The Bait Of Satan Week 2
Hey fam! Unfortunately, I got sick during the week 2 portion, so we're technically one week behind—but that's okay. We keep it moving. Week 2 reading was pages 44-86. Take a look at some of the questions below and feel free to use them as journal prompts. Feel free to share some of your responses and thoughts on the reading in the comments. If you’re not a part of the book club, join here! It’s never too late.
Chapter 5 page 52
“God tests his servants with obedience. He deliberately places us in situations where the standards of religion in & society would appear to justify our actions”.
Can you think of a time you were offended & revenge would seem justified according to the offense, what the world says, and maybe your loved ones?
Page 54
“Leaving was not the answer”.
Have you ever felt so upset with a job, relationship, church, ect. that you wanted to leave, but knew deep down that leaving wasn't the answer?
Page 60
“Offended people believe that everyone is out to get them”. Has offense ever made you feel this way?
Chapter 6 Page 66
Have you ever let your emotions outweigh your intelligence?
Page 67
Learning obedience through suffering is difficult. This reminds me of Jesus as He was on His way to the cross. He knew He would suffer; however, He remained obedient to God's plan. I believe the same can be said for discipline as well.
'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. '
Hebrews 12:11 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/HEB.12.11
Suffering is part of the human experience and we need to learn to suffer well. Can you think of a time you were suffering but knew it was necessary?
AP: I can speak to this right now. I'm grateful that the Lord loves me enough to discipline me and redirect me. It does get tricky when you're suffering, going through a trial for a long period. What brings me peace is knowing that God is doing a work in me during this time. He's refining me, and in the end, I will come out of it and have a testimony that gives Him all the glory.
Page 68
Self-protection can be good (**Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.** Proverbs 4:23) & bad. In what ways has self-protection become harmful to you?
Page 69
Have you ever noticed how your view of everything tends to shift once you have been offended? It can start to spill over into other areas of your life if you're not careful. Do not carry the offense into other relationships, jobs, etc.
Chap 7 page 77
Who do you say Jesus is?
Page 78
Have you ever heard from God but started to second-guess yourself because it’s so different from what the world says?
AP: Yes! I've been battling this for a year. Reading the Bible helps you to understand God's nature. The more I read, the more I began to see that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). It can be a mystery much of the time, which is why your faith has to be strong. God doesn't call us to know His plan. He calls us to obey.
Page 86
“How you react under pressure is how the real you reacts”. What does that say about you?
AP: It stings a bit. For the most part, I'm pretty good at holding my composure; however, I have had some moments this year that I'm not so proud of.
Page 87
It is easy to get sucked into what the world, friends, and family say you should do. We have to stand firm and build our lives on God’s revealed word, not others. Take a moment and think about what you can do to make sure you’re standing firm on God’s word for your life and not others.
AP: I have learned that when God speaks very specific things to me, it's best to keep them to myself. Not because I want to keep it a secret, but because all your thoughts, ideas, and what God tells you isn't for everyone's ears. Joseph shared his dream with his brothers, and they got angry (Genesis 37-50). Sometimes your loved ones mean no harm and will react out of their own fear. They can project their concerns onto you, and that can hinder you from making strides.
Our last meeting for The Bait Of Satan will be Monday June 30, 7pm est. I hope to see you there!
