... “[L]et them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

Jonah 3 

... “[L]et them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Jonah 3:8-9

I continue my study in Jonah to supplement my church's current sermon series in this book, and today I review Jonah 3 again as I prepare to lead Sunday school this morning on this text. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God created humanity in His image, to bear His image and to live in fellowship with Him.  Yet, during the Fall (Genesis 3) sin entered the world and each one has sin - no one can deny it - and we are all in need of a Savior (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Romans 6:23). God calls the church to go into the world to preach the Good News of Jesus for people to repent and believe in Him - God's call to Jonah reflected this mission. Key to the Good News is that other than acknowledging your sin, repenting from it, and believing in Him, there is nothing You need to do - God alone saves and then He works in Your heart and life to transform You into more of His image through sanctification.  God displays incredible mercy and these mercies never cease and are new every morning - Lamentations 3:22-23.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Just as with all other believers, there is nothing Jonah did to be worthy of a second chance to be saved - it is God's grace alone that saves.  People often don't see a need for God - hardness of heart, arrogance, etc - or don't know Him enough to love and follow Him no matter what.  In the text today, God reaches the king of Nineveh (v6), and the king then (vv6-9) repented and urged all of Nineveh to repent and call out to God for mercy - this is a true repentant heart.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid claiming you have no sin!  Claim the promise that no matter who are or what you have done, God's grace is available to anyone who confesses sin and surrenders to Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Follow the example of the king of Nineveh who confessed and believed - and was saved.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God whose mercies never cease and are new every morning - what incredible grace You offer.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  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 continue to 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 Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Numbers 21:9

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 21:4-9, the people once again grumble and complain against the LORD, yet God is abounding in love, relents from His punishment and provides a way out.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God sees grumbling and complaining as a sin, so Israel is punished - v6.  Yet God is merciful and He responds to prayer as the people confess and seek for Moses to intercede - v8.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people are not yet in the Promised Land, and of course one can imagine the people (as we would) seeking the quickest way possible to get to their destination.  Impatience can be seen as a childish behavior (are we there yet?), but it afflicts adults just as well.  The pattern of Israel's grumbling and complaining, and of God showing mercy, is staggering - God not only provides second chances, but third, fourth, etc.  Yes, many are harshly punished, but we have to acknowledge that we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So we don't deserve God's mercy - yet He provides a way out.  Jesus is this way out - if we confess, like Israel does here in v7 and we have someone like Moses who intercedes on our behalf (we do in Jesus), we can be assured of forgiveness and of salvation (Romans 10:9-10).  Yet we cannot prevent punishment as this is for God alone to determine and we must see punishment as love from the Father for good.  Israel should have seen this in how they remained in the wilderness.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not grumble and complain.  Claim the promises that God disciplines those He loves, and God forgives and saves.  Follow the example of Israel who confessed - and the example of those acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Be thankful in all circumstances. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to 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.

Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

Numbers 8:5-22

Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. Numbers 8:14

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 8:5-22, we see the Lord give instructions to Moses to cleanse the Levites and consecrate them for service in the Tent of Meeting.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God alone cleanses people from sin - we must go to Him.  We no longer perform all the ritual washings, sacrifices, and rites per the first covenant as with the second covenant based on Jesus' shed blood, we simply go before God, confess our sin and ask for forgiveness and repent/turn to him.  God also seeks for His people to be set apart - to be a light in world filled with sin and darkness.  He is holy so He seeks for His people to be holy.  Believers are also set apart for a purposed designed by Him - to be used in His service. In this case it is the Levites as the priesthood in the Tent of Meeting, but with the second covenant, all believers are used in His service. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The text refers to the Levites as belonging to God (vv4, 17).  All believers belong to God as we've been redeemed and purchased through the shed blood of Jesus - see also 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23.  As such, our lives should be lived in His service - just as the Levites served to intercede on behalf of Israel to God (v19), we exist to glorify God. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid the earthly influences that can drag into a life of sin and darkness. Claim the promise that God offers forgiveness and freedom from the sting of sin and death. Follow the example of the many in scripture who lived to serve and bring glory to Him.  Be holy because He is holy.       

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 My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves, and You purchased me and all believers with Your shed blood.  You offer freedom from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn 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, energy and strength.  Please continue to 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 a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.

Numbers 5:5-10

When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. Numbers 5:6-7

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:5-10, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him commands to give to the people for confession of sin and restitution.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  God seeks confession - this is something consistent across all of scripture - Old and New Testament.  When we confess, we acknowledge that we are sinful and that we need forgiveness as a means to be reconciled with God.  We also need reconciliation with those whom we impact with our sin - restitution should be considered part of this reconciliation process.  This post from Ligonier Ministries shares that "[t]his aspect of restitution is important because it shows how repentance and conversion always produce tangible results," that such an act (restitution) is the fruit of faith, and "[w]henever possible, restitution follows repentance."      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: All sin and are in need of a Savior - this was apparent in the Old Testament and it remains in the New Testament (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8).  Also, sin impacts not just our relationship with God but also our relationship with others as people feel betrayed, wronged, etc. and forgiveness and restitution serves to restore these relationships.  On the flip side, we must forgive others who sin against us.  In particular, unity within the church is key so we are called to bear with one another in love (Colossians 3:13).   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid arrogance and a hardened heart where we don't see the need for forgiveness.  Claim the promise that forgiveness is available to all through Christ. Follow the example of Paul who in humility saw righteousness through Jesus being of more worth than any righteousness through deeds or action - see Isaiah 64:6, Philippians 3:8-9. Confess and repent sin - make things right to be reconciled both with God and others.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for the forgiveness only You offer.  I am not deserving.  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 continue to 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.

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:46-52

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:52

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:46-52.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv49-51):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Never Be Surprised at How the Most Undesirable Respond to Grace."
• The commentary first refers us to Job 42:5 where the text records starting in chapter 26 through 41 (1) Job's response (including his indignant response to God) to his friends whose counsel led Job down a wrong view of God, (2) Elihu's response/rebuke of Job and his friends, (3) Elihu extolling God's greatness and majesty, and (4) finally, God response to Job and his friends.  In Job 42:5 we are reminded that Job has a deeply personal encounter with God - just as Bartimaeus does in Mark.  
• "Jesus simply and quickly responds to the cry for grace and mercy from the blind beggar, 'Go your way...your faith has healed you.'  When Jesus refers to the man’s faith, Jesus is not saying that the man has earned anything....Bartimaeus did not have empty faith. No, Bartimaeus directed his faith to the only One who could heal, the only One who could save!" 
• It is noted and emphasized that Bartimaeus followed Jesus and it is implied he did so immediately upon his healing.  For anyone that has a deeply personal encounter with Jesus, this is the proper response!  He not only saw physically but spiritually his eyes were opened and most importantly his heart!
• "This is the last healing miracle in the Gospel of Mark. It began with His healing a blind man (8:22-26), and it closes with His healing a blind man (10:46-52). But then like Bartimaeus we were all blind until Jesus gave us sight. We were poor beggars until He saved us as our ransom. We brought to Him nothing but our weakness and need, and He graced us with His power and blessing. Praise God Jesus stopped and had time for Bartimaeus. Praise God Jesus had time for you and me!" 

If you don't know God or feel pain or hurt and need healing - I urge you to cry out to Jesus as Bartimaeus did to "Son of David [Jesus] have mercy on me!"  Confess your sins, have faith and He will hear your cry and save you! Romans 10:10. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing my cry to be saved and for saving me.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time. 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 continue to 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 you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Malachi 3:6-10a

But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:8-10a

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books.  Given a long pause of my study in Malachi, I first review the commentary's introduction for this book and then read Malachi 3:6-10a which cover the first two divisions per the commentary for the text 3:6-12. Here are a few key excerpts from the commentary's introduction for Malachi:

• "Throughout Malachi we will see how God, as a loving Father, confronts, corrects, and challenges the people of Israel about straying from Him. No one is excluded."
• "Malachi is a call for Israel to return to God before the Messiah comes to earth, for it was written to a people who lived in expectation of Him, but who had not yet seen Him."
• To understand the audience for this book, "we can assume that the nation of Israel has returned from the Babylonian captivity by the time of this book’s writing. By addressing the book “to Israel” rather than “to Israel and Judah,” he is stating that there are no longer two separate kingdoms and that they have returned to their unified state."
• "As will be demonstrated, moral degradation was at an all-time high, with adultery, divorce, falsehood, fraud, and sorcery running rampant throughout the city; the source of much of the corruption was the priests themselves."
• "Malachi, like the prophets before him, looks forward to the Messiah’s coming. He prophesies about the forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist, who will prepare the way for Jesus. In the same passage, he also predicts the coming of the Lord Christ Himself[.]
• "The prophecies and warnings that will be exposited in this book bear a special weight also because Malachi is the final canonical work of the OT before the coming of Christ. A 400-year silence from God will be broken by Gabriel’s prediction of John’s and Jesus’ birth in Luke[.]" 

Vv3:6-10a contains both an encouragement and a rebuke from God.  V6 shares an attribute of God and how He does not change - He is our Rock - and how this will save Israel from destruction despite their disobedience and sin.  The verse shares how the children of Jacob are not consumed - this is of course good news for Israel because God made promises to make Israel a great nation through Abraham, Jacob, David, and others (including Jeremiah) and when God makes promises He does not change His mind.  Incredible promises by God are made throughout scripture and believers can take comfort in knowing that all of God's promises find their "Yes" in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1:20).  The text continues in v7 with God going back and forth with Israel in dialogue exploring how Israel can "get right" with God.  God shares how Israel can "return to [God]" which will in turn result in God returning to Israel.  This same reconciliation applies to everyone (since the Fall, all of humanity is broken and sinful - see Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and it requires confession of sin, request of forgiveness and belief and faith in Jesus as Savior (see Romans 10:10).  In v8, God then shares a response with Israel how they can return to Him by refraining from the sin of which they are guilty (one sin of many - God using His discretion to emphasize what He feels needs calling out).  Israel was not giving to God their tithes and God refers to this as "robbing" Him.  This of course is not just a sin of Israel, but of believers today who do not appropriately tithe.  This is a sensitive topic for most but an important one - see also Matthew 6:21.  Important words from God today!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are a God that makes promises that always come to pass!  Thank You for the incredible promises You make and how I can have peace that they always come to pass.  I am not deserving of the promises of salvation and blessing You make to me as well as other promises.  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 continue to 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 if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-10

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, where our focus will be 1 John 1:5-10 and DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John.  Today, I listen to a DesiringGod.com podcast episode entitled Is Sanctification the Pursuit of Perfection? which explores 1 John 1:5-10 as well as other text.  A listener calls in asking about two questions (1) how can a believer balance a pursuit of holiness while also moving past failures to be holy, and (2) is pursuing holiness the same as pursuing perfection?  

John Piper starts with question (2) - excerpts from his response:

• In this life, we will not achieve perfection but scripture shares that we are commanded to be perfect (Matthew 5:48, 22:37, 2 Corinthians 7:1, James 1:4).
• Our victory over sin in this life is incomplete (James 3:2, Philippians 3:12)
• In response to whether we should pursue perfection, we should strive for something that only He can achieve, knowing that we will stumble and that ultimately we will be perfected in the presence of God (face to face).
• In our pursuit of perfect holiness in the presence of Christ, let us seek to be as holy as a justified sinner can be.

On question (1):

• We enjoy our salvation when our holiness remains imperfect as described by 1 John 1:6:-9; walking in the light is essential to show that we are being (process) cleansed and during this process we will continue to be sinful; confession allows us to bridge our failures and move forward - regular sincere confession of sin.  
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Light and Truth and You give me the Holy Spirit, Your Word, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ as a means to not only save me but to assist me and give me power and strength to pursue holiness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all of these blessings - my cup overflows.  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 continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dsutin 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.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness....But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 1:5-2:2

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 1:9, 2:1

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on an unassisted review of 1 John 1:5-2:2, which contrasts light from darkness, as one represents Jesus, those who believe in Him, and the truth which is His Word, while the other represents sin (vv5-6). When we believe in Him, are obedient to Him, repent from our sins, we have both fellowship with other believers that do the same, and God is faithful to cleanse us of our sins (v7).  We cannot deny that sin is part of all humanity and as such each one of us - as this has been true since the Fall in Genesis 3 (v8).  While we all have sin, John reiterates how God is faithful and just to cleanse us of our sins and all unrighteousness (v9).  John also reiterates how we make Jesus a liar when we say we have not sinned - we also lose the right to claim that the Word is in us (v10). John seeks for us to become more like Jesus, to be holy because he is holy - to not sin (v2:1a).  It is inevitable that we will sin, but once again "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (vv2:1b-2)." 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good...You advocate and intercede on my behalf...daily.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You save.  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. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

I pause my study of 1 Corinthians to study DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys Daily devotional, which today, looks at how to repent.  When we sin, and are aware of our sins specifically, we inevitably feel shame, remorse and as John Piper describes, "crummy" or "rotten."  Piper shares how "[a] vague, bad feeling that you are a crummy person is not the same as conviction for sin. Feeling rotten is not the same as repentance."  Instead, Piper encourages us to specifically "call to mind the commands [we] frequently break."  For himself, he lists several, including:

• "Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (see Matthew 22:39)"
• "Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling — inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)"
• "Only say things that give grace to others — especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)"
• "Redeem the time. Don’t fritter away the minutes, or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)"

Piper presses in how being specific are out in the open and not hidden - we confront them.  Piper gets angry at his sin and he wants to kill the sin - not himself - his sin.  Piper then offers us encouragement when we take on such battles, even when we know they are uncomfortable.  He rests in 1 John 1:9 and how Christ forgives and cleanses - we must confess, however, specifically.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good as I know You forgive and cleanse sin - thank You Jesus for helping me with my daily battle against sin.  The list is long and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me for my many sins, including how I often fritter away the minutes...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 prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments[.]"

Daniel 9

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments[.]" Daniel 9:4

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 9:1-19 as I lean on my commentary for this text, which outlines the following divisions:

I. Let Your Prayers Flow from Your Study of the Scriptures (9:1-2): The commentary referring to v1-19 as "one of the most remarkable prayers in the whole Bible," as it includes "(1) corporate confession of sin and (2) recognition of the greatness, awesomeness, righteousness, and holiness of God as expressions of his character."  Daniel intercedes on behalf of a a sinful Israel.  The commentary shares how Daniel prays based on his understanding of God and scripture, including the Pentateuch and Jeremiah, the latter of which Daniel knew of because Jeremiah preceded him.  Daniel specifically refers to Israel's exile of 70 years (v2) which is from Jeremiah 25:1-14 and 29:1-11. The commentary describes how Daniel leans on prophecy from Jeremiah and does the math - "knows the end of God’s judgment of exile on his people is coming[,]" as he was exiled in 605 BC and the date of his writing here is from 538 BC.  The commentary for this division wraps by sharing that "[c]onfidence in the promises of God did not move [Daniel] to complacency. It drove him to action and to his knees. Immersion in Scripture will energize prayer!" As we grow in understanding of scripture, so too will our prayers "become richer and more soundly based on who God is."

II. Let Your Prayers Humbly Take You into the Presence of God (9:3): V3 gives us a model how we are to approach God in humility as the commentary describes Daniel as he "turned to the Lord with a heavy heart, a burden he could hardly bear," and how his prayer is similar to the prayer Jesus prayed to His Father in the garden at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-44).  The commentary describes this posture of how to approach God in prayer: "[i]t is truly unconscionable that we would ever think to burst into God’s presence in arrogance or pride, in hubris or vainglory. When we know our sins and the sins of our people, we will approach God on our knees and with our faces to the ground. Only then can we turn our faces to the Lord with our prayers and pleas."

III. Let Your Prayers Be Characterized by Honest and Full Confession of Sin (9:4-14): Here the commentary shares how "[p]hrase after phrase comes right out of Scripture. There are allusions to Leviticus (26:40) and Deuteronomy (28:64) and Exodus (34:6) and Psalms (44:14) and Jeremiah (25:11)."  The commentary describes Daniel's humility and his solidarity with Israel in using "we", "us" or "our" more than twenty times when he confesses Israel's sin.  He knows that Israel's punishment is deserved and he does not exclude himself from Israel's predicament but instead bears their burden as he "feels responsible for the people under his care."  At this point in Israel's exile, the people should be driven to their knees in confession and repentance but they are not - except Daniel.  The commentary appropriately quotes Billy Graham when he says "[t]o get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees."

IV. Let Your Prayers Move to Petition and Pleas Grounded in God’s Character (9:15-19): The commentary describes how Daniel moves from confession and repentance to petition and pleas as he intercedes on behalf of Israel. Daniel requests mercy not because Israel is deserving but so that God's can be seen as merciful and glorified in how He keeps His covenant with His people. Prayer is emphasized as the commentary wraps for the text: "we should note the important role prayer played in the past but also in the present. In the past, in the garden of Gethsemane, our Lord was troubled and wept in prayer as he prepared to take on the sins of the world and to bear in his own body the judgment and wrath of God. But now, as Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 tell us, we have an intercessor in heaven, a great high priest, who pleads our cause before “the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands” (Dan 9:4).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are great indeed, as Your mercies are great and they are new every morning as You provide not just mercy but also for all things and You are faithful.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your mercy nor how You provide.  My sins are great and they continue...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.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:14-16, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Given how the text starts with "since then," it seems that this text is building upon not just the previous chapter but all of Hebrews up to this point.  In chapters 1-3, and even in chapter 4, Jesus is described as better than angels, Moses, Joshua, and the author of Hebrews explains why Jesus is better. We are now exhorted to "hold fast our confession." What is interesting here is that God knows all of our sin, so the confession is not for God's sake but for our own as we need to understand the depth of our sin, and scripture reading and study enables this to happen (per v12-13).  Once we begin (this is a journey) to understand the depth and breadth of our sin, we can begin (also a journey) to understand the depth and breadth of God's grace and love for us.  The text today should be taken as an incredible encouragement because of how Jesus is described as not just our Lord and Savior, but also as the incarnate Son who experienced all (note the words "who in every respect") of how humanity is tempted, giving Him the ability to sympathize with us, while at the same time, He is able to dispense grace and mercy.  We CAN and SHOULD approach Him with confidence to seek and receive grace and mercy, including for our own salvation.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who knows everything about me, yet still loves me and is full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and mercy.  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.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Leviticus 16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter fourteen - God Forgives and Removes Sin - covering Leviticus 16:1-34, looking specifically at the sixth and final theme for the chapter - We Confess and Come to Jesus for Reconciliation with God.  Here, the commentary looks at the role of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:21 and how for believers, Jesus serves as the once and for all (final) sacrifice for our sins.  The commentary then focuses on the role of confession in the life of believers.  We all sin, and God urges all people to repent of their sins and accept Jesus. Confession, the commentary writes, is a core requirement to address the most important question people ask - "what do we do to be reconciled to God?" Those in attendance at The Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost asked Peter that question in Acts 2:37 and Peter responded without hesitation:  

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38

We confess not only because God asks us to, but also because, out of humility and reverence for God, we know that only God can forgive and take away our sins.  He does so because He is full of grace for us - amazing grace. 

The commentary wraps for this theme by contrasting the Old Testament priest (as described throughout Leviticus and elsewhere) who served as a mediator on behalf of the Israelites, to Jesus.  We are referred to Hebrews 4:14-16, where we read that with the sacrifice of Jesus, believers can approach Him with boldness and confidence so "that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who forgives my sin - thank You Jesus!  Amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such grace - my sin continues - harshness towards others, worry, etc. 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. 

...[T]rain yourself for godliness[.]

Leviticus 13-15

...[T]rain yourself for godliness[.] 1 Timothy 4:7

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter thirteen - Unclean! - covering Leviticus 13-15, looking specifically at the third theme - God Cleanses What We Cannot.  Here, the commentary focuses the ritual cleansing discussed in these chapters of Leviticus; as I have posted the past few days, the Israelites with skin disease needed cleansing because of the sin represented by sickness in general as a reminder of humankind's fallen state since the original sin.  The commentary describes the gradual nature of the cleansing process in Leviticus 13-15 as a number of steps were required and the priest was required every step of the way.  The commentary then moves to the process of sanctification for believers in Jesus Christ, and this process is gradual as well as we grow closer to Jesus through the practice of spiritual disciplines. Key to the sanctification process is confession and repentance.  We must be humble, acknowledge, and admit our sin to God and others as a starting point when we turn to Him.  God can and does cleanse us but we must submit and surrender to Him, and through confession and other spiritual disciplines.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has sanctified me and refined me - thank You Jesus!  I know there is more work to do in my heart, but I am grateful for the work You have done and continue to do.  And I recognize that I am undeserving of such blessings.  My sin continues.  Help me confess and turn from my sin, such as worry, towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  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.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Leviticus 8

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter eight - Are You Ready to Serve - covering Leviticus 8:1-8:36, looking specifically at the theme - Seek Purification to Serve.  Here, the commentary focuses on the Old Testament sacrificial system of purification, how Jesus as the New Testament High Priest needed no purification, and how God seeks all those who serve Him to be pure.  To start, the commentary refers to v8:6 to describe how God directed Moses to purify and wash Aaron and his sons for their work in the priesthood.  The commentary then pivots to how in the Second Covenant and New Testament believers have Jesus - the Great High Priest who knew no sin and therefore required no washing or purification (although John the Baptist baptized - see accounts in Matthew, Mark and Luke). We are pointed to Hebrews 4:15 and 7:26-27 where Jesus is described as perfect and sinless.  Finally, the commentary states how Jesus was able to serve because He was "always clean morally and spiritually, so He was always ready to serve Him.  As this chapter of the commentary focuses on believers serving the church and Jesus, if we are to serve, we are urged to "confess our sin and allow God to forgive us[, as] God requires us to be clean in order to serve Him....God wants clean vessels to carry His living water to thirsty people."  On this point, the commentary points us to 2 Timothy 2:20-21.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who lived a perfect sinless life but You nonetheless willingly died on a cross so that I could have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving.  I continue to sin, harshness towards others, etc. and need cleansing and purification.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me turn from it 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.   

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

 Leviticus 5

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter five - Five Eternal, Counter Cultural Truths about God, Us and Our Sin - covering Leviticus 5:1-13, looking specifically at the theme God Requires Confession of Guilt. Building on my post yesterday that focused on how we all sin, including unintentional sin (omission) and with sin resulting from impure or unholy thoughts (hate, lust, envy, etc.), my commentary this morning focuses on confession once we realize our guilt - it is a critical and daily act that we must bring before God as we repent and ask for forgiveness. The commentary discusses how God's intention for confession in the Old Testament was that it be a visual and public display.  In the New Testament, we read in James 5:16 how we are to confess our sins to one another, implying that we at least confess our sins to those perhaps that we have "injured", but also implying that there are occasions when public confession is also appropriate. John Piper provides a thoughtful post on the matter.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed God as You are gracious and compassionate - providing a path for atonement through Your Son Jesus Christ - who died once and for all.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I have impure thoughts and say things that are harmful.  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 Your 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.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 Leviticus 5

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter five - Five Eternal, Counter Cultural Truths about God, Us and Our Sin - covering Leviticus 5:1-13, looking specifically at the theme Transgressing God's Law is Sin. Here, my commentary focuses on our proper response to sin when we are made aware of our sin.  We are to confess and to ask forgiveness - to seek atonement from God.  God gives all of us a conscience, the Word (the Law) and our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us see our sin. Today's verses mention the words  "realizes his guilt" five times and such emphasis highlights the need for confession and atonement. Several sins are described including failure to speak up as a witness to a crime or "indifferent silence" (v5:1), "prolonged impurity" (v5:2-3), and "an unfulfilled promise" (v5:4). The implications of these sins are discussed, including injustice, extended separation from God, and keeping one's word with regard to promises made to God in the context of marriage vows and other vows made before God. Sin offerings are described, including options for those of lesser means. We should recognize that there are no unrighteous laws, that God's law is perfect - nothing should be added or removed - and that it is only through God that we have forgiveness, reconciliation to God, and an ability to be obedient to God.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides a means for understanding my sin and for atonement of this sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this or any of the other blessings You pour out for me.  My sin continues - anger, impatience, etc.  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 appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Leviticus 3

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - looking at chapter three - Peace with God - covering 3:1-17, looking specifically at the theme We Bring Our Lives to God.  My commentary ends this morning by urging us to look at Romans 12:1 and how Paul seeks to have believers offer our lives "as a living sacrifice."  Leviticus 3 specifically discusses the peace offering and how animals served as a substitute for the sinner as the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The commentary also emphasizes how it was expected that confession of sin accompanied sacrifice and how the sacrificial system (still in place now albeit via Jesus Christ vs Old Testament ceremonial sacrifice) included:

1. acknowledgement of (and confession) sin
2. affirmation that God's just penalty for sin is death
3. acknowledgement of the principal of sustitutionary sacrifice - the animal took the worshiper's place
4. seeking of atonement and peace with God

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who provides a path for atonement and peace with You - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You forgive me and provide a path for forgiveness and reconciliation with You.  My sin, of arrogance, worry, impatience, harshness, etc. 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 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.

He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Isaiah 57-59

He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak. Isaiah 59:16-17

Day 199 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 with my study of Isaiah as God seeks to comfort Israel in exile. This morning God's word through Isaiah includes warnings for the wicked (including those who claim to be righteous yet are full of hypocrisy) as they will not be restored - yet those who confess and who are contrite will be "revived":

“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me—the very people I have created. Isaiah 57:15-16

God points to the need for a savior - for justice.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

God then uses Isaiah once again to point to the coming Messiah.  We all sin and need a savior. Jesus Christ is that Savior.  

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. Isaiah 59:21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You sent Your One and only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that I could be reconciled to You, so that I could have the Spirit in and with me always, and so that I could have eternal life with You - and more!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all these blessings - not by a long shot!  I continue to sin...harsh with my words, etc.  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.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin....My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear....For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

Psalm 4, 12, 20, 25, 32, and 38

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin....My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear....For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. Psalms 32:3-5, 38:4, 17-18

Day 124 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and today I start a new grouping "Psalms Expressing a Variety of Sentiments".

Today's psalms focus on how God's mercy demands obedience, how the wicked misuse the gift of speech, prayer for others' welfare and expression of trust, for expression of trust in God and his instruction, the blessedness of confession and forgiveness of sins, and the agony of confession of sin.

The importance of confession strikes me this morning.  David, while certainly a biblical hero, experienced the pain of sin in his life and the Psalms chronicle such pain - in particular Psalm 32 and 38.  John Piper writes that although Christ died "once for all" for our sins (Hebrews 7, 9, 10), we must continue to confess sin - otherwise "we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8) - as a demonstration of how we make war on sin in our lives as Paul directs us to in Colossians 3:5.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has died once and for all for my sins and help me fight the daily battle against sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love and protection - my sin continues.  I do thank You for the incredible grace and compassion You pour out for me but I continue to need it daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and ehlp 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.

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Matthew 26

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” v25

All of us at one point or another in our lives, choose this world over Jesus then we often turn around and deny it...just like Judas does here, like Peter will further on in this chapter, etc.  Whatever pushes us to choose Jesus over this world, whether it be greed, fear, etc. we MUST all acknowledge our sin, ask for Jesus to come into our lives, submit to Him, surrender our live over to Him, and devote our lives as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) to glorify Him for that is why we exist.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God as You willingly laid down Your life for me so that I could have freedom from the sting of sin and death...You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish...among my many sins.  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.