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.

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes.

Zechariah 9:1-8

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes. Zechariah 9:8

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 9:1-8, which the commentary outlines as the first of three divisions for the text 9:1-9:17 (9:1-8, 9-13, 14-17). Here, as the heading of the text describes - God pronounces judgement on the enemies of His people, and specifically mentioned are cities in the north what is now known as Lebanon and cities in what is now known as the West Bank.  Chapter 8 shares how Israel, now returned from exile and captivity, are to experience peace and prosperity, living in fellowship with God. Chapter 9 speaks directly to Israel's enemies and how, although they once oppressed God's people, will no longer as God declares in v8, supported by vv1-7.  Influences of non-believers have always been a challenge in redemptive history and until end times will continue to be.  These influences often lead us away from God into sin, and sometimes lead us into harsh times.  In the face of these influences we can be comforted by a God that desires to protect us and He is jealous for us.  Of course we must have a repentant heart and seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God that lives in my heart and in my life and I know I can call on You and You will answer - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a God...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 thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

Zechariah 8:1-17

For thus says the LORD of hosts: “As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.” Zechariah 8:14-17

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 8:1-17, which the commentary outlines as the fifth of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17). Here God offers great words of encouragement to His people in their journey as they settle once again in Jerusalem having returned from captivity and exile.  They are exhorted to rebuild the temple that was destroyed by neighboring countries. God paints an idyllic picture of life in fellowship with Him, including how both young and old will enjoy life in the streets of the city, which will experience peace and prosperity.  Vv14-17 compares the state of things prior to exile and how God punished His people for turning their back on Him to how He will restore His people and their city to peace and prosperity.  The text ends with a refrain from Zechariah 7:8-10 where God instructs His people to keep commandments relating to loving one another.  One could be tempted to think an earthly peace and prosperity is what God promises to those who believe and follow Him.  Yet this is not the case - on the contrary.  John 16:33 shares how believers will have trouble - trials and tribulations.  This same verse also shares how God helps us have a supernatural peace knowing that God has already defeated sin and death - the ultimate victory - and this provides us with a strong measure of comfort and a peace that surpasses (an earthly) understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father, You are a good, good Father - so good to me in how You never leave or forsake me, seeing through all trials and tribulations.  I am SO grateful that You saved me and You continue to walk with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

 Zechariah 2:1-13

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.” Zechariah 2:10-12

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 2:1-13, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13).  Here, we see another vision - this time of two angels, delivering of message to God's people promising stability, prosperity, and protection from the Lord - see vv1-5. This message of restoration, following a period of captivity and exile in Babylonia.  V6 shares how God will bring about punishment for those who oppress Judah, including Babylonia.  Vv10-12 offer great encouragement to Judah and by extension all of God's people who feel oppressed and separated from God's love.  God's people are to sing and rejoice as God will be in our midst - alas He is as Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, Emmanuel.  We will enjoy fellowship with God as He will always be with us via the Holy Spirit.  God's glory will be such that many nations will "join themselves to the Lord."  How incredible!  What a vision and prophecy of how God will make His name great for all the world to see.  Certainly a message appropriate for Christmas!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being in my midst, giving me fellowship with You.  What an incredible blessing!  I am not deserving of how You live in my heart, and how You send the Holy Spirit to be amongst Your people.  I am not deserving of how I can never be separated from Your love.  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. 

 

Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.

 Zechariah 1:14-17

Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:16

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 1:14-17, which the commentary outlines as the second of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13).  Here, the commentary emphasizes God's mercy towards His people.  It shares how they were deserving of punishment, which of course was captivity and exile, but the oppression of Israel by neighboring nations greatly angered God (v15), whereas His people's wickedness did not trigger the same level of anger.  As a result, God showed mercy towards Jerusalem and His people - as prophesied in Deuteronomy 30:1-3.  The commentary describes four promises made to Zechariah and Israel from the text:

1. His returned presence: v16a
   
2. Restored stability: v16b
   
3. Rich blessing: v17a
   
4. Renewed favor: v17b
   

The commentary offers encouragement to all who seek comfort: "Whoever you are, wherever you have been, and whatever you have done, God longs to be merciful to you...You can come to the God of the universe, throw yourself at His feet, and He will show you mercy. God extends His mercy to us because of the cross of Jesus Christ. God’s people can count on His overflowing mercy." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your grace is amazing indeed and Your mercies are new every morning and never cease - thank You Jesus for Your amazing grace and mercies.  I am not deserving...of course not!  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.

Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.

 Zechariah 1:14-17

Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:16-17

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 1:14-17, which the commentary outlines as the second of four divisions for the text vv1:7-2:13 (1:7-13, 1:14-17, 1:18-21, 2:1-13).  Here, v14 shares how God is "exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion."  God does not need it but He seeks glory for Himself only and He is jealous when His people give away their worship and glory to other gods that cannot compare to the One True God.  God is also angry with Judah's neighbors who have oppressed God's people and led them astray with worship of foreign gods - God is angry that these neighbors are at peace while God's people are struggling.  Vv16-17 then pivots to how God has "returned to Jerusalem with mercy," and how God's people will once again experience prosperity and the comfort of being in the arms of God.  Key once again to this prosperity, comfort, and fellowship with God is repentance of God's people.  God's patience is not unlimited and He is all powerful - knowing this and keeping in mind He knows all of our sin, we should run into His arms and stay there as reverent fear of God should serve as a preservative, keeping us from straying from Him.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of grace and mercy that never ceases...thank You Jesus for this grace and mercy and that I can never be separated from Your love.  Amazing indeed.  Yet I am undeserving of such grace, mercy and love.  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 looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.

 Haggai 1:7-11

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors. Haggai 1:9-11

I resume my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 1:7-11, the fourth sub-division.  The commentary entitles this subdivision as Repenting Will Point Them to God’s Pleasure.  Here, God calls Israel to repent and to resume rebuilding of the temple (vv7-8).  He then reminds them of how a pursuit of self-desire and self-worship led to God turning away and withholding His provision.  Excerpts from the commentary:

• Believers should heed this message to consider our ways - our sin of course - and turn towards God to transform our hearts and lives to be more like Him.  Repentance and heart change is key (see also Proverbs 4:23 and Matthew 5:21-30) as behavior change follows heart change.
  
• VV9-11 describes that if you don't repent God withholds the blessings that flow from fellowship with Him. 
• "[People] can repent, follow God’s way, and flourish as they find themselves in harmony with the world as God intended it; or they can reject repentance and risk God’s wrath as He actively works against them, keeping them from flourishing."
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I have experienced with my own eyes how obedience to Your commands and a relationship with You is good and You satisfy as no other can - You ARE the Living Water!  Thank You Jesus for the blessings You pour out daily for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings nor my salvation.  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 as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.

Zephaniah 3:9-20

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. Zephaniah 3:14-15

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zephaniah 3:14-15, which is the text for the fifth division for the commentary's chapter on 3:9-20 (six divisions in total). Here the text continues to describe how God restores the faithful remnant of Judah (see post yesterday and text focusing on those "who are left").  God seeks for this remnant to rejoice and exult "with all your heart."  Why?  The text tells us why: (1) God has taken away the consequences of our sin, (2) He has taken away our enemies, (3) He is in our midst, and (4) we shall never again fear evil.  Of course such a message rings true for not just Judah but also all believers!  Excerpts from the commentary on this text:

• "The appropriate response to the redemptive work of God among His people is to throw a party. This is precisely what God is communicating. What’s more, this is not just a momentary celebration. The understanding here is that this is their new way of life. This is not just a fleeting, volitional choice to “sing for joy” or “shout loudly.” This is a transformation of the heart. Israel was heading toward certain judgment and death, but instead they have inherited the grace of God. There is much to be excited about!"
• Believers are referred to Hebrews 2:14-15 where the same message is described in the New Testament. 
• This message from Zephaniah serves as a prophecy for Jesus who is described in Matthew 1:23 as Immanuel, "God is with us."
• We are reminded that while some believe Heaven is ultimately our goal, this is not the case as Heaven is described as a benefit but not the goal.  Reconciliation with God as described in the text today is the goal. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace and compassion for me.  Taking away my sin, loving me while still hostile and an enemy towards You...and saving 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.

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:9-20

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a unassisted review of Zephaniah 3:9-20, which is the text for next chapter of my commentary.  Zephaniah's message from the Lord up until this moment (chapter 1 and 2 and chapter 3 so far) has been harsh (but warranted) as God renders judgement not just on Judah but also her neighbors.  Judah has been full of pride and spurning God (see Zephaniah 3:1-2).  Now, remarkably, in 3:9-20 we see God's amazing grace - this is a great example of how God loved us (believers) while we were still slave to our sin, softened our heart towards Him and saved us (see also Romans 5:8) - not because of anything we did (see also Ephesians 2:8).  Of the many blessings from Zephaniah 3:9-20:

• No condemnation, forgiveness - v11
• Freedom from pride, lies and deceit as sin - v11
• Peace of mind - v13
• Joy - v14
• Protection - v15
• Fellowship with God - v17
• Will make God's people a renowned name (for His glory) - v20
• Restored fortunes - v20
  

Of course, those who remain proud and haughty will not experience restoration as God will remove from Judah's midst those who remain "proudly exultant" (v11).  This is similar to Adam and Eve's separation from God after their sin and the Fall (Genesis 3). What a terrible thing to be separated from God's love at any point - believers can take great comfort in knowing that nothing can separate us from His love (see also Romans 8:38-39).  His mercies are new every morning and never cease (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for rejoicing over me with gladness and exult over me with singing, and for quieting me with Your love...and of course saving me!  I am not deserving....no.  My sin 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.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 1 John 1:5-6

In preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, this entire week my focus is on our course of study which is 1 John.  This Sunday, in particular, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John, we explore 1 John 1:5-10 which is covered in two parts.  Excerpts from Part 1, entitled Fake Christians Walk in Darkness:   

• This video explores vv5-6
• V5 describes how God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all; if you have fellowship with God you are in light and cannot have darkness
• V6 describes how if say we have fellowship with God while walking in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth
  
• See also 1 John 4:7-8 which describes a similar message, and Piper shares how we can exchange light for love because God is both attributes; people are originally darkened, then upon election and justification, they have fellowship with God and walk in light see also 1 John 1:1-4, John 8:12 
• See John 12:36, John 1:14, and 1 John 2:8-11; Piper uses these texts to describe how this light produces light and life and it is given in connection with Jesus; you see and become, then shine this light; Piper describes how you can exchange Word for light, and glory for light when you see the light.
  
• God is light - He sends Christ as the light of life, then as we have light, we shine with light and love others; when you come into relationship with Christ, You are given life and light that shines and this is love.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good - Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and You enable me to walk in obedience to You.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I know I continue to stumble as my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards Your.  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 Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.]

1 Peter 3

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] 1 Peter 3:18

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at what John Piper describes as "the greatest good of the good news - the gospel - [and how it] is the enjoyment of fellowship with God himself." Piper shares how this is explicit in the verse highlighted in the devotion today - 1 Peter 3:18.  He continues: "[a]ll the other gifts of the gospel exist to make this one possible[, including:]

• "We are forgiven so that our guilt does not keep us away from God."
• "We are justified so that our condemnation does not keep us away from God."
• "God is propitiated so that his wrath doesn’t stand between us and God as our Father."
• "We are given eternal life now, with new bodies in the resurrection, so that we have the capacities for being with God forever and enjoying God to the fullest."

Piper concludes the devotion today by writing that the love of God is ultimately expressed in Jesus Christ.  Sin separates us from God but Christ restored us to Himself - not just once but for eternity.  And the result is that we have life to the full now and for eternity (see also John 10:10). Piper's final words for today are to refer us to Psalm 16:11. Amen and praise God!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good that You came so that I could continue fellowship with God!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You restored me to Yourself.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

 Leviticus 24

 I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:48-51

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twenty-one - In God's Presence  - covering Leviticus 24:1-23, looking specifically at the second theme for the chapter - We Fellowship with God Intimately.  Here, as the theme aptly describes, the commentary theme for today emphasizes how we are to fellowship with God in study of God's Word and in prayer.  Using Leviticus 24:5-9 as the scriptural basis for such emphasis, the commentary looks specifically at v8 where it says "[e]very Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange [the bread or fellowship offering] before the Lord regularly," and v8-9 where the priests are commanded by God to offer the bread as a permanent due. V9 also describes how the priests are, once the bread from the day before is removed from the "table of pure gold" and the new bread replaces the old bread, the old bread is to eaten by the priests and enjoyed in fellowship with God within the tabernacle. The twelve loaves of bread of course represents all of the tribes of Israel and the commentary then connects the dots for us by stating that "God invited all His people to fellowship with Him."

The commentary then pivots to the New Testament and how believers are commanded by God to be in fellowship with Him.  1 Corinthians 1:9 and Hebrews 4:14, 16 are provided as scriptural references for how God called us into fellowship with Him and encourages us approach Him with confidence to receive mercy and grace. In John 6:51 Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Life.  Acts 2:42-47 describes the new church that formed on Pentecost (specifically Acts 2:46-47) and how "day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people." Both Matthew 6 and Luke 11 describe how Jesus taught us how to pray by asking Him to "[g]ive us this/each day our daily bread."

Comment and discuss this post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You are the Bread of Life!  You feed me in ALL ways and in the most important way - spiritually!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You fellowship with me.  I sin...slander, gossip, 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.   

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.

Leviticus 3

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Ecclesiastes 5:1

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 Enjoy Fellowship with God.  Here the commentary focuses on the order of the sacrifices as laid out in Leviticus 1-3:

1. Leviticus 1: burnt offering represents atonement for sin
2. Leviticus 2: grain offering represents thanksgiving, gratitude, and worship of God
   
3. Leviticus 3: peace offering represents reconciliation (peace) with God

 This third offering, the peace offering is described in my commentary as enabling us to be "ready for communion with God.  We fellowship with Him.  Fellowship with God is not like fellowship with anyone else. Because of His holiness, our sin must be removed and because He is God, we have to come into His presence carefully."  We are urged to look elsewhere in scripture where it discusses a proper approach to worship - see Ecclesiastes 5:1 and Exodus 3:5.  The message is clear - God cares about how we approach Him. The commentary also seeks for us to look at Genesis 37 where Joseph's brothers were unable "speak peacefully to [Joseph]."  The commentary indicates that the same word "peacefully" is the same word translated and used Leviticus 3. Throughout the Bible this word is used to discuss peace between others and - He wants us to be on good terms with Him.  The commentary also points us to Leviticus 7 where God describes how He directs worshipers to use part of the animal sacrifice for a meal that is be consumed in the temple area. "[E]ating in the presence of God symbolized fellowship with God--a happy, right relationship with God." Such a fellowship offering is now represented through Jesus as communion. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You loved me while I was an enemy of Yours and You died for me...You also provide for me in immeasurable ways and You desire fellowship with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin continues.  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.