And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Zechariah 13:2-9

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9

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 an unassisted review of Zechariah 13:2-9, which the commentary outlines as the first of four divisions for the text 13:2-14:21 (13:2-9, 14:1-3, 14:4-9, 14:10-21).  Here, the text once again focuses on end times using the reference "on that day" twice in the text 13:2-9 (vv2, 4).  Speaking to Israel through Zechariah, God provides a prophecy of end times where He condemns and idols and false prophets.  V7 shares how God will strike "the man who stands next to me" - a clear reference to Jesus and a messianic prophecy.  Vv8-9 refers to a remnant that God will refine and test as if gold and silver where this refining process removes impurities. Malachi 3:3 also refers to this "refiner's fire" and it describes how the "sons of Levi" will be purified.  While God sees all believers as justified and righteous in His eyes - imputed righteousness - God does not promise that our earthly lives will be free of challenges.  On the contrary - we will face challenges and trials as this is the nature of the fallen world in which we live and inherited from the Fall.  At the same time, God does promise that we will overcome these challenges and trials - see John 16:33.  This promise from John shares and implies that we will overcome these challenges in this life and in the life to come in Heaven.  Key ways in which God helps us overcome include the sanctification process where God equips us day-by-day where we become more like Him through our daily focus on spiritual disciplines (prayer, study of His Word, etc.) and our relationship with Him. God is also with us through the Holy Spirit. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me.  You also equip me to endure trials and challenges of all kinds.  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for the blessings You pour out for me every day.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. v23-24

We exist to glorify God - it is as simple as that. 

 

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands,

for the display of my splendor.  Isiah 60: 21

 

If we exist to glorify God - if our mission is to glorify God, then we should have a vision to accomplish this, and we should seek God's guidance in prayer to ensure that our plan is aligned with His desires.  If we have a relationship with Jesus Christ and we have sought renewing of the mind by studying and knowing God's word, then we "will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2).

 

Although we might not welcome tests such as those experienced by Job, we should have no problem asking God to test us, to perfect us, to refine us.  After all, this process will be good for us, pleasing to God and it helps us further our mission which is to glorify Him.

  

God - test me, purify me, refine me.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...even though I very often lack compassion for others.  Please forgive me!  Thank You for Your patience but I am not worthy.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my 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 Lisa 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.

My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.

Jeremiah 16

My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.  v17

God of course knows everything - as I have read and posted about previously.  I need not search far nor long for my sin and for opportunities to repent.  I need to be more aware of how I fall short and how I should repent and lean on him to refine and purify my heart.

We need to God to mold and shape us in His image - see here.  All for His glory.

My Prayer: Lord, You know and see all.  You are truth and light.  Light in the sense that You are hope and light in the sense that all is revealed in You and through You.  I need no other God but You.  Yet I fail to come to You for everything. I seek out my own plans and desires - I am weak.  I worry.  I know You love me Lord Jesus - so thank You!  I am not deserving of such love.  Please forgive me for me weak control over my desires, my laziness, and my worry.  Refine me and purify me.  Mold me...make me more like You. 

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.

Zechariah 13

This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. v9

Zechariah's prophecy indicates that 2/3 of Israel will be unfaithful yet 1/3 will and it will be those who stand in the final days (see also MacArthur Bible Commentary).  This final remnant will be refined as gold.  In the same way, we are to be refined as we grow and mature into the disciples God calls us to be.  This refinement process is difficult but produces value - for God most importantly but also for us.

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3

 

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:7-11

 

 We can take comfort in knowing Jesus will be with us in our trials and that is able to help us both endure and defeat both sin and death.

 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

 

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God, full of love and compassion for me...even though I know I am not deserving.  Thank You for Your many blessings and mercy, but please forgive me for my lack of patience and anger.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You instead.  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 strength and wisdom.  Please cure 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. 

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

Malachi 2:17-3:5

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Malachi 3:1-3

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is an unassisted review of Malachi 2:17-3:5.  Here God continues to deliver words of admonishment to His people who have offered imperfect sacrifices (priesthood), who treat each other poorly and who is faithless in marriages. Now in 2:1-2 God speaks rhetorically to His people who are questioning why He is angry with them - as Israel demonstrates a remarkable lack of self-awareness of their sin, which for any reasonable observer would be clear about such sin.  Then God in vv1-5 shares how He is returning, including a reference to how God will send His Son Jesus as a messenger, and how ultimately Jesus will be coming again in the final days and this will be a difficult time for those who do not believe to endure His wrath.  God refers to how He is a refiner's fire and how He molds us into His image, often through trials and suffering.  As we become more like Him, our lives will be pleasing to Him. Believers lives should reflect love and reverent fear of God and also reflect Jesus in our love of others - otherwise we will be tossed aside and into the fire of judgement during the final days.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who molds me into more of Your image, demonstrating incredible grace and patience.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and certainly not my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind an love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  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 to me today and every day.

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

1 Peter 3

⁸ Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. ⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
¹¹ They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” ¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

I am too often confrontational or righteous.  I need to be right - I am stubborn and prideful.  I need this to change.


Peter's words need to penetrate, refine and transform me - be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble...never repay evil with evil or insult with insult...repay evil with blessing...seek peace and pursue it...do this with gentleness and respect.


Of course this echoes James words:

⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...James 1:19

My Prayer:  Lord, You are patient, humble, respectful...and more - especially to me.  This is amazing because of course I am not deserving.  You call me up and I fall down.  I sincerely thank You for all that You are, have done, and have done for me.  All I know is that I need You every day yet I don't go to You every day so please forgive me for my neglect of You and for falling short...for my sin.  Please refine and purify me and help me put into practice the words of both Peter and James.

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Zechariah 13:2-9

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9

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 13:2-9, which the commentary outlines as the first of four divisions for the text 13:2-14:21 (13:2-9, 14:1-3, 14:4-9, 14:10-21).  Here, the commentary for the introduction to the entirety of the text 13:2-14:21 shares how the Old Testament provides 8x as many prophecies of end times as it does the birth and death of Jesus (first coming). It also shares how Biblical prophecies are provided to God's people to give us comfort, confidence, and hope for the future, as we know the victory over sin and death is already won.  The commentary for the 1st division - 13:2-9 - broadly describes a theme via a title Our Guaranteed Access to God.  The commentary then breaks down the text by describing how in vv2-4 during end times idols and false prophets will be destroyed.  It then describes how in vv7-8 the text prophecies not just end times, but also Christ's death on the cross and how the disciples and Jews were then scattered and finally the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  As the commentary concludes for the text, it offers the following as application: "God’s promise to remove impurities and restore Israel’s access to Him has a powerful application for God’s people today. Like Israel, believers need to repent from following after empty and useless alternatives to God, idols that we create with our own hands and hearts. Like Israel, we must turn from false messengers who pretend to speak truth while peddling deception and lies. And, like Israel, we can count on God hearing and answering when we call on Him, because we belong to Him."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving me the comfort of knowing that You have already won victory over sin and death.  Thank You also for my salvation and for the Holy Spirit that You give me to guide me in daily activities.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You guide me and never leave or forsake me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

Malachi 2:17-3:5

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Malachi 3:1-3

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 2:17-3:5. The commentary emphasizes the main idea is one where God's people question Him whether He is a God of justice as they perceive His delight in wickedness (3:17).  God of course, in the same verse, shares how He is annoyed and frustrated by such a perception.  The commentary then shares how he will send His messenger (Christ) to "purify the priesthood and judge Israel."  Here are excerpts from the following divisions provided for the text:

• Israel Accuses God of Injustice for Allowing the Wicked to Prosper (2:17): "Basically, the people are becoming impatient with the rampant immorality and the political corruption in Israel. They say, in essence, “God, why are you making the wicked prosper? Do you find joy in their transgressions? Where is your justice?"  Of course, believers should understand that God alone is judge and His justice both perfect and in His time (see also Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35). Believers should also be careful in accusing God of lacking justice because we all sin and the wages of sin are death so Israel would have been justifiably wiped out if God was not a God of grace and love and patience with Israel's questioning.    
  
• God Defends His Justice, Promising Vindication through His Appointed Messenger (3:1): Christ is described as God's Messenger: "So, who is the approaching “Messenger of the covenant?” He is the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, God incarnate. Jesus’ entry into the temple precincts during the week of His passion is the fulfillment of this prophecy. John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by summoning the people of Israel to repentance. With the scene set, God, in the form of man, enters His temple and evaluates His people."  The text alludes to Christ's judgement of how in the temple He judged the money-changers in the temple (see also Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-47, John 2:14-16).  
  
• God’s Promised Vindication Begins with the Purification of Israel’s Priestly Leadership (3:2-3): God's people are molded into His image, often through trials and suffering - see also Hebrews 12:5-6, 11, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).  Although Malachi's messages was intended primarily for the priesthood, we as believers are also urged to examine our own lives for sin and to assess our spiritual condition. The commentary shares: "praise God for purging us through suffering. The goal of God is to conform us into the image of His Son. It is not to make us happy. It is not to keep us healthy. It is not to make us wealthy. It is to conform us into the image of His Son (see also Romans 8:29)."  
  
• God’s Promised Vindication Culminates with the Judgment of His People Israel (3:4-5):  God makes explicit how He will judge all, not just the priesthood.  The commentary shares: "the fear of the Lord preserves us for the Day of Judgment. It teaches us to live in light of God’s grace and mercy. Without this proper fear, we are prone to forget the radical nature of the good news of the gospel and to wander from our covenant God. If we lack fear, we may be judged through fire to be lacking worth, showing that we had never truly surrendered to God in the first place." 
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing scripture to help reveal sin in my life.  I want to please honor and glorify You.  You are worthy!  I, on the other than, remain broken and sinful, and undeserving of my salvation and grace - which You pour out daily.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the grace You pour out daily that never ceases.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. 
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

Despite our sin, You - Jesus Christ - show amazing patience with us.  You are willing to refine and purify us...work with us so that we can be more like You...to serve You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are truly amazing.  Your patience for me is amazing.  I sin often yet You are there.  I thank You that You are there...always.  I need Your forgiveness...please forgive me for my anger.  Purify me and make me Yours.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Psalm 50

⁷ “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.
⁸ I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
⁹ I have no need of a bull from your stall
    or of goats from your pens,
¹⁰ for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

...

²³ Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless I will show my salvation. ”

In the Old Testament the Jews offered animal sacrifice and God because the animals are already his, he indicates here that he needs no sacrifice.  However it is important to remember that the animal may be valuable to people as a food source or otherwise so the offering of an animal while in an absolute sense was not necessary to God, it WAS necessary to show how people deny themselves of something.  Additionally, the Jews could have also denied themselves of something (as an expression of our love for God) through a thanks offering which is said to be something that was not promised but given in addition as an expression of thanks for how God blessed people.

With Jesus we are of course to offer ourselves instead:

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of ALL praise and You are worthy of MY praise.  You are great and awesome beyond description and You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve.  I come to You now with a humble heart, knowing I am full of anger and this is a sin.  I thank You for all that You are and what You have done but I need You once more this day (and will continue to need You every day) to forgive me for my anger.  Please purify and refine me of this sin and make me Yours.  Help me take my cross and follow You.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. v14

As Jerusalem is threatened by invaders, the Lord tells Isaiah:

⁷ Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,⁸ for the head of Aram is Damascus,
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
⁹ The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,    you will not stand at all.’” (v7-9)

Two key takeaways this morning, particularly after the election:
(1) The Lord is in control of all things at all times (v7)
(2) Our faith in Him is the most important (v9), Mark 12:28-30

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:28-30

My Prayer: Lord, You alone reign over everything at all times forever and forever.  You know why things happen and why and when things will happen.  You allow things to happen and You also prevent things from happening.  It is You alone in whom I must have faith.  Yet I have faith too much in people and government and this is not right - it is sinful.  I know You love me anyway, but please forgive me that I am not standing firm in my faith.  Purify me, refine me.  Help me be more like You Jesus Christ and help me act like Jesus Christ.  Take me and make me Yours.

How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!...Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile.

Lamentations 4

How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!...Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. v2, 22

As Jeremiah continues to "lament" over the destruction of Jerusalem, we also see signs of hope, some of which point to our Savior Jesus Christ.

In verse 2, we see a reference to the Jews as pots of clay - fragile, of less esteem than pottery of more fine material (vs gold), disposable, yet created by and mold-able by God who so often uses difficulties as a way to shape and refine us into who He desires us to be.  See various commentaries on this here.  In the New Testament, Paul refers to persecuted Christians as "jars of clay" (2 Corinthians 4:7) "to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

We should desire to be "jars of clay" so that others see Jesus in us.  No one desires to be broken but Jesus' words to Paul that "[His] grace is sufficient" should give us strength.

In verse 22, Jeremiah indicates that this exile is not permanent - see also my post from yesterday.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who died for us - thank You Jesus!  What an amazing God You are - the gratest gift of all time!  I am not worth such love.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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 cancer.  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.

God's Provision and Protection Is Not License to Stop Your Efforts

2 Thessalonians 3

Many people to whom Paul writes in Thessalonica have used the anticipation of the second coming of Christ as justification to stop working and to stop doing good as commanded by Christ.  Yet Paul is firm and implores believers to keep up doing both:

⁶ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 

 ¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. ¹² Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. ¹³ And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 

More broadly I see this as two commands:

1. We must not use waiting for God to act as a justification to not work - in any circumstance.

2. The definition of work also includes doing good.

My Prayer: Lord, I know that my time on earth will end in glory either by rising to be in Heaven with You or when You return to bring home all your children.  Either way, I know Your love is great - that You would love us so much that You would forgive and protect us despite our brokenness.  How great You are!!  Forgive me for MY laziness Lord and help me continue to focus my eyes on You and Your commands to work and to produce good works.  Purify and refine me Lord Jesus and make me more like You.

[Satan] will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie

2 Thessalonians 2

⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.

 This is a reminder to me that Satan is not only real but a real threat.  The threat is everywhere and we must be awake and sober as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:6

⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

Moreover, we have encouragement in our God through faith and love:

[L]et us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (verse 8)

My Prayer: Lord, I know that You love me and You have blessed me and protected me.  You are a great God.  Yet I know there are many areas of my life where I am weak and I know I am a work in progress - that You are not done with me yet.  So I ask that You forgive me for my weakness and I also ask that You continue Your work in me.  Take me, purify me and refine me so that my faith and love in You will serve as Paul writes to be a "breastplate, and [my] hope of salvation as a helmet".

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Ephesians 5

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them. 

If there was a reason to not be immoral, impure, or greedy...this is it:

⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

It is reason alone to desire Christ in my view, to have eternal life in Heaven with Him.  Equally, freedom from sin provides powerful incentive to desire Christ.  As well, a powerful, loving, personal, and active God, in the form of the Holy Spirit with us provides even more incentive for desire.

At the same time, there is DIS-incentive to blow any chance of having all of this, right?   That said, I want to rid myself of immorality of all forms - including those referenced here of "obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking" - and impurity and greed.

My Prayer: The promises of eternal life, freedom from sin and a powerful, loving, and personal God in the form of the Holy Spirit are awesome gifts Lord and I am not deserving because I know I exhibit immorality, impurity, and greed.  Please forgive me of these sins Lord Jesus and rid me of these sins...please refine and purify me.  Invade my heart and transform my life to be more like You Jesus.

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

Proverbs 21

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

First and foremost I am to seek His pleasure and delight.  I break the number one commandment, the most important one...all the time.   I need Christ desperately in my life.

My Prayer: Lord, I know You love me and once again I find that amazing....because I am broken.  Thank You that You do love me but please forgive me...please purify me, refine me and make me Your devoted servant.   Make me more like You.

 

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

John 10

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

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

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - You know everything about me, including my sin and brokenness, yet You still love me - incredible.  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin is great, it is daily, and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Jeremiah 24

Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. v5-7

 
The Lord reveals to Jeremiah that those exiled to Babylonia should remain hopeful - that their affliction and punishment is for their own good and of course God's glory.  These people - as is the case with us - need further refinement as part of God's plan to use us for His glory.

See also punishment as training, discipline as training, and the refiner's fire.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your discipline and punishment has produced fruit - thank You Jesus that You love me such that You desire to refine me versus throw me away.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of such love and grace.  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.

Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Proverbs 28

Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them. v20

I often speak in haste and I often don't heed James' instruction:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.  James 1:19-20

My Prayer: Lord, You are available to listen to me anytime and all the time.  You are patient and as well slow to anger...You are perfect.  Of course I am not.  I speak too quickly and too often I think and say things about people that are not right-sinful.  Thank You for loving me anyway but please forgive me Lord Jesus and please purify and refine my heart and help me be more like You.

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. v7-8

The Lord has spoken to me through scripture, and through sermons, and songs and He has often pierced my heart to do something and I often don't follow His commands.

I too say what Jeremiah says, essentially that I am not ready or not now...I am thankful that I have a God who is willing to help if I just ask for it.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are capable of anything yet I am weak.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please Lord, give me strength and meet me this morning.  Reveal to me Your wisdom.  Refine and purify me.  Encourage and work through me so that I can be Your instrument for Your great and glorious will.