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Learn from a Flower – Memorizing Matthew 6:28-29

May 2, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 2 Comments

More important verses from Matthew 6! Memorize these with us this week.

28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6 (ESV)

Most of us probably aren’t too anxious about having clothes to wear to cover our bodies. Our clothing problems are typically about quantity and style and cost.

But back in Jesus’s day, the average citizen didn’t have a closet full of clothes to choose from each morning. Many of them had legitimate concerns about what they would put on.

How much less should we be concerned about clothing!

As we notice the flowering trees and bushes and plants this week, think twice about what you’re worrying about. Maybe you’re not anxious about clothes; perhaps it’s finances or decisions or health issues.

Whatever is causing you to have a divided mind, hand it over to the Lord as often as you see His colorful provisions in nature.

Let the colorful blooms remind you to trust His grace as sufficient.

Let the flowers teach you. Memorize #Matthew6 v28-29 #HideHisWord

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Key Greek Words – Wrap Up

April 29, 2016 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

Key Greek Words of the New Testament at DoNotDepart.com

All this month we’ve looked at Key Greek Words of the New Testament. At the beginning of the month, I mentioned that words in koine Greek have rich meaning and subtle nuances that really enhance the message the words relay. I hope our posts this month demonstrated that well.
It’s really amazing to me how rich and deep God’s word is. And that’s why reading it once is never enough. The more we read and dig, the more we discover.

God’s word is truly a treasure chest — filled to the brim with priceless, expressive words and truths.

And as we dig in, the more we find. And the more we find and know, the more our hearts can grow, mature, and bear fruit for Christ and His kingdom.

This month, we looked at the Greek words:

Charis, the Greek New Testament word for grace. Without God’s merciful kindness and unmerited favor, without His leaning toward us in an extension of Himself for our good, where would we be?
Zoe, the Greek word for life… specifically, this is the divine life in us— the life of the Son who breathes that life into us, eternally. There is no life superior to zoe life!
Euaggelion, Greek for “good news.” And yes, the gospel is truly good news — the good news that God loves us, that Jesus died for us, and that our penalty is erased by His blood!
Ekklesia is the Greek word translated “church” in the New Testament and means “to call out and gather.” God truly does call us out to gather together to worship, serve, and act and we can’t sit statically.
Agape, the Greek word for love. But agape love is unique! Agape is the selfless type of love that Christ demonstrated… a love-your-enemies, dying-to-self, you-before me kind of love.

Patti even wrote a great post about Teaching Children Biblical Greek that you won’t want to miss!

And as promised, we have a printable for you…

Our graphic designer, Ashley Taylor, has created darling printable Flashcards of Key Greek Words of the New Testament just for you. Each card prints up front and back.

On the front, you’ll find:

the Greek word we’ve studied this month,
the Strong’s concordance number,
the translation,
and definition.

On the back are verses where you can find the Greek word used.

We are excited about these cards and hope you’ll be blessed by them!

Which Key Greek Word of the New Testament touched your heart? What did you most enjoy learning this month?

Key Greek Words of the New Testament. Series wrap up plus FREE flashcards #NTGreekWords

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Agapé: Divine Love

April 27, 2016 by Patti Brown 1 Comment

Learn about the Greek word agapé which means divine love, benevolence

I am fascinated by Greek word studies, and if you are too, I expect that you have found this month’s series on Greek words in the New Testament quite interesting. You may have encountered a few new words, but if you already knew a Koine Greek word before our series began, it was probably agapé.

Agapé, and its verb counterpart agapaō, are the Koine Greek words for love. The meaning of these words takes on a unique form in the New Testament, compared to meanings found in secular Greek of the time.

agapé (ἀγάπη), n. – divine love, benevolence

What Agapé Love Is

The well-known “love passage” in 1 Corinthians 13 underscores the difference between agapé and human love.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Agapé love is completely selfless. It is the love of Jesus Christ toward us, expressed profoundly in His willingness to die on the cross for our sins. Agapé and agapaō are used to express:

God’s love toward us (Romans 5:8)
God’s love toward Jesus Christ (John 17:26)
How God wants His children to love one another (John 13:34, Romans 13:10)
An expression of God’s nature (1 John 4:16)

Thomas Aquinas succinctly sums up the difference between human love and agapé love when he writes that agapé is “willing the good of the other.”

How can humans live agapé love when its very definition is divine love? Simply put: we can not love this way without Jesus. Agapé love is love-your-enemies kind of love. This is dying-to-self love. You-before-me love.

“Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments… Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered.” W.E. Vine

The King James Version often translates agapé as “charity.” In a way that term is helpful because it somewhat distinguishes this kind of love from the brotherly philos love also found many times in the bible.

“We are all receiving Charity. There is something in each of us that cannot be naturally loved.” – C.S. Lewis

What Agapé Love Is Not

There are actually four Greek words that can be translated to the English word “love.” Three of them are found in the New Testament. This linguistic distinction between different aspects of what we simply call “love” helps explain what agapé love is not.

agapé – divine love, benevolence
philía/philos– brotherly love; the love between friends
storgē – family love; love of parent to child and vice versa
érōs – romantic love; this word is not found in the New Testament.

The interaction between Jesus and Peter described in John 21:15-17 highlights the difference between two of the Greek words for love.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philō) you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philō) you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (phileis) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love (phileis) me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (philō) you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17

The nuances of this passage become significant when we realize that Jesus and Peter were using different Greek words as they discussed Peter’s love for Jesus. This was the first face-to-face interaction they had had since Peter had denied Jesus three times. In a sense, Peter admits his guilt and his inability to love in the way Jesus has called him to, simply by refusing to use the word agapé.

We know that later Peter goes on to be a tremendous example of demonstrating agapé love. I always find that fact to be so encouraging – no matter where I am today in my ability (or lack of ability) to live agapé love, God is growing me toward something more holy.

It is interesting to note that agapé is the only of the four loves that does not really denote feeling. As W.E. Vines wrote:

“Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God’s love is seen in the gift of His son. (1 John 4:9-10) But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects. (Romans 5:8) It was an exercise of the divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause, save that which lies in the nature of God Himself.”

Agapé love is not based on merit or emotion. Agapé is a choice; a choice that God made when we least deserved it, and a choice that He asks you and I to make every day.

Learn about agapé love. #NTGreekWords

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Agapé love is you-before-me love. We can’t do that without Jesus. #NTGreekWords

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7 Prayers for When You Feel Discouraged – Plus a New Resource!

April 22, 2016 by Lindsey 14 Comments

Goodness, this life is hard sometimes. It’s easy to get discouraged and to wonder why God isn’t fixing your situation.

I’ve wondered it more than a time or two in the past few years. My husband and I lost four babies over a span of three years.

During that time, there were many instances when I wondered what to pray…how to pray. I didn’t want to pray for a healthy baby and then be disappointed yet again if God chose not to grant that desire.

What I learned in that time was that even though life is hard, God is still here with us.

He’s with us in the hard.

Here are 7 prayers I prayed often during that time.

7 Prayers for When You Feel Discouraged:

That God will make His presence known to you.

What we need most when we’re feeling discouraged by life is not an answer to what the future holds (though that would be nice) but to know we’re not alone.

That’s why this prayer is so important.

That you will stand firm in the faith.

It’s tempting in the midst of a struggle to question God. There’s nothing wrong with questioning Him (David and Job questioned God a lot, after all), but pray God will help you stand firm even in the midst of your questions.

That God will bring people into your life who will encourage you.

God often uses the body of believers to encourage His children. He uses them to be His hands and feet. Ask for God to bring these people into your life.

That you will shine your light well, even when times are tough.

There’s a quote I’ve seen on Pinterest lately that says this: “Broken crayons still color.” It’s absolutely true. A broken crayon can still color the same as an unbroken one.

You and I, likewise, can still color the lives of those around us…even when we’re hurting. Pray you would do this well.

That God would use this hard situation for your good and for His glory.

Rick Warren once said that “your greatest ministry will likely come from your greatest pain.”

It’s true, isn’t it? God often redeems our pain by using it to minister to others. Pray for God to use your hard situation to bring about something good in you (Romans 8:28) and in the Kingdom.

That God Himself would encourage your Spirit through His Word.

Ask God to point you to Scriptures that will encourage your Spirit.

That you would be unbeaten by this trial.

After one of our miscarriages, I remember telling God I would not allow Satan to win this battle. I would not let him beat me.

Pray for the same kind of determination.

What other prayers would you add to this list?

This post is part of Lindsey’s blog tour to celebrate her new Bible study and devotional, Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too).

To celebrate her book, she’s giving away a HUGE bundle of books! Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win. You can get more entries by commenting on other blogs in the tour as well. Get a full list of participating blogs here.

About Unbeaten:

Why does life have to be so hard? If you’ve ever asked this question, you’re not alone. Difficult times often leave Christians searching the Bible for answers to some of life’s most difficult questions.

Questions like:

Does God hear me when I pray?

Why isn’t He doing anything?

Does He even care?

In Unbeaten: How Biblical Heroes Rose Above Their Pain (and you can too), Lindsey Bell walks with readers through the stories of men and women in the Bible who went through difficult situations. In this 10-week Bible study and devotional, she addresses many of these questions and helps readers learn how they too can be unbeaten.

About Lindsey Bell:

Lindsey Bell is the author of the Bible study and devotional, Unbeaten, and of the parenting devotional, Searching for Sanity. She’s a stay-at-home mother of two silly boys, a minister’s wife, an avid reader, and a lover of all things chocolate. Lindsey writes weekly at www.lindseymbell.com about faith, family, and learning to love the life she’s been given.

7 Prayers for When You Feel Discouraged @LindseyMBell

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A New Resource for When You Feel Discouraged @LindseyMBell

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Called Out to Gather

April 21, 2016 by Caroline 4 Comments

What do you think of when you hear the word “church?”

Do you think of a building — unmovable and solid?

Or do you think of people or a gathering — fluid and active?

This second idea is likely more the meaning the authors of the New Testament meant when they used the word “church” or “ekklesia.”

Ekklesia – Called Out to Gather

The word “ekklesia” appears in the New Testament about 111 times.

This word is derived from two different Greek words — “ek” (from out of) and “kaleo” (to call).

So ekklesia translates to:

“a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly”

Greek government may have used the word as any public gathering, but we know that the New Testament authors used the word to connate gathering of believers for some purpose within the faith – to worship, to serve, to act.

Let’s look at those words closer: worship, serve, act.

All of those are active words on their own.

So ekklesia isn’t and can’t be static. We are called out by God (which is active by origin) to gather together to then actively spread God’s love to others.

What Active Ekklesia Can Look Like

So if ekklesia isn’t just meeting in a building once a week, what can it look like?

Here is just a sampling of what the New Testament says about ekklesia:

In Acts 12:5, the church fervently prays.
In Acts 14:27, the church reports good done via the faith amongst each other for encouragement.
In Acts 20:28, the church shepherds each other to stay on the path.
In 1 Corinthians 12, we see that each member of the church has God-given gifts to serve others.
In Ephesians 1:20-23, we see Christ as the head of the gathering of believers.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, the members of the church love each other and persevere together for the purpose of spreading God’s love.
In James 5:14, the church serves and prays over the sick.

So when we gather, let’s remember that we are called out to gather together to strengthen each other in our walks with God. And we are called out to gather together to serve Him and serve others. We are called out to act and do and love.

*Stay tuned for a post at the end of the month with study cards on all the Greek words discussed this month!

What are some ways the church (ekklesia) has actively served you with God’s love? What ways have you seen fellow believers be an active gathering for God?

Ekklesia isn’t and can’t be static. We are called out by God to gather and actively love and serve:

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Today’s #NTGreekWords is ‘ekklesia.’ What do you think of when you hear the word ‘church’?

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Why The Gospel Really Is Good News

April 19, 2016 by Lindsey 3 Comments

We call the message of Jesus “Good News” (and rightfully so!), but sometimes, I’m afraid many of us don’t act like the news is good.

We say we believe in the Good News, but the frowns on our faces, the lack of joy in our hearts, and the complaints on our lips say otherwise.

I’m afraid that when people look at us, they don’t see the joy of the Lord but instead the life of someone who wants to feel joyful…but has somehow allowed Satan to steal his or her joy.

To be completely honest, my life hasn’t displayed God’s Good News very much over the past few years.

Instead, I’ve allowed the difficulties in this life to suffocate the goodness of God. I’ve allowed Satan to steal my joy.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you have proclaimed with your mouth on Sunday that God is good but have shown through your actions and attitude during the week that you don’t really believe it.

Because the truth is…it’s hard to share God’s Good News when the world seems so bad.

It’s hard to maintain joy over God’s Good News when it feels like your life is falling apart.

But in reality…I have learned lately that these hard times are when God’s News shows itself to be really good.

Why the Gospel Really Is Good News:

God’s news is good because it promises a better tomorrow.
God’s news is good because it reminds us that no matter what happens today, we have a heavenly home where there will be no more pain and no more suffering.
God’s news is good because it reminds us that no matter how we have failed, Jesus’ death on the cross has paid the penalty for our sins.
God’s news is good because through it, everyone has the opportunity to be saved.
God’s news is good because it shows us just how much God adores us.

As I was thinking about which Greek word to write about here at Do Not Depart this month, one word kept coming back to me: “euaggelion,” or Good News/Gospel (Strong’s Concordance #2098).

This word literally means “good or joyful news.” It is God’s Good News to the world He loves.

The word “euaggelion” (or Good News/Gospel) shows up 76 times in the New Testament books. 76 times!

That’s 76 reminders of God’s love for us…76 reminders that we have a reason for joy (no matter what is happening in our lives)…and 76 reminders of what Jesus did for us on that cross.

The word isn’t limited to Jesus’ death on the cross, though. It is the summation of the entire biblical text. It’s the entire story of how God has sought after His beloved people ever since the very first day they were led astray.

Euaggelion is the love story of God and His children.

In Mark 16:15, one of the 76 times when Gospel/Good News is used, the text says,

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

Our lives will never be perfect, but we nonetheless have a job to do. Our job is to share God’s good news with others.

Because the truth is…

This life is hard, but our God and His Gospel message are still very, very good.

Later this month we’ll be offering you a beautiful set of Key Greek Words of the New Testament flashcards that you can print to help you remember all we’ve studied together. Be on the lookout for this printable!

What would you add to the list above? What about God’s Good News makes you the most excited?

This life is hard, but our God and His Gospel message are still very good. #NTGreekWords @LindseyMBell

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Why the Gospel Really is Good News (even when life is hard) #NTGreekWords @LindseyMBell

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Share A Bird Photo as You Memorize Matthew 6:26-27

April 18, 2016 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

Attention Matthew 6 Memorizers:

This is the next-to-last week before our last scheduled one-week break. So spend time this week with Jesus’s words below and we’ll see you back to learn new words in two weeks! (Then only four weeks left.)

Now with this week’s verses . . .

Look Up!

See any birds today?

We often fail to notice them as they fly by, minding their own business as we mind ours.

But Jesus used them as an important example of how to live without worries. God takes care of them regardless of their inabilities to do much for themselves.

How much more so will He do for us?

Bird Photo Challenge

Please take a photo of birds you see this week (or dig one off your phone from the past) and share with us on Instagram @DoNotDepart using the hashtag #Matthew6 and with our Hide His Word Facebook group.

If even the birds don’t look worried with all the obstacles facing them, we, too, can live freer of anxiety under God’s protective care.

Share a bird photo! Learn to let go of worries. Memorize #Matthew6 v26-27 #HideHisWord

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What’s your favorite bird to watch?

Tag us on Instagram @DoNotDepart, #Matthew6 or post in our Hide His Word Facebook group. We want to see how God inspires you to “Look at the birds of the air.”

Are You Into Greek “Life”? It’s Not What You Think

April 14, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 25 Comments

[download Greek Life Resources with links here]

What Is Greek Life Anyway?

Maybe you or your children have been in a sorority or fraternity. Or maybe you despise them. We all have images of “Greek life”—some good, some bad—from friends’ stories or Animal House or personal experiences.

We understand they are intended for community spirit, for belonging, for identity and friendship and support. [Why do fraternities and sororities use Greek letters anyway? Learn here.]

But there’s a completely different—and much better—Greek life that we learn from Jesus.

Three Greek Lives

If you’re breathing, you have life. Your dog breathes. Your oak tree breathes. We count them all as alive.

But actually three different Greek words are used in the New Testament for “life.” Two of these types of lives everyone has from birth.

But the third type? It is radically different from them all.

1. Bios = Life

Remember biology class? The study of living organisms. Our word “biology” comes from this Greek work bios. It is the least used word for “life” in the New Testament (11 times) and is often translated as other words.

bios [bee’-os] – life; (1) present state of existence, (2) the means of livelihood. Strong’s G979

Bios is our biological life and the things that sustain our life (our livelihood). We need it, we use it, but we can’t depend on it.

Look at these messages about bios:

“. . . lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”
1 Timothy 2:2
“No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits [affairs of this life], since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”
2 Timothy 2:4
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
1 John 2:16
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
1 John 3:17

Message about bios: Live by it, but not for it.

2. Psuche = Life

Think now about psychology, the study of the mind and behaviors.

Psuche is the second most used word in the New Testament for life, translated in the KJV as “soul(s)” 58 times, and as “life (lives)” 41 times.

psuche [psoo-khay’] – life; (1) the breath of life, (2) the soul, seat of the feelings, desires, affections. Strong’s G5590

Psuche is the seat of our personality. The way we respond to circumstances reveals our psuches.

When Jesus died, He not only gave up his body, bios life, He also gave up His soul, psuche life.

Read these scriptures with psuche:

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Matthew 6:25
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course. . . . .”
Acts 20:24
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
1 John 3:16

Message about psuche: Live through it, but lay it down.

While we all are born with bios and psuche, and we need them to live, this next “life” below is totally different. . . .

3. Zoe = Life

Zoe is the most used word for “life” in the New Testament (134 times), translated only as “life” every time. The apostle John used it more times in his gospel than Matthew, Mark, and Luke combined.

zoe [dzo-ay’] – life. Strong’s G2222

We’re not born with zoe. It’s only given as a special gift from God to His believers, for now and for eternity.

Zoe is the divine life in us, the transformation of our spirit from dead to alive. It is life as God has it and life as He intends us to abundantly have.

See if you notice how different “life” is in these scriptures with zoe:

“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”
John 5:26
“. . . I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
John 17:3
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
1 John 5:12

It’s been said that psuche is the living being, but zoe is the life of that being.

Message about zoe: Live in it, in Jesus.

Zoe Is Powerful

Zoe life is what makes believers different from the inside out. It’s more than what we do or think; it is who we are in the deepest places, a beloved child of God.

Bios and psuche life can swing between bad and good all our lives—we have sick days and healthy days; we have joys and disappointments. Life has hurts and can be confusing.

But zoe life is what we have underneath it all, even when we can’t feel the peace or see the healing. Zoe is our permanent placement in the very palm of God’s hand, alive forever, safe in Jesus.

Zoe is . . .

Peace deeper than pain
Vision through the veils
Joy in the jarrings
Purpose beyond predicaments

Unlike human fraternities and sororities, zoe Greek life connects us to a divine community, with dues already paid, where we’re given a royal identity, and friendship with God forever.

That’s the kind of Greek life I’m into.

Into Greek life? It’s not what you think. Resource Page here. #NTGreekWords

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Do you have a favorite Greek word? Did you already know about zoe? Please share your Greek life experiences in the comments.

Want more clickable resources? Download Greek Life Resources for additional study.

Read all our posts this month on New Testament Greek words here.

Charis, the Greek Word for Grace

April 12, 2016 by Ali Shaw 9 Comments

{Later this month we’ll be offering you a beautiful set of Key Greek Words of the New Testament flashcards that you can print to help you remember all we’ve studied together.}

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17)

“All fulness dwells in him [Jesus], from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received even grace, a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us.” (Matthew Henry)

Grace upon grace. Sweet Grace!

As Believers, we often hear of grace being defined as “God’s favor.” This definition certainly isn’t wrong, but there’s much more to grace than simply that.

Did you catch that one little phrase of Matthew Henry’s above? “Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace.”

When we deserve punishment, instead, God gives mercy.
When we cannot do it alone, God gives help.
When we lack in wisdom, God gives wise guidance.
When we suffer, God gives various types of healing.
When we are unloveable, God loves us to the utmost.
When we continually sin and fail, God gives forgiveness.
When we need strength, God gives perseverance.

Grace upon grace.

The Greek word used in the Bible for grace is charis. This word is rich and meaningful. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to wrap my head around all that grace entails. It helps to discover the various aspects of grace that the Greek word implies.

Strong’s Concordance lists the definition of charis as: (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness.

HELPS Word-studies gives added insight when it explains that the word charis has the added implication of “leaning towards.” God leans toward us (even if we’re leaning away) freely extending Himself to meet us where we are and with what we need.

No matter our pain, our mess, or our stubbornness, in charis-grace, God reaches out favorably to extend Himself.

And I love this explanation I came across in Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

charis is “used of ‘the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues’”

When you feel strengthened to increase in faith or something in your heart has been kindled to practice your faith, that’s also a result of grace!

Seriously rich, isn’t it?

A few years ago, I went through some serious health problems and felt God’s grace in my life deeper than I ever had before. He reached out to me in my despair over the situation, lifted me up and strengthened me, brought me through, fed me truth, showed me deep love, and healed my spirit.

His touch of grace in my life, His bending toward me favorably with His help and strengthening power, was absolutely incomprehensible!

God lovingly did that for me and He’ll do it for you.

May your life be touched with the richness of His charis… His grace upon grace!

Here are two beautiful verses to remind you of God’s wonderful grace:

“…he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:5-6

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

How has God showed you His grace lately? I’d love for you to share in the comments…

Charis, the Greek Word for Grace… learn what the original language implies. #NTGreekWords

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Heart Choices – Memorizing Matthew 6:24-25

April 11, 2016 by Lisa Burgess 2 Comments

Jesus has been giving us many dichotomies in Matthew 6 so far:

do things for show OR for God in private (vs 1-18)
have treasures on earth OR treasures in heaven (vs 19-21)
see through healthy eyes and light OR bad eyes and darkness (vs 22-23)

In this week’s verses, He adds two more pairs:

be a slave to God OR to wealth (vs 24)
be anxious over food and clothing OR have peace about life

Inside Out Choices

We don’t often think of these as choices. I don’t think I’m consciously choosing to worry, for example, but I hear Jesus inviting me through these verses (and the ones that follow) to consider it deeper.

We all go through similar outward motions, but what is motivating us on the inside?

As we memorize this week, let’s ask God to reveal to us which master we are choosing to serve: our own needs for security and admiration and control, or God’s will for forgiveness and gratitude and righteousness?

Who will you serve today? We’re memorizing #Matthew6 v24-25 this week. #HideHisWord

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Which opposites in Matthew 6 have caused you to pause and reflect? Please share any thoughts in the comments.