Bible Challenge Answers and Devotional- Seeking Perfection

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Good Evening to All!

Here we go! The moment we've all been sitting on pins and needles to happen! Then Answers to the Week 5's BIBLE CHALLENGE "BLESSINGS"! haha!

This picture on the right is the Reconciliation between Jacob and Esau. ( I tried, but couldn't find any pictures of Esau alone. The purpose was of God's blessing of a Son for Abraham, i.e. Esau.

Blessings

1. b) laughed (Gen. 17:15-17)
2. a) Asher would produce food worthy of royalty (Gen. 49:20)
3. c) not to be thorough when reaping and gathering in their harvests. (Lev. 19:9-10)
4. a) Aaron (Num. 6:22-26)
5. C) quail (Num. 11:16-32)
6. b) obey His commandments (Deut. 28:13)
7. d) both of the above. ) (Esther 8:1-2)
8. b) Simeon (Luke 2:25-26)
9. c) Poor in spirit (Matt. 5:2-3)
10. c) Nazareth (Matt. 13:53-58)

I hope you did well on the challenge and enjoy taking it. Next weeks challenge will be on The Books of the Old Testament, Part One. Uh-Oh, another long one. This one will have 3 parts to it. We will carry this one out over 3 weeks so it won't seem so long.

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Devotional - Bible Seeds - "Seeking Perfection"

Today's Seed: "Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:14

Perfect forever! Who wouldn't want to be called perfect? Many of us have grown up believing the lie that to be truly loved by God we need to be perfect. We know intellectually that God loves us just as we are, but emotionally we often feel as if He might love us even more "if only."

"If only" we didn't lose our temper occasionally or we had more patience. Maybe you can't even identify the "if onlys" in your life. They are just there in the background vaguely making you wonder if God really can love you.

This seed holds the key to being set free from the "if onlys" that keep us from experiencing God's perfect love. There are two parts to understanding this freedom. First, realize that when God looks at us, he are already perfect. Second, Jesus Christ has been given the task of making us holy. This is a lifetime, ongoing process. sees us through the image of his Son. Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross paid the price for all our "if onlys." In God's sight we are already perfect. Second, Jesus Christ has been given the task of making us holy. This is a lifetime, ongoing process.

You and I are a work in progress. We don't have to doubt our perfection in God's sight, nor his perfect love for us. Our responsibility is to join Jesus by cooperating with him as He makes us holy.


Weed & Water: We can't make ourselves holly or perfect. The harder we try, the more we see that it is impossible and we fell like a failure. Jesus Christ has been given the job of refining us, making us into His image. We join in the process by confessing our sins, learning form our failures and starting again. Along the way we can have the assurance of Philippians 1:6. The Living Bible says it this way: "And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns." [ Not trying to take away from the Living Bible, I prefer to quote the King James Version of the same verse.] Philippians 1:6- Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. In my KJV Bible, it has a small (1) for reference by "will perform it", and when researched it said "Or will finish it".


Dig Deeper The Greek word for "perfect" is teleioo. It means to bring to an end by accomplishing or completing. This is what Christ's work on the cross did for us in the sight of God.

Sprout & Scatter: As we become free from trying to reach perfection in our own strength, we can also help others discover their freedom and perfection in Christ. Often we project our expectations of ourselves onto our friends and family. Sometimes we allow other's sins or failures to shake our faith in their salvation. When we view others, as God does, through Jesus Christ, we can see that they, too are a work in progress. Then our focus moves from condemnation to helping them discover the promise that Jesus is working to "make us holy."

Think about it: What "if onlys" keep you from believing that in God's sight you are perfect?

How can understanding that you are a work in progress help you grow in his grace?

Prayer Pot: Dear God, help me cooperate with you in....



Take-Away Idea: You are a work in progress.

A few "take them or leave them" words of wisdom from me: Don't keep yourself so busy trying to make yourself perfect or looking for perfection that you forget that God is the One in Control in the first place, so He should be the one you let hold the reins on molding you and how He wants you to be. The more and harder you try to do it yourself, the more it will mess things up. Always pray and consult God before making decisions and things will turn out a lot better.

Good Night and May God Bless!

Love & Prayers,