How can we find the faith to turn from our idols and trust God?
By beholding the Lover of our Souls.
Why did Jesus leave paradise? For you and for me.
We are of great value to Him because we have souls that will live forever.
Remember the lyrics to O Holy Night?
Long lay the world in sin and error pining ’til He appeared and:
This life is hard and can cause us to despair, even to believe the devil’s lie that we are not loved. As Tim Keller often says, “We may not know the reason for suffering, but we know what it is not. It is not that God does not love us. The cross shows us that.”
Pexels photo by Ivan Samkov
Sunday:
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
Monday: The Soul Felt Its Worth
In the fictional movie, Greyhound, Tom Hanks plays Captain Ernest Krause, a man of faith. When they sink a German submarine, a member of the crew cheers, “fifty less Krauts!” The captain solemnly replies, “Fifty souls,” recognizing that even our enemies have souls that go on forever and should not be treated lightly. In the real-life emergency air landing of Captain Sully on the Potomac River, Sully, a believer, also played by Tom Hanks, rejoiced when told all “155 souls” were saved.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us.
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
Tuesday: Our Lover Longs for Responsiveness
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance.
Wednesday: Seeing Others as Souls
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
I love to watch and learn from my friend, Linda Strom, who founded the prison ministry of Discipleship Unlimited. It doesn’t matter if it is the Asian woman giving her a pedicure who speaks only a few phrases of English, or the awkward fifteen-year-old taking her order at McDonald’s – she finds a way to bless them, to connect with them. Terry Meeuwsen, host of The 700 Club and Linda’s best friend, quipped: “Whenever we leave a restaurant, we are always waiting on Linda because she’s leading the waitress to the Lord.” She sees their souls. Here she is giving communion to inmates — you can even see it in this picture.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away
The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass,asher soulwas in departing,(forshe died)that she calledhis nameBenoni:but his fathercalledhimBenjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
This probably seems like an unlikely way for me to feel the love of God in my life, but I did! Yesterday, I was at my son’s 4H dog show at our county fairgrounds having lunch with him and a girl in his club. My son is 7 and this girl is probably 15 or 16 and special needs of some kind. She was sharing openly about a friend she met at the mental hospital she admitted last Saturday when I said I was sorry for her situation, she said its fine, I put myself there by telling my therapist I was going to cut my arm. She went on to show us some scars on her arm and then changed the subject. I really don’t know if this girl or her family are believers but they have been on my mind since that conversation yesterday. We will likely see them again on Wednesday for the agility show and I will be in prayer about what to say if I have the opportunity. Listening to David Platt’s message on the armor of God, he spoke about how we all can find ourselves despairing of life itself at times and how we can have hope in Christ. I definitely do and am so glad for the work on the cross and its impact on my life.
Oh, dear Chris. I love your gentle, loving heart for others. I will pray for your next encounter with this sweet girl. I pray for the Lord to be very present. What a wonderful connection to make. Your story gave me tears and hope. Love this truth too: Listening to David Platt’s message on the armor of God, he spoke about how we all can find ourselves despairing of life itself at times and how we can have hope in Christ. I definitely do and am so glad for the work on the cross and its impact on mylife.
Yes Chris, agree with Patti. These kind of encounters aren’t coincidental…will be praying for God to give you wisdom the next time you’re with this girl.
My daughter played soccer with a girl in high school who was cutting herself. My husband was the coach and this girls father assisted him. It turns out things weren’t great at home and my husband was able to pray with the father who was a Catholic and his comment was, “I envy you Protestants who can pray to God directly.” My husband told him he can too.
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
I woke yesterday with a sense of peace and contentment. The Lord is helping me to wait on Him. I also was prompted (about two or three months ago) to pray for two people I do not know. I had not seen them at church before, but both looked so sad and my heart was stirred. I pray for them weekly. Today, one of them was greeting in the foyer. This sounds crazy, but I still feeling that prompting. Maybe, I will never know, but I will continue to pray for both of them.
A sense of peace and contentment sounds lovely. I love your sensitive spirit and how you are in prayer for someone you do not know. I should ask for prayer for our family and relationships over the next 3 weeks. Our son, who we have been reading TK book on marriage with, has decided to keep his original wedding date of August 16. We are all adjusting to a wedding so soon. So many expectations and ideas everyone has of how this should go and I am trying to keep everyone focused on what’s really important. A lot of judgement and unkind words, but we do love them and I think in the end it will all come together with everyone on the same page, I hope. Her family is very different and does not have the faith we have to fall back on. We are having a single shower with both families on August 3 and the wedding will only be our immediate family and grandmas. It’s all a little rushed. Praying we can keep focused on the Lord and the real importance of the day.
Chris, you are so right about the meaning of the day. Maybe her family will see this spirit in your family and be touched to learn how and why you are this way. It only takes one person who is interested and voila! You have spread the Word. 😇
Oh, Chris! I will be praying for the Lord to be very present and handle all the details. And I pray that all will stay focused on the Lord and the importance of the day! That is soon.
I love this about praying for those you don’t know. A few days ago I encountered a bitter, angry person whom I don’t know, and whoa! The world in my face in a matter of seconds. So icky, and awful. Right then, I prayed for her. I don’t think I have ever done that. She needs the Lord for sure.
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
I have had several instances where different Bible studies have matched up or where a random reading of scripture mimics something else I was reading.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
I had to go to the KJV to find the word “souls.”
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”
Acts 27:37 KJV
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
“Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.””
Romans 9:25 NLT
This made me think…technically, aren’t we all Jews if we come from Adam and Eve? And, I suppose, some broke away from the faith and those were the ones who became the Gentiles? They would be the ones who didn’t follow the Jewish law. Just thinking.
3. Uh-oh…. Here we go! Disclaimer: I’m totally stupid when it comes to understanding SOS! I’ll try my best though 😇
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
He wants me to rise up and come with Him. He wants to see me, but I am hiding from Him.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
I’m guessing any idols.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
I am beautiful beyond words.
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
I am only meant for Him, no one else. I am set apart.
Laura, You always ask good and honest questions. Just a few thoughts on being Jewish. Actually no, we are not all Jews because Adam and Eve weren’t Jewish. And this will probably set you thinking too that God is not Jewish but Jesus is. 🥴 God created the Jewish people when he called Abram out of his past life and heritage and created a new nation of people through Abram who he renamed Abraham. He gave that nation of people the name Israel when he renamed Jacob. And God set them apart as his own special people to be a witness for him to all other nations. He chose them for his own purposes. So only Abraham descendants are ethnically Jewish. Everyone else since is ethnically Gentile. Jesus is ethnically a Jew and his genealogy is well documented in the Bible. There is a lot involved with this discussion but praise God because of the Cross and salvation through Jesus it is possible for Jews and Gentiles both to become the children of God and we become one family in Christ as the Church or the body of Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28. All of Galatians chapter 3 would be a good read to enlarge on the importance of faith in our coming to Jesus.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37. In my internet search, I found that souls is a concise term to refer to all living aboard the ship, verses crew, passengers, slaves, or even as is sometimes the case deceased passengers (sometimes ships carry deceased for burial.) This way recovery efforts can clearly know how many souls to search for- it is a respectful term used especially in emergency for clarification.
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
3
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?) This speaks of spring, rebirth, blossoms, bearing fruit-the loved one is called to come. Relationship.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?) the cares of the world, distractions of the world, lust for things, etc.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?) beautiful
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?) being kept from idols
. 1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37. “And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.” I only found this term in King James Version. The term is used in aviation and on ships as a universal way of reporting the number of living people aboard. It lessens confusion in numbers, with passengers, infants and crew, as well as deceased being transported. (google resources)
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ~by grace you have been saved.” His love is steadfast, unconditional, sacrificial, universal.
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage.I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses:
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
God wants my love, my commitment to follow Him, He wants to prune my soul from sin, He wants me to join Him in this journey in life, as He shows me the beauty of His creation. He wants each of us to be His bride, His beloved, belonging to Him.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
My sin and my ways of being distracted by worldly things are the foxes that can destroy my intimacy with Him. C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
He see me as beautiful. He sees beyond my sins, my wrinkles, my weaknesses to my heart and my soul. The outside is just a temporary shell or tent, the inner soul is what will be beautiful and perfected in heaven with Him. D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
The center of my life needs to be Jesus, above all else. Worldly distractions, sorrows, illness and pain that others bring to our lives can lock up our hearts and keep us from a deep relationship with Him. We need to lock up our hearts and reserves them for Him first. He needs to be our number one love in life and all other things will be in order.
I read several articles about the soul, and I’ve also heard some Christian speakers address the soul. I am not sure how to describe what I think, but I think the soul is the essence of the person. Because the body without the soul has no will, no personality, and is nothing. The essence of the person is the soul that resides temporarily within the body. (sorry this is another one of my rabbit holes). I feel that when we leave our earthly body, our soul resides with the Lord if we are Christians. of course this is an ongoing discussion on this planet, until we see Jesus, face-to-face.
Sunday:
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
—God allowed me to have some time with my precious friend Lynda and we were able to pray together. She was actually able to make the short drive to my home and we shared a couple of hours together. My spirits are always lifted up when I am with her. 💕 We always consider our time together as a gift from the Lord.
Monday: The Soul Felt Its Worth
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
—in the KJV it says “we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”
The NLT says “276 persons in the ship.)”
Those references as souls or persons and the exact number point out the individuality of the people. They aren’t just lumped together and referred to as a group.
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
—“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
I think of the old hymn “How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure”
Here is the link to a beautiful rendition by Selah https://youtu.be/SKDujmtyAVk?si=LjxiF-0IxdM4-0Ny
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us.
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
—He just wants to be together.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
—Unnecessary distractions.
TV or any kind of social media can be a distraction.
Busyness and having to finish one more thing.
Any of the various idols in my life take my focus off coming together with Him alone to enjoy my relationship with Him.
When I sat down to have fellowship with my sweet friend Lynda last week I did nothing else but focus on my interaction with her. So it needs to be with Jesus.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
—The ancient imagery is a little lost on me but He sees me as beautiful. The word beautiful has deep meaning as he expresses it as a beauty beyond words or description.
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
—It should be an exclusive love. I cannot have a divided love. There is no place for others in my relationship to Him. It is between my heart and his heart. When I finally understood that God loved me for me and not just as someone who was part of a group it deepened my intimacy with him and my love for him.
Sunday:
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
Long conversations between my cousin and me have made me realize how much God’s love has carried us through the years. She has filled me in on some important events that have transpired as far back as when I left the Philippines. Knowing these things has led me to a deeper understanding of family dynamics that has puzzled me and my husband.
Our daughter, Ruth, came to visit and took my cousin to Lincoln, where she had lived for 6 years. It was fun to see her old stomping grounds and historical places like the Capitol. On our drive to Lincoln, she and I had a great time catching up with her own happenings, with my cousin piping up once in a while.
God loves me and my family!
Bing, Maybe, just maybe we can meet up in Lincoln some time. Now that my son lives there we will be in Lincoln more frequently. My email is bkjensen49@ msn.com if you want to interact privately.
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week? He has given me physical strength to get through my work week. He has blessed me with compassionate co-workers. He has given me all of these and more even though I fall short daily.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37. KJV And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. 2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse. Ephesians 2:4-5- But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved 3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us. A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?) My company, companionship, time. B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?) My little foxes are definitely Facebook, YouTube videos, and Netflix. C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?) He sees me as beautiful. D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?) That He is my one and only. That I am saving everything for Him.
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3) It seems trivial-she had readied for bed and did not want to get up.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience? it’s selfishness, I just want my own way.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness? Its to draw us back to Him.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth? She has forgotten her need for Him.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly? the Bible speaks of us as being refined by the fires of our trials, we are covered by Christ’s righteous robe, and we are given eyes to see spiritual things by the Holy Spirit. We will receive the crown of life, if we respond rightly.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19? Those he loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20? Discipline to those he loves.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance. Lord forgive my selfish heart, always wanting what gives me comfort and pleasure. Show me your way and your heart to serve others and bring them to salvation.
So good, Chris: the Bible speaks of us as being refined by the fires of our trials, we are covered by Christ’s righteous robe, and we are given eyes to see spiritual things by the Holy Spirit. We will receive the crown of life, if we respond rightly.
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8 A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
The bride has taken off her dress and washed her feet, readied herself for bed and did not want to get dressed and dirty her feet. She was thinking of her own priorities and not that of her first love. B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
My intentions can be good, but I become selfish and think of my own priorities, then get distracted with something so much less important. I am praying right now for God to order my day, for me to put Him first and for me to be obedient to Him. C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
When we do not sense His presence, He wants us to change our hearts and priorities, so that our communication stays open and we are putting Him first. I need to do this every morning and every night. I want to always desire Him above all the treasures of this earth. They will all pass away, but He will be with me always. God is refining us. I so want to be refined, even when the pruning hurts. 5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
Because we are relying on our selves and the treasures of this world to fill our empty lives. Lord, refine my heart and soul. B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
To me, this verse means that I need to see God rightly with my heart. I need to turn away from desiring the things of this world, and desire God and His will for me only. I need to minister to every soul I meet, so that I reflect Jesus to others. I see that desire for God in the beautiful face and soul of Linda Strom, even in the photo and though I have never met her. Her love of the Lord is evident in her eyes. How I desire to have the Lord refine my heart to that purity and love. Direct me in Your way Lord. C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
The Lord reproves and disciplines those He loves. D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
If we are zealous for the Lord and repent, He will stand at our door and knock, and if I hear His voice and open the door, He will come to me and dine with me, and I will dine with Him. BEST date ever!! and for eternity. Lord, I want you to stay in my heart forever and may I be kneeling at your feet in worship for eternity. E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance. Lord, remove the stones from my heart I pray, the ones I am aware of and the ones I cannot see. Let me draw water only from Your well. Please be the source of all the joys in my heart, Father in Heaven. Help me to have a pliable heart, without self serving stones. Refine me, even when it hurts. I pray to be fully yours. Give me the eyes, the heart, the words and the opportunities to draw others to you. I love you with all my heart. In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray.
Tuesday: Our Lover Longs for Responsiveness
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
—She has undressed and bathed and gone to bed. She didn’t feel like getting up and getting dressed and getting her feet dirty again.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
—Sometimes I just feel tired and thickheaded. But when I do respond He always brightens my heart.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
—I think of the CS Lewis quote that “God shouts to us in our pain”. He uses it to get our attention and gives us a desire to return to him.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
—Because she is neither hot nor cold. Each are satisfying in their unique characteristic. Hot tastes good in winter and cold tastes good in summer but lukewarm doesn’t satisfy.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean?
—Laodicea was a wealthy place and the church there had cooled to a lukewarm state of feeling satisfied. They had been compromised and didn’t realize how spiritually needy they were.
God is the source of true riches and He was calling them to have that need met by coming to him and to be supplied by him.
What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
—It always benefits us to seek God. God always lifts up and brings the wisdom and healing needed in our lives when we call on Him to meet our needs.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
—He corrects and disciplines everyone that he loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
—He will correct and discipline those he loves. When we turn to Him he provides spiritual riches such as the “white garments” of righteousness and “ointment for our eyes” which is wisdom to see and understand his ways.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance.
—Father, I praise You for being a faithful and gracious God who loves me at all times. Even when I am indifferent and in a state of being spiritually bankrupt. You will exercise your correction and discipline me for my good. I really need that. I need You!
I confess my sins of indifference to your truths and my lack of discipline to implement the ways you lead me through the teaching of your Word. I confess I am poor, wretched and blind in my own flesh. But I don’t want to have a cold heart or worse yet a useless lukewarm heart.
Thank you for showing me my needy ways and giving me opportunity to come to you and have the white garment of the righteousness of Jesus. And thank you for opening my eyes to my sinful ways and from your faithfulness and out of your great love for me as one of your own bringing your healing and letting me see my need so that I can respond and be blessed by you in great abundance. Your (gold) the riches you have for me are immeasurable. Again I can’t praise You enough!
I thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8 A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
She says she has already undressed and her feet are clean.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
It’s hard, it takes time, it can be messy in my head and not make sense at times.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
I suppose to teach us a lesson. We need to want to be near Him so we can be secure in our lives.
Sorry to have been missing. I had a skin cancer surgery become infected and it laid me low for a few days. I have read your comments and will be back to commenting! I am getting better, and so thankful. I am blessed to be so healthy generally.
Dee, Sorry for the complication. My husband had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. But all healed well now. We missed you of course but Patti does a very sweet job of commenting and encouraging us all in your absence 💕😊
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them. This is so relevant in our family this season. As our son has decided to move his wedding up to August 16, there has been much criticism. I am finding myself repeatedly helping everyone think differently and with kindness. It makes me sad to hear some of the things said about their wedding plans. I really like the focus of looking at each person as a soul. It helps focus our motives and desires in relationships. I have been repeatedly saying, lets focus on what is really important in the wedding, which is not the decor, the human traditions, the length of preparation, the timing of things, the dancing or not, dinner or not, catered food or potluck. The focus is the ceremony and their desire to honor the Lord in their relationship. They are unique individuals and in our large family there have already been 5 weddings, 4 of which were very similar and all 5 very traditional. This one is breaking the mold and causing much fuss. When it was brought up yesterday, a close family friend commented that OBrien weddings are fun and maybe this will be the first one that isn’t. I just replied, I hope its fun for the bride and groom. They are planning what they want. I love that Linda Storm is known for keeping her friends waiting while she is leading waitresses to the Lord. I hope that will be me one day.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth. Lord, my God, when I consider all you have created and the beauty before me in creation, I stand in awe of the splendor. Humans start out as these little tiny creatures and they grow at an amazing rate. From the start we are beset with sin and wanting our own way. This journey here seems hard as we fight your plan all along the way. Lord, help me to see each one of your creation in the light that you did, when you chose to send your son to the cross. You loved us so, even in our deepest sin. How do we ever find love like that for one another on this earth? It is only by your grace. Give me grace and eyes to see others as you behold them. There is much out of my control, help me control my tongue and my thoughts as I relate to others and give your grace and peace to them as your Holy Spirit leads. Amen.
Dear Chris, I will be praying for the upcoming wedding, and for all the details to reflect God’s love. I pray the He will touch the hearts and minds of all who attend and may it all Glorify God. Love your entire prayer! I need this daily: Give me grace and eyes to see others as you behold them. There is much out of my control, help me control my tongue and my thoughts as I relate to others and give your grace and peace to them as your Holy Spirit leads.
Thank you for praying! I did get the prayer book to her cousin who I saw and she was willing to give it to her that day. Her name is Nova. I pray for her to be encouraged and find peace in the Lord.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
So crazy! Here I go again with different sources teaching me the same scripture! This is the same scripture our lay leader preached on last Sunday. This keeps happening to me.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
She won’t choose one way or the other. She is wishing-washy.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
The “riches” we need are those provided by God, not the world. If we are in tune with Him then we will be blessed even in our suffering.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
Everyone.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
Love and being together are promised, if we give Him our hearts.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance.
Dear Lord, You are my hope and my Savior. Thank You. I wake up each morning knowing that I am a sinner who needs You badly. I’m so grateful that You give me a new chance each day. Thank You. I mess up so often and need Your mercy. I am sorry for that. Life is such a hard journey at times. Please forgive me for not being on fire for You always. I don’t mean to be lukewarm. I want You, truly. I don’t care if the world calls me names or if people think I’m crazy. I know You are King. I know You are the Master of my life. Help me stand firm in that. Amen.
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
I love how easy it is to see that love in Linda, even in a photo. Each of us is so important in the eyes of the Father. I want to see and know each person I interact with, as if I were interacting with Jesus. I want to show that love and concern for that person, not for my own interest, but for the way we might connect, even in a small way. There is an older gentleman, who bags groceries at the store where I shop. I love to go to that line, because he always says “Have a blessed day.” It makes a huge difference in the way I feel, especially in a town where I don’t know many people. I want to be a blessing for Jesus and to see others through His eyes. I love to ask new friends about themselves. The smallest connection can make a big difference. We all have great worth in God’s eyes.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving me in spite of my sinful ways and many flaws. Thank you for every opportunity I have to encounter others, who I may be able to minister to, even in the tiniest way. I pray that a you will gently remind me, through each day, that I am here to represent You to each person I meet. I pray that you will help me to see each soul, as a masterpiece of Your hand. We are all in the process of being refined by You. Help me to see others through the eyes of Jesus, to speak to them with the gentleness and sincerity of Jesus, and to treat others with a heart like Jesus. Lord, filter all that comes from my thoughts, heart and words and refine my interactions to be Christ-like. I pray so this in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
Patti, Your prayer reminds me that it is all about Jesus. That’s what the Lord showed me this morning in my own answers and now looking back on the comments your prayer is affirmation of that wonderful reality. “treat others with a heart like Jesus”
Wednesday: Seeing Others as Souls
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
—I think in order to see others as individual souls it requires setting aside prejudices of who they are or where they come from. More dangerously what group they align with. Such as are they Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormon or Muslim. Grouping people can cause an indifference to them in their individuality as a soul needing to be saved from their sin just like I needed to be.
My daily Bible reading currently has me in the Proverbs. They make many many references to the fool. I realized that we have a very foolish young man in our extended family and his name has come to my mind often as I read the many references to fools. This morning I struggled as I prayed for him not feeling much hope that he will ever change. But Tripps comments on what I read this morning brought out that all of us are born as fools because of our sin nature. He said “Since foolishness (sin) is a matter of nature and not just behavior, external manipulation will not change us at the level of the true nature of our hearts.” He went on to say “God’s law is important, but rigid enforcement of his law alone will not change the character of our hearts. Education cannot change our nature. Threats of consequences have no power to change our hearts. Changes of situation and location do not address what is foundationally wrong with us. If our sin were just about behavior, then behavioral control and retraining would take care of our problem. This proverb is in the Bible to help us understand that nothing has the power to address the deepest of human problems—except the grace of the Savior. If any of the external forces I mentioned had the power to change the fundamental composition of our hearts, then Jesus would not have had to come.”
And so it is the glorious grace of Jesus that was the answer to my foolishness and is the answer for our family member. I will see him in his souls need to have an understanding of Who Jesus is and what the Cross really is all about. He needs the transforming power of Jesus in his life. I have hope for him because of Jesus.
(Side note: Laura I have thought of your daughter this morning as well and her foolish ways of treating you and responding to her circumstances so wrongly. I pray for her eyes to be opened to her need of Jesus and to open her heart to Him. Accepting Jesus into her life will bring the power needed to change her heart and her whole life. He alone can bring peace to your family. )
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and the wonderful truths you give us to understand your ways. And Jesus thank you that we can understand how you came to earth to redeem the souls of mankind. Our need was great but your grace is greater. I ask you to give me your gracious heart to see and love people as individual souls in need of a Savior. Especially those close to me who watch my life.
For all of us on this blog please let us shine for Jesus. And let it all be in the name of Jesus and for his glory. Amen
Oh, thank you for this reflection and sharing of your devotional. I love the application and agree, it’s all about Jesus. Praying also for the loved ones in all of our lives who need Jesus.
Thank you for sharing from the Paul Tripp devotion, Bev. Only Jesus can change our hearts. This is so good and helps me to better pray for my son. I pray this for Laura’s situation, as well.
Bev, I’m just seeing this now. Thank you. I feel a bit of comfort in it, as we are to see foolish Sarah today. I will do my best to keep this in my mind. She is a soul who needs saving, just as I am . You are so sweet to think of us ♥️
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
I need to be consciously kinder to others for sure. I am working with souls here!
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Oh Lord, we are all sinners who need saving. Thank You for dying on the cross for us. Open my eyes to those around me who need love, especially those in my own path. Help me to exemplify You to them, remembering they have a soul that needs protection. Amen.
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them. I need to see them through the Creator’s eyes. No matter how they act or what they’ve done, they still aren’t beyond redemption. 7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth. Lord, you know that I have a tendency to think more about what people think about me than I do what you think about them. Help me to take my eyes off of myself and actually see the people around me as you see them. Even the people that cut me off in traffic!
I have a tendency to think more about what people think about me than I do what you think about them. Help me to take my eyes off of myself and actually see the people around me as you see them. Even the people that cut me off in traffic!
Dawn, it must be a relief to know this and have a plan in place. So good that you will be off work in the meantime. Amen to Bev, you will be in our prayers.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share. I was with my dad, step-dad when they passed and my grandfather and FIL. I remember when breathing stopped and the body lay lifeless. I also witnessed my granddaughter pass, twice-for she was put on life support at the hospital. I also felt the last movements before my baby passed in my womb. Boy. What to share? I’ve been to many open casket funerals and seen the lifeless shells of people who are no longer here in spirit. It’s freeing for the elderly or sick who need freedom from their worn out or broken body, but grievous for those left behind. We don’t want them trapped in their broken body, but terribly miss them when they are gone.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why? I’m not sure. I always think about the saints who come out of the graves and walk around in Matthew 27 after the resurrection. Their bodies were made new for the occasion. God is miraculous and will give us bodies when we need them.
Chris, you have been through some very difficult losses. Thank you for sharing. This is so true: It’s freeing for the elderly or sick who need freedom from their worn out or broken body, but grievous for those left behind.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share. The evening my husband went to be with Jesus, we were holding hands, his breathing slowed over a couple of hours. It changed and gently became slower, until he was not breathing. Somehow, the Lord gave me great peace, in spite of my great sorrow. All of his wrinkles left his face and he looked so much younger and peaceful, yet he was not there. I was told to bring each of our dogs to him, so they would understand. When I put Piper next to him, she had a seizure, bolted out of my arms and ran through every room in the house, (like she was looking for him) looking in each room and going to the next. I could not figure it out and then I realized that she was trying to follow his spirit, as it left and went to heaven. It was so weird, yet it comforted me.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I feel the same way about our soul going immediately to the Lord. I have always felt they know they are with Jesus and awaiting the time of His return when we all will be with Jesus, when we will have our new, perfected bodies. So many who have died and then been resuscitated, have been very aware of seeing Jesus and family members, already in heaven, before they have returned to their earthly bodies. It makes me think that we may be awake and active in heaven. It is so hard to comprehend another dimension, yet fun to ponder.
Patti, oh, these intimate moments with loved ones at death. Your sweet dog. So bittersweet and I do remember with my dad, in his last moments he sat up and raised his hand towards the ceiling and had a peaceful, joyous look on his face as if he was seeing someone he knew. It is such a mystery what happens after we pass but I believe it will be something we cannot even imagine and beautiful. I believe the Lord will have work for us when we get there. My seven year old thinks we will just remain in our earthly shells asleep. For this reason he doesn’t want to go to heaven, because that would be boring. He can’t imagine a spirit departing from our bodies I guess? We have had so many talks about it.
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away
The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
—Several times with both my husband’s parents and my dad. All were believers and passed away quietly. There was a sense of relief for them and the end of their pain and suffering.
But the one that stands out was my aunt who I had cared for in her final months. She was my mom’s youngest sister and we had been close. She was in an assisted living facility on hospice when she died. In the last stages as her body shutting down we knew she would probably not live through the night and I had gone home to change clothes and prepared to come back and spend the night. We lived close by. When I came back into the facility the nurse and the aides were standing together and told me they had just been in and taken care of her needs and turned her. All day her breathing had been loud and laboring. When I went down to her room it was absolutely quiet. I knew immediately she was gone and I stepped up to her bed and took her face in my hands which was still warm and said “Oh Aunt Alice you have gone to live with Jesus!” She had neatly typed and prepared her obituary sometime a few years before but on the top she had at some point hand written “Gone to live with Jesus”.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
— I have come to believe that for a believer in Christ at the time of physical death our souls fully and consciously enter the presence of our Savior in Heaven safely awaiting the resurrection of our bodies that will be like the resurrection body of Jesus. We become absent from the body and present with the Lord which Paul said is far better. Paul speaks in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 about our resurrection bodies and has much to say about our earthly bodies and the transforming resurrection of these bodies. He was speaking to a Corinthian culture that didn’t believe in a physical resurrection. He said “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 NLT
The teaching I understand about “those who are “asleep” in death is interpreted as the body being asleep but not the soul. The term “being laid to rest” is what we generally speaking do with the remains of a dead body. It is like the body is asleep because the day is coming when it will be woken up, resurrected and transformed into a body like Jesus has.
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
1 John 3:2 NLT
It makes sense that even our souls when taken to Heaven have some kind of recognizable form but scripture is clear there is coming a time when our souls will be reunited with a perfectly new resurrected body when the new Heaven and earth come about. What glorious Hope we have in Jesus.
I appreciate your complete answer with scriptural support. I’ve read all of this but don’t often think of it, I suppose because I think of that time to be a ways off and yet it may help my 7 year old who has many questions about death and dying, along with the afterlife.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
I have not been at the bedside of anyone who is dying other than my father when I was twelve. He was still alive though, so I didn’t see him actually pass.
I was with our cat when he died, however. I was panicked but didn’t want him to be alone so I stayed and just laid near him. I was scared. I think I stayed until the end and I remember it not being anything like I imagined it would be. It was very peaceful. In fact it was so peaceful that I was comforted (?).
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I guess I have never thought much about this. I’m not sure I understand enough to weigh in here. For example, I haven’t considered if the soul is asleep or awake. I’ve always thought they were just with Jesus and “living” with Him. I have pondered whether I should be cremated or buried. I’m nervous about cremation because will the body be reunited with the soul? The way you present it, is as if we get totally new bodies (which I am TOTALLY fine with 😉!). So cremation wouldn’t matter. It’s just so final. My mom decided to be cremated, unbeknownst to the family, because it was cheaper 🤷🏻♀️. So “mom”of her! She had to make sure it was okay with the Catholic Church though before she decided. I guess it wasn’t (okay) at one point in time. Pondering for sure….
While believers in scripture were buried and pagans more likely cremated — there is not a command. God certainly won’t have a problem resurrecting bodies from ashes, as He made Adam from dust in the first place. I think of all the believing holocaust victims who were burned in the ovens.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
Yes, our 14 month old daughter, my mom, my dad, my father-in-law, my mother-in-law in that order.
A friend handed me a little book about six months after our little girl died. I drew much sweet comfort from this woman’s account as she gave glimpses of her experiences. The book has been in and out of print over the past almost 150 years. It is written by a woman by the name of Rebecca Springer. It is titled: My Dream of Heaven: Intramuros The author describes how she was on her death bed and was taken by an angel into the heavenly realm.
Music is so powerful. Tears as I listen to Mansion Builder.
I remember now that after our little girl died in my womb at 21 weeks, a lady I never met from our church, called me and offered to talk or help in whatever way. I was so grateful because I had never experienced anything like this and had so many questions and no one I knew at the time could answer or understand. She had lost a baby to a heart defect. It was just what I needed at the time and the Lird provided.
I agree, Chris, The words to “Mansion Builder” are so powerful. I love how the Lord brought the perfect person to you, when you needed it most. I had not heard that song before. Nila, you have such musical gifts and I always love the music you share. I pray that things are well with your kids and grandkids.🙏
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
Somehow I lost my answer even though I copied it to my clipboard, so I will try again.
My theory is that since there is no “time” in heaven that regardless of at what point in earthly history you die, it will seem as though you are instantly returning with Jesus to the new earth with your new body. So whether someone died 6,000 years ago or 1,000 years from now, it will seem like we all got there at the same time.
That is such a good thought to ponder, and a comforting one. I’ve wondered though about Rev 6 where the martyred saints are crying out “How Long, O Lord?” Yet when we studied the genre of Revelation and saw it is extreme symbolism, that may be too, rather than actually happening. A mystery!
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think? David is telling himself to bless the Lord and not forget all his blessings, no doubt because he is feeling down and needs encouragement.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂 the Lord forgives my sins, all of them. I am washed clean, white as snow. He covers me with his robes of righteousness, as I have no ability on my own to change what is inside. He heals all my diseases, not in this world, but in the next. Although, there are some that are healed here for his purposes, we are left with some struggles and he has a purpose for those as well. He gives me abundantly more than I need. Blessing upon blessing I receive and I am continually amazed at how much he continues to provide both physical and spiritual. We have every material blessing we could want and the spiritual blessings as well, with all of our children loving the Lord. Now we pray for our grandchildren and look for their faith walk to begin, and they are. I believe he keeps us close to him with the physical health struggles and relationship struggles. 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. The message from David Platt on the armor of God keeps coming back to me this week.
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
—He says to praise the Lord with a whole heart and to remember the good things God has done for us. I believe praising God for his goodness to us is good for us. It causes is to refocus off of ourselves and on to Him. That is always a healthy thing to do. It lifts our spirits to think about God and grow in love for him.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
—It is good to remember the good things He does for me. The spiritual blessings are many. He encourages me everyday when I read his Word. He has blessed me with godly friendships and great fellowship with other believers who encourage my heart.
He forgives my sins (because of Jesus and the Cross.) and as a result He heals the disease of sin in my life and has bought my redemption from eternal death and has given me eternal life. Those benefits result in me experiencing His love and tender mercies and He brings good things into my life that fill my heart and strengthens my soul. He always lifts my spirits when I praise Him.
Monday: The Soul Felt Its Worth In the fictional movie, Greyhound, Tom Hanks plays Captain Ernest Krause, a man of faith. When they sink a German submarine, a member of the crew cheers, “fifty less Krauts!” The captain solemnly replies, “Fifty souls,” recognizing that even our enemies have souls that go on forever and should not be treated lightly. In the real-life emergency air landing of Captain Sully on the Potomac River, Sully, a believer, also played by Tom Hanks, rejoiced when told all “155 souls” were saved. 1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.’
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
1 John 4:9, “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us.
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
He wants me to go with Him and enjoy the beauty of what the season of spring brings…the flowers, birds, cooing of turtledoves, fruit forming on the fig tree and the fragrance of the blooming grapevines.
Behold Him through His creation.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
Beholding anything but Him…tv, social media, idols etc.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
Beautiful beyond words…wow!
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
I’m not sure I understand this, but if I’m making the Lover of my Soul first place then I am His private garden, a treasure, a secluded spring and a hidden fountain.
I love your answer to D., Sharon! I’m not sure I understand this, but if I’m making the Lover of my Soul first place then I am His private garden, a treasure, a secluded spring and a hidden fountain.
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
I’ve taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again?
I’ve washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
I’ve got other/better things to do.
They’ll reject me if I share what You did for them.
I don’t feel like praising You right now as I’m not worthy.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
By letting us work through our excuses (whether it be grief, sickness, selfishness or sin) so our eyes might be opened to see our need for Him.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
She is lukewarm.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
We must realize our spiritual poverty…in order to be rich we must be totally dependent upon Him.
I think of the verse Job 23:10, “But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I come out as pure as gold.” Trusting in Him through our times of suffering.
It’s only through His righteousness that our garments can be white and He opens our eyes and gives us spiritual sight.
I see here the Gospel vs Works righteousness.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
Those He loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
He will correct and discipline.
He will stand at the door and knock and if we hear His voice and open the door, He’ll come in and share a meal with us as friends.
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
People are like onions…there are layers that need to be peeled away to see them as souls. As Captain Ernest Krause peeled away the layer of the men in the submarine as just being the enemy/“krauts,” he got down to the fact that they are souls to his men. I know for me I need to peel away how a person may want to self identify (outer appearance), personal ideologies (religious, political etc), or even the layers they try to hide (grief, suffering, anger etc.). I need to relate to them by looking under those layers and seeing them through God’s eyes…being made in His image, having self worth and value.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Lord, help me to see others through Your eyes. To see past their outer exterior and remember that whatever they’re going through or what their beliefs are, they are worthy to be seen as a soul, they have value and need love.
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
When my mother passed I knew she was in the presence of the Lord as a peace came over her face.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I believe the same as you stated above but what gives me comfort is that God has it all figured out and one day we will know.
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5 A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Bless the Lord. Why, do you think? Because praises to Him should be our first thing. Even if we only take time for a quick prayer, acknowledging His greatness should be our first thought. And if we talk to our souls, we are speaking to the only eternal part of us. B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. He forgives our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, satisfies us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5 A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
Bless the Lord. He is addressing his own soul to Bless the Lord. He is speaking to his own center to love and honor God for His mercy and love.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
Bless the Lord and remember His benefits. He pardons my iniquities, He heals my diseases, He redeems my life from the pits, He gives me loving kindness and compassion, He gives me good things, He restores my strength.
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
To “Bless the LORD.” (ESV)
“Let all that I am praise the LORD.” (NLT)
This praise came from deep within David. It wasn’t just an outward expression of praise but a soul praise. His focus was turned to God and who He is with his whole heart and full attention.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
Forgives my sins.
Heals all my diseases.
Redeems my life from destruction.
Crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
Satisfies my mouth with good things, so my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why? 3am and can’t sleep. The spiritual war waging battle for souls is on my mind. I’m going to be hosting a bridal shower and the brides family/friends attending will be mostly non-Christian or at least not active Christians. I’m looking at what to do for a devotional. Praying for this opportunity to share my faith and mostly my Lord with those who need him. This weeks study has impressed upon my heart to look at each lady attending the shower, as a soul. How will I impact each one for eternity?
I will pray for you as you plan this bridal shower. You have the most tender heart, Chris, to look at each lady as a soul. I will pray for your words to impact each one for eternity. Do you have Tim Keller’s book on Marriage. It is excellent.
Catching up! Thank you for your prayers during my time with my cousin, Millien. She left on Wednesday for the Philippines.
Wednesday: Seeing Others as Souls
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
When I know that a person has a soul, I would look at them differently because their soul would go to an eternal destiny, either eternal hell or heaven. There is a deeper desire to see them know Jesus if they are not a Christian, and a love that is beyond understanding if they are a brother or a sister. I see people’s faces as I type these words. I asked myself to see them, instead of with eyes of judgment, with grace and mercy. I have been at a place of hopelessness, and I know how it felt. I can point them to Jesus and live with hope, and see eternal life possible in Him.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Oh, Lord, that I may see each one as a soul of great worth. That no matter how I do not like the other person, you love that person. We are all undeserving of your love, but we are all recipients of your grace and mercy. Help me extend grace and mercy to others as well.
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away
The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
As a nurse, I was present at the bedside of a few patients as well as elderly friends. In God’s sovereignty, I have never been at the bedside of a dying family member. At the bedside of a friend, I saw her sit up all of a sudden and raise her right hand as if seeing someone/something, and then fall back to her bed and die.
The night before my dad passed away, I was at his bedside. I said goodnight to him and went to bed. In the early mornings of June 1, his male caregiver woke us up to tell us that he thought my dad wasn’t breathing when he checked on him. I ran to his room and found that he had passed away. Dad had his right hand over his heart, and he had a smile on his face. Two months later, Richard and I were married. I miss my dad, but I am looking forward to seeing him again in heaven.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I believe the same, that the souls of those we love who believe in Jesus are asleep or awake with Him, and that their souls will reunite with their bodies when we join each other in the new heaven and new earth. I would like to think that their souls are awake from my mother’s account of several dreams she had of my dad, sister, and cousin while she was seriously ill. I remember her telling me that my cousin and sister were motioning for her to come to them from the other side, but my Dad said, Not yet. And she vividly remembered somebody who she thought was Jesus, sitting at her bedside and addressing her by name and saying, it was not yet time for her to go. She lived a few more months after that.
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
David tells his soul to praise the Lord with his inmost being. He said it three times, with the last time being from verse 2. Praise often does not come naturally, but repetition, conscious remembering, and reminding oneself are needed.
I was curious to know when Psalm 103 was written by David, and I found a link to the Blue Letter Bible saying it was probably written after the pardon he received for having an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba.
I do remember times when I have received mercy from God, and praise was my response, being made aware that I did not deserve it.
Perhaps, David felt the same way? He was talking to his soul and reminding himself of the mercy of God, the “benefits” that he (and I) don’t deserve.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂 Forgive all your sins and heals all your diseases: He forgives ALL my sins, big or small, I think of I John 1:9, the confession and the forgiveness on the first part of the verse and the cleansing from all unrighteousness in the last part to speak of healing of the spiritual disease called sin and the physical sickness and decay that ultimately leads to physical death. Redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
I think of the pit as hell, and I am redeemed from it by Jesus, and instead of a chain, I have the crown of salvation and am called an heir to the kingdom of God and its riches. Satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
When I am content with what God has given me, anything becomes a good thing. My heart may desire something else, but when I receive what He has given with gratitude, I realize that what He gave me was what my heart desired. I feel like gratitude is like a bank account for my soul. The more I “deposit”, the more my soul thrives regardless of what my biological age is. “From glory to glory He’s changing me, changing me, His likeness and image to perfect in me…”
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why?
Many takeaways, but one thing that stood out for me is the lyrics to O Holy Night, “long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth…”
Only Jesus’s coming, his death, and resurrection can fully give our souls their worth. I can look for my worth in other places, persons, and performance, but they will never satisfy as only Jesus could. Thank you, Dee, for this study. “A thrill of hope…he satisfies your desires with good things...!
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This probably seems like an unlikely way for me to feel the love of God in my life, but I did! Yesterday, I was at my son’s 4H dog show at our county fairgrounds having lunch with him and a girl in his club. My son is 7 and this girl is probably 15 or 16 and special needs of some kind. She was sharing openly about a friend she met at the mental hospital she admitted last Saturday when I said I was sorry for her situation, she said its fine, I put myself there by telling my therapist I was going to cut my arm. She went on to show us some scars on her arm and then changed the subject. I really don’t know if this girl or her family are believers but they have been on my mind since that conversation yesterday. We will likely see them again on Wednesday for the agility show and I will be in prayer about what to say if I have the opportunity. Listening to David Platt’s message on the armor of God, he spoke about how we all can find ourselves despairing of life itself at times and how we can have hope in Christ. I definitely do and am so glad for the work on the cross and its impact on my life.
Oh, dear Chris. I love your gentle, loving heart for others. I will pray for your next encounter with this sweet girl. I pray for the Lord to be very present. What a wonderful connection to make. Your story gave me tears and hope. Love this truth too: Listening to David Platt’s message on the armor of God, he spoke about how we all can find ourselves despairing of life itself at times and how we can have hope in Christ. I definitely do and am so glad for the work on the cross and its impact on my life.
Yes Chris, agree with Patti. These kind of encounters aren’t coincidental…will be praying for God to give you wisdom the next time you’re with this girl.
My daughter played soccer with a girl in high school who was cutting herself. My husband was the coach and this girls father assisted him. It turns out things weren’t great at home and my husband was able to pray with the father who was a Catholic and his comment was, “I envy you Protestants who can pray to God directly.” My husband told him he can too.
Thank you both for your encouragement. I agree-no chance encounters. Hoping at least to encourage her in some way. The spiritual battle is real.
So true! No chance encounters. Love your husband’s response to the father, Sharon.
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
I woke yesterday with a sense of peace and contentment. The Lord is helping me to wait on Him. I also was prompted (about two or three months ago) to pray for two people I do not know. I had not seen them at church before, but both looked so sad and my heart was stirred. I pray for them weekly. Today, one of them was greeting in the foyer. This sounds crazy, but I still feeling that prompting. Maybe, I will never know, but I will continue to pray for both of them.
A sense of peace and contentment sounds lovely. I love your sensitive spirit and how you are in prayer for someone you do not know. I should ask for prayer for our family and relationships over the next 3 weeks. Our son, who we have been reading TK book on marriage with, has decided to keep his original wedding date of August 16. We are all adjusting to a wedding so soon. So many expectations and ideas everyone has of how this should go and I am trying to keep everyone focused on what’s really important. A lot of judgement and unkind words, but we do love them and I think in the end it will all come together with everyone on the same page, I hope. Her family is very different and does not have the faith we have to fall back on. We are having a single shower with both families on August 3 and the wedding will only be our immediate family and grandmas. It’s all a little rushed. Praying we can keep focused on the Lord and the real importance of the day.
Chris, you are so right about the meaning of the day. Maybe her family will see this spirit in your family and be touched to learn how and why you are this way. It only takes one person who is interested and voila! You have spread the Word. 😇
Praying for all of you, Chris.
Oh, Chris! I will be praying for the Lord to be very present and handle all the details. And I pray that all will stay focused on the Lord and the importance of the day! That is soon.
Patty, I too, feel promptings to pray for people that I may encounter only once or whom I’ve never had a conversation with.
I love this about praying for those you don’t know. A few days ago I encountered a bitter, angry person whom I don’t know, and whoa! The world in my face in a matter of seconds. So icky, and awful. Right then, I prayed for her. I don’t think I have ever done that. She needs the Lord for sure.
It sounds like she needed prayer, Laura! 🙏🙏
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
I have had several instances where different Bible studies have matched up or where a random reading of scripture mimics something else I was reading.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
I had to go to the KJV to find the word “souls.”
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”
Acts 27:37 KJV
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
“Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.””
Romans 9:25 NLT
This made me think…technically, aren’t we all Jews if we come from Adam and Eve? And, I suppose, some broke away from the faith and those were the ones who became the Gentiles? They would be the ones who didn’t follow the Jewish law. Just thinking.
3. Uh-oh…. Here we go! Disclaimer: I’m totally stupid when it comes to understanding SOS! I’ll try my best though 😇
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
He wants me to rise up and come with Him. He wants to see me, but I am hiding from Him.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
I’m guessing any idols.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
I am beautiful beyond words.
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
I am only meant for Him, no one else. I am set apart.
Love your whole post, Laura! Love how you sensed God in your life this week! 💕🙏
Laura, You always ask good and honest questions. Just a few thoughts on being Jewish. Actually no, we are not all Jews because Adam and Eve weren’t Jewish. And this will probably set you thinking too that God is not Jewish but Jesus is. 🥴 God created the Jewish people when he called Abram out of his past life and heritage and created a new nation of people through Abram who he renamed Abraham. He gave that nation of people the name Israel when he renamed Jacob. And God set them apart as his own special people to be a witness for him to all other nations. He chose them for his own purposes. So only Abraham descendants are ethnically Jewish. Everyone else since is ethnically Gentile. Jesus is ethnically a Jew and his genealogy is well documented in the Bible. There is a lot involved with this discussion but praise God because of the Cross and salvation through Jesus it is possible for Jews and Gentiles both to become the children of God and we become one family in Christ as the Church or the body of Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28. All of Galatians chapter 3 would be a good read to enlarge on the importance of faith in our coming to Jesus.
Thank you for reminding me Bev! Duh….
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37. In my internet search, I found that souls is a concise term to refer to all living aboard the ship, verses crew, passengers, slaves, or even as is sometimes the case deceased passengers (sometimes ships carry deceased for burial.) This way recovery efforts can clearly know how many souls to search for- it is a respectful term used especially in emergency for clarification.
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
3
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?) This speaks of spring, rebirth, blossoms, bearing fruit-the loved one is called to come. Relationship.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?) the cares of the world, distractions of the world, lust for things, etc.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?) beautiful
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?) being kept from idols
Amen to being kept from idols! So good and concise, Chris!
.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.” I only found this term in King James Version. The term is used in aviation and on ships as a universal way of reporting the number of living people aboard. It lessens confusion in numbers, with passengers, infants and crew, as well as deceased being transported. (google resources)
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ~by grace you have been saved.” His love is steadfast, unconditional, sacrificial, universal.
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage.I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses:
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
God wants my love, my commitment to follow Him, He wants to prune my soul from sin, He wants me to join Him in this journey in life, as He shows me the beauty of His creation. He wants each of us to be His bride, His beloved, belonging to Him.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
My sin and my ways of being distracted by worldly things are the foxes that can destroy my intimacy with Him.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
He see me as beautiful. He sees beyond my sins, my wrinkles, my weaknesses to my heart and my soul. The outside is just a temporary shell or tent, the inner soul is what will be beautiful and perfected in heaven with Him.
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
The center of my life needs to be Jesus, above all else. Worldly distractions, sorrows, illness and pain that others bring to our lives can lock up our hearts and keep us from a deep relationship with Him. We need to lock up our hearts and reserves them for Him first. He needs to be our number one love in life and all other things will be in order.
I read several articles about the soul, and I’ve also heard some Christian speakers address the soul. I am not sure how to describe what I think, but I think the soul is the essence of the person. Because the body without the soul has no will, no personality, and is nothing. The essence of the person is the soul that resides temporarily within the body. (sorry this is another one of my rabbit holes). I feel that when we leave our earthly body, our soul resides with the Lord if we are Christians. of course this is an ongoing discussion on this planet, until we see Jesus, face-to-face.
I like the picture you painted here of the soul and the Lord wanting relationship with us 🙂
Sunday:
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
—God allowed me to have some time with my precious friend Lynda and we were able to pray together. She was actually able to make the short drive to my home and we shared a couple of hours together. My spirits are always lifted up when I am with her. 💕 We always consider our time together as a gift from the Lord.
Monday: The Soul Felt Its Worth
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
—in the KJV it says “we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.”
The NLT says “276 persons in the ship.)”
Those references as souls or persons and the exact number point out the individuality of the people. They aren’t just lumped together and referred to as a group.
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
—“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
I think of the old hymn “How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure”
Here is the link to a beautiful rendition by Selah
https://youtu.be/SKDujmtyAVk?si=LjxiF-0IxdM4-0Ny
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us.
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
—He just wants to be together.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
—Unnecessary distractions.
TV or any kind of social media can be a distraction.
Busyness and having to finish one more thing.
Any of the various idols in my life take my focus off coming together with Him alone to enjoy my relationship with Him.
When I sat down to have fellowship with my sweet friend Lynda last week I did nothing else but focus on my interaction with her. So it needs to be with Jesus.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
—The ancient imagery is a little lost on me but He sees me as beautiful. The word beautiful has deep meaning as he expresses it as a beauty beyond words or description.
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
—It should be an exclusive love. I cannot have a divided love. There is no place for others in my relationship to Him. It is between my heart and his heart. When I finally understood that God loved me for me and not just as someone who was part of a group it deepened my intimacy with him and my love for him.
Thanks for the hymn in #2. Love that one.
I love that hymn, too, Bev. it’s perfect for this lesson. What a blessing that you had time with your dear friend, Lynda.
Bev, thank you for the reminder of this beautiful song ~
Sunday:
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week?
Long conversations between my cousin and me have made me realize how much God’s love has carried us through the years. She has filled me in on some important events that have transpired as far back as when I left the Philippines. Knowing these things has led me to a deeper understanding of family dynamics that has puzzled me and my husband.
Our daughter, Ruth, came to visit and took my cousin to Lincoln, where she had lived for 6 years. It was fun to see her old stomping grounds and historical places like the Capitol. On our drive to Lincoln, she and I had a great time catching up with her own happenings, with my cousin piping up once in a while.
God loves me and my family!
Bing, Maybe, just maybe we can meet up in Lincoln some time. Now that my son lives there we will be in Lincoln more frequently. My email is bkjensen49@ msn.com if you want to interact privately.
Bev, would love that! I saw that and thought your son had moved there, and I thought the same! Yes, I will save your email, for sure.
What a lovely time with Ruth and your cousin. God is so good!
Yes, Patti! God is good.
1. How have you sensed the love of God in your life this week? He has given me physical strength to get through my work week. He has blessed me with compassionate co-workers. He has given me all of these and more even though I fall short daily.
Thankful for such caring co-workers, Dawn. Praying that’s your ortho Dr. appointment goes well.
Praying Dawn.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37. KJV And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse. Ephesians 2:4-5- But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us.
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?) My company, companionship, time.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?) My little foxes are definitely Facebook, YouTube videos, and Netflix.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?) He sees me as beautiful.
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?) That He is my one and only. That I am saving everything for Him.
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3) It seems trivial-she had readied for bed and did not want to get up.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience? it’s selfishness, I just want my own way.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness? Its to draw us back to Him.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth? She has forgotten her need for Him.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly? the Bible speaks of us as being refined by the fires of our trials, we are covered by Christ’s righteous robe, and we are given eyes to see spiritual things by the Holy Spirit. We will receive the crown of life, if we respond rightly.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19? Those he loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20? Discipline to those he loves.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance. Lord forgive my selfish heart, always wanting what gives me comfort and pleasure. Show me your way and your heart to serve others and bring them to salvation.
So good, Chris: the Bible speaks of us as being refined by the fires of our trials, we are covered by Christ’s righteous robe, and we are given eyes to see spiritual things by the Holy Spirit. We will receive the crown of life, if we respond rightly.
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
The bride has taken off her dress and washed her feet, readied herself for bed and did not want to get dressed and dirty her feet. She was thinking of her own priorities and not that of her first love.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
My intentions can be good, but I become selfish and think of my own priorities, then get distracted with something so much less important. I am praying right now for God to order my day, for me to put Him first and for me to be obedient to Him.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
When we do not sense His presence, He wants us to change our hearts and priorities, so that our communication stays open and we are putting Him first. I need to do this every morning and every night. I want to always desire Him above all the treasures of this earth. They will all pass away, but He will be with me always. God is refining us. I so want to be refined, even when the pruning hurts.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
Because we are relying on our selves and the treasures of this world to fill our empty lives. Lord, refine my heart and soul.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
To me, this verse means that I need to see God rightly with my heart. I need to turn away from desiring the things of this world, and desire God and His will for me only. I need to minister to every soul I meet, so that I reflect Jesus to others. I see that desire for God in the beautiful face and soul of Linda Strom, even in the photo and though I have never met her. Her love of the Lord is evident in her eyes. How I desire to have the Lord refine my heart to that purity and love. Direct me in Your way Lord.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
The Lord reproves and disciplines those He loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
If we are zealous for the Lord and repent, He will stand at our door and knock, and if I hear His voice and open the door, He will come to me and dine with me, and I will dine with Him. BEST date ever!! and for eternity. Lord, I want you to stay in my heart forever and may I be kneeling at your feet in worship for eternity.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance. Lord, remove the stones from my heart I pray, the ones I am aware of and the ones I cannot see. Let me draw water only from Your well. Please be the source of all the joys in my heart, Father in Heaven. Help me to have a pliable heart, without self serving stones. Refine me, even when it hurts. I pray to be fully yours. Give me the eyes, the heart, the words and the opportunities to draw others to you. I love you with all my heart. In the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray.
I so appreciate your answers Patti. You bless me with your transparent answers and your sensitive heart for Jesus. 💕
Tuesday: Our Lover Longs for Responsiveness
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
—She has undressed and bathed and gone to bed. She didn’t feel like getting up and getting dressed and getting her feet dirty again.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
—Sometimes I just feel tired and thickheaded. But when I do respond He always brightens my heart.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
—I think of the CS Lewis quote that “God shouts to us in our pain”. He uses it to get our attention and gives us a desire to return to him.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
—Because she is neither hot nor cold. Each are satisfying in their unique characteristic. Hot tastes good in winter and cold tastes good in summer but lukewarm doesn’t satisfy.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean?
—Laodicea was a wealthy place and the church there had cooled to a lukewarm state of feeling satisfied. They had been compromised and didn’t realize how spiritually needy they were.
God is the source of true riches and He was calling them to have that need met by coming to him and to be supplied by him.
What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
—It always benefits us to seek God. God always lifts up and brings the wisdom and healing needed in our lives when we call on Him to meet our needs.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
—He corrects and disciplines everyone that he loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
—He will correct and discipline those he loves. When we turn to Him he provides spiritual riches such as the “white garments” of righteousness and “ointment for our eyes” which is wisdom to see and understand his ways.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance.
—Father, I praise You for being a faithful and gracious God who loves me at all times. Even when I am indifferent and in a state of being spiritually bankrupt. You will exercise your correction and discipline me for my good. I really need that. I need You!
I confess my sins of indifference to your truths and my lack of discipline to implement the ways you lead me through the teaching of your Word. I confess I am poor, wretched and blind in my own flesh. But I don’t want to have a cold heart or worse yet a useless lukewarm heart.
Thank you for showing me my needy ways and giving me opportunity to come to you and have the white garment of the righteousness of Jesus. And thank you for opening my eyes to my sinful ways and from your faithfulness and out of your great love for me as one of your own bringing your healing and letting me see my need so that I can respond and be blessed by you in great abundance. Your (gold) the riches you have for me are immeasurable. Again I can’t praise You enough!
I thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen
What a beautiful prayer, dear Bev! How I need Him to open my eyes daily! You are a blessing.
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
She says she has already undressed and her feet are clean.
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
It’s hard, it takes time, it can be messy in my head and not make sense at times.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
I suppose to teach us a lesson. We need to want to be near Him so we can be secure in our lives.
Love your open answer to B., Laura! So true: It’s hard, it takes time, it can be messy in my head and not make sense at times.
Sorry to have been missing. I had a skin cancer surgery become infected and it laid me low for a few days. I have read your comments and will be back to commenting! I am getting better, and so thankful. I am blessed to be so healthy generally.
Oh, dear Dee. I will be praying for a quick recovery.
I’m sorry-that sounds painful. So glad you are beginning to heal. Prayers for you to be strengthened and restored.
Thank you both!
So sorry to hear this Dee…scary I’m sure, but praise God you’re healing and feeling better ❤️🩹! Take Care.
Oh Dee! What a sad thing 😢. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Dee, Sorry for the complication. My husband had the same thing happen a couple of years ago. But all healed well now. We missed you of course but Patti does a very sweet job of commenting and encouraging us all in your absence 💕😊
Yes! Patti thank you for all your encouragement for us 😇
Oh, dear….I hope I did not write too many comments. I miss you Dee! We need your guidance!
Dear Patti, I doubt anyone can say they have been encouraged too much-please continue ☺️
Dee,
I hope you gain full recovery very soon. Yes, grateful for your general health and leading us here.
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
This is so relevant in our family this season. As our son has decided to move his wedding up to August 16, there has been much criticism. I am finding myself repeatedly helping everyone think differently and with kindness. It makes me sad to hear some of the things said about their wedding plans. I really like the focus of looking at each person as a soul. It helps focus our motives and desires in relationships. I have been repeatedly saying, lets focus on what is really important in the wedding, which is not the decor, the human traditions, the length of preparation, the timing of things, the dancing or not, dinner or not, catered food or potluck. The focus is the ceremony and their desire to honor the Lord in their relationship. They are unique individuals and in our large family there have already been 5 weddings, 4 of which were very similar and all 5 very traditional. This one is breaking the mold and causing much fuss. When it was brought up yesterday, a close family friend commented that OBrien weddings are fun and maybe this will be the first one that isn’t. I just replied, I hope its fun for the bride and groom. They are planning what they want. I love that Linda Storm is known for keeping her friends waiting while she is leading waitresses to the Lord. I hope that will be me one day.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth. Lord, my God, when I consider all you have created and the beauty before me in creation, I stand in awe of the splendor. Humans start out as these little tiny creatures and they grow at an amazing rate. From the start we are beset with sin and wanting our own way. This journey here seems hard as we fight your plan all along the way. Lord, help me to see each one of your creation in the light that you did, when you chose to send your son to the cross. You loved us so, even in our deepest sin. How do we ever find love like that for one another on this earth? It is only by your grace. Give me grace and eyes to see others as you behold them. There is much out of my control, help me control my tongue and my thoughts as I relate to others and give your grace and peace to them as your Holy Spirit leads. Amen.
Dear Chris, I will be praying for the upcoming wedding, and for all the details to reflect God’s love. I pray the He will touch the hearts and minds of all who attend and may it all Glorify God. Love your entire prayer! I need this daily: Give me grace and eyes to see others as you behold them. There is much out of my control, help me control my tongue and my thoughts as I relate to others and give your grace and peace to them as your Holy Spirit leads.
Chris, I realize this is Wednesday, and you may see the young lady at the dog show again. I am praying right now for the Lord to prepare your heart.🙏🙏
Oh! Thank you. I was reminded this morning of a prayer book I could give her, and I’m hoping I can!
🙏
Thank you for praying! I did get the prayer book to her cousin who I saw and she was willing to give it to her that day. Her name is Nova. I pray for her to be encouraged and find peace in the Lord.
Oh how I love your response to the moved up wedding! How important to treat people with kindness!
Thank you Chris, for this lovely prayer. I will pray for your family. 🙏🙏
Such encouraging words here Chris. Thank you 🙂
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
So crazy! Here I go again with different sources teaching me the same scripture! This is the same scripture our lay leader preached on last Sunday. This keeps happening to me.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
She won’t choose one way or the other. She is wishing-washy.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
The “riches” we need are those provided by God, not the world. If we are in tune with Him then we will be blessed even in our suffering.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
Everyone.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
Love and being together are promised, if we give Him our hearts.
E. Either here or privately write your prayer of repentance.
Dear Lord, You are my hope and my Savior. Thank You. I wake up each morning knowing that I am a sinner who needs You badly. I’m so grateful that You give me a new chance each day. Thank You. I mess up so often and need Your mercy. I am sorry for that. Life is such a hard journey at times. Please forgive me for not being on fire for You always. I don’t mean to be lukewarm. I want You, truly. I don’t care if the world calls me names or if people think I’m crazy. I know You are King. I know You are the Master of my life. Help me stand firm in that. Amen.
Love your heartfelt prayer, Laura💕
Amen to Patti, Laura.
Amen Laura ~
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
I love how easy it is to see that love in Linda, even in a photo. Each of us is so important in the eyes of the Father. I want to see and know each person I interact with, as if I were interacting with Jesus. I want to show that love and concern for that person, not for my own interest, but for the way we might connect, even in a small way. There is an older gentleman, who bags groceries at the store where I shop. I love to go to that line, because he always says “Have a blessed day.” It makes a huge difference in the way I feel, especially in a town where I don’t know many people. I want to be a blessing for Jesus and to see others through His eyes. I love to ask new friends about themselves. The smallest connection can make a big difference. We all have great worth in God’s eyes.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving me in spite of my sinful ways and many flaws. Thank you for every opportunity I have to encounter others, who I may be able to minister to, even in the tiniest way. I pray that a you will gently remind me, through each day, that I am here to represent You to each person I meet. I pray that you will help me to see each soul, as a masterpiece of Your hand. We are all in the process of being refined by You. Help me to see others through the eyes of Jesus, to speak to them with the gentleness and sincerity of Jesus, and to treat others with a heart like Jesus. Lord, filter all that comes from my thoughts, heart and words and refine my interactions to be Christ-like. I pray so this in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
Patti, Your prayer reminds me that it is all about Jesus. That’s what the Lord showed me this morning in my own answers and now looking back on the comments your prayer is affirmation of that wonderful reality. “treat others with a heart like Jesus”
Isn’t that the truth about Linda?
Patti — we are all so thankful for you here and for every single comment. You are so other-centered.
Wednesday: Seeing Others as Souls
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
—I think in order to see others as individual souls it requires setting aside prejudices of who they are or where they come from. More dangerously what group they align with. Such as are they Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormon or Muslim. Grouping people can cause an indifference to them in their individuality as a soul needing to be saved from their sin just like I needed to be.
My daily Bible reading currently has me in the Proverbs. They make many many references to the fool. I realized that we have a very foolish young man in our extended family and his name has come to my mind often as I read the many references to fools. This morning I struggled as I prayed for him not feeling much hope that he will ever change. But Tripps comments on what I read this morning brought out that all of us are born as fools because of our sin nature. He said “Since foolishness (sin) is a matter of nature and not just behavior, external manipulation will not change us at the level of the true nature of our hearts.” He went on to say “God’s law is important, but rigid enforcement of his law alone will not change the character of our hearts. Education cannot change our nature. Threats of consequences have no power to change our hearts. Changes of situation and location do not address what is foundationally wrong with us. If our sin were just about behavior, then behavioral control and retraining would take care of our problem. This proverb is in the Bible to help us understand that nothing has the power to address the deepest of human problems—except the grace of the Savior. If any of the external forces I mentioned had the power to change the fundamental composition of our hearts, then Jesus would not have had to come.”
And so it is the glorious grace of Jesus that was the answer to my foolishness and is the answer for our family member. I will see him in his souls need to have an understanding of Who Jesus is and what the Cross really is all about. He needs the transforming power of Jesus in his life. I have hope for him because of Jesus.
(Side note: Laura I have thought of your daughter this morning as well and her foolish ways of treating you and responding to her circumstances so wrongly. I pray for her eyes to be opened to her need of Jesus and to open her heart to Him. Accepting Jesus into her life will bring the power needed to change her heart and her whole life. He alone can bring peace to your family. )
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and the wonderful truths you give us to understand your ways. And Jesus thank you that we can understand how you came to earth to redeem the souls of mankind. Our need was great but your grace is greater. I ask you to give me your gracious heart to see and love people as individual souls in need of a Savior. Especially those close to me who watch my life.
For all of us on this blog please let us shine for Jesus. And let it all be in the name of Jesus and for his glory. Amen
Oh, thank you for this reflection and sharing of your devotional. I love the application and agree, it’s all about Jesus. Praying also for the loved ones in all of our lives who need Jesus.
Thank you for sharing from the Paul Tripp devotion, Bev. Only Jesus can change our hearts. This is so good and helps me to better pray for my son. I pray this for Laura’s situation, as well.
Bev, I’m just seeing this now. Thank you. I feel a bit of comfort in it, as we are to see foolish Sarah today. I will do my best to keep this in my mind. She is a soul who needs saving, just as I am . You are so sweet to think of us ♥️
Yes, please let me shine like Jesus today.
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
I need to be consciously kinder to others for sure. I am working with souls here!
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Oh Lord, we are all sinners who need saving. Thank You for dying on the cross for us. Open my eyes to those around me who need love, especially those in my own path. Help me to exemplify You to them, remembering they have a soul that needs protection. Amen.
Thank you all for your grace. I feel better, hoping that antibiotic is working or the Lord is simply having mercy.
Praise God you are better, Dee. Praying for complete wellness.
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them. I need to see them through the Creator’s eyes. No matter how they act or what they’ve done, they still aren’t beyond redemption.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth. Lord, you know that I have a tendency to think more about what people think about me than I do what you think about them. Help me to take my eyes off of myself and actually see the people around me as you see them. Even the people that cut me off in traffic!
Love Dawn’s prayer:
I have a tendency to think more about what people think about me than I do what you think about them. Help me to take my eyes off of myself and actually see the people around me as you see them. Even the people that cut me off in traffic!
Well ladies, I need to have a hip replacement. It is scheduled for 8/14. Until then, I am off work which will help tremendously!
Dawn you will be in our prayers for sure for this surgery. Trusting God to give you a great measure of relief.
Dawn, it must be a relief to know this and have a plan in place. So good that you will be off work in the meantime. Amen to Bev, you will be in our prayers.
Oh no! I’m sorry about that. I will be praying for your surgery.
Four weeks-praying for relief from your pain and a successful surgery.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share. I was with my dad, step-dad when they passed and my grandfather and FIL. I remember when breathing stopped and the body lay lifeless. I also witnessed my granddaughter pass, twice-for she was put on life support at the hospital. I also felt the last movements before my baby passed in my womb. Boy. What to share? I’ve been to many open casket funerals and seen the lifeless shells of people who are no longer here in spirit. It’s freeing for the elderly or sick who need freedom from their worn out or broken body, but grievous for those left behind. We don’t want them trapped in their broken body, but terribly miss them when they are gone.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why? I’m not sure. I always think about the saints who come out of the graves and walk around in Matthew 27 after the resurrection. Their bodies were made new for the occasion. God is miraculous and will give us bodies when we need them.
Chris, you have been through some very difficult losses. Thank you for sharing. This is so true: It’s freeing for the elderly or sick who need freedom from their worn out or broken body, but grievous for those left behind.
Interesting and so sad about last movements of your baby.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share. The evening my husband went to be with Jesus, we were holding hands, his breathing slowed over a couple of hours. It changed and gently became slower, until he was not breathing. Somehow, the Lord gave me great peace, in spite of my great sorrow. All of his wrinkles left his face and he looked so much younger and peaceful, yet he was not there. I was told to bring each of our dogs to him, so they would understand. When I put Piper next to him, she had a seizure, bolted out of my arms and ran through every room in the house, (like she was looking for him) looking in each room and going to the next. I could not figure it out and then I realized that she was trying to follow his spirit, as it left and went to heaven. It was so weird, yet it comforted me.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I feel the same way about our soul going immediately to the Lord. I have always felt they know they are with Jesus and awaiting the time of His return when we all will be with Jesus, when we will have our new, perfected bodies. So many who have died and then been resuscitated, have been very aware of seeing Jesus and family members, already in heaven, before they have returned to their earthly bodies. It makes me think that we may be awake and active in heaven. It is so hard to comprehend another dimension, yet fun to ponder.
Patti, oh, these intimate moments with loved ones at death. Your sweet dog. So bittersweet and I do remember with my dad, in his last moments he sat up and raised his hand towards the ceiling and had a peaceful, joyous look on his face as if he was seeing someone he knew. It is such a mystery what happens after we pass but I believe it will be something we cannot even imagine and beautiful. I believe the Lord will have work for us when we get there. My seven year old thinks we will just remain in our earthly shells asleep. For this reason he doesn’t want to go to heaven, because that would be boring. He can’t imagine a spirit departing from our bodies I guess? We have had so many talks about it.
Love the joy your dad had in those last moments, Chris! So encouraging!
I didn’t know that about Piper. Oh my. Dogs know more than I realize. Praying for you regularly, dear Patti.
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away
The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
—Several times with both my husband’s parents and my dad. All were believers and passed away quietly. There was a sense of relief for them and the end of their pain and suffering.
But the one that stands out was my aunt who I had cared for in her final months. She was my mom’s youngest sister and we had been close. She was in an assisted living facility on hospice when she died. In the last stages as her body shutting down we knew she would probably not live through the night and I had gone home to change clothes and prepared to come back and spend the night. We lived close by. When I came back into the facility the nurse and the aides were standing together and told me they had just been in and taken care of her needs and turned her. All day her breathing had been loud and laboring. When I went down to her room it was absolutely quiet. I knew immediately she was gone and I stepped up to her bed and took her face in my hands which was still warm and said “Oh Aunt Alice you have gone to live with Jesus!” She had neatly typed and prepared her obituary sometime a few years before but on the top she had at some point hand written “Gone to live with Jesus”.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
— I have come to believe that for a believer in Christ at the time of physical death our souls fully and consciously enter the presence of our Savior in Heaven safely awaiting the resurrection of our bodies that will be like the resurrection body of Jesus. We become absent from the body and present with the Lord which Paul said is far better. Paul speaks in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 about our resurrection bodies and has much to say about our earthly bodies and the transforming resurrection of these bodies. He was speaking to a Corinthian culture that didn’t believe in a physical resurrection. He said “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”
1 Corinthians 15:52 NLT
The teaching I understand about “those who are “asleep” in death is interpreted as the body being asleep but not the soul. The term “being laid to rest” is what we generally speaking do with the remains of a dead body. It is like the body is asleep because the day is coming when it will be woken up, resurrected and transformed into a body like Jesus has.
“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
1 John 3:2 NLT
It makes sense that even our souls when taken to Heaven have some kind of recognizable form but scripture is clear there is coming a time when our souls will be reunited with a perfectly new resurrected body when the new Heaven and earth come about. What glorious Hope we have in Jesus.
Bev, What a beautiful home going for your Aunt Alice.
I appreciate your complete answer with scriptural support. I’ve read all of this but don’t often think of it, I suppose because I think of that time to be a ways off and yet it may help my 7 year old who has many questions about death and dying, along with the afterlife.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
I have not been at the bedside of anyone who is dying other than my father when I was twelve. He was still alive though, so I didn’t see him actually pass.
I was with our cat when he died, however. I was panicked but didn’t want him to be alone so I stayed and just laid near him. I was scared. I think I stayed until the end and I remember it not being anything like I imagined it would be. It was very peaceful. In fact it was so peaceful that I was comforted (?).
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I guess I have never thought much about this. I’m not sure I understand enough to weigh in here. For example, I haven’t considered if the soul is asleep or awake. I’ve always thought they were just with Jesus and “living” with Him. I have pondered whether I should be cremated or buried. I’m nervous about cremation because will the body be reunited with the soul? The way you present it, is as if we get totally new bodies (which I am TOTALLY fine with 😉!). So cremation wouldn’t matter. It’s just so final. My mom decided to be cremated, unbeknownst to the family, because it was cheaper 🤷🏻♀️. So “mom”of her! She had to make sure it was okay with the Catholic Church though before she decided. I guess it wasn’t (okay) at one point in time. Pondering for sure….
While believers in scripture were buried and pagans more likely cremated — there is not a command. God certainly won’t have a problem resurrecting bodies from ashes, as He made Adam from dust in the first place. I think of all the believing holocaust victims who were burned in the ovens.
I agree with you, Dee.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
Yes, our 14 month old daughter, my mom, my dad, my father-in-law, my mother-in-law in that order.
A friend handed me a little book about six months after our little girl died. I drew much sweet comfort from this woman’s account as she gave glimpses of her experiences. The book has been in and out of print over the past almost 150 years. It is written by a woman by the name of Rebecca Springer. It is titled: My Dream of Heaven: Intramuros The author describes how she was on her death bed and was taken by an angel into the heavenly realm.
I’m reminded of songs:
Steven Curtis Chapman ~ Heaven is a Place
youtube heaven is a place steven curtis chapman – Google Search
2nd Chapter of Acts (music group from the 70’s Jesus People Movement) ~ Mansion Builder (my sisters sang this at our little girl’s memorial service.)
Mansion Builder (with Lyrics) 2nd Chapter of Acts/Mansion Builder
Wonderful comforting songs from Nila.
Music is so powerful. Tears as I listen to Mansion Builder.
I remember now that after our little girl died in my womb at 21 weeks, a lady I never met from our church, called me and offered to talk or help in whatever way. I was so grateful because I had never experienced anything like this and had so many questions and no one I knew at the time could answer or understand. She had lost a baby to a heart defect. It was just what I needed at the time and the Lird provided.
I agree, Chris, The words to “Mansion Builder” are so powerful. I love how the Lord brought the perfect person to you, when you needed it most. I had not heard that song before. Nila, you have such musical gifts and I always love the music you share. I pray that things are well with your kids and grandkids.🙏
Thank you for sharing this sweet story, the meaningful book, and the songs, Nila. All are soothing to my soul.
Thank you for these songs. They made me reflect (and cry a bit too).
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
Somehow I lost my answer even though I copied it to my clipboard, so I will try again.
My theory is that since there is no “time” in heaven that regardless of at what point in earthly history you die, it will seem as though you are instantly returning with Jesus to the new earth with your new body. So whether someone died 6,000 years ago or 1,000 years from now, it will seem like we all got there at the same time.
Interesting, Dawn. God is outside the constraints of time, so why wouldn’t we be also?
No time constraints. Love this, Dawn!
That is such a good thought to ponder, and a comforting one. I’ve wondered though about Rev 6 where the martyred saints are crying out “How Long, O Lord?” Yet when we studied the genre of Revelation and saw it is extreme symbolism, that may be too, rather than actually happening. A mystery!
I thought about the revelation passage as well. It is such a mystery.
I did, too, but like you said there is so much symbolism in Revelations that it probably isn’t literal.
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think? David is telling himself to bless the Lord and not forget all his blessings, no doubt because he is feeling down and needs encouragement.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂 the Lord forgives my sins, all of them. I am washed clean, white as snow. He covers me with his robes of righteousness, as I have no ability on my own to change what is inside. He heals all my diseases, not in this world, but in the next. Although, there are some that are healed here for his purposes, we are left with some struggles and he has a purpose for those as well. He gives me abundantly more than I need. Blessing upon blessing I receive and I am continually amazed at how much he continues to provide both physical and spiritual. We have every material blessing we could want and the spiritual blessings as well, with all of our children loving the Lord. Now we pray for our grandchildren and look for their faith walk to begin, and they are. I believe he keeps us close to him with the physical health struggles and relationship struggles. 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. The message from David Platt on the armor of God keeps coming back to me this week.
That’s so good, Chris — especially as age increases our physical challenges.
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
—He says to praise the Lord with a whole heart and to remember the good things God has done for us. I believe praising God for his goodness to us is good for us. It causes is to refocus off of ourselves and on to Him. That is always a healthy thing to do. It lifts our spirits to think about God and grow in love for him.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
—It is good to remember the good things He does for me. The spiritual blessings are many. He encourages me everyday when I read his Word. He has blessed me with godly friendships and great fellowship with other believers who encourage my heart.
He forgives my sins (because of Jesus and the Cross.) and as a result He heals the disease of sin in my life and has bought my redemption from eternal death and has given me eternal life. Those benefits result in me experiencing His love and tender mercies and He brings good things into my life that fill my heart and strengthens my soul. He always lifts my spirits when I praise Him.
Monday: The Soul Felt Its Worth
In the fictional movie, Greyhound, Tom Hanks plays Captain Ernest Krause, a man of faith. When they sink a German submarine, a member of the crew cheers, “fifty less Krauts!” The captain solemnly replies, “Fifty souls,” recognizing that even our enemies have souls that go on forever and should not be treated lightly. In the real-life emergency air landing of Captain Sully on the Potomac River, Sully, a believer, also played by Tom Hanks, rejoiced when told all “155 souls” were saved.
1. In aviation and ship disasters, the word soul is used instead of passengers. Find the origin for this in Acts 27:37.
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.’
2. How do you know that the Lord loves you so, sees you as immensely valuable? Find a verse.
1 John 4:9, “God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.”
3. I am saddened that in the last century, the interpretation of The Song of Songs has changed from being primarily about Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, to marriage. My theory is that because sex has become so polluted in our eyes, we cannot imagine how God would ever use it to portray the oneness He longs to have with us. He longs for a receptive, responsive, and passionate bride. I’d love to hear your thoughts here, and to meditate on the following verses from The Song of Songs with the perspective that marriage, rather than being the main point, is a metaphor pointing to the ultimate union of Christ with His Bride, true believers. The Song uses both the singular and plural of the word You, which I believe means He sees His bride both as an individual and corporately. This picture shows what the Lord desires from us, of how He sees us in Him, and of how deeply He loves us.
A. Song of Songs 2:10-14 (What does He want from you?)
He wants me to go with Him and enjoy the beauty of what the season of spring brings…the flowers, birds, cooing of turtledoves, fruit forming on the fig tree and the fragrance of the blooming grapevines.
Behold Him through His creation.
B. Song of Songs 2:15 (What foxes destroy your intimacy with Him?)
Beholding anything but Him…tv, social media, idols etc.
C. Song of Songs 4:1 (How does He see you in Him?)
Beautiful beyond words…wow!
D. Song of Songs 4:12 (What might being closed up to other lovers symbolize in your relationship to the Lover of your Soul?)
I’m not sure I understand this, but if I’m making the Lover of my Soul first place then I am His private garden, a treasure, a secluded spring and a hidden fountain.
I love your answer to D., Sharon! I’m not sure I understand this, but if I’m making the Lover of my Soul first place then I am His private garden, a treasure, a secluded spring and a hidden fountain.
Sharon — I agree with your answer to D. Reminds me of Paul saying he wants to present a virginal bride to the Lord.
Tuesday: Our Lover Longs for Responsiveness
4. Read Song of Songs 5:2-8
A. What excuses does the bride give for not opening the door to her Lover who stands at the door knocking? (verse 3)
I’ve taken off my robe. Should I get dressed again?
I’ve washed my feet. Should I get them soiled?
B. What excuses do you give for not responding to the Lord in love, praise, obedience?
I’ve got other/better things to do.
They’ll reject me if I share what You did for them.
I don’t feel like praising You right now as I’m not worthy.
C. In verses 4-6, she finally responds, but He has left. While God will never permanently abandon us, why might He let us feel the pain of our unresponsiveness?
By letting us work through our excuses (whether it be grief, sickness, selfishness or sin) so our eyes might be opened to see our need for Him.
5. Revelation 3:14-20 is a parallel passage. Though it is often used to describe what is needed to become a Christian, it is a description of a lukewarm Christian who needs to recover the passion of her first love time with Jesus.
A. Why does the Lord want to spit her out of His mouth?
She is lukewarm.
B. Challenge question: What does verse 18 mean? What good can come out of suffering if we respond rightly?
We must realize our spiritual poverty…in order to be rich we must be totally dependent upon Him.
I think of the verse Job 23:10, “But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I come out as pure as gold.” Trusting in Him through our times of suffering.
It’s only through His righteousness that our garments can be white and He opens our eyes and gives us spiritual sight.
I see here the Gospel vs Works righteousness.
C. Whom does the Lord rebuke according to verse 19?
Those He loves.
D. What promise is there for the unresponsive Christian in verses 19-20?
He will correct and discipline.
He will stand at the door and knock and if we hear His voice and open the door, He’ll come in and share a meal with us as friends.
Wednesday: Seeing Others as Souls
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
People are like onions…there are layers that need to be peeled away to see them as souls. As Captain Ernest Krause peeled away the layer of the men in the submarine as just being the enemy/“krauts,” he got down to the fact that they are souls to his men. I know for me I need to peel away how a person may want to self identify (outer appearance), personal ideologies (religious, political etc), or even the layers they try to hide (grief, suffering, anger etc.). I need to relate to them by looking under those layers and seeing them through God’s eyes…being made in His image, having self worth and value.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Lord, help me to see others through Your eyes. To see past their outer exterior and remember that whatever they’re going through or what their beliefs are, they are worthy to be seen as a soul, they have value and need love.
Sharon, I like the illustration of onions. “Look under those layers…”
Amen!
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away
The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
When my mother passed I knew she was in the presence of the Lord as a peace came over her face.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I believe the same as you stated above but what gives me comfort is that God has it all figured out and one day we will know.
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Bless the Lord. Why, do you think? Because praises to Him should be our first thing. Even if we only take time for a quick prayer, acknowledging His greatness should be our first thought. And if we talk to our souls, we are speaking to the only eternal part of us.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. He forgives our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, satisfies us with good so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
Bless the Lord. He is addressing his own soul to Bless the Lord. He is speaking to his own center to love and honor God for His mercy and love.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
Bless the Lord and remember His benefits. He pardons my iniquities, He heals my diseases, He redeems my life from the pits, He gives me loving kindness and compassion, He gives me good things, He restores my strength.
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
Praise the Lord!
He doesn’t know what else to do. If you read Psalm 102, he is troubled.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day.
I remember what He has already done for me.
He forgives my sin and heals my diseases.
He saves me from death.
He crowns me with love and mercy.
He gives me good things.
I am renewed as if I were young again.
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
To “Bless the LORD.” (ESV)
“Let all that I am praise the LORD.” (NLT)
This praise came from deep within David. It wasn’t just an outward expression of praise but a soul praise. His focus was turned to God and who He is with his whole heart and full attention.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
Forgives my sins.
Heals all my diseases.
Redeems my life from destruction.
Crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
Satisfies my mouth with good things, so my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why? 3am and can’t sleep. The spiritual war waging battle for souls is on my mind. I’m going to be hosting a bridal shower and the brides family/friends attending will be mostly non-Christian or at least not active Christians. I’m looking at what to do for a devotional. Praying for this opportunity to share my faith and mostly my Lord with those who need him. This weeks study has impressed upon my heart to look at each lady attending the shower, as a soul. How will I impact each one for eternity?
I will pray for you as you plan this bridal shower. You have the most tender heart, Chris, to look at each lady as a soul. I will pray for your words to impact each one for eternity. Do you have Tim Keller’s book on Marriage. It is excellent.
Thank you! I do. We are reading through it with our son and his fiancé.
Father, I agree with my sisters’ here and pray for Chris to be led of you in this and to give her favor with the family.
Catching up! Thank you for your prayers during my time with my cousin, Millien. She left on Wednesday for the Philippines.
Wednesday: Seeing Others as Souls
6. How might recognizing that each person who comes across your path has a soul impact the way you relate to them? Be specific in how you might relate to them.
When I know that a person has a soul, I would look at them differently because their soul would go to an eternal destiny, either eternal hell or heaven. There is a deeper desire to see them know Jesus if they are not a Christian, and a love that is beyond understanding if they are a brother or a sister. I see people’s faces as I type these words. I asked myself to see them, instead of with eyes of judgment, with grace and mercy. I have been at a place of hopelessness, and I know how it felt. I can point them to Jesus and live with hope, and see eternal life possible in Him.
7. Pray here for God to give you eyes to see the people in your life today as souls that have great worth.
Oh, Lord, that I may see each one as a soul of great worth. That no matter how I do not like the other person, you love that person. We are all undeserving of your love, but we are all recipients of your grace and mercy. Help me extend grace and mercy to others as well.
Thursday: I’ll Fly Away
The old Negro Spirituals are filled with the hope that helped them bear the cruelty and injustice of their lives. This life is such a brief part of our whole life, and those who realize that not only bear suffering better, but they also know the importance of daily nurturing the most essential part of themselves: their souls.
8. The only part of us that lives forever is our soul. When Rachel was dying, Genesis tells us: And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone dying and sensed when his soul was gone and only a shell of a body remained? If so, share.
As a nurse, I was present at the bedside of a few patients as well as elderly friends. In God’s sovereignty, I have never been at the bedside of a dying family member. At the bedside of a friend, I saw her sit up all of a sudden and raise her right hand as if seeing someone/something, and then fall back to her bed and die.
The night before my dad passed away, I was at his bedside. I said goodnight to him and went to bed. In the early mornings of June 1, his male caregiver woke us up to tell us that he thought my dad wasn’t breathing when he checked on him. I ran to his room and found that he had passed away. Dad had his right hand over his heart, and he had a smile on his face. Two months later, Richard and I were married. I miss my dad, but I am looking forward to seeing him again in heaven.
9. I have pondered that state of our beloved, believing loved at this time, before the new heaven and new earth. My theory is that their souls are with Jesus, asleep or awake, but it won’t be until the new heaven and new earth that our souls will be united with our new bodies. What are your thoughts, and why?
I believe the same, that the souls of those we love who believe in Jesus are asleep or awake with Him, and that their souls will reunite with their bodies when we join each other in the new heaven and new earth. I would like to think that their souls are awake from my mother’s account of several dreams she had of my dad, sister, and cousin while she was seriously ill. I remember her telling me that my cousin and sister were motioning for her to come to them from the other side, but my Dad said, Not yet. And she vividly remembered somebody who she thought was Jesus, sitting at her bedside and addressing her by name and saying, it was not yet time for her to go. She lived a few more months after that.
Friday: Nurturing our Souls Through Praise
10. Read Psalm 103:1-5
A. What does David tell his soul to do according to verse 1? Why, do you think?
David tells his soul to praise the Lord with his inmost being. He said it three times, with the last time being from verse 2. Praise often does not come naturally, but repetition, conscious remembering, and reminding oneself are needed.
I was curious to know when Psalm 103 was written by David, and I found a link to the Blue Letter Bible saying it was probably written after the pardon he received for having an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba.
I do remember times when I have received mercy from God, and praise was my response, being made aware that I did not deserve it.
Perhaps, David felt the same way? He was talking to his soul and reminding himself of the mercy of God, the “benefits” that he (and I) don’t deserve.
B. List some of the Lover of your Soul’s benefits using verses 2-5. Be very specific, realizing you don’t have all day. 🙂
Forgive all your sins and heals all your diseases: He forgives ALL my sins, big or small, I think of I John 1:9, the confession and the forgiveness on the first part of the verse and the cleansing from all unrighteousness in the last part to speak of healing of the spiritual disease called sin and the physical sickness and decay that ultimately leads to physical death.
Redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
I think of the pit as hell, and I am redeemed from it by Jesus, and instead of a chain, I have the crown of salvation and am called an heir to the kingdom of God and its riches.
Satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
When I am content with what God has given me, anything becomes a good thing. My heart may desire something else, but when I receive what He has given with gratitude, I realize that what He gave me was what my heart desired. I feel like gratitude is like a bank account for my soul. The more I “deposit”, the more my soul thrives regardless of what my biological age is. “From glory to glory He’s changing me, changing me, His likeness and image to perfect in me…”
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why?
Many takeaways, but one thing that stood out for me is the lyrics to O Holy Night, “long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth…”
Only Jesus’s coming, his death, and resurrection can fully give our souls their worth. I can look for my worth in other places, persons, and performance, but they will never satisfy as only Jesus could. Thank you, Dee, for this study. “A thrill of hope…he satisfies your desires with good things...!
I loved that “soul felt its worth too” Ortberg helped me see that.