Salvation is by grace through faith.
This week we in the Epistles will be a coupling of grace through faith. The word of God read and listened to, mixed with faith (our accepting what we are reading as truth), moves us into obedience (attentive hearing under) as we enter into His rest. Rest is ceasing from our labors and entering into what the Father has accomplished in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
As we read together this week let’s practice receiving grace through faith. Let the miracles of Exodus inspire the vision of our own deliverance. Psalms become our praise and each declaration our confession of God’s faithfulness and ability to deliver. Isaiah is calling us higher still with powerful imagery of salvation by grace through faith.
All scripture is inspired by God making us complete, and thoroughly equipped for every good work. As we receive with meekness the implanted word, it goes about saving our souls. Truth makes us free. We mix what we are reading with faith. Inspired by its inspiration we are complete in Christ, equipped for every good work and our souls return to rest in salvation.
WATCH – That I May Know Him Week 8
GOSPELS
Luke 6 – 12
We will begin with the Beatitudes calling us into heart obedience. Here is the constitution of the Kingdom of God. Chapter 7 records miracles, John the Baptist in doubt, and a sinful woman is forgiven. In Chapter 8 the parable of the Sower is given and explained, and a sea crossing at Jesus’ word to the disciples, “Let us cross over…” (v. 22b) while He sleeps and they freak out. Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter and a woman with a twelve-year-old issue of blood are both touched. In Chapter 9 the apostles are sent out, the 5,000+ are fed, Peter confesses Jesus is the Christ, the Mount of Transfiguration occurs, John and James are rebuked for not knowing what spirit they are of, and the cost of discipleship is renewed. In Chapter 10 the 70 disciples are sent out and come back with joy. Martha invites Jesus to her house and Mary sits at His feet to hear His word. Chapter 11 the Lord’s prayer is given at the request of the disciples wanting to be taught to pray. Ask, seek, knock. God will give the Holy Spirit to everyone who asks. Chapter 12 is the call to be a faithful servant, the blessing, and the warning. Jesus declares He came to send fire.
EPISTLES
Galatians 5 – 6
The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. We are to walk in the Spirit (fruit) being led by the Spirit and thereby not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Take time and imbibe (drink in deeply/absorb) the Spirit and His fruit: Love, what does it feel like; Joy, time to cheer up; Peace, we are safe here. Take each fruit and savor it. Chapter 6 is about the sharing of one another’s burdens, instructions to not grow weary while doing good, and learning that Christ is everything, the new creation.
Ephesians 1 – 5
Read slowly and let your heart absorb the truths of our redemption in Christ. Each verse carries promises so rich and accessible. There are two prayers of Paul in Chapters 1 and 3 to pray and receive. In Chapter 4 we begin walking worthy of such a high calling in humility in love. We are all in one body, not many. We are all growing up into Christ, the head, and putting off the old man and putting on the new man. Forgiveness and love. Chapter 5 we are called to walk in love, walk in the light, walk in wisdom, and follow the pattern of Christ and the church for our marriages.
TORAH
Exodus 3 – 10
Moses and the burning bush, his reluctance to go back to Egypt, and God’s insistence and unusual covenant renewal. Moses shows the signs and encourages the elders of Israel. Pharoah is unimpressed and increases the burdens on Israel’s back. The elders are discouraged, Moses is also discouraged, and God decrees that He has made Moses as God to Pharaoh. Let the plagues begin. Throughout Chapters 7 through 10 Moses brings the nine plagues as Pharaoh hardens his heart after each one.
POETRY
Psalms 5 – 10
Some of the best-loved Psalms are in our reading this week. Read slowly as praise to the Lord. Let David’s word become your words and the truths in the Psalms will transform your life as it did David’s. Psalms spoken or sung as praise bring courage to our lives, thanksgiving in our living, and strength to our souls. These are our Psalms, our praise, our promises.
PROPHETS
Isaiah 47 – 52
In Chapter 47, Isaiah prophesies to Babylon its coming humiliation and Israel’s redemption which leads to Israel’s refining and redemption in Chapter 48. Chapter 49 is a famous chapter of the coming Messiah and the Lord’s faithfulness to recover all in His redemption. Chapters 50 through 52 call Israel to repentance and awakening before the arm of the Lord is revealed.
