Developing HABITS - Bible Study
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God’s Passion for his Beloved
God’s Passion for his Beloved
It’s difficult to imagine how much God really does love us, love you, love me. I’m serious.
Imagine, the God of all the universe, the One who spoke everything into being loves, and this God not only loves but has chosen to direct that love towards a beloved, and that beloved is us!
In the Songs of Solomon we read;
My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,
for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away.
My beloved speaks and says to me:
“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,
It is not incorrect to say that God’s love for us is just as passionate.
This morning we’re going to be looking at God’s letter to us, his passionate letter where he depicts his love and we’re going to continue in our series on developing HABITS for spiritual growth in our lives.
I wanted to begin this morning with that passage because of the passion that is displayed that God has for each and everyone of us. Yet, sadly, most people don’t recognize it because they have not taken the time to dig into God’s word
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
and “taste and see that the Lord is good!”
As we dig a bit into God’s invitation for all of us to get into his Word, let’s pray:
PRAYER
Holy God, you have invited us here to open your word, to hear from you. Speak God through your Holy Spirit, for your servants are listening. We wait expectantly to hear from you this morning. In Jesus Name, AMEN.
We’re going to take a whirl wind tour of God’s Word this morning, and see the invitation given to all of us to dig, to think on, to be changed by God’s Holy Word. I want to begin in Psalm 1.
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
I love that Psalm, especially how it opens,
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
It’s amazing to me how we will turn almost anywhere except the expert in our search for truth.
Seriously, think about it. You see a sign that reads “Wet Paint” and what is your immediate reaction? You touch it, right!?!
You see don’t touch, and let’s face it you want to touch it.
Or how about medical science?
The doctor says, do this, and this, and this. But a friend tells you to eat or drink such and such and O sure.
I read a health drink once that claimed that since the earth from over farming had lost many of its life giving nutrients that we were not getting the nutrition our bodies needed from the foods we ate. No matter how good we ate. So you were supposed to take a shot of this everyday. Well I read the ingredients.
First of all I saw some metals that sort of raised questions: Gold, silver, copper...
LEAD!!!
Mercury!!!
But it must be good for you, a friend recommended it! (And what authority do they have?)
I’m faintly hearing something about “if all your friends were to jump off a bridge, would you?”
I’ve shared with you over and over again from this pulpit that it’s about our relationship with God. He tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made, God knows us from the inside out!
Back in the Old Testament, Joshua has inherited leadership of all of Israel from Moses and it has come upon him to lead the people into the promised land.
Imagine the promise that he’d been given! This is what God says to Joshua
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.
Wow, if I had a promise like that…we think. But really? Remember when the 12 spies went into the promised land for Moses only 2 of the 12 said they should go. Now, Joshua has been given leadership over this crowd, and I can only imagine he has similar resistance.
This is what God continued to share with Joshua:
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Why was it so important for Joshua to do what was written in the Book of the Law? Because it’s the Word of God! Paul told us that God reveals himself in Creation:
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
But we tend to get caught up in the Creation rather than the Creator! This is again where God’s word can give us clarity:
In Psalm 19 we read:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
and the Psalmist continues pointing to God’s Word:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Wow! And Jesus spoke of the Law as well. Want to know who Jesus is? Study the book!
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Who is Jesus?
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
The fulfillment of the Law!!!! What’s the Law, God’s Word. What’s God’s Word? Jesus!
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Paul wrote to Timothy:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
We are all so ready to accept the latest fad that comes and goes rather than to dig into the truth that is eternal. My hope is that all of us can continue to grow in God’s Word together, and individually. If you want to grow in God’s Word we have among us some Bible Study experts - people who have studied the Bible for years. I’m happy to help you, and I know they would be willing to do what they can to help you study God’s Word as well.
Mission Woods Church - a growing place
growing closer to God,
to one another,
and to our community.
Let’s keep growing!!!