About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 5:11-14, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Here, the author of Hebrews pivots from a discussion of how Jesus is a great High Priest to a clear  admonishment and warning to the readers (who at the time were Jewish believers well versed in the Old Testament), to, with urgency, grow their faith into maturity. The desired end state is to - as v14 says - "have [our] powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."  Key spiritual disciplines include daily time with God in study and prayer, fellowship with other believers who can support and encourage us in our faith journey, corporate worship, service, etc.  Hebrews 3:12-14 reinforces how fellowship is key.  Today's text is also reinforced by Romans 12:2 where it is expected that our spiritual disciplines (with daily time in study in prayer being key) enable transformation of the mind to "discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  Today, I am also reminded of Paul's exhortation from 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 that we think of ourselves as running a race or as a boxer training with focus and an aim.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who provides Your Word for me to know You, become more like You, etc. as Your Word feeds me and sustains me...and it moves me to maturity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You speak to me through Your Word.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Proverbs 25-29

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11

I continue my study of Proverbs week 9 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 25-29.  My focus for today is questions 5-7 from my workbook, which cover (1) how the lack of self-control leads people into the hands of Satan (Proverbs 25:28, Galatians 5:16-24); (2) how believers can recognize and respond to a fool (Proverbs 25:28-26:12, 2 Peter 2:2); and (3) warnings about being a sluggard (Proverbs 26:13-16).  The themes and teachings of question (2) and (3) for today are particularly striking this morning for me as the workbook emphasizes how we are to learn and grow in our journey with Christ and how being "wise in own eyes" stymies learning and growth.  We must remain humble to avoid such traps and to grow and mature in our relationship with Christ. Key to this growth and maturity is to draw (and stay) near to God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You provide Your Word, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the church, and the Holy Spirit, all as means to help me grow and mature in my journey with You...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Introduction: Pages 17-28

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ Isaiah 46:9-10

This morning, I started John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and read the introduction, where Piper offers four invitations: (1) into a world of counterintuitive wonders, (2) to penetrate through [Biblical] words into reality, (3) into a God-entranced world, and (4) to know God.  Piper further describes his aim of the book: "to help as many as [he] can know the God of all-embracing, all-pervasive, invincible providence...Nothing can stop [H]im from succeeding exactly when and how [H]e aims to succeed."

I seek to grow in my relationship with Christ, to deepen my love for Him, and to become more like Him - all with the understanding that He is charge and that He is the one working in my heart and life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who I know is working not just in my life but in all things.  I am grateful for how You have and continue to work in my life - and I know that You never stop working - for all of humanity for all of eternity.  I am not deserving of the many blessings You pour out for me and for how You never stop working for me.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start the story of "Joseph: Shaky Limbs and Unanswered Questions*".

*Title of lesson six from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado speculating how the angel Gabriel might have felt when he learned of the task to deliver a message to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus.  Lucado then pivots to how her fiance Joseph must have felt. Scripture tell us that when Joseph learned of Mary's pregnancy, he quietly thought of divorcing her (Matthew 1:19), but an angel also appeared to Joseph to deliver a similar message to the one delivered to Mary.  As so many Biblical heroes have done, Joseph then "did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him" (Matthew 1:24) and he took Mary home as his wife and named the coming baby Jesus.  Lucado highlights Joseph's ordinary, stable and comfortable life and how God uses regular and ordinary people - He calls them out of their comfort zones and we are encouraged to do so as well.  I am reminded that God calls us to grow in our relationship with Him - it is to be an evolving relationship where we grow closer to Him and more like Him.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and how has both given me faith and helped grow in my faith and blessed me throughout my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You have equipped me and blessed me over these many years.  I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and sposues to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Matthew 2 and Luke 2

 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Luke 2:46

Day 292 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* moves further into the New Testament - focusing this morning on the early life of Jesus up through the time before He starts His ministry. This includes a visit from the Magi, Joseph/Mary/Jesus' escape to Egypt under threat of Herod's order to kill all male children in Bethlehem, and Jesus' growth and maturity.  The commentary* notes: "Little more is known of Jesus’ first 30 years. It is known that Jesus has at least four brothers—James, Joses, Judas (Jude), and Simon—and also some sisters, who are not named. Because there is no further reference to Joseph, it appears that he probably died while Jesus was still a relatively young man. The support of his mother and younger brothers and sisters, therefore, would naturally fall upon Jesus as the firstborn. For many years, then, Jesus evidently has provided for his family by working as a carpenter, having learned the trade from his father."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition

Jesus' listening and asking questions among the teachers in the temple give us instruction on how all believers, regardless of age or maturity, are to "gr[o]w in wisdom and stature" (Luke 2:52). 

While John Piper, in this post, urges pastors in particular to take heed of this call for wisdom, Piper uses the text to call all of His children to strive for wisdom and stature in the Lord.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is the source of all wisdom and knowledge - without You, I would have nothing and I would be completely lost and damned as well. Thank You Jesus for giving me light and life - I am grateful...and undeserving.  My sin continues.  Please forgive me for my worry, lack of action, etc.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. v10-11

Building on my post yesterday, John Piper gives another stem-winder of a post encouraging us to grow - using 2 Peter 1:5-11 as the basis for his post.

I know I must grow in my ability to pray - for more requests more of the time - among other things.

Please God help me become a prayer warrior.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I have seen the power of prayer in my own life and in the life of others - thank You Jesus for hearing and responding to all of my prayers.  I know You do.  I am not deserving.  I know I could pray more...and continually.  Please forgive me for falling down in my prayer life.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

2 Peter 1

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. v5-9

Both the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) and the Summaries of Every Book in Bible indicate that this general epistle written by Peter is primarily to help believers avoid damage to their faith (and the church) by falling prey to false teachers and teachings.  This last letter by Peter to the church seeks to push the church and believers to grow stronger and by wary of weakening influences.

Peter warns of how we can become "ineffective and unproductive in [our] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v8).

The words "add" and 'increasing measure" are key here as growth and spiritual maturity are, in John Piper's words, "not optional".  Piper uses Peter's own words from his first letter.

We must grow in Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has helped me grow in Christ - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You have blessed me.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.   Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

2 Thessalonians 3

We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. v7-9

Paul warns the Thessalonians about some in the church that are idle.  The definition includes those "avoiding work", "without purpose", or those who are inactive.  On the subject of laziness, this post at DesiringGod.com indicates that "Paul does not soft-pedal laziness. It is profoundly unchristian. It betrays a gospel that does not demand our activity up front but always produces activity in and through us. And laziness dishonors the power and strength that has come to dwell in us in Christ: God the Spirit himself".  

We must not "tire of doing what is good" (v13) but instead work "night and day".  

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

We must examine our time and push ourselves to direct more of it towards the glory of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond my imagination - not because I deserve but because You are full of love and grace.  I am grateful.  Yet I know I don't deserve it...my sin is daily and great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

1 Thessalonians 4

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. v1

Paul is pleased with the church in Thessalonica but just as God seeks spiritual growth in all of us, Paul is pushing the church to grow.  Before I get into the specifics of where Paul seeks this growth, I am pausing today to focus on the general topic of spiritual growth.  I have previously posted how growth is not an option (per John Piper).  We are called to grow closer to God and become more like Him.  This starts by assessing where we are and surrounding ourselves with others that can push us and support us in our areas of growth.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rite, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Hebrews 6:1-3

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16

See also

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. v16

As Paul pivots from discussing our identity in Christ, he encourages us to be both united and mature in our faith.  In chapter 4, he starts by encouraging us to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (v4).  He then writes how Christ gave us "the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people" for us to have unity and to become mature (v11-13).  The call for maturity is then echoed again in v14 (that we no longer be infants in our faith), v15 (we grow and mature), and v16 (how growth and maturity supports a healthy vibrant church). 

We find this call for growth and maturity elsewhere in scripture.

I am reminded of John Piper's statement that we should not "ever think that growing through the word of God is optional or marginal in the Christian life. Spiritual growth is absolutely necessary for every believer."

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - You have fed me every day of my life and helped me grow in my faith - I am deeply grateful for the work You have done in my heart and life.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

1 Corinthians 13

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. v11

As Paul moves from spiritual gifts in chapter 12 (see post yesterday), he level sets with us that the use of spiritual gifts without love means nothing (v1-3).  He then defines love (v4-8) and encourages us in our spiritual growth as John Piper indicates "[r]ight knowing or right thinking, the right use of your mature mind, is for the sake of child like faith. We should grow up in our thinking, so that we can grow down in our humility, so that we can have faith like a child".  The implication I believe is that we focus on emptying ourselves of our childish ways, grow closer to God, love Him more, and love others more. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have helped see my childish ways and helped me shed much of these ways - You have transformed my heart and life and I am grateful!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love. I worry and I have other sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.

1 Corinthians 3

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. v2-3

Paul continues to admonish the church in Corinth for their overemphasis on which of the church leaders to follow (Paul, Peter, Apollos, etc.) and on worldly wisdom.  He expects this of new believers whose faith is perhaps weaker and still developing. The implication of course is that we must grow and mature as believers. Peter also references spiritual milk and encourages us to grow:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:2-3

The author of Hebrews also encourages growth:

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:12-14

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rite, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. Hebrews 6:1-3

This post also provides a decent summary of what spiritual growth looks like.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who feeds me...daily.  You help me grow daily and You strengthen me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. v7

For the church, it's not just important to have faith but to GROW in your faith - the church needs to equip itself for growth, it needs believers to grow into leadership positions who can help push the church forward with the Great Commission (Matthew 28).  Here (Acts 6:1-6) we see the first church deacons named, including Stephen who is the first disciple to be martyred.  

In v7, we then see the result of discipleship - the making of not just disciples but the making of disciple makers.

We should continue to grow and mature in our faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has grown in my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am undeserving of the blessings You pour out on me.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’

Luke 5

No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’ v38-39 

John Piper's post on spiritual renewal speaks to me this morning.  Another of his posts here talks to spiritual renewal and a belief in spiritual miracles in the sense that out of spiritual humility you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Piper also reminds us that spiritual growth is not optional.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and You have worked many miracles in my life and I know You love me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessings.  I worry...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

Mark 11

May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. v14

Jesus spots a fig tree with healthy leaves yet fails to see any fruit.  According to this commentary, this is a warning for believers to avoid the appearance of bearing spiritual fruit while like the fig tree, failing in fact to bear any fruit at all.  

"Busyness" is one way to appear to be bearing fruit - yet this commentary posits that busyness is moral failure and that we have just "just enough time" to do what God wants us to do.  The commentary points us to Hebrews 12:1 and encourages us to avoid the entanglements of busyness:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12:2 goes on to "fix our eyes on Jesus", implying we need to focus on what matters.  Jesus helps us of course: 

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:34-40

How we do this of course matters, but first things first - we must love Jesus and love others.  If we love Jesus, we must be willing to spend time with Him daily, pray, worship, and serve others, etc.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who as blessed me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus!  Yet I often fail to produce fruit and fall prey to "busyness".  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? v6

Fasting is just one spiritual discipline, and we can't pretend to assume that because we sufficiently practice one we are doing what God wants us to do - God wants us to continue to grow.   We also do not want to be guilty of hypocrisy or of not being in action as James 1:19-27 describes for us.  See also post here.

My Prayer Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who lives in me and I have seen how You have produced fruit in my life and in the lives of others.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such love as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Psalm 17

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. v8-9

Christians do indeed have enemies - there are certainly those who don't want us to practice our faith.  These may be other people, but Satan for sure is our enemy - see also 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Some quick digging this morning located this post - which is a keeper.  It is an excerpt from A.W. Tozer's book Rut, Rot, or Revival: The Problem of Change and Breaking Out of the Status Quo.  Tozer writes that Christians face yet another enemy, which is that of routine or what he calls rut - where we become predictable and we fail to push ourselves onward to where God is calling us - He certainly isn't telling us to stand still.  We are to grow.

Tozer uses Deuteronomy as an example of how God wants us to "move forward":

East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

 

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:5-8

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God[.] Hebrews 6:1

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has seen me through dark valleys and mountain highs....both through change and stagnation.  You have never left me or forsaken me...nor will You ever.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I get caught in routine.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin, turn towards You, love You with all of my heart, soul and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me GROW in my faith, and CHANGE.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing. He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead.

2 Chronicles 22

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing. He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. v4

We know from previous readings (see 1 Kings 16:30) that Ahab did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  In fact it is said he "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him".

So it is no surprise that Ahaziah did evil in the eyes of the Lord as he chose Ahab's family to be his advisers.  We must be careful who and how we include in our life.  We are to love those in the world but not to conform to the world.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? 2 Corinthians 6:14

 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world[.] Romans 12:2

 

Instead, we are intended to live in fellowship with other believers who can mutually help each other grow in Christ.

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God full of love and compassion for me.  You provide for all of my needs and You are always with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. v17

As Peter continues to warn us against the dangers of false teachers, once again he encourages us to grow in our faith.  We must be ready, and we must be productive in the use of our gifts.  Our growth in Christ will better arm us to protect ourselves from the dark forces of Satan.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who encourages, teaches, protects...and who is full of patience, compassion, mercy, etc.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I am often weak and insecure in my faith.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind,  and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Peter 2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. v2-3

God wants us to be more like Him, and this is a maturation process.  Just as physically new babies grow, when we are born again we are spiritually babies and we must grow, and God both desires this and expects this of us.  We are to be disciple makers.

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, fully God and fully human...who willingly surrendered Your life for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus for such an amazing gift.  I am not worth such a gift.  I am selfish, lazy, and I worry too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.