[T]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5

[T]his is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:6-12. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Christians can be certain that Jesus is God’s Son because God has provided several witnesses that testify to His divine nature, giving hope and assurance to God’s children."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• The text describes six witnesses that testify to the evidence of Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and offers salvation and eternal life to all those who believe in Him.
  

Divisions:

1. We Have the Witness of His Baptism (5:6-8): In referring to water, this is a reference primarily to Jesus' baptism. "The baptism of Jesus is so important it is found in all four Gospels (Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23; John 1:29-34)....The Father’s declaration [of who He is and that God is pleased with Him] combines words from Psalm 2:7, a messianic psalm, with Isaiah 42:1. " 
   
2. We Have the Witness of His Crucifixion (5:6-8): "When Jesus Christ died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, His Father again provided significant witnesses concerning the event. There was darkness across the land from noon until three o’clock (Matthew 27:45), and “the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). There was an earthquake (Matthew 27:51). A number of Old Testament saints were raised and appeared to many as the first fruits of resurrection life for all who trust in Jesus (Matthew 27:52-53). And these events led a hardened Roman centurion to exclaim, “This man really was God’s Son!” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39)....His death was not an accident. It was not an act of martyrdom. It was a divine, saving substitution for sinners with redeeming value and worth."
   
3. We Have the Witness of the Holy Spirit (5:6-8): The commentary quotes John MacArthur here and shares: "The Father also testified to the Son through the ministry of the Spirit, who is the truth (cf. John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth in that He is true and, therefore, the source and revealer of divine truth (1 Peter 1:12; cf. Acts 1:16; 28:25; Heb. 3:7; 10:15-17), particularly about Jesus Christ (John 15:26). The Spirit was involved at Jesus’ conception (Matt. 1:18,20; Luke 1:35), baptism (Matt. 3:16), temptation (Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1), and throughout His ministry. Peter said to those gathered in Cornelius’s house, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38; cf. Matt. 12:28; Luke 4:14; John 3:34). Because the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus for ministry, to attribute Christ’s miraculous works to Satan was to blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-30). Jesus always did the will of the Father in the power of the Spirit."
   
4. We Have the Witness of the Father (5:9-10): "The testimony of God is indeed greater—superior in source, status, and significance—than the testimony of any human persons. It is more reliable and trustworthy because it comes from the God, who cannot lie (Heb 6:18)....Never did God give such a witness concerning anyone else in all of history. The Father’s witness concerning His Son is singular and unique. Therefore, it demands a response from each and every one of us. Neutrality and indecision is not an option. In fact, to not believe that Jesus is the Son of God is to not believe God and to make Him “a liar, because [you have] not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son” (v. 10)....John says that believing in Jesus as the Son of God is equivalent to accepting God the Father’s testimony about His Son. To reject Jesus as God’s Son is equivalent to charging God with perjury."
   
5. We Have the Witness of Our Conversion (5:10): "[John] ties together our outward confession of Jesus as the Son of God to the inner witness we now have within ourselves. What we confess with our mouth, God makes real in our hearts." See also Romans 10:9-10. "The internal witness of God’s Spirit in the heart confirms to the child of God that he or she was right to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who alone gives the gift of eternal life (1 John 5:11-12). This internal testimony or witness is the personal presence of God in us, and it beautifully balances and complements the external and historical witness of the baptism and crucifixion of Jesus, all witnessed by the Holy Spirit."
   
6. We Have the Witness of Eternal Life (5:11-12): "The Bible teaches that you do not have to hope you have eternal life or even think you have eternal life. It says you can know you have eternal life when you know you have the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as your Savior. This witness, this gift of eternal life, testifies to the eternal Son, for only He who is eternal can give you what is eternal."

Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as Savior, giving us salvation and eternal life!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - coming into the world to die for me so that I would not pay the price for my sins.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation.  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.

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:17-31

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:21-22

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:17-31.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to this text and for the first (of three) division (vv17-22):

• The title for this chapter of the commentary covering the entirety of the text (vv17-31) is "What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? (Will You Leave Everything and Follow Jesus?)."
• The main idea from the commentary for the entirety of the text is "[f]ollowing Jesus may involve great personal cost, but it always results in great eternal gain."
• "This text [vv17-31] addresses the important question, Who or what should have first place in my life? Jesus demands that people give Him first place in their lives above all else and all others (Colossians 1:18)."
• "John Mark wrote the second Gospel about AD 65–68, making great use of an eyewitness, the apostle Peter. He wrote to a Roman audience facing severe persecution during the reign of Nero. He challenged them concerning true discipleship in 8:31–10:52. This section contains three passion predictions (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34), each followed by instruction on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In 10:13-16, Jesus says we must receive the kingdom of God like a little, helpless child. The account of the rich young ruler raises the question, Will someone with great wealth and standing receive the kingdom like a little child?"   
• The title for the first division per the commentary is: "It Is Easier Than You Think."  
• "Jesus was continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. Our Savior is engaging the disciples in teaching about true discipleship and His forthcoming crucifixion and resurrection. They are struggling students who can’t grasp what He is saying. Jesus has just told them that those who enter the kingdom of God must be like a little child (10:13-16). All must come to Jesus with nothing, in total dependence on Him. No one can earn the kingdom. The requirement is the same for all: simple, childlike reliance on Jesus. It is that easy. It is in the context of this teaching that one who is the opposite of a helpless child approaches Jesus."  
• In support of it's claim that it's "easier than you think" to receive the kingdom of God like a little child," the commentary starts with: "ask the right questions."   
• The rich young ruler asks Jesus a question. "This question is one of the most significant in the whole Bible and for all humanity: How do I get eternal life?" 
• "His question, though by no means a bad one, implies he believes eternal life is something you work for. “What must I do?” All religions of the world can be categorized under “do” or “done.” I am saved by what I do or by what another has done. Christianity is a done religion/relationship. Eternal life is not achieved; it is received as a gift (John 1:12) based on what Jesus has done for us (John 3:16). So the young ruler must have both a change of theology and a change of heart if he is to inherit eternal life."  
• One must first "go to the right person," then "get the right answers."   
• "Jesus does not return the young man’s flattering greeting as might have been expected. Jesus puts the focus of the issue where it must be: on God. The young man’s starting point was wrong because it was himself. “What must I do?” The rich young ruler was no doubt a “good man” by the standards of his day.  He saw in Jesus another good man whose insight into spiritual matters could perhaps solve some lingering questions that plagued his soul. Jesus forced him to look to God for any hope of genuine goodness and eternal life." 
• "Furthermore, Jesus implicitly confronted the young ruler with his evaluation of Jesus. To call Him good is to call Him God. Is that what he meant? If Jesus is not God, then He, like the rest of humanity, is a sinner and therefore not good in the supreme sense. On the other hand, if He is God, it would be appropriate to call Him good. It would also be appropriate to worship Him, follow Him, and obey Him. He challenges the young ruler to think clearly and choose his words carefully, a challenge each one of us should accept."  
• After Jesus asks him whether he has kept the commandments, "[t]he young man responds, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” The young man had conducted his life according to the law of God. He had honored it and obeyed all of it! In an external sense what he said was probably true. Like the apostle Paul he was faultless (Philippians 3:6) with respect to the outward demands of the law as taught by the religious teachers of Israel."  
• "Having addressed the last six commandments, Jesus now addresses the first (Exodus 20:3). God must be God in our lives. No one and nothing can stand between Him and us. The particular demand Jesus puts on the rich young ruler is not a general command for all persons. It was specific to him, though it could be specific to some of us too! His wealth occupied the place that only God should have in his life. It was his idol, his god."  
• "The call to discipleship is a call to radical trust and commitment to Jesus. Jesus challenges all of us to put away anything that is an obstacle to our following Him. You cannot love your wealth supremely and love Jesus supremely."  
• The final directive by Jesus is to "give the right response" (v22).  "Verse 22 records the tragic end of their encounter—“stunned.” A cloud of gloom and sorrow moved in. “He went away grieving.” Why? “Because he had many possessions.” His gold would remain his god. Jesus’ difficult demand was met with a “no.” He got the right answer to his question."

As I posted yesterday, we must first and foremost focus on the two most important commandments as the others all hang on these two per Matthew 22:34-40.  If we earnestly don't love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, then we must throw ourselves at Jesus' feet and like the father from earlier in Mark ask Jesus to "help us with our unbelief" (Mark 9:23-25).  If we do hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be filled (satisfied) (Matthew 5:6).

Comment and discuss this post.

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

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

Proverbs 18

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. v9

I've previously posted on being lazy, and this brings to mind how we are to live not for the selfish pleasures of today and for ourselves but for the glory of God and for the eternal.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

We should be examining our idle time to determine how we can rather be in action doing something for the glory of God.  Yes, we can rest and have fun in our lives but we should also challenge ourselves here. 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

See also posts on eternal focus, etc. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You are so full of grace, compassion, mercy, patience, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am lazy and often focus on my selfish desires...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help focus on serving and glorifying You vs myself!  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and to have them love and accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

Psalm 123

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven. v1

I am very often distracted by my own thoughts and by what I see around me.  Focus on God is VERY important.  When we don't focus on God, we cannot hear Him, and we won't have the awareness to see Him where He is.

Am I too concerned with myself as Xerxes was?

Focus on God requires us to focus on His Word and what He promises...it requires faith.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

My Prayer:  Lord, You are an awesome God and worthy of my full attention and focus...Your hand produces incredible wonders in the world and in my life - You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I am far too easily distracted by things of this world - please forgive me!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:13-21, focusing specifically on the main idea for the entirety of the text, the commentary's introduction/overview for this text, and the first division.

Per the commentary for this text:

Title: Five Truths God Wants Every Child of God to Know 

Main idea: "Christians can rest in the truths that we belong to the God who answers prayer, that we have spiritual victory, and that Christ is the true and only source of eternal life."

Excerpts from the introduction: John's letter of 1 John focuses on how he seeks believers - his "little children" as he lovingly refers to them - to be reassured of key fundamental truths of our faith, including:

• we can know God (2:3,13,14, 4:7)
  
• we can know we are in God (2:5)
  
• we can know that it is the last hour (2:18)
• we can know the truth (2:21, 3:19)
• we can know that Jesus is righteous (2:29)
• we can know that we will be like Jesus (3:2)
• we can know that Jesus came to take away sins (3:5)
• we can know that Jesus is sinless (3:5)
• we can know we have passed out of death into life (3:14)
• we can know no murderer has eternal life (3:15)
• we can know love (3:16, 4:16)
• we can know God abides in us (3:24, 4:13)
• we can know the Spirit of God (4:2)
• we can know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception (4:6)
• we can know that we love God's children (5:2)
• we can know we have eternal life (5:13)
• we can know God answers prayer (5:15)
• we can know we will not practice sin (5:18)
• we can know we belong to God (5:19)
• we can know that the Son of God has come (5:20)
• we can know that the Son of God has given us understanding (5:20)
• we can know Him who is true (5:20)

In his concluding words from this letter, John zeros in on what "in particular, that God wants every child of His to know?"

Divisions:

1. We Can Know That We Have Eternal Life (5:13): Believers understand that while our faith gives us confidence and belief in eternal life, we all may have our doubts, particularly in certain trying circumstances.  John seeks for us to have an additional dose of assurance in this. "Feelings come and go, and feelings can be deceiving. My confidence is in the Son of God; no one else is worth believing." We are referred to John 10:28-29.
   
2. We Can Know That God Answers Prayer (5:14-17): 
3. We Can Know Victory over Sin (5:18): 
4. We Can Know That We Belong to God (5:19):
5. We Can Know What Is True (5:20-21):

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for snatching me from the fire, saving me for life now and for eternity.  Your amazing grace is the greatest gift of all time - thank You Jesus!  I am of course not deserving of such grace or gift as 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.  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 boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 27

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. v1

We all have dreams and goals for what we'd like to accomplish yet it is important to focus on them to the point of idolatry.  We exist to glorify God, so our core focus is to ensure that have a daily relationship with Jesus so that we can understand HIS will for our lives (see also Romans 12:2).


We must also live life with an eternal focus. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, my Teacher, My Counselor, My Healer, You are my everything and without You I can do no good thing.  Thank You for how You have blessed me abundantly.  I am not worth such blessing.  Please forgive me for my harshness and lack of patience for others.  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 do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Leviticus 11

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:22-23

This evening, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter eleven - Eating for God's Glory - covering Leviticus 11:1-47, looking specifically at the third theme - We Seek to Reflect God's Holiness.  Here, similar to my post yesterday where the focus in the commentary was to be set apart, the focus tonight is the why God wants us to be set apart. Although, my post from a couple of days ago was clear that we don't need an explanation from God to be obedient, here the commentary offers one with regards to why God wants us to be holy.  The commentary encourages us to look at v45 where the sequence is important: first, God brought the Israelites out of Egypt to be their God; second, therefore the Israelites, and believers in Christ by extension, are to be holy because God is holy. For believers in Christ, we are, like the Israelites, redeemed first, then God sanctifies us over the period of our earthly life - making us into more of His image until the day when we meet Jesus face to face in Heaven when we are glorified.  The commentary says it well - when God comes into our lives and hearts the expectation is that now that He has made us new (reborn) and given us a new identity, we are act accordingly. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has redeemed me and I know You have sanctified me - and I have seen the miraculous work You have done in my life and I know You are not done.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of what You have done for me.  I worry.  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.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, going back over this text which I have previously covered over the past four days.  Specifically for today my focus is how the commentary extends (and closes) an examination of this text with a section entitled Jesus Delivers from Death and Gives Abundant, Eternal Life. 

Excerpts from this section of the commentary:

• "Ecclesiastes depicts in great detail the curse of sin and death. Death’s tyranny makes life meaningless because if this life is all there is, then death cancels everything out. You cannot take your money with you. Your legacy will ultimately be forgotten. Nothing you did really seems to matter. Some scholars look at this and say Ecclesiastes believes there is nothing beyond the grave, but that is wrong. Ecclesiastes does not teach annihilation; it teaches uncertainty.  Solomon purposefully takes on this particular human perspective, and he says we cannot know for sure if anything lies beyond death because none of us has ever gone there and come back."
  
• "However, we do know something is out there, and we long for it because eternity is in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). What Ecclesiastes aches for, the New Testament presents to us. Paul wrote to the church at Rome to tell them that death did enter the world through one man, but life also came into the world through one man (Romans 5:12-21)."
• "However, the promise is not just for eternal life; the promise is also for abundant life (John 10:10)—living life to the fullest as it was meant to be lived."
• "The good news is that Jesus came to redeem us so that we can begin to live according to God’s good design."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for the sin of all humanity so that Your elect can have life now to the full and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus for the greatest gift of all time - amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such grace.  My sin is great and it continues..daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Isaiah 14

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.  And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:20-23

I came back to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I focused on Isaiah 14, where we focus on Sheol and its discussion in Isaiah and throughout scripture. In Isaiah 14, we see Sheol (or the realm of the dead) and death coming to meet the Babylonian king, as well as the other godless kings from surrounding lands (v9-10).  We also see how the power of those brought to meet Sheol is brought down or humbled to Sheol's level (v11, 15).  In Isaiah 5:14, we read about death as having an "enlarged...appetite," insatiable in its desire to tempt and entice people into a life of sin and eternal damnation (see also 1 Peter 5:8). In Isaiah 28, we see Jewish leaders in a covenant with death and Sheol - unable to see Jesus as the promised Messiah from Old Testament scripture. Additional scriptural examples from my study point to Luke 16:19-31, and other examples to show how Sheol is not only a place that is reserved for those who refuse Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but also a place of eternal torment where one can only enter but never leave. Believers should not only be thankful for eternal life, but also "snatching [others] from the fire (Jude 1:23)."  Believers are also called to persevere in this life, to endure through suffering, etc. as the joy of this life is simply a foretaste of our true home in Heaven where we experience perfect unity and harmony with God.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God who promises both life to the full now and for eternity - thank You Jesus for Your salvation.  I am grateful...but of course undeserving.  My sins continue...many, including anger, impatience, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As I am in between studies, having just wrapped up my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at where Paul focuses to remain hopeful as he grows old and more feeble.  Piper describes how Paul gains hope by focusing on how his inner self is renewed daily - this is also unseen. Piper then points out how this somewhat contradictory focus is further clarified by Paul in the next chapter of 2 Corinthians 5:7: "for we walk by faith, not by sight." Piper shares that this clarification "doesn’t mean that [Paul] leaps into the dark without evidence of what’s there. It means that for now the most precious and important realities in the world are beyond our physical senses.  We “look” at these unseen things through the gospel. We strengthen our hearts — we renew our courage — by fixing our gaze on the invisible, objective truth that we see in the testimony of those who saw Christ face to face." Piper wraps the devotion by pointing back to chapter 4:6 where Paul writes: " [f]or God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This previously unseen knowledge of the glory of God is now seen by us because God revealed it to us - praise God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who revealed Yourself to me and gave me the power to see things unseen that provide eternal hope!  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 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.

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

 John 12:20-26

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:25-26

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 12:20-26,   Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God has a purpose and a plan for His Son Jesus and the Son is obedient to the plan, including the timing.  V23 reveals Jesus' obedience to the plan and the timing.  The plan itself is for Jesus to be glorified and on this Good Friday (April 3, 2026) this includes Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. The world does not see death as glory, so Jesus has to clarify v23 and vv24-26 do that by sharing that for those who believe in Him, their lives belong to Jesus and they must reflect the Light of the Son of God and must bring glory to Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). V24 first includes a warning a warning that if we don't die to self (see also Luke 9:23, Galatians 5:24), we remain alone - implying separation from God, including eternal damnation. But, if we do die to self and live for Christ, we bear much fruit for Him.  We must lose and hate our earthly life but live for Him as citizens of Heaven and His Kingdom - and we have this promise of eternal life. We must follow the example of Jesus losing His life and gaining glory for Himself...and we will be honored by the Father.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People may not express it as the Greeks did in v20 but all have needs and seek what only Jesus can provide - victory from sin and death in this world (forgiveness) and for eternity - salvation.  We should connect people to Jesus just as Philip and Andrew did with the Greeks in vv20-23.      
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid living for ourselves.  We should claim the promises of how faith and dying to self bears fruit for Him, provides eternal life, and honor from the Father.  We should follow the example of Philip and Andrew to connect others to Jesus.  We should follow Jesus - where ever He tells us to go.  We must live for Him.   

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

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:35

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 7:25-40. 

• v25: Paul states that based on his extensive knowledge of Old Testament moral law - unlike for marriage - he is not aware of anything in the law that does not specifically provide any command or instruction for virgins/unmarried (per ESV footnote, Greek text translates to virgins vs translation to English word betrothed).  However, he does proceed to offer his guidance and shares that he is trustworthy.
• v26-27: building on text from yesterday v17-24 about anxiety, he writes how he does not want virgins/unmarried to be worried about finding a spouse and getting married - God is sovereign over the details of our lives and He has a plan for each of us - right where we are in our present circumstances.
• v28: Paul then cautions those virgins/unmarried that do marry to avoid being concerned about changing their circumstances - this is not sinful. Yet at the same time, don't assume that marriage will be a trouble/anxiety free endeavor - this a mythical/idyllic portrait; on the contrary temptations and challenges abound for all including married couples.
•  v29-31: Paul pivots to how all believers, regardless of the their circumstances (married, widowed, virgins, bondservants, circumcised, etc.) should not be anxious of their circumstances but focus on the reality that our earthly circumstances are temporary and that "the present form of this world is passing away".  Focus on things eternal and preparing for the Lord's return.
• v32-35: Paul reiterates that we should be free from anxiety - and too intense a focus on marriage by virgins and widowers will serve as a distraction from devotion to the Lord.
• v36: Further unpacking his guidance for virgins/unmarried and widowers, Paul shares how sexual temptations might be overwhelming and in this case, marriage might help.
• v37-38: In contrast to those who do face strong temptations, Paul describes those whose temptations are under control based on perhaps a mature faith and trust in God. These people are in a better position to focus their attention on the Lord vs pleasing a spouse which again may be distraction for devotion to the Lord.
• v39-40: Paul concludes by explicitly including widowers in his guidance - don't be anxious about remarriage as God will use your circumstances.  But at the same time, it is not a sin if you do remarry.     

Comment and discuss this post.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out for me - every day.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

...[H]ow much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Hebrews 9

 ...[H]ow much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 9:11-22, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Here, the text pivots from what the first covenant, the high priest, the earthly tabernacle, and the Old Testament sacrificial system cannot do, to what Jesus did through the shedding of His blood.  Instead of entering the earthly tabernacle, Christ entered "through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)" (v11), and He made the once and final sacrifice for all of humanity that redeemed sinners (v12).  He also cleansed believers not just externally, but internally by working in our hearts (v14).  V15-22 then goes on to describe how Jesus is the "mediator of a new covenant," and how believers "receive the promised eternal inheritance."  This inheritance is passed because of the will of Jesus and the will goes into effect by the shedding of His blood and His death. Praise God for this new and greater covenant where we have forgiveness of sin and the promised eternal inheritance!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who shed His blood and died for me, and gave me an forgiveness of sin and an eternal inheritance - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

 John 12:20-26

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:25-26

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 12:20-26, where Jesus has made has made his (Triumphal) entry to Jerusalem at the start of Passion (Holy) Week, there are Greeks who are seeking Jesus, and here we see Philip and Andrew approach Jesus to entreaty Him on behalf of the Greeks.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus knows that many want to spend time with Him, and scripture documents how He carefully manages to His mission and timeline.  V23 is telling in that He does not respond directly to the request made by Andrew and Philip (on behalf of the Greeks) but instead shares how it is time for Him "to be glorified."  While Jesus' arrest and crucifixion is not imminent based on John's account of the gospel, Jesus does have to ensure that He will be arrested and crucified.  Jesus then uses the account to speak in parables so that people can begin to understand what is about to happen.  In vv24-25, He uses the analogy of a grain of wheat falling to the ground and dying but in turn producing more wheat and a greater harvest.  So....for believers of today reading this gospel, we can say that Jesus is talking about Himself laying down His life for others to be saved.  Vv25-26, Jesus pivots away from the parable to bring home the point that believers in Him must be prepared to lose their life by surrendering it in love and service to Him and others...for the sake of the gospel and saving as many as possible.  Jesus then makes both a negative and a positive promise first by sharing that if you love your life, you will lose it - implying eternal condemnation while at the same time, if you "hate" your life or deny yourself, you keep your life by gaining honor and favor from Him and eternal life. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: At this point in the gospel Jesus is sought after in John's gospel, He has just raised Lazarus from the dead (see John 11), and the Pharisees are very concerned (John 12:9-11, 17-19) about the attention Jesus was getting based on this miracle. Vv20-22 describe how there were Greeks who were coming up to worship for the Passover, they sought Jesus (by telling Philip), and Andrew and Philip approach Jesus. Other than this, it is difficult to infer or discern an application from vv20-26 other than Jesus wants those who seek to believe and follow Him to understand that there is a cost to following Him.  It is reasonable to assume that many wanted to spend time with Jesus if for anything else because He has performed these miracles that are now hard to ignore if you have spent anytime in Jerusalem - the city is buzzing with conversations about Him and who He might be.   
• 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 loving your life or the world.  Claim the promise that hating your life or denying oneself and surrendering it to Jesus in love and service to Him will result in eternal life. Follow the example of Jesus who laid down His life (hating His own life) in service of the Father.  Love God and love others.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for Your obedience to the Father and for accomplishing the work the Father gave You.  I am not deserving of how You save and bless.  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 accept 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.

Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life.

Psalm 17

Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. v13-14

As I posted yesterday, our focus should always be upward, towards the eternal and towards His glory.  When we live a life for Jesus, we are promised to have "trouble".

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Yet trials from God are GOOD for us:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James1:2-3

As I posted here, God is a righteous and perfect judge, so all that we experience, good and bad is by His design and for His glory...and of course, for our good.

So, just as David writes in Psalms, all of us will have trouble in this world when we focus on the eternal and on Jesus.  Help us focus on how these troubles are for God's glory and our good.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, grace, mercy, etc. for me.  I am not worthy of such a God as I continue to be impatient with people in my life.  Thank You for all the ways that You bless me Jesus and please forgive me for how I lack the grace for others as You have poured out on me.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them....According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 4:21-49

And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them....According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 4:26b,49

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 4:21-49, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for a census among the sons of Gershon, Merari, and Kohath (from 30-50 years old) and then to give them duties for care of the tent of meeting.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The tent of meeting (later tabernacle) is where the priest would meet with God and as such represented an important structure.  God provided for instructions with regard to care for the tent as a reflection of how Israel treasured Him as their God.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Similar to the tent of meeting, in today's church, many volunteer and serve behind the scenes with much detail as a reflection of their love and treasure of God.  God sees all of this and blesses those who serve in such ways based on the promise from Luke 13:30 that some "who are last will be first."  The focus should be to glorify God vs self and on eternal rewards.
• 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 focus on self.  Claim the promise that eternal rewards await those who put God first and self last.  Follow the example of Jesus who humbly took on flesh, suffered and died for all of humanity such that those who confess Him as Lord and Savior have live to the full now and for eternity.  Focus on glorifying God and treasuring Him above all, including self.  

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

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.

Hebrews 6

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.  Hebrews 6:1-3

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 6:1-8, as I lean on my commentary and explore what the commentary describes as the first division "Leaving the Elementary Foundation," which looks at Hebrews 6:1-3.  In this text, the commentary highlights how the author of Hebrews calls out how the original audience (Jewish believers deeply familiar with the Old Testament) "were neglecting the great salvation offered in Christ. As a result, they were stalling out in their spiritual growth and abandoning the faith."  The commentary then highlights, from the text, "three foundational truths about Christ:

• A foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God
• Instructions about washing and the laying on of hands
• Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."

Broadly, the commentary describes how the Jewish believers were slipping back into their old ways of doing things, including a focus on works, ceremonial washings (vs Christian baptism), and a failure to truly grasp that "[u]nless Jesus Christ stands as our advocate and our substitute, we cannot stand before God in the judgment that is coming."

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for taking my place on the cross and for giving me victory over sin and death - I know there is nothing I can do to earn this - it is only by Your grace.  I am undeserving...my sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. v12

A couple of days ago I posted on the need for us to remember that we citizens of Heaven and foreigners in this life...that we should not conform to the patterns of this world and to be holy and set apart so we can bring others to Him.

To that end, today's post reinforces this message as we should remember to live with the end in mind - with an eternal focus vs an earthly focus.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - what a great God You are that You have given Us Your Son, the Holy Spirit, the church, and so much more!  I am blessed and my cup overflows.  Thank You Jesus for how You bless me. Yet I am not worth such love.  I worry.  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 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.  Please 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 evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

2 Thessalonians 1

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, I my focus is 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12, assisted by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series volume for 1-2 Thessalonians unpack the text. 

For this text, the commentary's: 

• Title: When God Balances the Books 
  
• Main idea:  "When Jesus is revealed from heaven, He will bring relief to those who love Him and retribution to those who reject Him."
• Introduction (excerpts): God's people [almost certainly true of Thessalonians] often struggle to understand "the pain, affliction, and suffering that is often associated with following Christ. God’s people have always desired to know “how long” until God would bring an end to such injustice, to right all wrongs, and to judge those who harm His followers."  We are referred to Habakkuk 1:2-3 and Psalm 13:1-4 for scriptural examples where God's people demonstrate this struggle.  Luke 12:2-8 is also provided as it shares how "God is not offended by such questions. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that He told us to ask them."
  

Divisions provided by the commentary:

1. The Hopeful Future of Those Who Are Faithful (1:6-7, 10-12): "One of the most difficult things to do when walking through painful times is to keep the proper perspective. A loss of perspective is almost always followed by a loss of purpose. When our mind becomes fixed on what we don’t like about our circumstances, we will invariably fail to consider what God may be doing in our circumstances."  Believers are encouraged to draw near to God and remain near to God through spiritual disciplines and faith - we are referred to Isaiah 46:9-10 as the commentary provides this text for us to maintain a Godly perspective on our circumstances - to look towards the eternal for hope, rest, and rewards. Paul is seeking to do this for the Thessalonians as they face persecutions and affliction.  The commentary also points to the text and how it seeks for us to maintain a Godly perspective in our prayer lives.  God knows all of our needs and He provides - such prayers for temporal circumstances are "not sinful." However, "Jesus expects that our prayers will be focused on much more significant matters like glorifying His Name, expanding His kingdom, and accomplishing His will (Matthew 6:9-13, 32-33). We must learn to view the temporary things through the lenses of God’s eternal plans." The commentary also shares how Paul pivots from an encouragement that comes from having a Godly eternal perspective on our daily lives to a reminder in v11 that as we wait for Christ's second coming, there is more work to do, and that we focus on God's glory in all that we do.
   
2. The Fateful Future of Those Who Do Evil (1:6, 8-9): Here of course, we are reminded of the harsh punishment that awaits those who deny God and who are the source of persecution and affliction.  Believers should not worry about justice - God's justice is perfect.
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such 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.

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 9:11-22, specifically looking at the third division covering 9:15, which the commentary entitles "The Superiority of Christ as Mediator of the New Covenant." Here with the focus being a singular verse - v15 - the key takeaway is this: while Christ is referred to as a mediator, the commentary makes it clear that there is no compromise or common ground as one would typically expect during mediation.  The commentary shares: "[f]ar from suggesting a compromise between two opposing positions, Christ agrees with the Father that we deserve the infinite outpouring of his wrath. He agrees with the Father about the ugliness of our sin. He agrees with the Father about the necessity of a sacrifice. And as our mediator, he agrees to be that sacrifice even as the Father sends him for that task....[Christ] mediated a better covenant and offered up a better sacrifice, one that was efficient to redeem people from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. In doing so, Christ secured an eternal inheritance for those who are called." Praise God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who became the perfect sacrifice - taking my place for my sin...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.