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7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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Choosing Gods Best
2004 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved.International copyright secured.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writingfrom the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articlesor reviews.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New KingJames Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. Allrights reserved.
All italicizing of words and phrases in Scripture quotations are added by the authorfor emphasis.
BACK TO THE BIBLE
P.O. Box 82808Lincoln, Nebraska 68501
Produced with the assistance of The Livingstone Corporation(www.LivingstoneCorp.com). Project staff: Neil Wilson and Katherine Cloyd.
Editorial Assistance: Allen Bean, Susan Hertzler, Rebecca Holmstedt, Mindy Kroesche,Tami Weissert
Cover and Interior Design: Laura Poe
Cover Photo: Photos.com
Additional copies of this book are available from Back to the Bible.
You may order in the U.S. by calling 1-800-759-2425 or through our Web site atwww.backtothebible.org. In Canada, call 1-800-663-2425 or visit www.backtothebible.ca.
ISBN 0-8474-6030-4
Printed in the United States of America.
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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Meet With God Series
ChoosingGods Best
Woodrow Kroll
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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4
Welcome
As we begin this monthsMeet With Godstudy book-
let, I welcome you to a time of learning together! We
hope this series will continue to help you choose the best
God has to offer.
The biblical insights you are about to consider have
been selected from the radio teaching ministry of
Woodrow Kroll. We trust these lessons will provide anongoing and encouraging extension of the ministry of
Back to the Bible in your walk with Christ. You dont
have to listen toBack to the Bible to use your study
booklet. But if you can listen, the study will be even
more powerful.
We hope this series will not only encourage you toread the Bible, but also to study it. On the following
pages youll find devotional readings, questions to help
you review and meditate on Scripture passages, and
practical suggestions for applying the truth of the Bible
to your everyday living.
Our prayer is that as you use theMeet With Godseries
you will experience rich dividends of biblical knowledgeand spiritual growth.
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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5
From the Author
Life is about making choices. On average, an adult
spends hours each day just making decisions. We must
decide what to wear, what to eat, when to get up, where
to drive, what floor we want the elevator to stop at,
whether well overlook an insult or not, whether we will
consciously love the unlovable. The choices we make
range from the important to the mundanebut they all
require our time and concentration.
This month takes us through some of the most vital
choices we can make in life: choosing to withhold
revenge, choosing to run after the Lord, choosing to
move on after a mistake and choosing to move out in
order to follow Gods will. Well examine both the deci-
sion-making process and the consequences of certainchoices in the lives of the people who had to make them.
I am pleased that you have made the choice to study
along with us this month. May your decision be support-
ed and strengthened by what you learn. It is my prayer
that as we make each daily decision, our sensitivity will
continue to grow in accordance to Gods will.
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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Week OneThis week, think about how
to show love toward those who
mistreat you.
Our First Response
Key Passage: Read Genesis 26
So he made them a feast, and they
ate and drank (Gen. 26:30).
How ironic that our first inclination
after being mistreated is to do the same
hurtful thing right back! We proudly hold
our flawless character up for public sym-
pathy while privately plotting vengeance.
This kind of behavior hides an unbiblical
attitude behind a hypocritical mask.The truth is for every wrong that has
been served to us, we have likely spread
equal portions to others at one time or
another. This detail rarely makes it to the
front of our minds when we feel wronged.
Just think of Isaac. He grew a little too
rich for the local landowner, so he wascallously banished from the country.
Rarely will any of us experience mistreat-
ment of this magnitude. Obviously, Isaac
had ample motivation to respond to
Abimelech in anger.
In verses 2629, Abimelech gave Isaacthe perfect opportunity for payback.
Abimelech came pleading for a peace
treaty because he sensed that a greater
power was with Isaac. Instead of respond-
ing with hostility, however, Isaac chose to
Remember It
Answer the following questionson the passage you read thisweek. See answers below.
1. Isaac went to Egypt dur-ing the famine.True/False
2. Isaac told the men of___________ thatRebekah was his sister.
3. The LORD made Isaac awealthy man.True/False
4. The _____________stopped up the wells
made by Abrahams ser-vants.
5. Isaacs servants and theherdsmen of Gerar quar-reled over the well ata. Rehobothb. Sitnah
c. Shebahd. Beersheba
6
Answers:
1.False(Gen.26:26)
2.Gerar(Gen.26:67)
3.True(Gen.26:1213)
4.Philistines(Gen.26:15)
5.b(Gen.26:21)
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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treat his guest and his request with charity
and hospitality.
Just think of the alternative. If Isaac had
snapped, he would have been placing him-self as judge over Abimelech. Yet Isaac
himself certainly had been no model of
honesty and forthrightnesshe had mis-
led Abimelech about his relationship with
Rebekah (see verses 711). Fortunately, at
the crucial moment when Abimelech
came to him, Isaac chose wisely and for-gave Abimelech.
Clearly, the trouble with taking revenge
when were mistreated is that none of us
can claim complete innocence. When we
feel wronged, we need to remember our
own guilt in Gods eyes and His continual
forgiveness. This gives us all the reason
we need to forgive others.
As you read through Genesis 26, reflecton the following questions:
1. How did Isaac and his herdsmen deal
with opposition and mistreatment in a
gracious manner?
2. What specific consequences might
Isaac have faced if he had not forgiven
Abimelech?
3. In what ways did Isaac demonstrate
his complete forgiveness through thepeace treaty with Abimelech?
4. In verse 28, Abimelech notes that he
could clearly see that the LORD was
with Isaac. What attributes in Isaacs
life would have brought Abimelech to
this conclusion?
Apply It
Is there someone in your lifeagainst whom you continueto hold bitterness? Pray that
God will help you forgiveand release that person.
Since our first response tomistreatment is often toreact with vengeance, makea plan right now to counteryour initial reaction to
future mistreatment withlove and gentleness. Writeyour plan in the spacebelow.
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Express It
Lord Jesus, You have forgivenme for so much. I have noright to withhold forgivenessfrom anyone else. When oth-ers say or do hurtful things,help me to choose an atti-tude of love.
7
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Week TwoThis week we will look at
the kinds of people Jesus chose
to follow Him.
Hope for the Bankrupt Heart
Key Passage: Read John 2021
So when they had eaten breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon,
son of Jonah, do you love Memore than these? He said to
Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I
love You. He said to him, Feed
My lambs (John 21:15).
Doubt. Betrayal. Unbelief. Not quite the
qualities you look for in a close friend.But Jesus selected men and women with
these weaknesses. Even more, He took
extra measures to help them believe. And
when theystilldisappointed Him, He for-
gave them and placed them in charge of
His whole church.
Sounds incredible, doesnt it? These twochapters of Johns Gospel report on two
men with serious flaws. Thomas had trust
issues and Peter was scared of commit-
ment. To us, these men display setbacks
and headaches more than they display
support for Christs ministry on earth.
So why did Jesus choose them? The
first answer is simplewhom else could
Jesus have chosen? All of us come with
our own unique baggage that constantly
trips us up in our walk with the Lord. If
Remember It
Answer the following questionson the passage you read thisweek. See answers below.
1. When Mary Magdalenefirst saw Jesus, shethought He was _____
_______________.
2. The disciples met in secretbecausea. Jesus had told them to.b. they wanted to over-
throw the government.c. they were afraid of theJews.
d. none of the above
3. Thomas believed thatJesus had risen from thedead even before he sawHim.True/False
4. Jesus asked Peter
___________ timesif Peter loved Him.
5. Everything that Jesus didis recorded in the Bible.True/False
8
Answers:
1.thegardener(John20:15)
2.c(John20:19)
3.False(John20:2429)
4.three(John21:1517)
5.False(John21:25)
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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not Thomass doubting and Peters betray-
al, we would be reading about Jesus
grace concerning another disciples faults
and weaknesses.
The second answer is more hopeful.
Jesus knows us and He loves us still. He
actually enjoys giving us the opportunity
to do great things, despite our weakness-
es. Even after we make monumental mis-
takes, He sticks with us as we stumble
along. Hes right there cheering for uswhen all other fans lose heart.
It doesnt matter how many times we
lose in life because Jesus has won
alreadyfor us. Jesus is alive. His victory
over death gives us hope for our bankrupt
hearts.
As you read through John 20 and 21,reflect on the following questions:
1. According to 2 Corinthians 12:9,
Gods strength is made perfect in peo-
ples weaknesses. How does this verse
apply to the lives of Peter and Thomas?2. What did Jesus say to prompt Peter to
take personal responsibility for his
actions?
3. How did Jesus acknowledge Thomass
weakness while offering him grace and
love?4. Beginning with Jesus resurrection,
find several instances of active faith
and active doubt in John 2021.
Apply It
List some of your spiritualweak points. How have youallowed these weaknesses to
dishearten you?
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Remember that Jesusstrength is all you needlet Him change your weak-nesses into opportunities todisplay His power.
Express It
Almighty God, I admit that Iam weak. When I thinkabout all my failings in thislife, I dont know why Youwould choose me for Your
servant. But You did chooseme. Thank You for givinghope to my bankrupt heart.I praise You for giving mestrength through my weak-nesses so that I can serveYou.
9
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Week ThreeThis week, we will examine how to
wisely move on in our lives, while
maintaining integrity.
Leaving With Integrity
Key Passage: Read Genesis 31
Then the LORDsaid to Jacob,
Return to the land of your fathers
and to your family, and I will bewith you (Gen. 31:3).
Jacobs mission was clearGod was
telling him to return to his home. His real
home. For 20 years he had been living in
the old country with his father-in-law
Laban and Labans two daughters whomhe had married. The situation turned sour,
and now God was telling Jacob to return
to his true homeland.
Jacob made the decision to follow Gods
direction (good decision). However, his
method of departure left something to be
desired. No good-byes. He just packed uphis household and fled (bad decision).
When their hasty departure was discov-
ered, Laban furiously pursued them.
While this was not the best plan for
escape, Jacobs actions teach us valuable
lessons about leaving.
Considering the family ties, the hin-
drances to Jacobs leaving seemed insur-
mountable. In the end, Jacobs sneaky
departure showed lack of faith in Gods
protection. But at least he had been wise
Remember It
Answer the following questionson the passage you read thisweek. See answers below.
1. Laban changed Jacobswages _______ times.
2. Rachel and Leah werereluctant to leave theirfather.True/False
3. When Jacob fled fromLaban, he took only hisfamily.True/False
4. Rachel had stolen thehousehold _________from her father.
5. Jacob and Laban swore anoath thata. Jacob would not mis-
treat Rachel and Leah.b. Jacob would not take
other wives.c. neither of them would
pass beyond the heapof stones.
d. all of the above.
10
Answers:
1.ten(Gen.31:7)
2.False(Gen.31:1416)
3.False(Gen.31:21)
4.idols/gods(Gen.31:19,34)
5.d(Gen.31:4852)
7/31/2019 Choosing God's Best
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enough to follow Gods instructions, no
matter how hard it seemed. And God
intervened, helping him come to terms
with Laban.
Moving on in our lives is always easier
said than done. Often we arent good at
leaving with integrity. People leave jobs
by taking everything that isnt nailed
down or, even worse, they attempt some
kind of sabotage. If were fired or laid off,
pride gets in the way. Instead, we shouldlook at such a situation as Gods sign for
us to move on, and then see what He
has for us. If we need to resign, we may
be afraid to take the leap. Like Jacob, we
should follow God, trusting Him to clear
the way. We cant always part with others
in peace; but when we sense Gods clearguidance to move on, we should make an
attempt to do so with integrity and wis-
dom. God will do the rest.
As you read through Genesis 31, reflecton the following questions:
1. What would have been a better way forJacob to leave Laban and still obey
God?
2. In what ways did both Laban and Jacob
succeed and fall short in demonstrating
integrity?
3. What would Jacob have forfeited if hehad refused to leave Laban and follow
God?
4. How did Jacob defend his actions to
Laban? What was Labans response?
Apply It
Have you ever needed to getout of a certain situation?Could you have accomplished
this with more grace andlove for everyone involved? Ifso, how?
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Express It
Lord, give me the wisdom toknow when I need to step
out of situations. Also, giveme the strength to treatthose who have hurt mewith grace. As I leave, mayYou surround all the peopleinvolved with Your love.
11
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Week FourThis week seek Gods blessing
first before facing your most
pressing troubles.
Shifting Our Focus
Key Passage: Read Genesis 32
Then Jacob was left alone; and a
Man wrestled with him until the
breaking of day (Gen. 32:24).
Jacob made frantic preparations for a
battle against his estranged brother.
Instead, he ended up facing someone
quite different. Jacobs encounter with the
Angel of the Lord remains one of the
most fascinating and inexplicable pas-sages in the Bible. This passage does not
merely describe a cosmic wrestling
match. It teaches us an important lesson
about connecting with God before we
connect with our destiny.
Jacob assumed his brother Esau would
meet him in wrath. In fact, Jacobs mindwas so consumed with fear that he went
to great lengths to protect himself and his
family. In the end, it took an all-night
struggle with the Angel of the Lord to
shift Jacobs focus from managing an out-
ward relationship to discovering a deep
interaction with God. When he finally
understood that God was in control, his
perspective changed. He then persisted in
asking for a blessing and wrestled until he
got it.
Remember It
Answer the following questionson the passage you read thisweek. See answers below.
1. Esau brought ______men with him to meet
Jacob.
2. Jacob sent gifts of__________ to Esau.a. goatsb. camelsc. sheepd. all of the above
3. Jacob hoped his presentswould appease Esau.True/False
4. Jacobs name was changedto ____________.
5. The Angel of the Lord didnot tell Jacob His name.True/False
12
Answers:
1.400(Gen.32:6)
2.d(Gen.32:1315)
3.True(Gen.32:20)
4.Israel(Gen.32:28)
5.True(Gen.32:29)
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Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that, in all of
our struggles in life, we are not fighting
against flesh and bloodthe true battle
takes place in a spiritual realm. God had
no problem handling Esau and his anger.He has no problem taking care of our
troubles either. Jacobs story teaches us
that our first response to pressures should
be to move our perspective toward God
and seek His blessing.
As you read through Genesis 32, reflecton the following questions:
1. Notice the specific interactions
between Jacob and God throughout the
chapter. How did these encounters
strengthen Jacobs faith?
2. Why do you think the Angel of theLord put Jacobs hip out of place at the
end of the match?
3. Jacobs new name Israel means a
prince with God. In what ways does
this name also apply to the entire
Israelite nation?4. How did Jacob try to buy his brothers
favor? What finally resolved Esaus
anger at Jacob?
Apply It
When you think about thestruggles in your life rightnow, how might you turn
toward God and connectwith Him first before tack-ling anything else? Dontonly wish you could connectwith Godfight for Hisblessing with your whole selfuntil you receive it.
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
Express It
Lord Jesus Christ, if only Icould keep my priorities
straight! I constantly allowmyself to be drawn into myproblems until they consumeme. Help me to refocus onYou and Your power whenev-er I begin to look away.
13
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Prayer Journal____________________________________
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Remember toPray for:
Family
FriendsPastor
Missionaries
Government Officials
Salvation of Unbelievers
Back to the Bible
Christians WorldwideRevival
14
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Additional Scripturesfor Study
Psalm 25:5
Psalm 31:3
Psalm 32:89
Psalm 48:14
Psalm 73:24
Psalm 139:910
Psalm 143:10
Isaiah 49:10
Isaiah 58:11
John 16:13
James 1:5
Learn more aboutthis months topic:
Jacob: Reaping What
You SowBack tothe Bibleradio series
Cassettes (set of 2)
Item #5143-7
*Suggested donation $8.00Canadian price $10.80
CDs (set of 4)
Item #8683-4*Suggested donation $12.00Canadian price $16.20
Transcripts of this series areavailable atwww.backtothebible.org.
The God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob
Theodore Epps masterfulstudy of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob will show you howGod uses ordinary vessels ofclay to accomplish His greatplans and purposes. Discoverthat God can use your ordi-nary life to bring glory toHis name.
Item #1286-5
357 pages, softcover*Suggested donation $13.00Canadian price $17.55
To order:U.S.: call 1-800-759-2425 orvisit www.backtothebible.org
Canada: call 1-800-663-2425or visit www.backtothebible.ca
15
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Woodrow Krolls speaking, writing and radio min-
istries have clearly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus
Christ for more than 30 years. He serves as
President of the international ministry Back to the
Bible and is heard daily on the nationally-syndicated
radio broadcasts Back to the Bible and The Bible
Minute.
His numerous books include The I Am God, When
God Doesnt Answer, Empowered to Prayand 7 Secrets
to Spiritual Success.
Back to the Bible is a worldwide ministry dedicated to leading people into a
dynamic relationship with God. Using radio,TV, the Internet and other media,
we share the Gospel message and help Christians grow to spiritual maturity.
With broadcasts in 23 languages and an Internet reach to millions, Back to
the Bible teaches the Word and touches the world.
0-8474-6030-4
Contact us for more information about Back to the Bible or this series:
1-800-759-2425 www.backtothebible.org P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln, NE 68501In Canada: 1-800-663-2425 www.backtothebible.ca P.O. Box 10, Winnipeg MB R3C 2G2
Choose the best God has to offer.
Life is about making choices. Each day, we all make hundreds ofthemwhat to wear, what to eat, when to get up, whether to getangry, whether to love.The choices we make range from the importantto the mundanebut they all require our time and concentration.
Through studies in the books of Genesis and John, well exploresome of the most vital choices we can make in life: choosing to with-hold revenge, choosing to run after the Lord, choosing to move on
after a mistake and choosing to move out in order to follow Godswill.Together, well examine the decision-making process and the con-sequences of certain choices.And ultimately, well learn how tochoose the best that God has to offer.
.
www.BibleStudiesOnline.org
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