So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”

Numbers 15:37-41

So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” Numbers 15:40-41

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 15:37-41 - God gave Moses commands to give to the people to make tassels for the corners of their garments - as a means to remember and be obedient to all of the commandments of the Lord.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God led Israel out of bondage and they were to remember all that He had done, and out of love for Him God expected Israel to be obedient.  God seeks for us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind and this requires obedience to His commands.  Ultimately, the New Covenant based on Jesus' shed blood did away with the ceremonial law as God lives in believers' hearts (Holy Spirit) and this drives us into His arms as we surrender to Him and seek Him daily as He molds us into more of His image.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Old Testament included both ceremonial and moral law and unfortunately, many went through the motions and/or added to or subtracted from scripture to serve their own purposes and will and not God's will. With exception to a few (remnant), time and time again, the leaders and people of Israel let Him down.  With Jesus, we no longer have the Old Testament sacrificial system and we can go to God directly with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus justifies us in His sight.  
• 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 focusing on obedience.  Claim the promise that if you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13), and that He will renew our heart, mind and life to make us more like Him.  Follow the example of John (1 John 5:3) who wrote that obedience to Him is not a burden. Seek God with all of your heart.   

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves and gives me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, etc. so that I can be encouraged to seek You with all of my heart.  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 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.

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

 Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3

I pause my study of Numbers, to review Proverbs 21:3 - text discussed during my Friday morning men's Bible study.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The most important commandment (per Matthew 22:37-40) is to love God.  However, many church going folk go through the motions with attendance at worship, etc. - at one point in this was me.  I was worshiping a God I did not earnestly know because I was not actively reading the Bible.  For sure there is more work for God to do in me, but I know there is fruit. The text today emphasizes how God wants all of our heart - in everything we do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  A key litmus test is that we find obedience to God is not burdensome (1 John 5:3) - ask yourself this: is obedience to God (think deeply on this and ask for tougher sins like envy, hate in heart, anger, lust in heart, etc.).  Ultimately, God wants all of our heart and life to reflect Him - if we renew our minds through spiritual formation (Bible reading, prayer, etc.), our thoughts and ways are more aligned with His and THEN our offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) is more acceptable and pleasing to God.  
• What do we learn from the text about people: We are all guilty of the sin of obedience out of obligation instead of as a natural response to how He loves us and we seek to please Him.  Turn to Him with all of your heart and not only will you find him but he will do a work in and through you to make you more like Him. 
• 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 forced obedience to God. Claim the promise that if you seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the example of David who was a man after God's heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Seek and love Him with all of your heart.

Comment and discuss this post

 My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that loved me while still hostile and an enemy to You.  You reached down into the pit pulled me out by Your hand and saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  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 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 loved 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.

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

 John 20:1-10

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. John 20:8-9

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 20:1-10, where we see the initial details of Jesus' resurrection.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus rose from the tomb (later starting in v14) - just as prophecy described and Jesus shared He would (see John 2:18-22). Jesus fulfills the law and is faithful to His promises. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Mary Magdalene, Peter and the other disciple seek Jesus, and we see the other disciple believe after entering the tomb and not seeing Jesus but only the burial clothes.  The other disciple had not yet "underst[ood] the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead, but he did now.  Also part of the text is how both Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb (v4) with the other disciple outrunning Peter to the tomb.  God wants us to run after Him - to seek Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind.  This is the most important commandment.  Here we see that the other disciple ran after and sought Jesus and Jesus' promise came true as do all of His promises - that if we seek Him with all of our heart, soul and mind we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
• 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 lack of trust in God.  Claim the promises that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him, and that all of the promises of God find their yes in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). Follow the example of Peter and the other example who ran after God.  Trust in Him as He is faithful.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  I am not deserving of how You save and are so faithful and bless...abundantly.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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.

For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

 John 19:31-37

For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”  And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” John 19:36-37

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 19:31-37, where Jesus is now dead but still hanging from the cross.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv33-34 describe how the soldiers broke the legs of the two crucified with Jesus but did not break Jesus' legs, and they also pierced Jesus' side.  Vv36-37 shares how "these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled," specifically in Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Zechariah 12:10, and Psalm 34:20.  It's once again important to Jesus in all scripture, it points to Jesus, and how Jesus fulfills scripture.  I am led to John 1:1 where scripture says: "[i]n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  Our church is currently doing a sermon series on Exodus and I've been blessed how each time our pastor sermons on the text - he directly and explicitly connects Exodus to Jesus.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: It's quite interesting to see how the Jewish leadership knew Jesus was not guilty of any crime (and Pilate knew this also), yet He was murdered by them.  In v31 the Jewish leaders did want to leave the bodies on the cross on the Sabbath, as they were concerned about violating the law, yet they had no problem killing an innocent man in violation of the command to "not murder" (Exodus 20:13)....hypocrisy. 
• 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 hypocrisy as this undermines you not just personally, but if a believer, the entire church.  Claim the promise that the Word is God and that if you seek Him in the Word you fill find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the example of Jesus who knew the law and knew the Father (as He was sent by the Father) - get to know God.  Seek Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and You provide Your Word so that we can see You in the Word and come to know, understand, and please You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and give me Your Word, the church, and the Holy Spirit to equip me for the mission You give me.  I am not deserving of these 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 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.

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

John 8:12-8:20

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. John 8:15-16

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 8:12-8:20, where Jesus continues to teach in the temple in Jerusalem after the Feast of Booths, and he is once again challenged by the Pharisees.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is the light of the world - v12.  Light allows one to find what they are looking for, and in contrast without light (darkness), we are limited in our ability to find what we seek, and we are trapped. Light is also hope.  When challenged by the Pharisees (that His testimony is false), Jesus issues His own challenge to them by sharing that He was sent by the Father so both He and the Father bear witness to Him (vv17-18), and by standards set in the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, and Numbers 35:30), Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus also challenges the Pharisees that they judge by the flesh and He does not judge by Himself, but with the Father and their judgement is true (of course because they are all knowing).  We also know that from scripture elsewhere that Jesus judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  In v20 Jesus responds to the Pharisees - who ask Him where His Father is (v19) - by challenging them about their lack of knowledge of both Him and the Father - which is quite damning (literally) because if they truly knew the law they would see Him as the Promised Messiah. Once again, we see how nothing can stop God's plan because even though He is in the temple and the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees sought to arrest and kill Jesus, they were unsuccessful because "his hour had not yet come" (v20). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Pharisees do what people often do, they judge without taking the time to understand - this is in contrast to Nicodemus (who was one of them) - see also John 7:50-51.  
• 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 judging - this is God's role - seek to understand one's heart condition.  Claim the promise that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow Nicodemus' example to get to know God - go to God daily in study and prayer.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  You are the light of the world and Your Word is lamp to my feet - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and for the light You provide. 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. 

The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”....Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?

John 7:40-52

The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”....Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does? John 7:46,51

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:40-52, where we see the reactions of people, including from Jewish leadership, to Jesus' teaching on the last day (the great day) of the Feast of Booths.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Nothing can stop God's plan - although the Jewish leadership sent temple guards/officers to arrest Jesus, "no one laid hands on him" (v44).  Once again, although Jesus did go to Judea from Galilee after initially indicating He would not, His statement that His time had not yet come (for His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection) remains true (as all of His statements are true as He is Truth) - see also vv6,8.  There are no contradictions here just God accomplishing His same plan in a different way.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: There will always be people that do not believe that Jesus is who He says He is.  Here, it is the Jewish leadership and some in the crowd that heard Jesus speak - see vv40-43,47-49,52.  The temple guard/officers clearly see that Jesus is different than other men - see v46.  So does Nicodemus (vv50-51) - see John 3:1-15 where Jesus clearly left a mark.  
• 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 seeking your own glory as the Jewish leadership does when they sought to arrest Jesus.  Follow the example of the temple guards/officers and Nicodemus to truly examine and learn about Jesus (and ultimately believe). Claim the promise that Jesus is the Bread of Life, Living Water and that if we believe in Him that Living Water will flow from our heart.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who loves and saves! You are the Bread of Life, the Living Water and You give the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts so that this Living Water flows from our hearts....incredible!  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 continue to 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.

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

 John 7:14-24

So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.  John 7:16-18

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:14-24, where Jesus, now that He is in Jerusalem during the Feast of Booths, starts teaching in the temple.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Although initially hesitant to go into Judea from Galilee because "His time had not yet come" (vv6,8), once there Jesus goes straight to the temple to teach (v14).  RC Sproul identifies preaching of the Word is central to a church and Jesus squarely focuses on teaching as a priority with His ministry.  In response to the Jews who marveled at Jesus' "learning" without "stud[ying]," Jesus responds humbly and shares (vv16-18) that His learning and teaching is not His own but that of the Father who sent Him.  He then shares that anyone seeking to follow the Father's desires will "know" (with certainty or a promise implied) whether Jesus' teaching is from God or not.  This echoes words from Romans 12:2, where Paul writes that as we read God's Word (seek Him and His will for our lives), He renews our mind and gives us the ability to know the inerrancy of God's Word and His will for our lives.  Jesus then challenges the Jews (leadership) as He shares that they share falsehoods and act with hypocrisy because they seek their own authority/glory (v18) and not the will of the Father who authored the very Word they claim to follow.  Jesus' final statement (v24) in response to the Jews is quite pointed as He shares that they judge by appearances (external behaviors) vs understanding someone's heart and intent.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often seek their own glory and emphasize their own authority vs that of God.  This drives pride, arrogance, envy, anger, etc.     
• 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 seeking your own glory and emphasizing your own authority.  Do not judge on appearances.  Claim the promise that if you seek His will, You will understand the authority of God and the inerrancy of His Word.  Follow Jesus' example in humility to know where our learning comes from - in fact - every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).  Understand and do God's will.  Study His Word to discern His will and allow for the renewing of your mind.     

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, Your are an awesome God who loves and saves.  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 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.

Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

 John 6:16-21

Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.  When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. John 6:15b-17

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 6:16-21 - where Jesus walks on water. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. This same account of Jesus walking on water is found in Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V17 shares that Jesus "had not yet come to the [disciples]" who had left the site of the feeding of the five thousand, gotten in a boat and were headed across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (see this map location 5 and its proximity to Capernaum).  Going back to v15 from yesterday's text, we see Jesus remaining on the mountain by Himself where He had fed the five thousand.  Jesus of course is not spending time with Himself for "self-care."  Jesus spends much time alone - to be in prayer and in fellowship with the Father - see the accounts of this story in Matthew and Mark, and also this post.  When Jesus does connect again with the disciples, He is walking on water and calming both the water and the disciples - who were frightened by the sight of Jesus performing this miracle - the disciples (per Matthew and Mark) thought it was a ghost until Jesus gets closer to them. Jesus tells the disciples to not be afraid and the disciples then gladly take Jesus into the boat.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The disciples reaction to Jesus' walking on water stems from an incomplete understanding of who Jesus is.  At this point in the Gospel story, Jesus continues to teach the disciples and reveal Himself to them.  While no believer will have a complete understanding of who Jesus is until he/she meets Jesus face to face upon glorification (going to Heaven), we are nonetheless encouraged to get to know Jesus intimately through daily study of His Word and prayer.  We are then more able to recognize Jesus when He is at work. See also Romans 12:2 we are told to renew our minds so that we can recognize Him and do His will.        
• 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 fear and anxiety.  Claim the promise that God will take care of you either in this life or in Heaven - either way He has you sealed and covered. Follow the example of Jesus to spend time alone in the Word and in prayer.  Trust Jesus.       

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - I know I am covered and sealed for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  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.

For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.

John 4:39-42

For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. John 4:44

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 4:43-45 using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: After spending time in Samaria, Jesus moves on to the north to Galilee (see this map).  He does not go into his hometown of Nazareth because His message is rejected as they don't see Him as the Promised Messiah nor worthy of hearing what He has to say - The text shares how Jesus "had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown" (v44). See also Matthew 13:54–58; Mark 6:1–6, Luke 4:14-30.  God does not soften the heart of those in His hometown but instead allows their hearts to remain hardened to His message. This is clearly a mystery in the Bible - at least for me....for now.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People near and dear to us are often the most difficult with whom to share the gospel - because they perhaps think they know us already and there is not anything about us.  The Galileans, on the other hand welcomed Jesus as the text shares how they saw what He had done in Jerusalem as they were present.  The text is silent about whether they believed or not - only that they welcomed Him.  Perhaps they were interested more in His miracles then His teaching - perhaps both - the text is not clear.      
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid judging another.  The Bible wants us to love and to have mercy.  God alone is judge.  Claim the promise that if you seek Jesus with all of your heart, soul, and mind you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the Galilean example to welcome Jesus. Obey God by showing mercy to others that doubt (Jude 22-23). 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who is full of mercy and love for me - 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 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 when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:39-42

So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:40-42

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 4:39-42 using the Sword Bible Study Method. After a brief focus on the disciples reaction to Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (vv27-30), including their urging that He eat (vv31-37), the text for today comes back to the Samaritan woman's response to Jesus as well as to the response of the Samaritans townspeople.  

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: The text emphasizes God's attribute as omniscient - v39.  Yes, God does act with intent and a plan, but He also responds to requests (aka prayer).  While v40 is not explicitly a prayer per the text, we must see how the Samaritans' request that He "stay with them" as at least something akin to prayer (see also this Bible dictionary entry on prayer).  Jesus is also identified as Savior of the world (v42) and this is key as the gospel message unfolds both in subsequent chapters of John, the other gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke), and throughout the New Testament (particularly Acts and Paul's writings based on His mission journeys.  Jesus seeks for us to take the message to "all nations" (Matthew 28:20).  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The Samaritan's testimony is described as powerful - v39. All believers have a powerful story to tell about how they came to faith.  We may be tempted to not see our story as dramatic or glamorous, but this is nonsense!  God saved each of us while still an enemy and hostile to Him - Romans 5:10 is a powerful reminder to this as this verse shares that we are not only reconciled to God through Christ but also saved...each of us has sin that traps us and God sets us free if we submit to Him and allow Him to work in and through us (see John 15:5). Time with God (vv40-42) is seen as powerful - if we earnestly seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid the sin of omission by falling prey to the false belief that your testimony is not worth hearing.  Follow the Samaritan woman's example by sharing your testimony and the townspeople's example to seek God and to interact with Him.  Claim the promise that Jesus is Savior of the world!  Obey God's command to share the gospel with the whole world.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who loves, saves and works in and through us to make believers like me more like You - 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 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.  

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

John 3:1-21

Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? John 3:11-12

I continue my study of John, and today, I start to unpack John 3:1-21 using the Sword Bible Study Method, looking at vv1-15, and tomorrow I will look at vv16-21.   

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: As Nicodemus questions Him, Jesus prefaces His response with "truly, truly" (3x - vv3,5,11).  He does this to emphasize that what He is saying is absolutely true because He is the King of Kings and source of God's Word (see John 1:1).  Jesus then focuses on the important doctrine of regeneration - that believers must be born again to have faith.  See also Ezekiel 36:26 where God alone gives His people a new heart, replacing the heart of stone with a heart of flesh.  There should be no mystery about how one comes to faith - although it works like the wind (v8) in the sense that the timing or circumstances are not known, faith comes from God alone via the Spirit living in our hearts (Ephesians 2:8).  God wants us to have faith - even when we cannot see or comprehend everything.  It is true that many aspects of faith are hard to understand (more accurately not fully understood on this side of Heaven) but there are aspects of faith that should be absolutely clear from both the OT and NT - we all sin, need a Savior, and Jesus is that Savior (see also Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Romans 3:10, Psalms 14:2-3, 53:2-3).           
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People want answers for everything yet people will find it futile because we cannot understand all there is to understand - see Ecclesiastes 1:1-10. Israel (and any other non believer) did not believe even with both earthly and heavenly signs - see also Romans 1:20. 
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid leaning on own understanding (Proverbs 3:5); but instead acknowledge, trust and follow God; belief in Jesus will give new/transformed life and eternal life; we should follow Nicodemus' example and earnestly seek Him and Truth because God promises that if seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).    

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus!  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.

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Mark 4:1-20

But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. Mark 4:20

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:1-20, moving to vv13-20 which is the text for the third (of three) division per the commentary. Excerpts from the commentary's third division:  

• "[Jesus] starts with a mild chiding. His words note the essential and foundational nature of this parable. If they do not understand this one, they will struggle to understand the others."
• "The sower in this story is Jesus, or anyone who shares the gospel, and the seed is the Word of God. The path represents hard-hearted or tough-minded individuals. The Word comes to them, and “immediately,” as soon as they hear it, Satan snatches it away. They are resistant and thus unresponsive. They suffer from what might be called “gospel deafness.” Like skeptics, they dismiss the Word without giving it careful consideration."
• "The next soil is welcoming but not substantive enough to maintain the growth of the seed. The people represented by this soil hear the Word and receive it with joy. They endure for a while and even show signs of maturity, just as the plant sprouts quickly, grows well at first, and looks promising. However, these people are shallow and have no roots. Soon tribulation and persecution—seen in the “sun” of Jesus’ parable—come because of the presence of the Word. When (not if!) oppression comes, these people “immediately” fall away (4:6,17)."  
• For the next group, "they eventually get distracted by worry, wealth, and craving for other things. Theirs is a partial commitment, which is, in reality, no commitment at all. This present life is more important to them than the life to come, and stuff is more important than the Savior."  
• "The final soil is noticeably different from the first three. It represents those who hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit. Tribulation and persecution do not deter them. Worries, wealth, personal desires, and sinful cravings do not distract them. Their hearing is active, not passive. They aggressively pursue the Word, allow it to take root, and then rejoice in its abundant growth."  
• To emphasize the promise is v20, we are referred to John 15:5 where Jesus shares how we will bear fruit of we abide and remain in Him as He is the True Vine.  The stark truth from the commentary is that if we are not producing fruit we are not connected to God's Word.   

We should develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) so we can claim the promise that we will be satisfied.  Of course at the same time we should time to time, perhaps with the help of a spouse, family, member or brother/sister in Christ, assess whether we are truly bearing fruit.  If not, this is a wake up call because we must avoid not being connected to the True Vine - Christ. We don't want to be tossed about during a storm of persecution, hardship, or suffering.  We seek a firm foundation - to build our house of faith on the Rock of Christ.   

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God that provides Your Word and the Holy Spirit to enable us to read the Bible supernaturally - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation, Your Word, nor how You help me understand 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. 

[Paul prays that believers] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3

     [Paul prays that believers] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18-19

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter fifteen - More Awed by the Glory Revealed than the Glory Concealed.  Here, John Piper encourages us to see how Paul, even though he acknowledges how God's ways are often mysterious, push us to greater maturity in Christ so that God can reveal more of His glory in our journey with Christ.  Piper writes: "[Paul] would say that God is most glorified when we are stunned and admiring and worshipful and joyfully submitted to him because of what we do know about him, not because of what we don’t know about him*."  Piper points to Romans 11:33-36 as very often misunderstood and misused to emphasize the mystery of God whereas Piper shares how it emphasizes not what is NOT revealed but instead on what IS revealed, pointing to the text and how it describes the previous eleven chapters of Romans.  Piper then points out how the previous three verses (Romans 11:30-32) reveal the glory of God's plans for both Jews and Gentiles and exhorts to be amazed at what God reveals. He wraps the chapter by pointing to Ephesians 3, first 3:8-9, then 3:18-19, where Paul exhorts us to follow him to search for God's glory and He will reveal Himself to us. We are encouraged to join Paul on the path as he leads us to tread the heights seeking God's glory.

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose love and ways are certainly incredible and often mysterious but often revealed to us when we search for them.  Thank You for speaking to us directly and through Your Word and others such as leaders in our church.  I am not deserving of the blessing of how You speak and reveal Yourself to me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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 whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

2 Corinthians 5

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how we please God.  John Piper's starting point for this question is an examination of the "character of God revealed in scripture."  Luke 16:14-15 is provided as an example of what does not please God as Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their love of money, status and position - love of the world. At the end of the devotion, Piper provides Psalm 147:11 as the psalmist (likely David) writes the "Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love."  To help us better understand God's character - Piper gives us two contrasting analogies - one a watering trough and the other a mountain spring - as he shares "[i]f you want to glorify the worth of a watering trough, you work hard to keep it full and useful. But if you want to glorify the worth of a spring, you do it by getting down on your hands and knees and drinking to your heart’s satisfaction, until you have the refreshment and strength to go back down in the valley and tell the people what you’ve found." Piper extends the analogy of the mountain spring as he ends the devotion by sharing "God is the kind of God who will be pleased with the one thing I have to offer: my thirst. That’s why the sovereign freedom and self-sufficiency of God are so precious to me: they are the foundation of my hope that God is delighted not by the resourcefulness of bucket brigades, but by the bending down of broken sinners to drink at the fountain of grace."  The devotion ends with Piper exhorting us to seek to please God based on a right view of Him as revealed in scripture - seek Him daily!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion, and abounding in love...for those who seek Him.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace, compassion and love for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings and gifts.  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 then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2

Given I have completed my study of Hebrews, and I have yet to determine my next study, this morning I land on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which this morning looks at Colossians 3:1-2 and how Paul seeks for us to "look at the light beyond the light," which is of course Heaven.  I am convicted listening/reading to this devotion, particularly with how I "skimp" on prayer.  John Piper describes summertime as a period of vacation, outdoor splendors, and of refreshment.  He wants (and of course so does Paul and Jesus!) us to have this refreshment but he seeks for us to get it in Jesus and not be distracted. We are referred to a number of verses that underscore Piper's message:

• Colossians 1:18: Christ is in all of our moments of summer - SEE and experience Him!
• Matthew 11:28: When we seek rest and long for vacation - don't forget how Christ provides ETERNAL rest!
• Jeremiah 29:13: Believers all want to experience MORE of God - God promises that if seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him.
• Acts 3:19-20: Experiencing God means not just turning away from sin but turning towards Him.
• Revelation 21:23: While the sun may gives us joy this summer, we are urged to look towards the light that is everlasting Jesus Christ!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the light beyond the sun of summer and You are eternal and in You I cannot be shaken!  Thank You for how You provide such a light to me.  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  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.

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.

Isaiah 64-66

You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies. Isaiah 66:14

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  My study of Isaiah moves on to day 4 (of 5) of week 23, which will bring my study of Isaiah to a close as it covers Isaiah 64-66.  Day 4 focuses on Isaiah 66, where once again, we see contrasting outcomes for those who practice empty sacrificial rituals and do not truly seek and love God (v3-4, 15-17, 24), vs those who are contrite in heart and humble - fearing and seeking God and loving Him (v2, 10-14).  We see a messianic prophecy and of the final days, and how God's kingdom extends beyond Jerusalem to all nations to include Jews and Gentiles alike.  The outcome of course for those who forsake God is sobering indeed (v24), but believers rejoice in the hope we have in Christ! 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - I am not deserving of my salvation but You saved me anyway...thank You Jesus for the hope You give me.  Yet 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 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 behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.

Isaiah 64-66

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. Isaiah 65:17-20

I resume my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  My study of Isaiah moves on to day 3 (of 5) of week 23, which will bring my study of Isaiah to a close as it covers Isaiah 64-66.  Day 3 focuses on Isaiah 65, and here we see contrasting futures for those who forsake God vs those who seek God.  In v1-5 we see God describing those who forsake Him, even though God desires for all of humanity (starting with Israel) to seek Him as v1 says: "I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am” to a nation that was not called by my name."  This group faces a bleak and scary future of eternal damnation and destruction starting in v5-6 but also as described in v11-12 and in v13-15 (contrasted in alternating verses with God's people - the remnant that sought God and is saved by Him). In v8-10 we see how God will save a remnant and in v13-25 how these people - God's servants and those who seek Him, will be blessed.  Isaiah refers to end times here with descriptions of a new heaven and new earth (v17).  Believers be encouraged how God will bless those who seek Him!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - that You died to give me forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, the church, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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 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. 

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Proverbs 25-29

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Proverbs 25:2

I wrap my study of Proverbs week 9 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 25-29.  My focus for today is the commentary provided at the end of the lesson to assist in the review and understanding of the entire text for the week (Proverbs 25-29).  The commentary provides seven (7) takeaways, using the following text (and other references) as basis for application:

• Proverbs 25:13 (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 3:1-3, Mark 1:1-3, Luke 1:76-79) points to a faithful messenger and other scripture clarifies how the OT pointed to Jesus as this faithful messenger.
• Proverbs 28:13 (1 John 1:6-9, Exodus 34:6, Hebrews 4:16) shows how God is full of mercy for those who repent and receive His forgiveness. 
• Proverbs 25:4 (Jeremiah 18:4, Romans 9:21, Hebrews 12:7-11) encourages us to see how God sanctifies His people through the refiner's fire.
  
• Proverbs 25:26 (Ezekiel 34:18-19, Revelation 3:15-16) warns believers against lukewarm faith.
• Proverbs 28:14 (Exodus 4:21, 7:3, 8:15, 9:12, 34, 10:20, Romans 9:1-18, Hebrews 3:7-12) encourages believers to guard against influences that may harden our hearts.
• Proverbs 25:2 (Deuteronomy 29:29, Romans 11:33) seeks for us to appreciate the mystery of God.
• Proverbs 29:25 (Jeremiah 17:5-10) describes how seeking the approval of men (over God) is a snare and idolatry.

Proverbs 25:2, in particular this morning, encourages me to continue to press into my Bible study.  This DesiringGod.com post indicates "[v]ery often, God is not interested in merely handing us the truth; he instead wants us to hunt for it[.]" Believers should relish the hunt!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and Your thoughts and ways are a mystery but You bless those who seek wisdom.  My search for wisdom continues and will will continue until I am home with You but You bless me as I search for truth.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless 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 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.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

Proverbs 8

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. Proverbs 8:34

Today, I resumed my study of Proverbs, looking closely at chapter 8. The first five questions of my study focus on how God makes wisdom easy to access, understand, and follow - as long as we seek wisdom.  The questions also focus on how wisdom instills a hatred of evil and on how it provides practical benefits in our day-to-day lives. Yet core to obtaining wisdom is found in a desire to seek it and to value it.  Wisdom, in Proverbs 8 (per my study) is described as an attribute of God's character.  We must go to God daily, watching at His gates and waiting beside His doors. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are more valuable than silver and gold and worthy of my life as a living sacrifice - I know I exist to glorify You and You are worthy.  You are the Creator and my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me daily.  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.

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:3, 27

This morning, I pause my study of Isaiah to listen to DesiringGod.com's daily devotion.  Here, John Piper emphasizes how God knows believers fully and intimately - this includes all of our sin and brokenness. This should be highly encouraging because we all want to be loved just as we are.  God does have an expectation that we submit to Him and He will refine and sanctify us, and this may be at times a painful process, but this process is good and for God's glory (and we exist for God's glory). We know that God never leaves or forsakes us, and if we seek Him, we will find Him. We should also approach God confidently.

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 4:15-16 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - You know everything about me, including my sin and brokenness, yet You still love me - incredible.  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin is great, it is daily, 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 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.