[W]e rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope[.]

Romans 5:1-11

[W]e rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope[.] Romans 5:2b-4

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued my study of chapter six The Blessings of Justification By Faith, which covers Romans 5:1-11.  My focus today is the back half of Romans 5:2 through verse 4.  I continue to explore how, as a result of my justification by faith I am blessed and specifically this morning, blessed with hope.  I am to rejoice in not only this hope but in any challenges/trials/suffering I may experience as God is shaping me into more of his image and also keeping me focused on not just my time here on earth but what awaits in Heaven. 

My commentary encourages me to not forget how I am undeserving of this blessing of hope as it was faith alone that justified me not any of my or the totality of my works. I am also encouraged to see three applications from verses 3-4:

1. God's priority is not to take away all of your problems; it's to make you like Jesus; suffering refines us and makes us more like Jesus.  It weans us off the pleasures of this world and reminds us of the ultimate realities. 
2. God's purposes can be trusted.  God is working all things together for our good as he conforms us to the images of his Son.
3. God's pattern can be anticipate: afflictions-endurance-character-hope; trials and suffering build character and give us confidence in God as we ensure more trials to come.

I am encourages to look at how suffering produces hope by looking at Mark 4:14-20 (Parable of the Sower):

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed amazing and You give me hope - and I rejoice in this hope and I am grateful how You have molded me through suffering and trials.  I can reflect on these trials now and see the blessing and have confidence that I am more prepared for suffering as I know there will be more.  Thank You Jesus for being full of grace and that You never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of how You justify me nor am I deserving of my salvation or any blessing You pour out for me.  My sin continues - daily...of many kinds.  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.

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.

James 1

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. v2-3

I read a post this morning that it is believed based on the use of imperative verbs that James is the "bossiest book in the bible".  Kinda interesting....in these two early verses of James I am reminded how I am to consider it pure joy during this current trial with Lisa where she is going through cancer treatment...not easy but when I think about it, James is saying "consider" and when you look up the definition of consider here, the implication is that we are to keep in top of mind during our trial that God is doing this for our good and His glory and that we should be honored.  We are in fact His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, everything You do is perfect - Your will, designs, plans, works, everything!  What our family is experiencing right now is according to Your plan...I know..even though it is indeed a trial.  You have seen us through trials previously and You will with this one as well.  You are great!  Thank You for Your love, protection, encouragement, etc.  I am not worth such blessings.  I am selfish, angry, lazy, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin 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.  Help me consider this and all of my trials as pure joy.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Mark 14:53-72

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

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

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

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

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

Comment and discuss this post. 

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

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.     

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Mark 4:35-41

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40

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 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's fifth (of six) division (v40): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Trials and Difficulties Come for the Benefit of Our Faith."  
• Describing the disciples likely reaction to Jesus's mild rebuke of them for the lack of faith, the commentary shares that "[b]y now they should have a greater comprehension and increased faith in His person. This was a golden teaching moment, but they came up short. In the eye of the storm, rather than trusting Him, the disciples accuse Jesus of forsaking them (v. 38). Unfortunately, this will not be the last time Jesus must point out their lack of faith (7:18; 8:17,21,33; 9:9). Until they see the resurrected Christ and fully understand what He did for them on the cross, they are going to struggle." 
• At the same time, we are encouraged us to grow in our faith as the commentary shares: "[w]e, in contrast, have no excuse. We know Jesus is all-powerful and all-knowing God. We know He has taken care of all our sin. We know He rose from the dead. We know He can be trusted no matter what! Trials and difficulties are divine appointments to strengthen our faith."   

Until we meet Jesus once again upon our death (glorification) or until He returns (second coming), all believers are a work in progress as we strive to grow in in our knowledge and love of Him, and as a result become more like Him (sanctification).  This is a day-by-day progressive process - we may often feel as if this process is too slow but we can be comforted that God is always at work.  Importantly, God is at work in the trials and difficulties of life.  See also Colossians 1:17b where the text shares that Jesus "holds all things together."  We don't know what He is doing (Isaiah 55:8), but we can take comfort that God is in "all things [to] work [them] together for good" (Romans 8:28).  We of course should also know that we will also overcome the world (John 16:33) and see Jesus face to face and at that point our sanctification will be complete!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that I know is at work in me.  Thank You Jesus for working in my life and heart and of course for my salvation.  Please continue because I know I am still a work in progress and there is more sin to shed.  Please forgive me of this sin 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.    

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

Mark 4:35-41

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. Mark 4:35-37

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to the text (vv35-41) and the first (of six) division (vv35-37): 

• Main idea for vv35-41: "Jesus’ authority over the wind and the sea demonstrate His identity as God and as the One we can trust."
• We are referred to Psalm 107:23-32 for text elsewhere that highlights how God should be the source of our peace and refuge during the storms of life. 
• The commentary reminds us here in vv35-41 and elsewhere in Mark how Jesus not only has providence or dominion over nature but also demons (5:1-20), sickness (5:25-34), and even death (5:21-34, 35-43).  
• "God orchestrates an event in the lives of the apostles to increase their faith in the One they should already trust. Few stories have been more poorly applied than this one. It is not about Jesus’ getting you through the storms of life. He does that, of course, but this account is about the One who is the sovereign and all-powerful Lord. Demons rightly recognize Him as God (5:7), and we should fully trust Him." 
• The commentary's subtitle for this division: "God Is Working in the Circumstances of Our Lives."  
• "There is a crucial detail: it was Jesus who led them into the storm! This was not accidental. This did not catch God off guard. We should not be alarmed by surprises in our lives. They are divinely ordained moments whereby God is working in the everyday circumstances of our lives to reveal who He is, who we are, and who we need! Trials and tribulations, difficulties and desperate moments are when God does His greatest work in our lives. When He brings us to the end of ourselves, we are driven to Him and Him alone as Savior and Rescuer." 

Scripture is replete with trials and tribulations of various kinds - and they are of course all too familiar for all of us.  It is important for us to recognize what God is doing in these trials as these are by design from God for His will.  Romans 8:28 is key to remind us how God is always at work for good, how His ways and thoughts are a mystery (Isaiah 55:8), and how with God we will overcome whatever trial we experience - even death (John 16:33).   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that will never leave or forsake me, You are always at work for good, and with You I will overcome the world.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings and my salvation.  I am not deserving of such blessings and my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Proverbs 17-22:16

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

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I wrap my review of 17-22:16, week 7 from my study workbook, and as indicated yesterday, my focus for today is judgement. The study emphasizes that "God alone knows the heart of individuals, pointing to Jeremiah 17:10. Proverbs 17:3 portrays the "refiner's fire" and how God tests us and molds, and by removing impurities - often using trials and adversity as part of the process. It is through this sanctification process where God is molding us into more of His image - of course for His glory. My study states that "[w]hen God's people undergo such testing, it should be understood as God's fatherly discipline: trials work to purify the hearts of believers, conforming them to the image Christ." For additional references and to support this theme, we are pointed to Malachi 3:2 and Hebrews 12:7-11.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I see how Your hand in my life works, including through the refiners fire with trials and challenges.  While it may be painful - it is for my good and Your glory.  I also know that You never leave or forsake me and You never stop loving me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  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.

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

James 1

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 

While verse 2 is of course the key verse here, another key verse is verse 13:

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 

The key here is recognize that whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, the question we should be asking ourselves is not the extent to which we are being tempted or tested but refined....keeping in mind that God is using the circumstances for HIS glory and wants to better prepare you for HIS plan.

I am reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

My Prayer: Lord, I am in awe of Your great works, whether it is Your natural creation on earth or in me as I have witnessed a true transformation of heart and in my life.  Yet I am not done and I know this.  I know that "perseverance [must] finish its work".  Forgive me for my fear of what trials I am to encounter and help me lean on You alone for strength and faith. 

These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

First, I am to be filled with joy through the hope of an inheritance provided to me through Christ and this inheritance will never perish, spoil or fade...indeed!

Second, although I am to experience trials, I am to demonstrate great joy to prove and provide witness to the genuineness of my faith...so that Christ is to be praised, glorified, and honored.

These are piercing verses as many times I lack joy or I lack the demonstration of joy to the extent that Christ is glorified.

My Prayer: Lord, I KNOW that You have provided a rich inheritance that will never perish, spoil, or fade.  Yet I confess to You that this is not something that I make myself aware of on a daily basis or on a basis that enables me to be joyful as You call us to be.  I thank You for Your great mercy that you shown to me and once again today and in need of such mercy - please forgive me Lord Jesus for my lack of joy and failure to demonstrate a faith the glorifies Jesus Christ.  Please purify me of this sin and transform my heart and my life and make me Yours Lord Jesus.

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Hebrews 6

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17-18

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which uses Hebrews 6:17-18 to encourage believers to "hold fast to the hope set before us."  Ultimately, the hope set before us refers to how Christ has already defeated sin and death and how he is saving a place in Heaven for believers - for eternity.  We should be hopeful about this - and this hope should carry us through all of the trials and challenges we will experience in life - and we will experience trials and challenges (John 16:33).  However, John Piper reminds us that even though Christ has already secured the victory we all need, we still need power and a will to hold fast - we cannot do this alone.  We need Christ while we remain in this life to hold fast.  Piper uses Philippians 3:12 to underscore his point - in this text Paul writes how he presses on and endures (just as Jesus did on the cross) to own and claim the life God has given him (regardless of the trials and challenges), and to place his hope in the cross "because Christ Jesus has made me his own."  Take hold of this hope!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good Father - and I know You will never leave or forsake me and You will help me through the ups and downs of life - all the way to the end.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  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.

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.

Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.

Proverbs 20

Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
    and beatings purge the inmost being. v30

A quick search of the Internet helped me find Matthew Henry's commentary on the above verse and my initial read/view was validated....that suffering for Christ in any kind of trial is a refinement that is intended by God for His good and perfect will.  See also James:

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

My Prayer: Lord, Your will and Your purpose is perfect...unlike my purposes which very often are not directed by You.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my lack of trust and love of You - this is of course sinful!!  Help me focus on You and Your plans for me, even when I am enduring trials.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. v6-7

It's no doubt difficult to suffer any kind of trial, yet Peter encourages us to think of how our suffering serves both us and Christ.  We are refined through suffering and we share in the suffering of Christ with whom we will share eternity.  We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus while we live in our earthly bodies and bring others to Him by demonstrating how we are "set apart" or holy.

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” v15

 

The call for us to be set apart is elsewhere in scripture - see here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Holy and You lived a perfect live, then You suffered and died for me...of course You did not deserve such punishment yet You willingly laid down Your life for me...thank You Jesus!  What an amazing gift.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  I am lazy and selfish.  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 strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

James 1

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3

As I continue to be in between studies, having 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 how suffering results in the sharpening of our faith.  Piper uses the analogy of working out to illustrate the role suffering plays in our lives.  "Faith is like muscle tissue: if you stress it to the limit, it gets stronger, not weaker. That’s what James means here. When your faith is threatened and tested and stretched to the breaking point, the result is greater capacity to endure."  Piper continues by pointing us to 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, where Paul and his companions were so overwhelmed with suffering where they completely surrendered to God, recognizing that even in death God would prevail and demonstrate how we should be utterly dependent on Him.  Piper writes that "[God's] aim is that we grow deeper and stronger in our confidence that he himself will be all we need."  Piper wraps today's devotion by pointing us to Psalm 73:25-26, where the Psalmist writes how he gains his strength from God, even when everything else in his life, including his health, fails.  Piper wants us to see how God works in our suffering.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me.  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 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.   

Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Philippians 1:12-18 

Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:18

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Philippians 1:12-18 where Paul describes how his imprisonment has advanced the gospel while warning against using the gospel for "selfish ambition." Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V18: Regardless of whether the Word is preached for His glory or for selfish ambition, God is at work and He is in control.  There is a mystery here but we can rest in how He reigns.  This is not the only circumstance where God uses broken sinful and broken people to advance His plan as part of the broad arc of His redemption story.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv12-13: God uses all of our circumstances for good and His glory - see also Romans 8:28.  In this case, Paul describes how his imprisonment has not stopped efforts to proclaim the gospel.  V14: Paul's bold efforts to share the gospel while imprisoned encourage and motivate other believers to to be bold in their efforts to proclaim the gospel "without fear."  Vv15-17: While some believers use Paul's imprisonment for good and out of love, some do it "from envy and rivalry" and for "selfish ambition..."thinking to afflict" Paul.  Believers should be aware, teachers in particular, that their role is to preach the Word for His good and glory - not for any personal gain, although one is blessed using God-given gifts for His glory.    
• 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 using selfish ambition to proclaim the gospel.  Claim the promise that God is at work in all circumstances - including our own suffering and trials.  

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You always working in my life, even in suffering, trials, and difficulties.  I know that I can never be separated from Your love!  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You also for my salvation and for the mercies and blessings You pour out for me every day.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

So 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 4-5

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

I continued a pause of my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which focuses on how we endure the many trials in our lives which we inevitably will face (see also John 16:33), and how we endure the toll these many trials will take on us physically and emotionally. John Piper points to Paul's letter to the church in Corinth and how he looks to the things unseen (heaven) and how our faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) helps us endure.  Piper also shares with us how we rely on the same light that gave us ears to hear and eyes to see when God gave us our salvation (2 Corinthians 4:6).  We should be encouraged to endure.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me eyes to see, ears to hear, and my faith and salvation. Thank You Jesus for this light.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great - gossip, among them - 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.

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

Zechariah 8:1-17

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

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

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My Prayer: Father, You are a good, good Father - so good to me in how You never leave or forsake me, seeing through all trials and tribulations.  I am SO grateful that You saved me and You continue to walk with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.

Jeremiah 32

“This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. v42

Sin does not go unpunished.  Yet for those who turn to Jesus and repent...they are also restored.:

“This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. ⁴³ Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ ⁴⁴ Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.” v42-44

James speaks of trials and temptations as producing perseverence...that we see it all for God's glory and our good.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-3

God is righteous and His love for us is infinite...everything He does, including for us specifically, is perfect.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are perfect, Your word is perfect and all that you have done and will do is perfect - I cannot question Your motives.  They are based out of love to bring all people to You. I am amazed that You love me and are so patient with me.  I am still full of anger, lust, arrogance, etc.  Thank You for Your love but please forgive me for this and rid me of this sin.  Purify and refine me.  Mold me.  Make me Yours.  Use me. 

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

Jeremiah 46-47:7

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.” Jeremiah 46:27-28

Day 215 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Jeremiah. This morning, building on yesterday's post, my commentary* discusses how, Egypt seeks to overtake Babylonia (and Philistia), but will be defeated (Jeremiah 46:1-11) and subdued by Egypt (Jeremiah 46:12-26).

Addressing those who have remained faithful AND those who have not, God offers "reassurance to Judah".  As I have posted previously,

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this....Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

Ecclesiastes 7:1-13

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this....Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? Ecclesiastes 7:10, 13

I resume my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  This morning, I start an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 7-11 which is a significant amount of text to cover in one day.  However, by leveraging the commentary outline, which breaks down these chapters not with divisions and associated verses, but simply with divisions that point to text throughout chapters 7-11, I will tackle these chapters in more manageable chunks.  Here are the divisions:

1. God Has a Design for Everything. 
2. Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness. 
3. The Gospel Is the Answer to Our Brokenness and Meaninglessness. 
4. The Gospel Allows Us to Recover and Pursue God’s Wise Design.

My focus today is Ecclesiastes 7:1-13.  Here, there are two verses in my reading that emphasize how we should see God's design in all of life's circumstances (and even be thankful per 1 Thessalonians 5:18). V10 is a command that says that in the midst challenges/trials/suffering we may be currently experiencing, we should not look back at better days we had but instead we should see how God is working within these challenges/trials/suffering.  It is a reminder that God is sovereign over all the details in Heaven and on Earth, including our lives.  V13, similarly, describes how God's designs and plans cannot be stopped - His purpose will not be thwarted - see Job 42:2.

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