of my school work done because I can’t figure out how to do the work and pray at the same time.” My sweet girl had taken pray without ceasing completely literally and was trying to hold an active conversation with God while she was writing geometry proofs. No wonder she was overwhelmed!

What you believe about God affects even the smallest details of your life. In my daughter’s case, faulty theology had caused her to err on the side of legalism. She needed to focus on Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

But far more often American Christians err in the opposite direction, and embrace permissiveness in the name of freedom.

Does your theology impact what you watch on television? Does it help you make decisions about how you spend your money? Does it change the way you speak to people?

Sound theology helps us navigate the smallest moments of our lives because it gives us a framework in which to process every detail.

Stand Firm as Culture Shifts

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Ephesians 4:11-14

We call it flip-flopping in politics – dramatically changing your position. Especially over the past decade there have been major shifts in what is acceptable in American culture. And politicians have reflected that.

When we don’t have solid theology, when we don’t know God through His Word, we flip-flop too.

Culture changes. God does not. Nor does His Word. It is not always easy to stand firm as culture shifts, but God is faithful to strengthen you in it.

Stand Firm in Spiritual Battles

After I started seriously studying the Bible as a young adult, one of the most dramatic changes in my worldview came as a result of this passage:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians 6:10-18a

It is difficult for me to underscore just how much this impacted my understanding of what was going on around me. It was a gigantic “Aha!” moment.

We think our battle is against flesh and blood – other humans – but the real war is in the spiritual realm. And it is a massive war.

You and I are not strong enough to fight this war. The only strength we have is when we are in Christ.

Ephesians 6:10-18a goes into detail about our role in the battle… be strong in the Lord, stand, pray. Did you see all that standing? Look at the words I emphasized in bold in the passage. Four times Paul admonished us to stand. Stand, withstand, stand firm. STAND!

Making the choice in my twenties to dig into God’s Word, and try to grow in knowledge and understanding, completely changed my life. I have been faced with countless small decisions and some very large decisions since then, and basing my decision-making on sound theology gleaned through knowledge of His Word has never failed me. I have at times gone the opposite direction of culture as a result, but I have always been blessed.

Knowledge does not supercede relationship – remain in His love, press into Him – but it does give you a framework for godly decision making. When you have a solid knowledge of God through His Word, you can make wise decisions, and stand firm.

Sound theology helps you stand firm. Culture changes. God does not. #TheologyForWomen

Click To Tweet

Theology helps you make decisions even in the small details of your life. #TheologyForWomen

Click To Tweet

Save

Theology and Trust

October 20, 2016 by Caroline 3 Comments

When I think of theology, I often think of logic. Of proof, of study, and of learning.

Merriam-Webster defines theology as:

“the study of religious faith, practice, and experience : the study of God and God’s relation to the world”

It’s the study of our God, the study of our faith, and the study of practice of that faith.

Determining and studying one’s own theology is important for so many reasons, as we’ve been discussing all month.

I’m a fact-finder and a lifelong learner, so I love and get excited over the opportunity to learn more and study deeper.

But, as I grow older (and re-realize how little I know), I’m slowly grasping that deepening our theology doesn’t mean only expanding our knowledge. And knowledge and understanding aren’t the same thing.

Sometimes understanding doesn’t mean knowledge.

Sometimes faith doesn’t mean seeing.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

And sometimes trust doesn’t mean knowing the answers first.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

Receiving Wisdom

I’ve always liked Proverbs 2 because it talks of the value of wisdom. Wisdom is good, wisdom is needed. But something important to remember about our theology is that wisdom is from God. And if wisdom comes not from ourselves, that means we must first receive it.

Picture this: Someone comes up to you and says they would like to give you something. A gift, perhaps. All you have to do is hold out your hand.

If you keep your hand closed or even find somewhere else to go, perhaps you don’t trust this person or this situation (and perhaps with good reason). Without that trust, there’s no way you’d open your hand to receive it.

But if you do trust, then you hold out your open hand, ready to receive.

Proverbs 2 begins:

“My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding…
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…” – Proverbs 2:1-2, 5-6

First, we receive, then comes the understanding.

Isn’t this the way of faith sometimes? We believe even when we don’t understand (Hebrews 11:1). We ask for faith even when we can’t see beyond a clouding doubt (Mark 9:24). We seek Him first, even when we aren’t sure how to fill our needs (Matthew 6:33).

Theology and Trust Together

None of this means we sit idly by, not trying to deepen our knowledge of God and His nature. But it does mean that theology and trust are partners. We need both to thrive and grow in His example.

The more we trust, the more we learn, the more we lean into His wisdom, the more our eyes open to His peace (Philippians 4:7) and His love.

“Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you…” – Proverbs 2:9-11

How do you trust even when you may not understand?

Sometimes understanding doesn’t mean knowledge. Sometimes faith doesn’t mean seeing. #TheologyForWomen

Click To Tweet

Today’s #TheologyforWomen post from @DoNotDepart considers Theology and Trust together:

Click To Tweet