How was God present with us when he created us?

God intricately fashioned us in the intimacy of his presence.

God carefully constructed us with precise detail while keeping a steady eye on us.

The Psalmist writes, “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:15-16, ESV).

Who gives life and shapes life? Who is the author of life who forms the world and everything and everyone in it?

God is the author of life. God gives life and God shapes life for his glory and purposes.

The musician and King, David the Psalmist, wrote, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV).

Are our lives pointing to ourselves, or to something or someone better? Do we put ourselves first, or do we prioritize what or who is more important? Do we love others enough to help them see what is best?

In the Gospel of John, the Apostle John tells of John the Baptist’s witness to who Jesus is, saying, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’” (John 1:29-30, ESV).

John recognized that Jesus was before him. John recognized Jesus as the Messiah of God. He recognized Jesus as the Christ—The Anointed One. John recognized Jesus as the perfect—sinless—Lamb of God, who takes away the world’s sin, shields the world from death, and who gives life to the world.

What do you do when you cannot do life on your own? What happens when you are unable to be faithful on your own?

When we are unable, God is able. When we are unfaithful, God is faithful.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth encouraging them, saying, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9, ESV).

God is faithful. God calls us into the fellowship of Jesus.

"The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus." —John 1:35-37

"A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." —Luke 6:40

Who are you following? Who are you leading? If the people you are leading follow you, will they get to Jesus?

We are called to follow Jesus and we are called to lead others to Jesus.

When we follow Jesus closely ourselves, those we lead will come to him as well, because they will go where we are leading, and they will see Jesus to whom our lives are pointing.

In his gospel account, the Apostle John tells us, “The next day again John [the Baptist] was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” (John 1:35-37, ESV).

If you could bring someone anywhere, where would you bring them, or who would you bring them to?

When the Apostle Andrew began to follow Jesus, after hearing John’s testimony of Jesus, he found his brother Simon Peter and brought him to Jesus the Messiah.

John’s Gospel account tells us, “He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas’ (which means Peter).” (John 1:40-42, ESV).

If you could fill the earth with one thing, what would it be?

The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God.

The Prophet Habakkuk spoke of a glory filled earth when he wrote, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14, ESV).

And how often do waters cover the sea? The waters cover over the sea one hundred percent of the time.

What motivates you to follow God, or to follow someone else? What are you seeking when you follow someone?

We will never find what we are looking for unless we follow and “come and see.” We cannot stay where we are and go with God where he is leading. It is only in following Jesus that we see what we are looking for.

The Apostle John records Jesus’ calling of his disciples, telling us, “Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, ‘What are you seeking?’ And they said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’” (John 1:38-39, ESV).

Are you shining the light of your faith wherever you go?

We are called to shine the light of Jesus to everyone around us so they can see our good works and give God glory.

In Matthew’s Gospel account, Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV).

How was Jesus empowered and commissioned for ministry? How are we empowered and commissioned for ministry?

Jesus was commissioned for ministry and anointed by the Holy Spirit at his baptism by John in the Jordan river. He was empowered to minister, to do good, and to heal. God was with Jesus in his ministry.

In the Book of Acts, the Apostle Peter said, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him… You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:34-38, ESV).

What is the source of your life? Where does life come from? Where is life found?

Life has its origins in God. We received life from God. We find true life and we truly live through God’s providence.

The Apostle John wrote, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9, ESV).

God loves us so much he gave us his own son so that we might live through him. Our life is found in Jesus.

What gives God great joy? How does God see his children?

God loves each of us deeply. It brings God great joy when he sees his children walking in obedience. God sees us as his beloved, without us meriting anything.

Matthew’s Gospel tells us “When Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’”(Matthew 3:16-17, ESV).

What does true love look like?

It has been said that the Hebrew word “hesed is love in action.” Love looks like action—hesed.

There are many biblical words, such as love, mercy, compassion, grace, and faithfulness, which relate to the Hebrew word hesed (חֶסֶד), but each of these fall short of hesed. God’s covenant love—hesed, is greater than mere feeling or sentiment, and it involves action on behalf of someone in need. “Hesed describes a sense of love and loyalty that inspires merciful and compassionate behavior toward another person” (From GotQuestions.org).

Bible scholar Darrell L. Bock says, hesed is “wrapping up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty–in short, acts of devotion and loving-kindness that go beyond the requirements of duty.”

How do you know which way to go and what to do? Do you rely on your own wisdom and understanding, or do you look outside of yourself for greater wisdom and discernment?

It is easy to default to self-reliance for direction in life. We often use our own limited judgement for direction, which can be clouded by our own presuppositions and limitations.

The wisdom of the Proverbs tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV).

What can God’s fatherly love and kindness towards birds tell us of his love and commitment to relieving our burdens and caring for us?

God loves and cares for us deeply. God cares for all of his creation and he cares for and provides for each of us uniquely.

In Matthew’s Gospel account, Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:26-27, ESV).

How much trouble is enough trouble? Do you go looking for trouble? Is one day’s trouble enough?

We should not go looking for trouble. Our days are best spent seeking God and his Kingdom.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ‘Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.’” (Matthew 6:33-34, ESV).

What is the wisdom that the wisest seek? How can we determine the true wisdom and treasure of all people?

Wise people seek wisdom through seeking to know and to worship God.

The Proverbs teaches “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV).

Matthew’s Gospel account tells us, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2, ESV).

Do you see your need to be led? How do you need to be led?

The Gospel of Matthew quotes the Prophet Micah, chapter five, verse two, saying, “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew2:6, ESV).

The Prophet Micah foretold the coming of Jesus to lead his people Israel.

While Bethlehem was small and humble, the mighty leader David came from this City of David. And an even greater leader, Jesus, would come from Bethlehem to lead God’s people—to shepherd them.

What does each day bring? How should we leverage each day as an opportunity to move forward toward the high calling God has for us?

Every day and every year is a new opportunity for a new beginning. Each day holds opportunity to move toward God and to grow.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Philippi, saying, “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV).