Sunday Scripture

 

Time for another Sunday Scripture lesson from Fix Your Focus!

This week's lesson was actually done by me the week of March 2.  Here goes ...

🌿 WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE CHECKLIST is further on in each week's section. But since I am working on Fix Your Focus all week long, I find it works best for me to do this checklist first. This checklist offers us four points:  

* To make a plan for reading our Bibles and praying.

* To add any upcoming events to our calendars.

* To jot down a to-do list of tasks that must be completed this week.

* To make a note of our top three priorities for this week.

This last point is one that I need to pay special attention to every week.  I've been finding it so helpful.  (The other three points are things that I'm consistently doing.) 

For this week, my top three priorities are:

1) Our Nevada family's visit would have been our top priority.  But Monday night we learned that flights had to be cancelled.  Health issues for one of the children slowed them down and then a vehicle issue en route to the airport put an end to their travel plans.  So now a priority has become seeking to encourage one another despite disappointment.

2)  Ministry  -- Tea time with friends on Wednesday; phone call with Rebekah Thursday; Sunday Scripture/other blog posts; Sunday School lesson prep, etc.

3) Etsy/creativity  -- Prepare at least 5 Etsy listings; prep and send Etsy orders; hopefully find some time to craft and create. 

[If you are following along with our study, this is the place to make a Week-at-a-Glance checklist and/or priority list for yourself!]

🌿 The first actual prompt for each week is JOURNAL.  We are encouraged to take a few minutes to our fears, joys, worries, desires and stressors concerning the week ahead.  [If you are following along with us, take a moment in a journal or notebook to do just that.]. Here's what I wrote on Monday, breaking it down into the suggested categories:

Fears: No real fears going into this week.   

Joys: It would have been a joy to see family we've not seen in person for over 3 years.  That was not to be, but it's easier to cope with knowing it was God who closed the doors.  Ministry is a joy -- having Jennifer, Grandma, and the children over for tea, preparing for a new Sunday School study, working on blog posts, etc.

Worries: It never really occurred to me to worry that our NV family wouldn't come.  A good reminder that worry never accomplishes anything.

Desires: To glorify God in the events of this week.  To not be resentful or depressed that our loved ones couldn't come, but to trust God for His good purposes in sovereignly allowing this disappointment.  To be a blessing to other ladies and an encouragement to my grandchildren.  To spend some time being creative and to get some good work accomplished in my Etsy shop and in my home.

Stressors:  Aging.  Other people.  Limitations of time and energy.  Minor health concerns.

🌿 The next prompt is PRAYER. It was suggested that we use several prayer prompts to have a conversation with God about the week ahead.  [You can do the same.  Use the very same prompts for your own prayer.]

* Lord, You are ... in complete control of every event in this week.  You are sovereign over all the happenings, even the disappointing ones.  You are able to help with the stressors of life and You are working in the hearts and lives of others as well.  You are able to take every circumstance of life and use it for our eventual good and for Your glory.

* Lord, I feel ...   a little bit at loose ends with our plans changed so completely.  Blessed to be able to stay at our cottage the last few nights, since our family wasn't staying there.  A little dismayed when I observe believers who refuse to grow.  Blessed to be a part of mentoring younger women.  Disappointed that our family couldn't come, but not dismayed by the need to shift gears.  Somewhat energized by the additional time now available for other tasks.

* Lord, help me with ... all that needs to happen this week.  With the necessary wisdom to order my days.  With the energy I need to accomplish all that You would have me to do.  With wise use of time and resources.

* Lord, forgive me for ... anytime when I give a fleshly response rather than a spiritual one.  Any time when I speak before thinking or use rash, unwise words.  Any time when I act in my own very limited wisdom or strength.

* Make a note of 4 or 5 people you are specifically praying for.  I listed friends dealing with a cancer diagnosis; a granddaughter with physical issues; our elected leaders.

🌿 The next section in this helpful guide is SCRIPTURE MEDITATION.  I chose to first meditate on this week's Scripture, Romans 12:1, using the SOAP method, and then answered several suggested questions.   [You can use your own preferred method to meditate on this verse, and answer the questions below for yourself.]

S= "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  (Romans 12:1)

O=   In the ESV this verse reads, "I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Whenever I see the word "therefore", I always wonder what it is "there for" and I try to look back at the preceding verses and find out.

One writer said that "therefore" here is meaning "in view of God's mercy" -- and that makes sense.  If we look back at the end of chapter 11 we see God's mercy spoken of in verses 30-32 and His matchless wisdom in verses 33-34.

My Scofield study Bible points back to Romans chapter 3, verse 21, all the way  through chapter 8, verse 39 as enumerating the mercies of God.

Daily Walk Bible suggests looking for the mercies of God all through the book of Romans -- what a great idea! -- and suggests three references to start with, so I will share those to jump-start your thinking.

Romans 3:24 -- "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Romans 5:1 -- "Having justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 8:1 -- "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

So, in view of, or in light of, the mercies of God, Paul beseeches his readers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice.  He says this is their "reasonable service."

Cross-references for "I beseech you" -- "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."  (1 Corinthians 1:10)

"Now I, Paul, myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you."  (2 Corinthians 10:1)

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation to which ye are called."  (Ephesians 4:1)

The above verses show us Paul's faithfulness in beseeching believers to walk with God!

"Present" means "to present once for all"

Cross-references for "present" -- "Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in its lusts.  "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."  (Romans 6:12-13)

"Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness? ... even so now yield your members servants to righteousness, unto holiness."  (Romans 6:16, 19c)

"For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."  (1 Corinthians 6:20)

"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."  (1 Peter 2:5)

Cross-reference for "living sacrifice" -- "But I have all, and abound; I am full, having received from Ephaphroditus the things which were sent from you, the odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God."  (Philippians 4:18)

Cross-reference for "holy" -- "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still."  (Revelation 22:11)

"In position, believers are eternally set apart for God by redemption, 'through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once' (Hebrews 10:10).  Positionally, therefore, believers are 'saints' and 'holy' from the moment of believing (Philippians 1:1; Hebrews 3:1).  In experience, believers are being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures.  And, in consummation, believers' complete sanctification awaits the appearing of the Lord."  (C.I. Scofield)

"Reasonable service" may be read "rational service."

A= To help with my application of this verse, I answered the three questions from Fix your Focus:

* Reflect on what this verse tells you about who God is.

He is a God of mercies.  His mercies are so manifold that it would take numerous deep dives into Scripture to research them all.  He is worthy of our worship and even of our presenting ourselves to Him as living sacrifices.  He desires for our sacrifices to be holy and acceptable unto Him, which surely points to another attribute of God -- His holiness.

* Think about what this verse tells you about who you are.

I'm a believer who has experienced and continues to experience the mercies of God.  I've been bought with a price and belong to Him, so living a sacrificial life marked by personal holiness is simply my reasonable or rational service. 

* Throughout the week, consider how this verse should affect the way you live.

 Daily Walk Bible says, "God wants you dead to sin and self, but He also wants you alive for service ... Based on God's abundant mercies on your behalf, He is calling you to become a voluntary living sacrifice as a reasonable expression of your gratitude for all He has done for you and through you."

P= "Lord, how thankful I am for the clarity of Your Word and the teaching that You Spirit imparted to Paul.

    "Truly, in light of Your manifold mercies to me, my reasonable service is give my life a living sacrifice to You.

  "I pray You will help me to live a sacrificial life marked by holiness that will bring honor and glory to You.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

🌿 GRATITUDE is the next prompt.  We were to reflect on the way God has shown His faithfulness to you over the past week and list five things we are thankful for.  [If you are following along with us, be sure to make your own list of five things!]. Here is my list:

1) The blessing that the Ladies of Grace fellowship was to those who could attend.

2) Opportunities to meet some new people just in the course of our weekly routines.

3) God's guidance and strength in helping me to prepare a devotional for our Ladies of Grace meeting.

4) Going out for supper at a favorite cafe one snowy night.

5) Protection from illness this winter.  My hubby had one cold; I've had none and am so thankful.

🌿 SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the next prompt, and this week there's an emphasis on SERVICE.  We were to think about what resources we have available and how we could srve those in need this week.    [And again, if you are following along, please think about this for yourself.]

My plan for service: Our favorite local thrift stores directly benefit homeless families.  We regularly shop there and donate often, too.  We used resources of time and food to serve friends who came for tea.  I took time to encourage a faraway friend by phone.  I also use the resource of prayer to serve family and friends every day.

🌿 Lastly is a GOSPEL-CENTERED AFFIRMATION: 

May my speech and actions be an act of worship to the Lord.

This is surely a motivating, uplifting thought for the week ahead.  Living all of life as an offering to Him is truly our reasonable service.

And there's the Sunday Scripture for this week!