Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:10-20 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul describes believers are to equip and defend themselves against spiritual warfare.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God does not leave us unprotected in spiritual warfare - He equips us and we also have the assurance that the battle is already won.  We are armed just as Jesus was armed during His time with His earthly ministry.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv10-12: It is only through God that we can defend against "the schemes of the devil" and "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  We are to be strong "in the strength of his might" - not in our own strength.  Vv13-18: Describes how God equips how believers are given "the whole armor of God" to be equipped for spiritual warfare - we are able to "withstand" and "stand firm."  The belt of truth - based on His Word - helps us defend in the same way Jesus defended Himself in the wilderness - see also Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13. The breastplate of righteousness is imputed righteousness through the doctrine of justification.  Believers are righteous in God's eyes and not condemned to death which is "the wages of sin" (Romans 6:23).  We have the peace of God, a peace that surpasses understanding which "guard[s] [our] hearts and...minds in Christ Jesus" - see Philippians 4:7. We have the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation - faith gives us the assurance that God is always at work and that regardless of what is thrown at us God will never leave or forsake us.  Our salvation is sealed and guaranteed. We also have the Holy Spirit in us, His Word, and we have prayer.   
• 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 thinking you can defeat Satan in your own strength.  Claim the promise that God equips us and the battle is already won.  Follow the example of Jesus who relied on the same defenses that God gives us to defeat sin and death.  We are to be alert, and to put on the "whole armor of God," including prayer not just for ourselves but for all the saints....that we boldly "proclaim the mystery of the gospel."

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for equipping me to defeat sin and death.  I know that You will never leave or forsake me and that my salvation is sealed and guaranteed.  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You also for my salvation and for the mercies and blessings You pour out for me every day.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for 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 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 the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

 John 12:9-12

So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. John 12:10-11

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 12:9-12, where we see efforts to arrest and kill Jesus begin to reach a fever pitch.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The text describes pure evil as the chief priests not only sought to kill Jesus, but Lazarus as well.  The crime committed by Lazarus, in the eyes of the chief priests, was that he was raised from the dead by Jesus and instantly became a powerful witness for others to believe in Jesus.  We need constant reminders that sin exists in the world since the Fall (Genesis 3) and we need to be on guard (1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:10-18).  God not only allowed this, but this is part of a part of His perfect plan to bring as many to Himself for salvation as possible - we all sin and need a savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Persecution of faith occurs in many forms and while here in the U.S. we don't face the same threat of physical harm as believers in other parts of the world do, we do face scorn and persecution.  Believers need to stand firm in the faith.          
• 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 being passive with your faith.  Claim the promise that, yes we can face persecution, but either in this world or for eternity God is always with us and He will be our refuge.  Boldly proclaim the gospel and your faith - follow the example of Jesus who did not back down.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, protects, and saves.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings that You pour out for me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

Mark 16:1-8

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:6-7

I continue my study of Mark, focusing on Mark 16:1-8.  

Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus inspires devotion, love and service as Mary Magdalene and Mary - Jesus' mother - go to the tomb where Jesus is buried to anoint Him with spices - vv1-2.  The angel in the tomb shares to Mary Magdalene and Mary that Jesus has risen - He is no longer in the tomb - vv6-7.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Mary Magdalene and Mary are alarmed at the scene they encounter both at the tomb entrance and in the tomb as the very large stone sealing the tomb had been rolled away - vv3-4 - and in the tomb Jesus was not there but an angel instead sharing that Jesus had risen - vv5-6.  While one may appreciate that this is alarming, we should also remember that Mary Magdalene and Mary had seen Jesus perform many miracles during His ministry time, and almost certainly had at least heard of Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11).  Mary Magdalene and Mary understood that Jesus had the power to raise Himself from the dead, but at this point fail to make the connection that Jesus had earlier that same week (Passion Week/Holy Week) shared that He would rise (see John 2:19-21). Although the angel tells Mary Magdalene and Mary to not be alarmed and that they will find Jesus "going before Peter and the disciples to Galilee" (v7), they are still trembling, astonished, afraid, and fled the tomb (v8).     
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): God does not want us to fear - do not fear.  This is a tough one because of course, although Jesus tells us that with Him we will overcome the world (John 16:33)- the temptation to fear is great. We should claim this promise that the victory over sin and death is already won.  We should obey God to abide in Him so that we can stand firm in the faith (John 15) and avoid fear...trust God (and His messengers such as the angel in the text).      

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves....You rose from the grave just as You promised You would and You are faithful to Your Word.  I am not deserving of what You did on the cross for me, for how You reveal Yourself to me in the Word, and for Your faithfulness.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Mark 14:53-72

And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:72

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the second division of the text from Mark 14:53-72 - vv66-72.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv66-72: (1) God in the text: Jesus is secondary in this text; (2) people in the text: Peter denies Jesus three times just as Jesus said would happen in vv26-30; Peter invokes a curse upon himself in v71 in an apparent reference to breaking a command found in Leviticus 5:4-6; as Peter remembers Jesus' words prophesying this, Peter weeps (v72); the servant girl of the high priest and others correctly identify Peter as "with the Nazerene (v67), of them (v69), and of them...a Galilean (v70); (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: believers should not deny Jesus nor swear an oath or bear false witness as Peter did - we should stand firm in our faith and belief in Jesus and trust that He is with us and will strengthen us and protect us (either physically or spiritually in the case of death).  

Excerpts from the commentary's second (of two) division: 

• The title of the first division is "Peter Models the Unfaithful Witness as to Who He Is for."
• "Peter failed the Lord three times in the garden of Gethsemane (vv37-42). Now he fails Him three times in the courtyard of the high priest. Initially, he failed Him by sleeping when he should have been praying. Now he fails Him by denying Him when he should have confessed Him. The rock named Peter crumbles and is pulverized under the pressure."
• "At the very moment he was voicing his third denial, Jesus “turned and looked at Peter” (Luke 22:61)."
• Peter's repentance is not specifically mentioned in text but this commentary and John Piper imply a repentance and restoration via Peter's tears (see also Luke 22:62), and Jesus' interactions with Peter after Jesus' resurrection (John 21:15-19); see John Piper's post on this at DesiringGod.com.  
• "Peter would repent, turn to Christ for forgiveness, and receive a full pardon. By contrast Judas would only feel regret, run to the religious leaders to try to make amends, and go out and hang himself (Matthew 27:5). If only he had turned again to the Lord Jesus like Peter. Though his sin was great, he would have discovered that God’s grace was even greater."

Comment and discuss this post. 

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

I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.

Mark 14:53-72

I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:53-72 - vv53-65.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv53-65: (1) God in the text: Jesus is led to the high priest after His arrest (v53); Jesus is subjected to trial before the temple chief priests, elders, and scribes where they sought evidence to convict Jesus of blasphemy (vv53, 55); despite this questioning and false witness (v56-59), etc. there was no evidence that Jesus committed blasphemy (or any other sin) (v55); Jesus was silent in the face of all questioning except the questioning from the chief priest who sought to confirm Jesus identity as Christ the Son of the Blessed (v61) - to this Jesus said yes and pointed to His second coming (v62); Jesus was mocked, covered and spat upon (v65); (2) people in the text: Peter followed Jesus "at a distance - warming himself" focusing on his comfort vs the persecution of Jesus (v54); Peter denies Jesus just as prophesied during the Last Supper (vv26-31); the chief priests, elders, and scribes falsely accused Jesus of blasphemy against God yet ironically it was them who were blasphemous as Jesus confirms His identity to them and yet they still seek to condemn based on false charges they made up; (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should love God first (most important commandment) and not blaspheme Him; we should claim the promise that Jesus is the Son of God and He is worthy of all worship; and also rest in the promise that He will return; we should stand firm in our faith during trials and trust in Him; we should follow Jesus example to seek God's will for our lives and follow His will.  

Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of two) division: 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The Beginning of the End for the Great King," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv53-72) is "[e]ven amid the falling away of all His followers, Jesus remained faithful to His calling."
• The title of the first division is "Jesus Makes the Faithful Witness as to Who He Is."  
• "[Jesus'] final hours were unjust and illegal. Jesus endured six hearings in a matter of hours—three ecclesiastical trials before the Jewish In the case of our Savior, not only was life unfair; His final hours were unjust and illegal. Jesus endured six hearings in a matter of hours—three ecclesiastical trials before the Jewish religious authorities and three civil trials before the Roman political authorities (Matthew 26–27; Mark 14–15; Luke 22–23; John 18–19). It is difficult to count up all the violations of Jewish law."
• Fulfilling scripture just as written (Isaiah 53:7) Jesus remains silent as He is questioned - the only time Jesus speaks is to reveal the "messianic secret" that Jesus sought to keep under wraps during His time in ministry. He is the Son of God.   

Comment and discuss this post. 

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

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mark 13:24-37

So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Mark 13:29

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 13:24-37.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv28-31):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Jesus Will Come Again, and the Time Is Near." 
• "Jesus drops an interpretive bomb in verse 30: “I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.” The question is, Who is “this generation”? The answer is not a simple one, and how you understand and interpret other parts of Mark 13 will influence how you answer the question."  
• The commentary offers four prevailing views on this question: "(1) The contemporary generation of Jesus’ day who would see the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. (2) The eschatological generation that will be alive at the end of history who will see all these things because they occur in close proximity to one another. (3) The Jewish people, with the word “generation” being understood to mean “race”—a particular race of people. (4) The generation of Jesus’ day who would see the coming of the kingdom."   
• View (2) is what is presented as the most biblically supported. "This generation refers to those who will see all these things occur in rapid-fire succession just before Jesus comes again. I believe the future tribulation (v. 24) will be a period of seven years." See also Daniel 9:27, Revelation 7:14, 11:3, 12:4, 6, and 13:5.   
• Per v31, the end of times promises finality for all things of this world that many hold dear and all that will remain will be God, His elect, and what He has created for God's elect - the New Jerusalem. We can take comfort from God's words.  "Nothing is so true, stable, permanent, and abiding as the word of our Lord. Here is a firm foundation on which we can stand forever. No wonder the prophet Isaiah was inspired to write, “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8; cf. 51:6)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who saves, who is eternal and whose Word is eternal.  Thank You Jesus for Your Word that offers not just salvation, but also great comfort and encouragement in how it gives us confidence - Your Promises always come to pass so You are faithful in what You tell us will happen.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You comfort with 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 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. 

Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

Mark 6:14-29

Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. Mark 6:20

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 6:14-29. Excerpts from second (of three) division (vv17-20):

• The title of the first division per the commentary: "Expect That Some Will Try to Stop You." 
• John spoke truth to Herod about the sinful marriage he had with Herodias - the commentary refers us to Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21.  This drove Herodias to seek John's death. 
• The commentary contrasts John's boldness in telling the truth about sin vs Herod's fear.  Note also, Herod's weakness in the face of his ruthless wife's desire to kill John. Herod knew in his heart John was correct about the sin but would not stand firm against his wife nor obey John to repent. 
• Note below an excerpt from the commentary comparing John to Herod. 

 

• Herodias needed the right moment to seize to put John to death thereby eliminating opposition to her marriage. This moment is about to arrive in the next division vv21-29.

Once again, as posted a couple of days ago, John stood firm in speaking truth to anyone, including those in power such as Herod.  I am drawn to the assassination of Charlie Kirk - another faithful man who spoke truth to power. We should all pray that we would submit to God to such an extent that we would speak  boldly - even to power - about Jesus and the Gospel.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus! Thank You for Your Word that allows the Holy Spirit to work in my life.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You work in my life.  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 will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Exodus 14:14

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 15: The Firmness of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "The majority of mortals are not strong enough to be themselves: they become echoes of their neighbors and walk in paths marked out by others. There is a spirit of the age which leaves its impress on every mind. Even the mightiest men cannot free themselves entirely from it."
• "But when we come to Jesus of Nazareth we are in the presence of a man whom nobody swerved or dominated, who is so free from the bias of his race and so clean of the spirit of his age that he seems to belong to all races and all ages. He is not the Son of David but the Son of Man, just genuinely, supremely human. He is not a citizen of the first century only, but the contemporary of each succeeding generation. Immersed in an ocean of mighty forces which beat upon him furiously through every hour of his career, he resisted them all successfully by the indomitable energy of a victorious will, living a life unique in its beauty and achieving a work unmarred by the limitations either of time or place. That he was not insensible to the dominant forces of his time, he himself has told us in the story of the temptation." See Matthew 4:1-11.
• "Who is a man that he should set himself against the expressed wish of a nation? Is it not through the people that God makes his wishes known, and what is it but egotism or insanity which would lead an individual to set his judgment against the judgment of the people ? This is the argument whose sharp edge many a leader has felt, and Jesus of Nazareth felt it too. Wherever he went he heard the people clamoring for a king, a king who should rise to supremacy over the wrecked empire of Caesar.  The nation was ripe for revolution. A word from him would, like a spark, have kindled a mighty conflagration. Expectations had been built up by men anointed by Jehovah, and these expectations were glowing hot, and how could Jesus hope to win the attention of his people or control the current of their life unless he fell in with their ideals and attempted to carry out the program on which their hearts were set? It was a great temptation, so terrific that he told his apostles all about it.  He assured them that in this temptation he had been wrestling with the very prince of infernal powers, but that notwithstanding repeated assaults he had come out of the conflict victorious. In choosing the road which led to supremacy by way of Gethsemane and Golgotha, he renounced the ideals of his countrymen and disappointed their dearest expectations, but so firm was he that the hosts of hell speaking through God's chosen people could not move him from his place. The nation hurled itself with frantic force against him, but he did not budge. He was the Rock of Ages. When we study his life with attentive eyes we see it was one long resistance to the forces of his age."
• "There were many reasons why Jesus should have conformed to the ideas and customs of the church, but he firmly resisted all the voices which urged him toward conformity, standing out alone in defiance of what the best men were doing and saying, notwithstanding his nonconformity seemed to the majority impiety and to many blasphemy. For a godly man to be classed among blasphemers is one of the bitterest experiences which the heart can know. But Jesus paid the price and continued firm."
• "Jesus could not be manipulated. He refused to be used. One party after another tried to work him into its scheme, but he was incorrigibly intractable and went on his way independent, unshackled, free. All the seductions offered by the men who sat on thrones could not swerve him from his course, and although his steadfastness made him enemies and finally nailed him to the cross, he was everywhere and always a man who could not be moved." 
• "Jesus could not be manipulated even by his friends. He had many friends in Nazareth, but he never gave up his principles to please them. They had their prejudices and superstitions, but he never surrendered to them."
• "The most tender and gracious and obliging of men is compelled to resist not only the prayers of his countrymen but the wishes of his family and friends. He stands like a rock in the midst of a troubled sea, and all its billows dash themselves against his feet in vain. There was something inflexible in his will, something granitic in his soul. When he found a man whom he thought worthy to be the first member of his church he called him "rock.  Are we to infer from this that it is the rock-like quality which is indispensable in the building of an institution which shall endure? It is certain that Jesus loved stability in others, and what he loved in others he had super-abundantly in himself. Firm himself, he loved men who could not be moved."
• "Salvation could not be offered to any one who did not endure to the end. It is in this tenacity of will that we find an indispensable element of Christian character. Men are to resist exterior forces and form their life from within. They are not to be swayed by current opinion, but by the spirit of the Eternal in their heart. They are not to listen to the voices of time, but to live and work for eternity. We like this steadfastness in human character, and we also crave it in God. Men have always loved to think of Him as the unchanging and the unchangeable, the one "with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning." And what we desire in God we find in Jesus of Nazareth."
• "From age to age he is about his Father's business, and in the midst of all nations and kindreds and tongues he goes about doing good." 

While the commentary provides ample evidence of Jesus’ firmness in scripture, the Holy Spirit guides me to additional examples in scripture of how we as believers must also be firm.  An unwavering faith – resisting temptations to either lack trust in God to provide and protect, or to act outside of God’s commands in the face of worldly temptations and persecution –  demonstrates firmness consistent with Jesus’ own character and what He commands and expects from us.  Two examples where firmness was not displayed - even among biblical heroes - was when Peter denied knowing Jesus upon Jesus' arrest (see Mark 14:66-72), and Abraham lying that Sarah was his sister (see Genesis 20:1-2).  Believers know that temptations will arise and that the only way to battle these temptations is with the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20).  Exodus 14:14 tells us to be "still" or "silent" and to trust in God vs falling prey to temptations where we seek to take things into our own hands (acting outside God's counsel). Philippians 1:27 and Romans 12:2 urge us to stand firm in our faith and not to conform to the patterns of this world - instead we are to be transformed by the renewal of our mind so that we know God's will for us. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and is always there with Your Word, the Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters in Christ and more to help us to be firm and from falling prey to the patterns of this world.  Thank You Jesus for the full armor of God.  I am not deserving of how richly You save and bless!  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.