So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As I am in between studies, having just wrapped up my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at where Paul focuses to remain hopeful as he grows old and more feeble.  Piper describes how Paul gains hope by focusing on how his inner self is renewed daily - this is also unseen. Piper then points out how this somewhat contradictory focus is further clarified by Paul in the next chapter of 2 Corinthians 5:7: "for we walk by faith, not by sight." Piper shares that this clarification "doesn’t mean that [Paul] leaps into the dark without evidence of what’s there. It means that for now the most precious and important realities in the world are beyond our physical senses.  We “look” at these unseen things through the gospel. We strengthen our hearts — we renew our courage — by fixing our gaze on the invisible, objective truth that we see in the testimony of those who saw Christ face to face." Piper wraps the devotion by pointing back to chapter 4:6 where Paul writes: " [f]or God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This previously unseen knowledge of the glory of God is now seen by us because God revealed it to us - praise God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who revealed Yourself to me and gave me the power to see things unseen that provide eternal hope!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of 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.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Hebrews 11

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. Hebrews 11:24-28

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:20-27, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text:

I. The Future-Looking Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (11:20-22): Here the text focuses on the faith of Issac, Jacob and Joseph.  All anticipated and trusted in God's plan that a covenant promise would be fulfilled.  With Joseph for example, the commentary shares - based on Genesis 50:24 - that "[f]or Joseph to look forward to the exodus and to communicate that to his sons is almost as shocking as Abraham saying to Sarah, “We are going to have a child.” Nevertheless, Joseph demonstrated remarkable trust in God’s plan."   

II. Moses’s Faith-Fueled Obedience (11:23-27): Here the text examines the faith of Moses and starts by sharing how Moses had a choice: "comfort and privilege in the house of Egypt or persecution and suffering with the people of Israel. Making the former choice is faithlessness; the latter is faithfulness. Moses chose the latter. Rather than laying claim to stature, he aligned himself with Israel because he trusted the Lord and knew Egypt was not his home. Moses recognized the vanity of Pharaoh’s house and the all-surpassing worth of obedience to God." It then pivots to v26 where the text raises how Moses considered the reproach of Jesus of greater wealth than Egypt.  The commentary posits how Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and 2 Corinthians 1:20 point emphasize how we should view Jesus in light of the promise made by Moses that a prophet from among Israel would rise.  The text wraps by looking at v27-28 and how Moses feared God over Pharaoh and how Moses kept the faith by keeping Passover - and this led to the protection of Israel's first born. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and faithfulness - Your promises all come true and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me.  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.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. v7

It is easy to believe and have faith in people and the things of this world - I am too often guilty of this.  It is much harder to have faith and trust in God.  That is one reason why God HAD to send His Son Jesus Christ because faith on our own is impossible.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It is also important to recognize that all of what we have is from God - including all of our spiritual gifts, abilities, and material possessions.


Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who provides for all of my needs and who never leaves or forsakes me - You give me faith and life...to the full!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  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 I tell you, in this you are not right,for God is greater than any mortal. Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it.

Job 33

But I tell you, in this you are not right,for God is greater than any mortal. Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one’s words? For God does speak—now one way, now another—though no one perceives it. v12-14

Job is righteous in God's eyes, yet Elihu is correct in pointing out that even the righteous are not immune to, or undeserving of difficulties.  It is because of all of our sin (1 John 1:8-10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23) that we deserve death.

Yet IN OUR SIN, God sent His one and only Son to save us from the sting of sin and death (John 3:16).  

We have hope.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that You will never leave me or forsake me and that You have a plan...a great one and that my hope rests in You.  Thank You Jesus for giving me hope.  Yet I am undeserving.  I am harsh with my words and actions.  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 many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy.

Ezra 3

But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. v12

In Ezra 1, we see God moving the heart of Cyrus to allow the Israelites in Babylonian exile to return to Jerusalem.  As work began to rebuild the temple, those not old enough to remember the temple as built by Solomon shouted for joy while the older generation who did remember wept.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary further details the sorrow of those who did not see the rebuilt temple as "match[ing] the splendor of Solomon's temple nor did the presence of God reside within it".   Matthew Henry, I believe, correctly points out that for those filled with sorrow they should recall their own sin (particularly as priests and Levites) as part of the cause for their exile.  They should focus not on the size of the temple but on the amazing grace and mercy of God who was no less great in the rebuilt temple.

Yet, this is what we do. We look at what is seen - church buildings, programs, etc. as if church was a product for us to consume - I know I have done this myself.  Our focus should always be on God and our relationship with Him and how our present circumstances reflect His glory because that is why we exist. 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God, full of love and splendor and You need no building!  I am so grateful for all that You are, and all that You have done in my life!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  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.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Psalm 98

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King. v4-6

We should shout for joy to the Lord - publicly and loudly.  For those who believe, we have seen His hand in Creation, in the hearts and lives of others, and in our own life and heart.  We know what He has done and who He is - He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Names Above All Names.  We should not be ashamed of our God.  

Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 

As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:14-22

I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. Psalm 69:30-31

 

As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

My Prayer: Lord, You are a God worthy of praise and worship - we should praise and worship, and proclaim Your Name loudly and publicly.  For we are not ashamed of our God and we cannot help but be speak what we have seen and heard.  Thank You Jesus for all that You are and do...You are great...and You are great to me.  I am not worthy for Your mercy and blessings.  I am selfish and impatient - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. v1

God wants us to focus on Him and on things eternal - His Word, doing His Word (James 1)...we exist soley to glorify God.

Later on in this chapter the implication is that I am encouraged to refer to myself as a foreigner and stranger on earth.

Too often, however, I focus on what is seen vs unseen - please forgive me Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are a great God full of love and patience for me.  You came for me...You chose me...knowing everything about me including my sin.  What a great God You are.  I am not worth such love and sacrifice. I am broken - I too often focus on what I see...not on glorifying You.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me glorify You with my life Jesus.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help her feel better today.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.