A Brief Bible Study – Jesus Makes You More
Anyone who knows me can tell you that November is one of my favorite months, hands down! Before all the gift giving, we’re given the opportunity to be grateful for what we already have, and I wholeheartedly believe gratitude is a superpower! Being thankful not only gives us fresh perspective, it impacts others at the same time by changing the atmosphere around us.
Today I want to offer you a short Bible study with the potential to fill you to overflowing with gratitude and fresh amazement at the grace of God shown to us in the face of Christ. Heads up, it may make you want to shout. It did me.
Let’s start with a story…I was sitting in a hotel room praying before a conference where I would soon speak, again, in the morning session. The Presence of God had met with us the evening before, and I had gone to sleep full to overflowing with praise and thanksgiving. So, why was I having a hard time settling into prayer, I wondered (for what is most definitely not the first time ever).
I wanted to pray but my mind was swirling with news from back home, things I needed to remember to say later, and deep thoughts like why my coffee was getting cold so quickly.
My lack of concentration wasn’t new, but it was embarrassing. It’s always embarrassing in the face of God’s steady goodness. Even worse, I was worried about someone I dearly love, despite having laid all my concerns for this person before the throne, and I knew that Father God knew I was doubting whether He would “come through”. I whispered my apologies.
“You deserve a mind that doesn’t wander in prayer,” I told Him. “You deserve a will that never questions Yours, a faith that never doubts You, and a heart that’s always fervent. But you get me. You deserve so much more…”
I had no sooner spoken the words when God responded. If it helps anyone reading this, God’s inside voice often feels like an epiphany to me. That’s how it felt that morning when my heart heard, “I got more. Jesus did all of that and more, perfectly. And you stand in my favor because of His obedience.”
Let me tell you, I was no longer vaguely aware of God’s Abiding Presence. I was on full alert. My mind began searching through the Word that I’ve planted in my heart, looking for solid verses that confirmed this blessed truth so I could meditate on it. And let me tell you, I’m not too proud to call up a search engine when all I can locate in my memory disc is a phrase or two.
I found many. Look the following verses up and record them for yourself. I’ll meet you on the other side with one more.
Philippians 3:9
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Romans 5:19
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Now, let’s read 1 Cor. 1:30 in the Amplified Translation, together.
But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God [revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin], I Corinthians 1:30
List four things Jesus accomplished for us in this verse?
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Eph. 1:6 tells us this Jesus who became our wisdom, our righteousness, our salvation, and our redemption, made us acceptable to God. Would you circle those italicized words in your head, if not in your Bible? Christ made us acceptable to God, now. Not on the other side of glory, but right now. I can’t fathom the depths of such grace, but I can revel in it, and you can, too!
Revel in it every single time you feel less than. Approach the throne reveling in it every time you wish you could offer Him more devotion, more love, more obedience, and see if you don’t enjoy your stay.
Oh, and that stay, the one at His feet, it will fill you with gratitude, transform you incrementally, and make you want to serve Him all the more. Oh, what a Savior. Selah.
Hugs,
Shellie
