Hello friends! Apologies again for the delay on this week’s questions. I was sick all weekend and am just now feeling well enough to try and be coherent 😉 Hope you’re doing well! Here are week two’s questions:
Part Two
Chapter 4: Whatever is True
*Do you consider yourself to be a truthful person? Do your emotions or loyalty ever hinder your ability to discern truth?
*Do you believe there is a fight for truth in our world today? In your opinion, what lies are being presented as truths and what are the potential consequences that can result from this?
Chapter 5: Whatever is Honorable
*Hannah discusses the valuable painting she has in her home that had been destined for the garbage bin before her grandfather took it home. Have you, or anyone you know, discovered something valuable at a thrift store, swap meet, or yard sale? Does this tell us anything about how our culture views honor?
*“In order to become discerning people, we must also separate our need for approval from our decision making” (pg. 85). Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Do you find that you equate honor with approval from others?
Chapter 6: Whatever is Just
*In today’s world, there have been many events and situations that have been deemed ‘unfair’ or ‘unjust.’ Has there been any one instance that promotes a sense of injustice for you?
*Does God’s grace and mercy challenge your own natural sense of justice? How does it also free us to be able to seek justice in the world?
Scripture of the Week
Romans 3:21-31
1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5
2 Peter 1:16-21
Prayer of the Week
Father God, help us to seek whatever is true, honorable, and just. We know You call us to be people who think of these things. Right now in our world, things are confusing and each side is screaming loudly at us with their version of truth, justice, and honor. Would You guide us in truth and let us put our feet on Your firm foundation so that we would not be shaken? Please help us to focus on goodness – not our own, but on Yours. We thank You and love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Complete Part Two: Chapters 7-9
As I continue to read this book, I’m amazed at how easy it is for me to focus on the bad and ugly rather than the good.
That being said, I’d consider myself a truthful person – so much so that I’m often honest to a fault. I know it’s a good thing, but it can be very hard.
When discerning truth, I like to see the different sides of the topic I’m dealing with, and it can be difficult to figure out what to believe when emotions (mine or others) are thrown in.
It’s hard to be objective with truth and honor when our culture places emphasis on subjectivity. I definitely agree that we need to separate our need for approval from decision making. We can’t get caught up in our emotions and the need to control things.
I think there’s a degree of approval from others that’s associated with honor; however, I don’t think they’re equal. I believe others may approve of honorable people (relating to behavior, actions, or speech), but 1) that’s not why the action, etc. should be done, 2) there will always be negative feedback/disapproval, and 3) our culture sadly has a distorted view of honor in that much of the time, the wrong things are considered honorable, and therefore honored.
God’s mercy and grace challenge my sense of justice because I cannot fathom His perfect ways! My view of mercy and grace may be at its foundation good and right in the general sense, but again this is distorted by what this sinful world calls good and right. If it’s in one’s own eyes, is it even good or right at all?! Compared to God’s perfect ways, all our ways – and ourselves – fail to measure up. We can’t lift ourselves up to Him even on our best day. We aren’t supposed to be able to: we need Him and should be so thankful He made His way to us, for us!