Welcome to “Going Deeper with the Word.” In this segment, we welcome people of all backgrounds, religious or not, to review the Word of God. The Word of God provides guidance, direction, and instructions for living our lives and walking with God.
Today, we examine how God’s Word provides clear guidance and direction about discovering ourselves through faith.
Let’s review examples of God’s Word that can lead and guide our steps and back up the principles we learned in today’s message. I will be reading scripture today from the Amplified Bible.
If you are watching this message online, we invite you to share your comments as we review each verse.
Here is our first verse.
[1 Peter 4:10]Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
1 Peter 4:10
In this verse, Paul reminds readers that each has a special gift (even gifts) supplied directly and graciously by God. Our gifts may be used to benefit ourselves, but we are truly doing God’s work when we actively decide to use our gifts for the benefit of helping others.
Question: Do you know of your gift or gifts? Think of one. How have you used this gift recently to benefit someone other than yourself? If you cannot think of an example, will you ask God to provide you with an opportunity to use your gift to help someone in need? Let us know in the comments.
Let’s have a look at another verse.
[James 5:16]Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].
James 5:16
In this verse, James offers that we should confess our mistakes and missteps to others – so that we can be healed and restored. When we behave in ways that are harmful to ourselves and potentially others, we can risk perpetuating these patterns if we keep them to ourselves. When we decide to share our mistakes, there is an opportunity to free ourselves from the desire to pursue the same harmful behavior.
I can personally attest to this as it pertains to behavior from my past around addiction. The shame and guilt from addiction festered and flourished inside of me as long as I kept it to myself. This shame and guilt only exasperated matters and made it even more difficult to break free from the addictive behavior. It was not until I spoke to someone about it, my pastor from church, that the process would begin to gain strength over the addiction. Suddenly, a behavior that held so much power over me had lost its hold on me and would find its way out of my life in the coming weeks and months following that conversation.
Question: Is there a habit or behavior that you know is harmful to yourself or others? What is the behavior? What steps have you taken to remove this habit or behavior from your life? Have you confessed the behavior to someone? If not, why?
Let’s look at one last verse.
[Jeremiah 29:11]For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah shares the importance of God’s plans. God’s plans are perfect. We can formulate and make plans for our lives, but God knows what is perfected and aligned with the gifts He has planted within us. God’s plans include plans that bring us hope and a future that includes peace and well-being.
God’s plans for us may not be what we had in mind for our own plans for us, but it is important to understand God’s awareness of what will truly bring us joy, peace, and contentment. The sooner we seek His guidance, the sooner we will find joy, peace, and contentment in life.
Question: Have you made a plan for your life? If yes, what would you do if you learned God’s plan was different from what you had in mind? Do you trust God with the plan and purpose for your life? If no, why?
God knows all. God knows what is best. As we seek out ways to discover ourselves, there is a unique opportunity to do so through our faith. The world, with all of its self-help resources, therapists, and motivational speakers, even if helpful, do not compare to the wisdom of God.
When we lean on God for His infinite wisdom, we have an opportunity to learn parts of ourselves that we may have never known otherwise. Only God knows how we can be the best version of ourselves. Let us seek Him to learn how to be at our best.
Thank you for your time in reviewing these verses with me today. Please be sure to share in the comments how these or other examples of God’s Word have helped you discover yourself through faith.
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Have an amazing week, and we will catch you next time.
Bless you.
