Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will....To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some....Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Matthew 27, Mark 15, and Luke 23, John 18-19

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will....To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some....Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 10:32-33

Day 319 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing on Jesus' trial before Pilate. My commentary* indicates "...the Sanhedrin has no power to execute condemned prisoners without approval of the Roman government. Yet clearly such a pagan government will not regard a charge of blasphemy with the same degree of seriousness as do the Jews. Therefore more appropriate charges will have to be laid before the governor. Being politically astute, the Jewish leaders will accuse Jesus of sedition in allegedly urging refusal to pay taxes and in claiming to be the King of the Jews." Although both Pilate and Herod Antipas, who also hears the case, find no charge deserving of execution, Pilate bows to the pressure from the Jewish leaders to crucify Jesus.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

This morning's scripture reading highlights the weight of the decision felt by Pilate regarding the charges made by the Jewish leaders and the remedy they sought for Jesus' "offenses".  Pilate of course caves to the pressure. While we know this is the plan - that God sent Jesus to die on the cross - we can also use the passage to examine the pressure we feel in our own lives...often this pressure is to do what the world sees as better or more popular - we call this peer pressure sometimes and it is often associated with teenagers, yet as we get older we are no less immune to this pressure.  On the subject of peer pressure, some digging this morning revealed a thoughtful post by John Piper that explores the balance of the "indigenous principle and the pilgrim principle" (Andrew Walls, The Missionary Movement In Christian History). Scripture tell us to "not conform" (Romans 12:2), while at the same time we are to be "all things to all people" (1 Corinthians 9:22) and to "please everyone" (1 Corinthians 10:32-33) so that we may save some.  

This is a difficult balance for sure, but once again I go to one of my "go to" verses Romans 12:2 where it says "be transformed by the renewing of the mind...".  Piper goes here as well and encourages us to focus on our deepening relationship with Jesus and how we are to grow closer to Him to help us navigate this balance.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I know I am more like You and others have seen this as well. I know I continue to fall down and there is more work to but I am grateful that You have given me faith and a desire for You.  I am not worthy for all that You do for me and that You went to the cross for me.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me for my harsh words and actions and impatience for others.  Help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You and help me love You and 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.

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

 John 16:16-24

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 16:16-24, where Jesus continues to help the disciples prepare themselves for both the crucifixion (sorrow) and Pentecost.   Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus continues to reveal Himself as one person of the Triune God that are all equal.  In the text today, the focus is how the Son (in a little while) will no longer be with the disciples and Jesus shares how this will be sorrowful for the disciples, and how (a little while later) the Holy Spirit will be with the disciples, and this will be joyful.  Jesus knows that the disciples do not understand what He is saying, so He is patient with them, using the analogy of a mother giving birth (labor), which when the baby arrives is a joyful moment. In v22, Jesus promises that the joy given in that moment (Pentecost) will not be taken from us, and "in that day you will ask nothing of me" (v23). Also in v23, we see an apparent contradiction in the same verse where at first Jesus says on Pentecost the disciples will ask nothing of Him, then (emphasizing the authority of His statement), Jesus shares that "whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you."  The apparent contradictory statements can be reconciled by seeing how the first statement emphasizes the disciple asking, while the second statement emphasizes the disciple asking in Jesus' name - two entirely different asks.  The latter statement is an ask with an intention to bring glory to God (vs ourself) and to align our prayers with His will.  V24 is an encouragement from Jesus to ask for things in His name, with a promise that our joy will be full in doing so....this seems to align with John Piper's Christian Hedonism.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Once again, we see how the disciples do not understand, even as Jesus is patient and He continues to reveal Himself in ways to help the disciples understand.  We may not understand everything that Jesus says, yet we can always rest in what we DO know about Jesus and ask Him to reveal Himself to us so that we can more fully understand Him, His will, etc.  This is the essence of Romans 12:2 where Paul encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we can understand and follow His will...so that He is glorified.  
• 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 our own will vs that of God.  Claim the promise that asking for things in Jesus' name and His will will give us joy as we seek to please and glorify Him. This joy cannot be taken from us - what a great promise.  Follow the example of Jesus as seeks the will of the Father.  Be transformed by the renewing of the mind to align desires, thoughts, etc. with that of Jesus. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You provide the Holy Spirit that will guide us into all the truth.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save, and guide me into all the truth.  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 were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds[.]

Pages: 135-150

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds[.] Ephesians 4:22-23

Today, I continued with John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture, covering chapter eight - Reading to Be Transformed, Part 2. Here, Piper seeks to continue unpacking the fifth of six implications that flow from the ultimate goal of reading the Bible (as listed here); this implication is "that we should aim to be transformed by this seeing and savoring into the likeness of his beauty." Piper starts by clarifying one of his most favorite "slogans" - that "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him."  The clarification focuses on the word when - implying that there are "other facts" or conditions that must be present - he stresses "how indispensable it is that we pursue satisfaction in God." Piper then lands on our focus for this chapter (in two parts): "an explanation and justification of how the Scriptures function to bring us from seeing the glory of God to savoring the glory of God to being transformed-inside and outside-into the likeness of Christ."  Piper points to Matthew 12:33-35 and 23:25-26 to show how "outwards sanctity is only as good as the fruit of inward savoring" and how "the Bible aims to create authentic people who are so satisfied in God that their outward behavior shows that God is their greatest treasure." We are to "do good deeds so that others would glorify God when they see them." 

Piper uses both Matthew 5:11-16 and 1 Peter 3:13-17 to answer this question. In the passage from Matthew, "[o]n the basis of this indestructible joy in God, Jesus commands them to do what is utterly against all ordinary human experience....your joy comes not from the things [other people's] joy comes from, but from God."  In the passage from 1 Peter, we are encouraged to "be prepared" to share where our "hope" comes from, implying that "we are not hoping in the same things they are....So the secret to the kind of good deeds that get glory for God is a deep underlying satisfaction in God's promise of blessing that frees us to take risks in the cause of love that the world finds inexplicable.  In other words savoring God over all leads to radical transformation."  2 Corinthians 3:18-4:6 is also used by Piper to make this point. 

Finally, Piper wants to understand that the renewing of our mind as discussed in Romans 12:2 needs to be connected to Ephesians 4:22-23 so that we understand that this renewal of the mind is not just intellectual but a "renewal of the spirit of the mind."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is transforming me from the inside out - in my heart and life.  Thank You Jesus for the blessings You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51b-53

I resume my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Like the Savior, every saint will be physically raised in a supernatural body impervious to sin and death forever."

Key excerpts from the introduction: "Paul moves from the resurrection of the Savior to the resurrection of the saint, holding to the thesis that the former guarantees the latter."

Divisions per the commentary:

1. Paul Receives a Puzzled Interrogation concerning the Resurrection (15:35): "Some people in the church were questioning not just the possibility but the pattern of the resurrection....Paul launches into his brilliant apologetic for the bodily resurrection of believers."
   
2. Paul Gives Practical Illustrations of the Resurrection (15:36-41): "Since Paul is writing to an agrarian society, this metaphor would easily be understood. You sow a seed in the earth, and in a real sense it dies, decays, dissolves, and disintegrates; but over a period of time, out of the death of that seed comes life. The new life is different from the seed, but it comes from the seed. So our current bodies are like a seed. Just as a seed is buried, so is the body. Just as a seed comes back made better, so does the body....There is an implication here that we will recognize each other in heaven. In a sense, we will be the same in kind as we are here, but we will be different....Paul’s point is essentially this: there is simply no reason you have to check your mind at the door to believe that a corruptible, sinful, physical body can be raised into a supernatural, spiritual, perfect body. After all, there is nothing too difficult for God!"
   
3. Paul Provides Pertinent Information about the Resurrection (15:42-49): "Our aging, dying bodies will one day be transformed into ageless, everlasting bodies....There is going to be both a continuity and a discontinuity between our earthly bodies and our eternal bodies. We will maintain our identities and be the same people, but out bodies will be wonderfully different[.]  The idea of “sown in weakness, raised in power” (v. 43) means our current bodies are limited by time, space, sickness, and breakdown, but our new bodies will be freed from the shackles of fallen humanity....Adam was created in the image of God, but when Adam fell that image was scarred by sin, and every person from then until now has been born bearing that same flawed image.  One day, though, believers will truly bear the image of God....We are not only going to see what Jesus is like, but we are going to be what Jesus is like. Not divine, but perfected."
   
4. Paul Applies the Powerful Inspiration of the Resurrection (15:50-58): "Realizing that one day these decayed, deficient bodies are going to be raised glorious and victorious is a tremendous source of inspiration....We have the promise of the resurrection before us. We have the person of the resurrection above us. We have the power of the resurrection already at work within us. Until that day comes, when we are raised up or taken up, we each should use the body that we have now to do all the good we can for as long as we can, knowing we are getting ready for the body that is unlike any other body that has ever been born." 

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who died for my sins and rose again to give me victory over sin and death - thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

 

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21

 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36

Day 314 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing once more on the Tuesday before the crucifixion and Jesus' prophecy of the temple's destruction in 70 A.D., of the end times and how we are to be watchful and ready. 

Jesus' warning to us to be ready is core to the reading this morning.  As part of this warning, we are to live lives as God commands us and to be on guard against actions and lives that are not glorifying to God.  DesiringGod.com helps me see how Jesus' Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) warns against pride.

The words "be ready", "keep watch", "be on guard", and "be alert" appear no less than six times in the NIV version of this morning's ready. 

Pride for me is certainly a sin for me to be on guard for in my life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have transformed my heart and life - it has not be easy, but I am grateful for all the blessings and grace You have poured out on my life.  Thank You Jesus - I know this is more work to do and the race is not over. My sin continues and refinement and transformation continues.  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.

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

Pages: 151-162

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

This morning, I continued with John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture, covering chapter nine - Reading to Be Transformed, Part 2. Here, Piper seeks to continue unpacking the fifth of six implications that flow from the ultimate goal of reading the Bible (as listed here); this implication is "that we should aim to be transformed by this seeing and savoring into the likeness of his beauty." Piper reminds of the last chapter where "savoring [of God's glory] pushes out the 'deceitful desires' that tricked us into thinking anything is more satisfying than God.  And that all-important seeing happens as we read the word of God." In this chapter, Piper uses 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 to provide a "snapshot of Christian transformation" that occurs when we move from seeing and savoring God's glory to be transformed by it. In these verses, including how they extend through to verse 7-8, is Paul's description of how the Macedonian churches' "abundance of joy" that resulted from love and pursuit of joy in the glory of God pushed them beyond human capacity to be generous.  Piper writes that this "pursuit of joy in the glory of God, far from making us self-absorbed, in fact, puts us on the quest of making others eternally glad in God.  Their joy in God is the expansion and completion of ours."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Jesus, Father, You are an incredible God and I know You love me.  You saved me and You continue to work in my heart, transforming me from one degree of glory to another - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessing...I worry, and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 13-14

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 6, Day 5 (self-study of commentary day), the focus looks back on Lesson 6 (Isaiah 13-14), and it once again remains on the role and fate of Babylon, not just during Isaiah's time, but also during end times as portrayed in the book of Revelation. A brief review of the rise and fall of Babylon indicates that "[a]lthough the fall of Babylon marked the end of political rule of Babylonian rulers, much of the Babylonian culture, its pagan religions, and its ideology were continued in the kingdoms which followed."  Building on my post yesterday, most would agree that Babylon represents Satan and sin in a fallen world, so we see Babylon also playing a role in end times where Babylon is referred to in Revelation and Christ defeats Satan for eternity.  Clearly, whether it is during ancient times or current times, Babylon represents the pervasiveness of sin and a challenge for believers: how can we remain faithful when the world around us is so deeply sinful - it can be discouraging for sure! This post from DesiringGod.com helps I believe by framing the question around how and where do I draw the line when I get pushed to exalt man or the world above God?  

Key of course is daily study and prayer with God where we allow the sanctification process to work - we are transformed by "renewal of the mind."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I am grateful for how You give me victory of sin and death as sin is pervasive and I know the sanctification process works in my life - thank You Jesus!  Yet I know there is more work in me to do - please keep going and help me submit!  I am not deserving that You made me one of Your elect, justified me, etc.  My sin continues...anger, 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.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. v2

I have many times posted or referred to Romans 12:2 as it is to me a foundational verse.  Paul instructs on two matters: (1) to avoid conformance with the sin and evil of this world; this is very similar to repentance; (2) to focus on renewal of our minds - how we do that is daily study of God's Word and through prayer.   There is then a promise - that if we do (1) and (2) we will be able better understand God's will in our lives both over more contemplative decisions and spontaneous decisions.  John Piper has great posts on these topics -  The Renewed Mind and How to Have It, and What is the Will of God and How Do We Know It?

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has both transformed my heart and life and given me a great taste of the fruits of the Spirit and many other blessings - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry and I have much more sin - 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 are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 1

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Matthew 5:6, Romans 12:2

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  On day 3 of my study, the key takeaway was based on an instruction from the study to look more closely at the use of "iniquity" and "sin" in Isaiah 2.  Iniquity is referenced twice (v4, 13) and sin three times (4, 18, 28).  My study guide indicates that iniquity is defined as "deviat[ing] or twist[ing] from the standard," while sin is defined as "fall[ing] short of the standard."  Believers should certainly be aware and avoid both, but understanding the standard is the pre-requisite in both cases.  If we are not aware of or don't understand the standard, we are more susceptible to both iniquity and sin. I am reminded of how God promises to satisfy us if we pursue hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and how God will renew our minds (Romans 12:2) if we seek to conform to His image (assuming we do that by first reading about and understanding His image via daily study of His Word).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who satisfies me and who renews my mind - making me more like Him.  You sanctify me - and I am better for it - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You sanctify and refine me.  Blessings beyond description!  I am not deserving.  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.

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one.

Zechariah 14:4-9

And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. Zechariah 14:9

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 a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 14:4-9, which the commentary outlines as the third of four divisions for the text 13:2-14:21 (13:2-9, 14:1-3, 14:4-9, 14:10-21). The commentary shares how the Mount of Olives, featured in the text for this division, "occupies a prominent place in the earthly ministry of Jesus. We read in the Synoptic Gospels that Jesus preached His most extensive sermon concerning the future, end times, and prophecy from the Mount of Olives. Recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, it is often called the “Olivet Discourse.” Then all four Gospels tell us that during His last night on earth before His crucifixion Jesus went to the foot of the Mount of Olives, to the Garden of Gethsemane, and offered up His soul to the Father in surrender (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-53; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-14)."  The Mount of Olives also features in Acts 1 before Jesus ascends to Heaven. In this division of Zechariah, per the commentary: "writing over 500 years before the birth of Christ, Zechariah prophesied that at the climax of the Battle of Armageddon, the Lord will one day personally, physically, and visibly descend to earth at the Mount of Olives, just as He ascended into heaven from that place. At the instant Christ appears on the Mount of Olives, Zechariah identifies six amazing events that will happen:"

• the Mount of Olives will split in two - a sign of God's judgement
• the people of Israel will flee through this newly formed valley to Azal (it is wholly clear where this)
• Jesus will return (second coming) accompanied by Holy Ones, including, per the commentary "God’s holy ones are not only the angelic armies of heaven but also resurrected and glorified believers" (see also references to saints or holy ones at Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalms 89:5-7; Job 15:15, Leviticus 11:44-45; Psalms 16:3; Daniel 8:24).  Matthew 24:30b-31 also describes this return.
  
• The heavens will be transformed as described as light regardless of the hour; God will be the light of the heavens
• Living waters will flow perpetually providing abundant fertility during the millennial reign of Christ described in Isiah 27:6, 35:1-3, and Amos 9:13-14.
• Jesus will be acknowledged as the only Lord and God - there will no longer be other gods or false worship; He will reign and it will be clear.

Believers are encouraged to be ready as no one knows the day or the hour of Christ's return (Matthew 24:36) and on that day all will be held accountable for their deeds. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me, gives me the comfort of knowing that the victory over sin and death is already won, You are victorious, and You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of 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. 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ezekiel 29, Daniel 4, 2 Kings 25:27-30, and Jeremiah 52:31-34

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Day 250 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* describes the final days of the ministries of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.  Also described during the final days of Ezekiel's ministry is what my commentary* indicates as the apparent true belief of Nebuchadnezzar in the One True God. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that Daniel interprets (Daniel 4) that the king will experience insanity and is told by Daniel to repent of his sins and submit to God.  After Nebuchadnezzar fails to repent and submit to God for a year, he does experience the insanity prophesied by Daniel.  God restores Nebuchadnezzar's sanity, and the king praises God, and submits to Him.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

God wants

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-17

Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:15

This morning and over the next week, I pause my study of Ecclesiastes to study James 4:13-4:17 in preparation for my Sunday school class where I am leading our discussion on this text.  Before I jump specifically into this text, I think it is important and relevant to set some context for the book of James.  For this aspect, I lean on the John MacArthur Bible Commentary.  The commentary provides this useful context:

• "The recipients of this book were Jewish believers who had been dispersed (1: 1), possibly as a result of Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7, c. A.D. 31– 34), but more likely due to the persecution under Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12, c. A.D. 44)."
• "The author refers to his audience as “brethren” fifteen times (1:2, 16, 19; 2:1, 5, 14; 3:1, 10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19), which was a common epithet among the first-century Jews. Not surprisingly then, James is Jewish in its content."
• "James, with its devotion to direct, pungent statements on wise living, is reminiscent of the Book of Proverbs. It has a practical emphasis, not emphasizing theoretical knowledge, but godly behavior. James wrote with a passionate desire for his readers to be uncompromisingly obedient to the Word of God."

The commentary outlines James as follows, sharing first:"[d]ue to its complexity, there are a number of ways to outline the book in order to grasp the arrangement of its content. One way is to order it around a series of tests by which the genuineness of a person’s faith may be measured."

1. The Test of Perseverance in Suffering (1:2–12) 
2. The Test of Blame in Temptation (1:13–18)
3. The Test of Response to the Word (1:19–27)
4. The Test of Impartial Love (2:1–13)
5. The Test of Righteous Works (2:14–26)
6. The Test of the Tongue (3:1–12)
7. The Test of Humble Wisdom (3:13–18)
8. The Test of Worldly Indulgence (4:1–12)
9. The Test of Dependence (4:13–17)
10. The Test of Patient Endurance (5:1–11)
11. The Test of Truthfulness (5:12) 
12. The Test of Prayerfulness (5:13–18)
13. The Test of True Faith (5:19, 20)

The Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book, outlines James as follows: 

1. Faith Perseveres (1:1-18)
2. Faith Obeys (1:19-25)
3. Faith Loves (1:26-2:13)
4. Faith Acts (2:14-19)
5. Faith Sacrifices (2:20-24)
6. Faith Risks (2:25-26)
7. Faith Speaks (3:1-12)
8. Faith Submits (3:13-4:12)
9. Faith Lasts (4:13-5:20)

Despite the differences in how the commentaries outline James, both generally see James as a book where the author looks closely at how faith is measured, particularly with respect to the relationship between faith and works.  Both also see James as a book offering practical guidance for living as God intends - challenging us to be bold in our faith in how it shows up for others to see. The Christ-Centered Exposition commentary shares this: "[f]aith moves Christians to take steps of radical obedience to make the gospel known all around the world."

Now....onto an unassisted review of James 4:13-17.  Vv13-14 should be viewed as an admonishment for those who fail to both see and heed God in their future plans.  James shares that we do not know for sure what each day will bring - the implication here is while we do not know what tomorrow will bring but God does as He is in control.  He certainly has a plan for our lives and it is our role to understand what this is.  Romans 12:2 is instructive here.  We should be thanking God for each day He gives us and seeking transformation and renewal of our minds to more like God - to think like God so that He can guide our thoughts and steps - we become slaves to God (2 Corinthians 10:5) as His Word is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105).  Similar to Ecclesiastes where Solomon shares how life is meaningless and futile without God, v14 also shares our lives are a mist that comes and goes.  We should view our lives as a part of something bigger - as part of God's plan. V15 turns to a positive statement (vs don't do) where James urges us to seek God's will vs our own. V16-17 then turns back to negative where James admonishes those who do not seek God's will but arrogantly and sinfully follow their own desires.  Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (lean into God and study of His Word) and you are better able to know God's will for your life.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are indeed King of Kings and sovereign over all including all the details of my life.  Thank You for the breath of life today and of course my salvation.  I am not deserving of such blessings as my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin.  Help me lean into You and be transformed by the renewing of my mind so that I can better know Your will for my life.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  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. 

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

1 John 3

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. v13

God wants us to be different...to be set apart.  Others should see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him.  If are to be different, to be set apart, then it should not come as a surprise if the world rejects us.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Others should see the Light in us:

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed, the Way, the Truth, and the Life...and I have no path to the Father but through You.  I DO desire You.  And I want to please and glorify You and bring others to You.  I want to be a Light just as You are a Light.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings You pour out for me and for adopting me as Your son.  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry..and am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  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.

15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1

¹³ Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

The question for me is - how am I to be holy?

A key answer I believe is found in Romans 12:2 where Paul says:

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

The renewing of the mind is accomplished through scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship.   Moreover, a balanced approach as I have read here seems an even better approach.

My Prayer: Lord, You are pure and holy like no other - and despite my failings You love me, have died for me, and chose me (before the beginning of time).  I am not worthy of this love and focus for I am broken and will continue to be broken and imperfect as sinful as I am.  I am thankful for all that You are and do for me and I am deep need for You to continue to be in my life as my Lord and Savior.  Lord Jesus, help me be holy and help me renew my mind and in so doing transform my heart and my life to be more like You.

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.