The Pharisees often get a bad rap, and not without reason. Almost every time they show up in the New Testament they’re either testing Jesus, accusing Jesus, or missing the point of Jesus altogether. But when it came to studying God’s Word, they got at least one thing right: they didn’t stop at learning what it said. They wanted to know how to apply it to their lives and the lives of God’s people.
The same should be true of us. Perhaps the most important question we can ask of the Gospels and the book of Acts is “So what?” Or, to put it another way: What do these books, written almost two thousand years ago, have to do with us today? But since these are God’s books, inspired by him for the purpose of making him known to us, we might think of application in still another way. As Jesus taught in Matthew 22, when we study God’s Word, the question of application really comes down to this: How should what we’re studying impact the way we love God and the way we love others? Let’s apply this principle to the passages we’ve been studying.
How do the observations we made about John 3:16–17 challenge the way we love God? How does it call us to love others?
Look over our observations of Acts 1:8. What does this verse imply about how God loves his people?
What does it imply about how God loves the people who are far from him?
How does what this verse reveals about God’s love challenge the way I am loving God?
How does it impact the way I love others?
These seemingly simple questions, when considered prayerfully and humbly, have the ability to make a world of difference in our lives. They have the power to convert our study from an academic exercise into an affection-shaping, holy discipline. As we allow these questions to permeate our hearts, with God’s help and through the power of the Holy Spirit, they will not only change the way we love God and the way we love others, they will ultimately change us, slowly transforming us more into the image and likeness of God’s own son, Jesus.
May we always dare to ask, so what?
GOD has given HIS HOLY SPIRIT to us IF we are in communion with HIS Holy Spirit then HE will lead and guide us in whatever we do. I used to ask HOW? But now I understand it is only through me dying to my selfish desires and doing things for my self I must go to GOD and HIS WORD first not myself! We often try to solve problems ourselves forgetting to pray and ask GOD, "LORD JESUS please help me in this situation. "
Plus we have to look at HIS WORD so we have to read it enough to live by it. So we know where HE would lead us. We have to love others according to HIS WORD it is NOT burdensome. ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
HE loves us and wants us to glorify HIM in ALL WE DO.
HIS HOLY SPIRIT will lead us into all truth. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; HE will speak only what HE hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. HE will glorify ME because it is from ME that HE will receive what HE will make known to you. All that belongs to the FATHER is MINE . That is why I said the SPIRIT will receive from ME what HE will make known to you.””
John 16:13-15 NIV
HE also gives us the words to say when we are stuck. “But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.”
Luke 21:14-19 NIV
Above ALL ELSE we must always remember to glorify GOD IN ALL WE DO! Not ourselves. HE is the one who will make the burden light.
GOD takes very good care of us.
These questions challenge me to truly dig deeper to observe and apply love. Looking to God, and the ultimate sacrifice of love through Christ, encourages me to play my part in the great commission. By sharing the love of God through Christ to those who surround me. It’s a beautiful gift and when I truly sit and think about it, observe it throughout scripture and in my own life, I can’t help but to want to share the good news with others.
I want to become more like Jesus in my daily walk. It takes being in his word, talking with him daily
and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me. My favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5, I do trust the Lord and
acknowledge he is my strength and light to keep me on the right path.
I also enjoy reading Psalms. There are many encouraging verses along with those of comfort, also verses
that teach us, guide our ways. When I read Psalms I often feel like God is having a conversation with me
and I with him.
Often I feel an urgency to reach others, share the gospel but I also have to remember to take it to the Lord.
It is the Holy Spirit moving among us that can help change lives. We are so Blessed to have such a loving Father!
I LOVE THESES QUESTIONS SO MUCH!!!!!
These questions are awesome but sometimes they are little bit hard to understand but i still answer them the best i can.
Thank you Ifgathering!!!!!
Whwe! ….these questions, when savored slowly….POWERFUL ….GRIPPING …..ALTERING
These are some good questions, I am going to have to take time this week to actually write down and go through them all and dig deeper.
God gave us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us after we accept Him as our Lord. I am going to have to read my Bible more and dig deeper. Some things I have found I can’t understand. I can’t keep in my head like I used to. I am learning to love more since starting these lessons. I will continue praying 🙏 for others as well. I am loving these studies. I am so happy for the old testament leading the way to the new testament. Thank you Lord.