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week one

How could anyone love me now ... ?

I’ve failed; I’m in the worst sort of mess; there’s no way even God would love me now … Each one of us has those moments, those days or even years when we feel like we’re unloved and unlovable. We begin to believe our mistakes, failures and sins have somehow disqualified us from being loved by anyone, let alone by God. The thing is, that’s just not true. According to the Word of God and the experience of His people, God loves you even when … you have failed or been disobedient, when you’ve argued with Him or doubted His promises, even when you’re caught in the lies and sins of other people. His love has no expiration date; it’s not a limited time guarantee. In this Meet with God, you’ll begin to see how God extends His love to us even in the worst moments and choices of our lives. How God, in love, helps us meet and overcome any challenge we face. P.S. The icon marks activities useful for group discussion or assignments. Feel free to use them

Better Than MacGyver This week, practice an awareness of God’s presence and help as you face life’s challenges. Did you ever watch MacGyver? What a genius! Put him into any sticky situation, and before you know it, he’d sail away on a hang glider made from the bamboo shoots and garbage bags his captors foolishly left within his reach. And if the bad guys took

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renew yourself in G od’s Word!

Read Genesis 16:1–16

DAY 1: Impatient with Promises

one of his friends hostage, you can bet MacGyver invented a way to rescue him or her. Now, we can’t all have a friend like MacGyver but, as it turns out, we have Someone much better. Because of His great love for us, God helps us meet and overcome any challenge we face. Sometimes He gives us the tools we need to accept and deal with a situation while He remains present and faithful as we face difficulty and pain. Other times, He steps in and rescues us. In fact, the Bible shows us at least three ways God comes to our rescue. The first, and maybe most surprising, is that God rescues us from His wrath. Take Noah for example. In a world that had turned its back on God, only Noah remained faithful. Consequently, only Noah and his family were saved from the wrath of God’s judgment. God does this in an even bigger way through Jesus’ death and Resurrection. The apostle Paul tells us, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8–10, emphasis added). God’s love motivates Him to save or rescue us from the judgment of His wrath. We also learn that God may rescue us from the wrath of other people. For example, Peter’s angel-guided escape from jail the night before Herod was to execute him (Acts 12). And, finally, God even rescues us from ourselves and the mistakes, sin, bad judgment and poor choices that get us into trouble. But what about the times God does not rescue you? Bad things happen, just as they did every week for MacGyver and his friends; and, sometimes, God chooses not to rescue us—but His love never expires. Even when we have messed up our lives, God loves us. When we’ve grown impatient with His timing or flat-out refused to heed His call, He loves us … even then. This week, consider some of God’s people who experienced His love even when He chose not to rescue them.

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son (Genesis 15:1–5), but they’d waited a long time. So, Sarah had an idea to help God keep His promise and Abraham went along with it. What were the consequences of their actions?

How do you see the graciousness of God at work?

What do you have trouble waiting on God for?

Cut this out and fill it in. Note the date you began praying for something specific. On the back, add the date God answered you.

I’m Waiting on God to:

DAY 2: Fear & Disobedience Read 1 Samuel 13:2–15

Read 1 Samuel 24:1–22, 26:1–25

This was not Saul’s first or only offense, but why was it unacceptable for him to make the sacrifice?

David had two opportunities to eliminate his enemy, Saul, but he chose not to do so. Why did he wait for God’s timing?

What reasons did Saul give for his disobedience?

How would David’s life have changed for the better if he had killed Saul? For the worse?

What would you have done if you were in David’s shoes? Why? In what way can punishment be an evidence of God’s faithfulness?

When you’re frustrated, how can these passages affect your outlook?

How has God “corrected” you for taking matters into your own hands?

when God

When and How God Met the Need:

DAY 3: Wait for God’s Timing

makes a promise ... Don’t accept cheap substitutes or shortcuts. Don’t assume God has forgotten His promise when you don’t see anything happening. Don’t try to make that promise happen by your own efforts.

DAY 4: Willful Disobedience - 1

DAY 5: Willful Disobedience - 2

Read Jonah 1:1–4:11

Read Numbers 20:2–13

Jonah received very clear instructions from God. Jot down the instructions and what Jonah chose to do.

What prompted Moses’ disobedience? Does that excuse him?

What did Jonah do with his second chance?

It’s a struggle to obey God when you’re not sure about His plans, but when God makes His instructions clear to you, how do you respond?

What consequences did Moses face because of his actions?

What’s stressing you out today? How can you resolve that conflict before it erupts in disobedience?

WEEKEND: Willing Obedience Read Philippians 2:1–11

How was Christ obedient?

What does that mean for our disobedient actions and heart?

What can you look forward to as an obedient child of God?

In 2:1–5, we’re given ways to follow Christ’s example. Describe specific situations where you can practice that example with people around you.

fun zone

for kids or the kid in you ... God Loves Me Even When … I get angry. >=| My dog dies.

I am sick. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life

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I’m Sad.



DO SOMETHING

WRONG.

“If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.”

“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

God loves you—no matter what. But sometimes in your life God seems far away and you don’t feel loved. Using your computer or posterboard, make a poster to help you remember how much He loves you. Start with the words, “God Loves Me Even When ...” and then add all the occasions when it could be hard to remember God’s love for you. (See the examples to the left.) Use any program available for this kind of project—Microsoft Word will work. Add fun fonts, colors, shapes and borders. Find Bible verses that tell you what God’s Word says about His love. Then go to backtothebible.org/ MWG and follow the instructions to format and email your art to us. If you used posterboard, scan your project and email it, or mail it to c/o Kathy, Back to the Bible, P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln NE 68501. (Please make the size no bigger than 11” x 17.”) We’ll scan it and post it for you. You’ll be able to see other kids’ art at this site too.

week two

Drifting Away This week, see what pulls you away from God and how His love draws you back. Have you ever had a relationship with someone and then you just drifted apart? It didn’t end with an explosive argument or emotional fireworks, but like a slow fade to black on a movie screen, it just faded away. Maybe you lost touch with your best friend from high school, a family member or a coworker.

The same can happen in your relationship with God. There’s no tragic event that makes you doubt your faith, but you just slowly, steadily drift away from a once rich relationship. It wasn’t intentional; it just happened. Does God still love you then? Absolutely! The truth is that no matter how distant you feel from God, He has never left your side. He still loves you, and in His love He can bring you back. So, why does this happen in our relationship with Him? Sometimes we drift away because we forget to pay attention to Him. We lose our focus on the Lord. It happens when we live with poor priorities or when we settle for less than the best of God’s promises. Sometimes it’s because we underestimate what God can do, or we overestimate our own ability to accomplish something, so we try to do it on our own. Other times, it happens because we’re nudged in the wrong direction: we’re disappointed by something; we don’t understand it and instead of taking it to God, we hang onto our disappointment and let it destroy our closeness to Him. Maybe you feel God denied you something you deserved. You prayed God would bless you in a certain way, and He said no. Does God still love you even then? Mary Stevenson wrote the classic poem, Footprints in the Sand, to remind us that God doesn’t abandon us in our trials. God’s love and strength sustains us in those times. Far from being unloved, you are being cared for and protected even when you don’t realize it. If you’ve drifted away from God, if you’ve lost focus on your relationship with Him, the good news is that God’s love is unwavering. He holds onto you even then.

renew yourself in G od’s Word!

DAY 1: Losing Focus Read 2 Timothy 4:3–18 Paul writes first about the conditions of the day and what he’s called to do; then he mentions Demas who deserted him. How might someone in spiritual ministry lose his or her focus?

How do you think stress contributes to losing spiritual focus?

DAY 2: Poor Priorities Read Luke 18:18–23 By all accounts, this young man was a religious man, but what were his priorities? What caused him to turn away?

What impact have your priorities had on your devotion to Jesus? Describe the situation.

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reduce spiritual

stress Join a Bible study. Find Christian fellowship. Spend an afternoon in solitude. Keep a spiritual journal. Spend an extended period reading God’s Word and praying.

stay in the word Quiet time in the morning or evening Audio Bible on the commute Electronic version on your computer or phone Pocket Bible for break time

Read John 4:1–26

A substitute is defined as “a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.” This implies the substitute isn’t quite as good as the original; it’s not the “real thing.” What substitute does this Samaritan woman talk about?

How does Jesus describe the “real thing”?

chart your spiritual focus

What about this woman tells you she had tried to fill her life with substitutes?

To what extent do these things influence your spiritual focus? What do Jesus’ words to the woman tell you about His response to you?

Other

Journaling

Illness or Fatigue

Attending Church

Listening to Music

Reading the Bible

Take a moment to list a few substitutes you or others may have settled for. How are they less than the best that Jesus offers? Taking a Walk

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DAY 3: Unworthy Substitutes

DAY 4: Underestimate God

WEEKEND: Cure for Drifting

Read 1 Kings 17:1–19:3

Read Matthew 11:25–30

Briefly recount some of the miracles Elijah witnessed in these two chapters.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

What makes Elijah’s reaction in 19:3 so surprising?

Do those compassionate words make you feel relaxed, refreshed, relieved? You know that Jesus understands and wants to give you rest from all the worry and fear you haul around daily. Jesus tells us in the next few verses to “take His yoke”: trade in the cares, oppression and confusion you’re carrying for the yoke He is offering.

Have you reacted in a similar way?

How has God reassured you of His power?

What is His “yoke”? It’s serving and obeying God. It’s believing that God wants a relationship with you and that He loves you. He helps us bear whatever loads we carry. He never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). And so we bear the yoke of obedience to God out of love for Him. We have a relationship with Someone who loves us, and we love Him in return. Spend some time in prayer this weekend, thanking God for His amazing love and seeking His help in keeping you close and focused on Him.

DAY 5: Overestimate Ourselves Read 1 Kings 19:1–21

Elijah was a great and mighty man of God, but even he got a little distracted by looking only at himself and his situation.

What is Elijah’s complaint against God? (v. 14)

How does God show His love for Elijah even here?

How does God’s love pull us back when we think it’s all up to us?

week three

Riches to Rags to Riches This week, learn to see God as your best hope for restoration when you fail and fall. Most of us enjoy a good “rags-to-riches” story. We’re encouraged and motivated when we hear about someone who worked hard to overcome adversity and eventually reached the top. But in a strange twist of human nature, we also find it hard to turn away from a gripping “riches-to-rags” story. One where “the mighty have fallen” and pride, arrogance and overindulgence are brought down. As we consider ways we could “fall” spiritually, let’s ask, “Can God’s love help us stand back up when we’ve been knocked flat?” The Bible offers many examples of mighty men and women who were brought low or “dethroned” from their prominent positions. Two of them were literally dethroned. In 1 Samuel 15, we read of Israel’s first king, Saul, who through pride and impatience began a chain of failure that would eventually see him committing suicide on a battlefield (1 Samuel 31:4). 18

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Saul’s successor, David, described as a man after God’s own heart, was not without his faults. He let a chance look at Bathsheba become sexual sin, leading to deception and even murder. His kingdom may have become great; but his household was filled with sin, selfishness and destruction, with rape and murder among his children. Second Samuel 15–19 records the attempts of David’s own son, Absalom, to usurp the throne of Israel. But David’s life ended differently than Saul’s. Rather than dying an ignominious death, David was able to die in peace knowing the kingdom was secure in his son Solomon’s hands. The difference is that David recognized that God still loved him. Even though he failed and fell, he turned to God for restoration. And the Lord was there to pick him up. Today, you probably don’t have a throne to lose, but each of us have positions or strengths or areas of influence that would be tragic to lose. What about your family or job or maybe an avenue of ministry? How can you avoid being dethroned in those areas? First, know your weaknesses and don’t hide them from God. Second, remain humble before God. Finally, understand that God’s love is not based on your position in life but on who He is. And He never changes.

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renew yourself

DAY 2: Dethroned by God? Read Job 1:1–2:10; 42:1–17

in G od’s Word!

God allowed Job to be stripped of all he held dear and “dethroned.” His story really becomes a question of faith and trust in God. At his lowest, how does Job describe his position before God?

Read Judges 16:1–31 Lust and desire played into Samson’s fall. Where do you put the blame—on him or Delilah?

How did God show His justice to Samson? His love?

What are you going to do about it?

What makes it possible to see God’s love in Job’s experience?

Read Luke 22:3–6; Acts 1:15–20; Luke 22:54–62; John 21:15–19

How is lust or any out-of-control desire a danger in your life?

DAY 3: Recovery

DAY 1: Dethroned by Lust

What kept Job from sinning in the face of tragedy?

In these verses, two of Jesus’ disciples each did the wrong thing, but their response made all the difference. What caused these men to fall?

What’s the biggest difference in how these men responded to their wrongs?

When you need to recover, what should your first step be?

DAY 4: Deceived by an Enemy Read Genesis 3:1–24 Consider this familiar story from the point of deception and recovery. How was Eve deceived and what do you think she could have done to avoid the situation?

What did the serpent gain? What did Adam and Eve lose?

WEEKEND: “Those who trespass against us ...” Read Matthew 5:43–48; 6:9–15 How does God want us to respond to those who attack or wrong us, or whose sin affects us?

Do you want God to forgive you sparingly? Or generously?

How will you demonstrate generosity in your forgiveness? How does God demonstrate His love in helping Adam and Eve recover from this?

Love, prayer and forgiveness all go together in these verses. As you pray today, leave your own list behind and ask God to help you forgive generously as He has forgiven you. Specifically pray for those you need to forgive who have “trespassed” against you.

DAY 5: Deceived by a Friend

Read Genesis 20:1–18

Abimelech was not a follower of God, but he knew Abraham. And what he knew about God was because of Abraham, which added to the trouble when he was deceived by Abraham’s lie.

Could Abimelech have avoided this situation?

How is God’s love evident to Abimelech?

Abraham didn’t act like a man of God here. How do you think your actions or attitudes make it harder or easier for others to see and believe in God? According to 119:93, precepts (or word, law of God) give life. Describe some ways you’ve seen that in your experience.

week four

Yes, Even Then … This week, look for God’s love even when you’re disillusioned or disappointed. We’ve already seen how God in love can restore us when we get impatient and mess up or even when we’re willfully disobedient. We now know that when we drift away from Him, God can and will draw us back to Himself. Additionally, God’s love holds us up when life tries to knock the wind out of our sails. But what about when we’re at rock-bottom, experiencing the lowest of the low? Those times when life is an utter disaster? Those moments when we realize we’ve been living a lie; when the veil’s lifted and we’re only one step from ruin. Does God love us even when we’re defeated? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Not only does God still love us, it’s often in these times that God’s grace and mercy shine the brightest. Take, for example, disillusionment. This is that moment when we realize we’ve bought a lie, when something we believed to be true is found to be false. Money is a good example. Many people live under the illusion that money can buy them happiness. And they spend their lives trying to amass money only to find it fails to deliver all they’d hoped for. They’re disillusioned and don’t know what to believe or do. Well, what about trying praise instead of hanging on to your disappointment? Were you disillusioned about the happiness money can bring? Praise God because you see Him now as the true source of joy and fulfillment. 24

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Were you disillusioned about your own strength in fighting the temptations that seemed to hound your every step? Praise God because you can now see Him as the Mighty Conqueror, powerful enough to make you victorious. Were you disappointed because life didn’t work out your way? Then praise God for being the sovereign God who knows what’s even better for you. So, yes, God loves you, even when ... No matter how you end that sentence, the statement is true. And more than that, it’s God’s love that enables you to overcome distractions and detours. And as we’ll see, it’s God’s love that provides victory over His ultimate enemy. Whatever you’re facing today, stand firm—God loves you.

renew yourself

DAY 2: “I Thought You’d Save Me” Read Psalm 83:1–18

in G od’s Word!

This psalm looks at our struggle when it seems like the bad guys or the unrighteous are always winning. However, it concludes with the reassurance that God will prevail. How have you seen the unrighteous come out on top, at least for today? What can they expect in the long run?

Read Psalm 73:1–28

DAY 1: When Evil Pays Better

Who does the psalmist envy and why?

Why might God be delaying victory in your life?

Fill in the following chart. An example is given. Descriptions of those he envies and why

His questions

I keep my Proud—they have Did heart pure for painless lives nothing?

Realizations that gave way to faith

Affirmations

My heart was I still belong to bitter You

What can you hang on to in the meantime?

DAY 3: Disillusioned by Sin Read John 3:16–20 Sin is appealing, attractive and offers us so much. That’s why we fall for it all the time. But in the long run it only takes us further into darkness. The disillusionment of sin is illuminated by Christ. Where do you want to land: in the dark or in the light?

“Unless disillusionment gives way to faith, it becomes sin.” —woodrow kroll

According to verse 18, what’s the key to stepping into the light?

DAY 4: Defeated by Life Read John 9:1–41 We tend to see the defeats, disasters and setbacks in our lives as judgment for sin, “what we deserve,” or that it’s all and always our fault. But in John 9:3, Jesus reveals what other possibility?

How can God receive glory through our misfortunes?

What is true victory?

DAY 5: Darkest before Dawn Read Luke 23:1–56 Write a journal entry as if you’re an eyewitness at Calvary. What are your thoughts or emotions? What do you think of the people there? What do you see them experience?

What might you know about Jesus that could give you a glimmer of hope?

when your heart

breaks

“You told me God loved me, but my babies are DEAD,” my daughter’s voice strained with grief. I had told her God loved her. She knew God loved her so much He’d sent His own Son as a sacrifice for her sins. She believed in Jesus. She was a Christ-follower. But she couldn’t understand why, if God truly loved her, He was allowing her to suffer so terribly. She’d been overjoyed the day she learned she was pregnant and delighted when she found she was carrying twins. But at 21 weeks the babies stopped moving. Labor was induced a few days later. That’s when we learned why the babies died. The placenta had shredded and wrapped around one tiny body and encircled the umbilical cord of the second little boy. Five days later both bodies lay in a miniature white coffin leaving shattered dreams, empty arms and the question my daughter asked, “Does God really love me? Is that true?” “Yes, He does,” I answered gently. “Sometimes He intervenes and miracles occur. But sometimes He allows the hard stuff. But no matter what happens, He never leaves you alone. Life can get really difficult but He will be with you through it all.” That was 15 years ago. We still get teary as the day the babies were delivered approaches. My daughter has two more sons now, and she feels God has given her what she lost. She often helps others going through the loss of a child with the compassion that only experience brings. And she knows that God is with her and loves her even when her heart is breaking. —ed.

Weekend: Victory in Jesus Read 1 Corinthians 15:1–58 This whole study has looked at the extent and reach of God’s love. And no place was God’s enormous, amazing love more evident than at Calvary. To this point in history, man’s defeat by sin was complete and total. But through Christ’s death, the power of sin and death was defeated. And on Resurrection morning, victory was snatched from the jaws of death. Victory over sin, over death, over defeat, over all the distractions and disasters of life can be yours through Jesus Christ, the living love of God. If you’d like to know about this victory, call us at 1-800-759-2425 or email us at [email protected].

sticking points

renew your memor y

Fear, disobedience, impatience and rebellion on your part does not change God’s love for you. God can restore you when you make the wrong decisions, give in to temptation, drift away from Him or allow yourself to be deceived or disillusioned (1 John 1:9). God’s love for you is not based on your position or qualifications but simply on His character and the choice He made to love you. Nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:38– 39). His love, through Christ, gives you the ultimate victory over sin and death and reaches you today even when …

Meet with God, an official publication of Back to the Bible Woodrow Kroll, President Copyright © 2010 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in the U.S.A. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise noted. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Editor: Kathy Thorne Project Staff: Allen Bean, Ben Zuehlke, Barbara Gerhart, Brandy Griffin, Emily Wurl, Kathy Thorne, Leisa Larson Design: Brandy Griffin Cover and Interior Photos: www.Shutterstock.com Back to the Bible P.O. Box 82808 Lincoln, NE 68501

God Loves You Even When ... & Jesus Cares

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by Woodrow Kroll Jesus Cares will reassure you God loves you no matter what! Filled with encouragement and scriptural truths, it will help you handle life’s trouble spots. Get it free when you order Dr. Kroll’s CD series: God Loves You Even When ... #16201 Shipping and Handling not included Product cost and availability subject to change.

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