How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small....All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Chapter 16: Pages 210-220, Psalm 104

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small....All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.  When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. Psalm 104:24-25, 27-28

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 2 "Providence Over Nature" - moving to chapter sixteen "The Loss and Recovery of a Theater of Wonders". 

Here, Piper makes it clear that nature is not a mechanical being that was created and runs on its own.  Instead he describes "a picture of God creating, sustaining, owning, and governing the world of nature....[God's] providence is not...by proxy, but instead present and hands on[.]  Piper draws on multiple scriptural examples (including Colossians 1:16-17) but most extensively uses Psalm 104.  

For those believers tempted to lean on science to explain the natural world, including creation, Piper warns: "woe to us if we follow the secular spirit of the age into a frame of mind where God is out of sight, out of mind, and out of our everyday conversation about the wonders of growing grass."

Piper then wants us to understand that nature was created and exists "for the sake of [God's] enjoyment.  Piper draws attention to much of the natural world that humans don't ever even get to see: ...[it] is not wasted, the angels grasp some of.  Someday we may grasp more of it.  But God grasps and rejoices in all of it."

Finally, Piper wants us to understand that nature and the created universe is not just for the sake of God but also for the enjoyment of His people (for our praises of His glory of course).

I am reminded of an excellent book on Creation by Grant Jeffrey - Creation: Remarkable Evidence of God's Design. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who's creation is incredible and worthy of my praise for Your glory.  I see it daily and I marvel of Your works.  Thank You Jesus for providing creation - I am undeserving that You would provide creation and the infinite number of blessings You provide!  I worry...PLEASE forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?...But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Chapter 15: Pages 197-207, 1 Corinthians 4:7, and 15:10

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?...But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 4:7, 15:10

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 1 "Setting the Stage" - moving to chapter fifteen "Knowing the Providence of the God Who Is". 

Piper defines the extent of God's providence as "how extensive, or far-reaching, is God's governance or control of created reality?" He then defines the nature of God's providence as how "he influences whatever it is that he governs.  Is his control always exerted in the same way?"  Up front, as he starts this new section, Piper writes that "[w]e depend on [God] for our being and for our knowing-especially our knowing of him.  We are because he is.  We know because he reveals."

In the subsequent chapters of this section Piper digs deeper into the "how" of providence - but for now I rest on how providence unfolds and settle on how according to Piper, scripture alone provides the answers.

I am reminded of Paul's words to Timothy and those of David from Psalms 16:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I KNOW that I am utterly dependent on You for all things, including understanding of Your providence and how it works.  Thank You for the gift of faith and for helping me understand You better - with each passing day I am renewed and know more about You - I also know that You are making me more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such rich blessings.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own....Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Chapter 14: Pages 179-192, Matthew 6:34 and Lamentations 3:22-23

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own....Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Matthew 6:34, Lamentations 3:22-23

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", moving to Section 3 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant" - moving to chapter fourteen "The Glory of Christ in the Glorification of His People".

The one big idea in this chapter by Piper is to address the process of glorification, which Piper writes is the same as sanctification.  He indicates that "[o]ur progressive glorification is the experience of growing in ways of thinking and feeling and behaving that reflect the glory of God in Christ"...and that "progressive glorification [both] fulfills [and is released by] the new covenant."  He also writes that "God is the decisive cause in the glorification of God." Piper recaps the key point by stating "things don't just happen for God's glory; they happen for God's glory because the pervasive providence of God sees to it that they happen that way.  This is the goal of providence. God is supremely committed to the display of his glory for the admiration and enjoyment of all who have it was their supreme treasure."

Pausing for a moment on the details of John Piper's book Providence, I reflect on how challenging the reading itself has become and how I often get lost in the details and fail to walk away with "the forest for the trees" or the "big or central" idea sought by Piper for his audience.  Hence my posts will now increase my focus and understanding on the "big or central" idea of each chapter as I will lessen my concern for some of the finer details for the sake of seeing the forest for the trees.

This morning I lean on another of Piper's works - a blog post - to better understand the sanctification or glorification progress.  Piper describes how and why God sanctifies us slowly.  According to Piper, we are sanctified slowly because we are "depleted" daily and in need of "renewal".  Both Matthew 6:34 and Lamentations 3:22-23 are provided to encourage us to avoid worrying about tomorrow because even though we have new troubles every day, God provides new mercies - this is the "leaking process" described in Piper's post on slow sanctification.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is progressively sanctifying me every day - with new mercies every day - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for Your provision - You meet all my needs.  My sin 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.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 Chapter 13: Pages 166-179

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", moving to Section 3 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant" - moving to chapter thirteen "The Entrance of Sin into Creation and the Glory of the Gospel".

Piper starts with a discussion of how God planned "the suffering and his Son before creation", and how this demonstrates how God plans to permit sin. This traces all the way back to the Fall. Piper provides Ephesians 1:11 and Genesis 20:6 as examples of how God plans to permit sin or not. Another glaring example is from Genesis 50:20 where Joseph confronts his brothers and is overcome with joy instead of feelings of revenge as he states that "God meant [their sin] for good" implying that "God has another intention in the act of [sin]." Piper states, "God's purpose in permitting sin was to give his people the pleasure of seeing and savoring the glory of his grace in the inexpressible suffering and triumphs of his Son." Piper then points out how consequently, we must see how "it was not only justice, but also mercy, that moved God to appoint suffering as the consequence of sin."  Hence, if we are to have grace, we must also have judgement and suffering. 

Piper uses 2 Corinthians 4:4 to highlight the "greatest good of the good news is the glory of Christ...in becoming the all sufficient foundation for the forgiveness of sins-the most worthy person suffering the worst sufferings for the least deserving".  We should then see "two more wonders" in (1) people who enjoy treasuring the glory of Christ (Matthew 10:37), and (2) enjoy being transformed into Christ's glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18)."

Finally, Piper wraps up the chapter by summarizing how the "providence of God in sending his Son a suffering substitute for sinners accomplishes everything necessary to bring his people into his presence with everlasting, soul-satisfying praise of the glory of his grace."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is full of knowledge, wisdom, power, and mercy and You chose me and adopted me in Your family - completely out of grace!  Thank You Jesus!  I know I am undeserving.  I have much sin in my life.  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 he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

 Chapter 12: Pages 158-166, Ephesians 1:4-7

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:4-8

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", moving to Section 3 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant" - moving to chapter twelve "Christ's Foundational Act in Establishing the New Covenant". 

Piper starts by quoting both Luke (Luke 22:20) and Matthew (Matthew 26:28) from the Last Supper to establish that Christs suffering and death on the cross "was the foundational step in enacting the new covenant." He then contrasts the first and second covenant using Hebrews 9:7, 15, 22 and 10:4 to underscore how Jesus "is responsible for putting the second covenant into effect." 

Piper builds on this to state that Christ's death and resurrection is not only the ground for the second covenant but also the goal - quoting Romans 4:25; Piper's description is that He is both the "price" and the "prize". Piper of course extends this to emphasize that "the ultimate goal of God in his saving providence-namely the praise of the glory of his grace-was achieved through the suffering of the Son of God, who died to delivery us from eternal suffering (2 Thessalonians 1:9) and bring us into everlasting enjoyment of his glory (John 17:24)".  We are then encouraged to see "the obvious" that-using Ephesians 1:4-6-God's plan from the beginning was that "God's ultimate purpose in creation and providence was not that his glory be displayed and praised through means that did not involve the suffering of Son.  The cross was not an afterthought.  It was part of the plan from before the foundation of the world (2 Timothy 1:9, Revelation 13:8)."

Finally, Piper writes that "[e]verything else is subordinate to this plan.  Everything else is put in place by God's providence for the sake of this plan.  The display of the glory of God's grace, especially in the suffering of the Beloved, echoing forever in the all-satisfying praises of the redeemed, is the goal of creation and ultimate aim of all God's works for providence". 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and of course so is Your grace and You are worthy of my ceaseless praise and worship.  Thank You for the rich mercies You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and I am lazy among my many sins.  Please forgive me for seeking my own power over yours and not relying on the peace of Christ.  Please forgive me for seeking comfort in the pleasures of this world.  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

Chapter 11: Pages 148-156, Jeremiah 31-32

 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. Jeremiah 32:39-41

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", moving to Section 3 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant" - moving to chapter eleven "The Designs of the New Covenant". Here Piper looks at the "inner designs" of the New Covenant as found in the Old Testament.

Piper starts with Jeremiah 31:31-34 "to show that Christ is a mediator of a 'better covenant' and "contrasts it with 'letters of stone' given to Moses' (2 Corinthians 3:7)."  Piper then points to "three massive promised realities" of the New Covenant: 

1. God forgives sins of those in this covenant relationship
2. God writes the law in the hearts
3. "God will be there God in such a way that 'they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest' (Jeremiah 31:34)."

Piper continues to push forward by writing how the New Covenant is "the way providence moves towards its ultimate goal" which is that "God be known and enjoyed and praised for who he really is[.]" He explains this by stating God's "explicit strategy in the new covenant" includes the following and how "[e]ach of these...points to joy in God":

1. "to take out the heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26)"
2. "to put his Spirit in his people (Ezekiel 36:27a)"
3. "to cause them to obey his word (Ezekiel 36:27b)"

Piper cites Jeremiah 32:39-41 to show how this heart transformation is permanent. We are also encouraged to see fear as a "failure to see God in Christ as supremely enthralling (Romans 11:20)."  Piper wraps up the chapter to demonstrate how the design of the New Covenant is seen as far back as Deuteronomy 29-30 when Moses shares how God "will circumcise your heart".   Piper writes that "[t]his new covenant act of creating love in the hearts of his people is God's way of completing great purpose of creation: God's delight in him."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me a new heart, and the Holy Spirit in my heart - I have seen heart and life transformation as a result...and I am grateful but also undeserved.  I continue to worry and demonstrate other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept You Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

Chapter 10: Pages 133-145, Isaiah 37, Ezekiel

“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes. Ezekiel 36:22-23

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter ten "The Protection, Destruction, and Restoration of Jerusalem". Here Piper starts by stating that Israel and Judah's protection and captivity, and Jerusalem's destruction and restoration were all for the sake of God's name.

He first describes how God "delivered Jerusalem from the hands of of Sennacherib and the prophet Isaiah tells us what God's purpose was in this amazing mercy: 'I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David' (Isaiah 37:35). Before going too far into God's providence during this period, Piper reminds us that there is a correlation between the faith of God's people, their obedience, and the many blessings they received - it's just that we are to be clear that it is "God's zeal for the glory of his name" that God's people experience mercy. Faithfulness as expressed through prayer demonstrates this as Piper uses Hezekiah's prayer (Isaiah 37:16-17, 20) and Isaiah's response (Isaiah 37:21-22, 25) to show how such prayers sought God's glory. Other examples in scripture include Psalms 25:11, 106:8, 143:11, and 23:3.  We even see this in the NT in Romans 4:20 and even Jesus' prayer in Matthew 6:9. Bottom line, God rescues "Jerusalem [both] because Hezekiah prayed and for [God's] own sake", and "these are the same motives."

Piper then moves to the end of God's patience for God's people and even this is for the glory of His name, now in justice and judgement.  Ezekiel is used as the key example and how seven-two times in the book "the prophet says that God does what he does "so that you might know that I am the Lord" and that terrible punishment is meted out and "rooted" in motivation "that you may know that I am the Lord."

Piper uses Ezekiel again to to demonstrate how the grounds for restoration after the exile was also "zeal for his holiness and his name" and "not owing to Israel's righteousness." Piper ends the chapter by ensuring that we know that the point is that "in restoring the fortunes of Jerusalem-and promising an even greater future for Israel than what they experienced in returning from Babylon-God was acting to vindicate the holiness of his name....[this] is not a threat to our joy but the basis of it."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace not because of what I do but because of Your great name and for my joy in the praise of Your name.  Thank You Jesus for the rich mercies You have already poured out for me and continue to pour out for me.  I am undeserving.  I worry, and I am often distracted by the world - please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from my sin, overcome it, 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.

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.

Chapter 9: Pages 121-132, Judges 6-7, and 1 Samuel 12

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 1 Samuel 12:20-22

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter eight "The Time of the Judges and Days of Monarchy". Here Piper indicates that during the period of Judges when Israel had no king (end of Joshua's generation), we see "the unstoppable power of sin....Israel spiral[s] down into anarchy during [this] time...and [e]veryone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6, 21:25)." Piper uses Judges 2:16-19 as a key scriptural example of the spiral.

Yet Piper does use one example from this period to show God's "patience and mercy" - Gideon. In Judges 7:2-3, God makes it clear that it is Him who deserves the glory of any victory over the Midianites. Piper points to pride and arrogance and the need for self-exaltation (vs that of God exaltation) as a key issue for Israel at the time. Piper than points out how God's "ultimate goal in the period of the judges...[was] to point Israel beyond their anarchy and pride to the hope of humble, happy worship under the omnipotent, redeeming hand of God." 

Piper then moves beyond the period of the judges to the period of monarchy starting under Saul, David, and then subsequent kings, to describe how God's plan all along was that Israel be led by a king first of course an earthly one, then via the Messiah as the "final and eternal king-the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, 19:16)." Piper describes the strangeness here as "the actual movement to install the first king was an act of rebellion against God, even though God had already prophesied that Israel would have a king....and further describes this strangeness by adding that God had even "warned that having a king would be trouble for Israel."  He uses multiple scriptural examples to illustrate the "God-ordained roots of the reign of man" by looking at Deuteronomy 17:14-20 and 1 Samuel 2:10. 1 Samuel 8:11-18 is used as an example to show how not all of the kings are going to be "as circumspect as Deuteronomy required." Piper uses Samuel's farewell speech in 1 Samuel 12 to continue reverence and love of the Lord in spite of an earthly king because if Israel does not turn away from the Lord, He "will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake."

This kingship "through sin" is then discussed by Piper to "show God's grace....and how every blessing that comes from this kingship is undeserved...is grace."  Piper then describes three great blessings that come from this kingship, including (1) David and the Psalms - and the overarching them of the Psalms is God's praise, (2) Solomon's building of the temple - and the temple exists for God's name - see 2 Chronicles 6, (3) the final kingship of Jesus the Messiah. Piper's description makes it clear that there is no disconnect between the reign of man and the reign of Christ - it is all part of God's plan and providence. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is so full of grace for me - time and time again, I sin, yet You forgive me, restore me, and even bless me.  I am so undeserving!  My sin continues...as it did with Israel, it does for me.  Worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as 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 did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.

Chapter 8: Pages 108-119, and Exodus 19-20

He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. Joshua 4:24

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter eight "The Law, the Wilderness, and the Conquest of Canaan". Piper starts this chapter by looking at the giving of the law or Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, starting with the first commandment. He writes how the "aim of the first commandment was not only a call for God to be supremely exalted in Israel but for Israel to be supremely satisfied in God." Piper then looks at the tenth commandment and how it relates to the first two as he writes that "covetousness-or wrong [illegitimate] desire is desiring anything in such a way that you lose your contentment in God.  In essence, the first and last of the Ten Commandments demand the same thing" as covetousness becomes idolatry. 

Piper then moves to explain how "the goal of God's providence, now established at the center of his law, is that he be exalted as the greatest treasure in the glad affections of his people-that he be supremely glorified through our being supremely satisfied in him....[b]egrudging obedience does not make God look great."

Piper looks then to how Israel wandered in the wilderness as although they were disobedient, God did not destroy them.  He instead saved them "for the sake of [God's] name."  Piper uses three passages of scripture from Ezekiel as evidence: Ezekiel 20:8-10, 13-14, and 21-22. The use of Ezekiel is important because Piper wants us to see the "connection between God's grace...and his commitment to the glory of his name....God's self-exaltation was the ground of of Israel's undeserved exultation." Israel then conquers Canaan and Piper uses Joshua 4 to show how God once again - as He did with the parting of the Red Sea and - is powerful and mighty (Joshua 4:24).  Deuteronomy 9:4-7 is then used as another example of God's grace "for the sake of his name". Using additional examples from Joshua 22 and 23, as well as from Deuteronomy 33, Piper wraps the chapter by stating "[t]he purpose of God's providence in the conquest of Canaan was to put his power and his name on display in justice and mercy so that this people would be stunned at the freedom and glory of his grace"....and they would "cling to him as their life and serve him forever in a way that makes clear he is an all-satisfying treasure."

Comment and discuss this post here.

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

For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Chapter 7: Pages 96-105, and Romans 9

For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16, Romans 9:17

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter seven "Remembering the Exodus".  Piper kicks off this chapter by recognizing that "in God's providence, the exodus kicks unleashes centuries of joyful, worshiping responses in the history of Israel that reach all the way through the Old Testament and into the New-even into eternity." David does so in 1 Chronicles 17:16 and Psalm 105:42-43. Piper refers to the Psalm 106 as well as this psalm refers to the exodus as not just a wonder of power but also of grace. Piper then states that "our joy and God's glory are not separable goals of God's providence.  They are woven into one goal." In essence, God's people get the salvation (undeservedly) and God gets the reputation.

Piper continues with the witness of the major prophets - citing Isaiah 63:11-14. Jeremiah also lays claim with witness in Jeremiah 32:20-22. According to Piper, we consistently see throughout scripture God's aim "that his people see [God's] glory and worship with gladness."  Moving on, Piper provides another example in Nehemiah 9:9-11, 1000 years after the exodus. As God makes a name for Himself, Piper points out that He does so with power, wisdom, justice, and mercy. 

As God's dispenses this mercy, as He does with the exodus, He does so by God's self-determining will alone - and not by works (Romans 9:16). In Romans 9, Piper writes, Paul makes it clear that Pharaoh is "raised up as the adversary of Israel" to show His power, justice (for Egypt), and mercy (for Israel). Piper's key point is that Paul's "ultimate argument [in Romans 9] for why it is right for God to act in freedom - having mercy on whomever he wills, and hardening whomever he wills is that the ultimate purpose of showing wrath and power is "in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy."

All of this is to say that, summarizing Piper, is that "we would be justified in saying that the ultimate purpose of God in the exodus is that he be glorified".

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of justice and mercy for me - thank You Jesus.  Both are blessings and I am undeserving of such blessings - I know it is by Your free will alone that I experience such blessings. My sin, too many to mention, 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.

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Chapter 6: Pages 83-95, and Exodus 3-11

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Exodus 9:16

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter six "The Exodus Unfolds".  Piper writes that "Scripture expresses God's ultimate goal in the events of the exodus more clearly and more frequently than in any other event in Israel's history".  Piper's focus for this chapter is "the expressions of God's goal in the exodus embedded in the very story of the exodus itself." During the story of Exodus we see God "reveal his unique name, Yahweh, which sets him off from all other gods....and it occurs in the Old Testament over 6,800 times in reference to Israel's God....Yahweh exists in part because the name itself expresses Gods goal for all God's action in the history of Israel, and, as we will see, all his action in the history of the world".

We first see Yahweh or Lord, as a name in Exodus 3 where God is talking to Moses in the burning bush. Piper shares how three aspects of how (1) Yahweh or Lord is first, foundational, and of infinite importance, (2) he provides a bridge between His being and His name, and (3) Yahweh or the Lord as a name has meaning and implies a message - how He intends to be known.  Piper then expands further to provide ten dimensions of its meaning:

1. No beginning
2. Never end
3. Absolute reality
4. Utterly independent
5. Everything that is not God depends totally on God
6. All that we see as compared to God is nothing
7. God is constant
8. Absolute standard of truth
9. Always right and beautiful
10. Most important and most valuable in the universe

Piper moves on the build on these descriptions of God's identity to show how His purpose in "multiplying His wonders in Egypt at the exodus was to make known his name and his power...so that he would be glorified." And this glorification extends "in all the earth" (Exodus 9:16) such that his own reputation was "enlarged".  We then see how we worship "joyfully" as an output of our praise of God's glory. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are certainly worthy of my praise and worship and glory of all the earth not just because of Exodus but for many, infinite reasons and my words I know are empty filthy rags.  Yet they are all I have, in addition to my life which You seek as a living sacrifice.  You are worthy and I know You love me.  I am undeserving.  My sin 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.

I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more....The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Chapter 5: Pages 69-82

I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more....The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Isaiah 65:19, Zephaniah 3:17

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter five "Overview". Here Piper does not focus on any specific period of Israel's history, but instead focuses broadly on all of Israel's history to determine the "ultimate goal" in Israel's history of God's providence. He writes that God's plan "to make the history of Israel serve all the nations of the world through the coming of the Messiah" is not two stories of one followed by the other - it is a single plan and story.

Piper then goes on to illustrate how God was Israel's decisive actor in Israel's history and even those rulers (i.e. Pilate, etc.) who did not know the plan and prophecies of the Messiah played a role in fulfilling them.  Piper writes how we are then warranted to ask what the ultimate purpose of Israel's history is in God's providence, but we should be quick to see how God's overarching purpose in Israel's history is that He is glorified - Piper points to Isaiah 49:3, 43:21, Jeremiah 13:11, 1 Peter 2:9 to make his point. 

Piper ends the chapter with Isaiah 65:19 and Zephaniah 3:17, using this scripture to show how God's ultimate goal is not just only "the exaltation of of [H]is glorious name in the joy of [H]is people; it is also [H]is own joy in their joy in [H]im...the joy moves in both directions: from us toward God and from God toward us."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and Your works are amazing - I marvel at how You love me and how You take joy in my joy in You.  You bless me beyond what I deserve. My sin - of many flavors - continues.  Please forgive me and help turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

Chapter 4: Pages 56-66

 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:24-25

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 1 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence before Creation and in Creation" - moving to chapter four "The Act of Creation".  Piper describes how God created all things for God - that creation itself and all created things and beings exist for Him and for His glory. Piper points to several scripture passages to illustrate his point:

• 1 Corinthians 8:6
• Hebrews 2:10
• Acts 17:24-25
• Romans 11:34-36
• Revelation 4:11

Even nature exists for His glory as Piper states that "[i]n order for God's purpose in creation to be attained, there must be a world filled with the 'knowledge of the glory of the Lord'.  Trees may clap their hands for God (Isaiah 55:12), but they do not know what they are doing.  Such conscious, joyful knowing and loving and praising is the destiny of man, not nature."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your creation is worthy of glory and my praise - thank You for loving me so much that You gave me and all Your children such a wonderful creation.  I am undeserving of how You love me.  I worry and struggle with gossip, worry, and other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Chapter 3: Pages 50-56 and Ephesians 1

 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:4-6

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 1 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence before Creation and in Creation" - essentially chapter three.  In these pages, Piper describes providence expressed before the foundation of the world and uses Ephesians 1:4-6 and 11-12 to illustrate God how this is expressed.  I previously posted on how providence is defined as serving for His glory - the "one great end" that distinguishes providence from fate. This morning we see Piper taking this further by stating that God's glory is incomplete without the praise of His glory.  Piper leans on C.S. Lewis, who writes that "[w]e delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is the appointed consummation." Further, Piper explains the "paradox" that exists by statng that "God is the one being in the universe for whom self-exaltation is a form of love.  For [H]e is the only being whose worth and beauty can satisfy the human soul fully and forever.  When God makes [H]is praise the goal of his providence, [H]e is pursuing our full and lasting pleasure.  That is love."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who chose me before the creation of the world - knowing everything about me and my sin - thank You Jesus!  It is indescribable that You would love me as You do.  I am undeserving of course.  My sin, of worry, etc. 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.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Chapter 2: Pages 41-46

 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Romans 8:5-7

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and read chapter two, where Piper explores God's self-exaltation and glorification.  Piper writes how an earthly mind is likely to detest a self-exalting and self-glorifying God as perhaps conceited, self-centered, or arrogant. Although we might liken God to a powerful action hero, we don't like it when such arrogance tends to lead to selfishness or elitism - all of this again occurs in an earthly mind and compares God to human-kind, which of course we should not be doing.  On the other hand, Piper leans on Jonathan Edwards writings to see God as self-exalting and self-glorifying for the "everlasting enjoyment of [H]is redeemed people". Piper also sees ALL of God's glory "working in perfect harmony", with once again "the goal of God's providence...[to] exist to the praise of the glory of [H]is wisdom, power, justice, goodness and mercy.  Not just one of these excellencies.  All of them."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God because You are FOR me - of course You came to save me, You love me, and I know that You fight for me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are for me. I worry...too much.  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.

His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.

Chapter 1: Pages 31-39

His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him. Daniel 7:27

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and read chapter one, where Piper defines divine providence (as a noun) as "the act of of purposefully providing for, or sustaining and governing the world." Piper leans on the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and Charles Spurgeon to more fully explore and land on an adequate definition, and Spurgeon specifically, to contrast providence from fate (which some may claim as meaningless).  Fate is described as blind but providence is not as according to Spurgeon "everything in this world is working for one great end." It is also "for the good of the chosen people of God" and for His glory.  "If anything would go wrong, God puts it right; and if there is anything that would awry, [H]e puts [H]is hand and alters it." 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed in control for both my good and Your glory - I am blessed that You have adopted me into Your family - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such goodness as my cup runeth over. My sin - worry and other sins - 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.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Introduction: Pages 17-28

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ Isaiah 46:9-10

This morning, I started John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and read the introduction, where Piper offers four invitations: (1) into a world of counterintuitive wonders, (2) to penetrate through [Biblical] words into reality, (3) into a God-entranced world, and (4) to know God.  Piper further describes his aim of the book: "to help as many as [he] can know the God of all-embracing, all-pervasive, invincible providence...Nothing can stop [H]im from succeeding exactly when and how [H]e aims to succeed."

I seek to grow in my relationship with Christ, to deepen my love for Him, and to become more like Him - all with the understanding that He is charge and that He is the one working in my heart and life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who I know is working not just in my life but in all things.  I am grateful for how You have and continue to work in my life - and I know that You never stop working - for all of humanity for all of eternity.  I am not deserving of the many blessings You pour out for me and for how You never stop working for me.  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 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.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 11, and Romans 7

 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 2 Corinthians 11:30-31

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish both the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*" and the study itself as Paul is the last chapter of the study.

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five focuses on Paul an unlikely hero, as a deeply sinful person whom God transformed into deeply faithful servant of Jesus that was relentless in his missionary journeys to share both his testimony and the Gospel.  He did not seek fame or glory, was often beaten and thrown in jail.  He was always on the road, serving and preaching the Word. We are encouraged where ever we are in our own service to the church to keep going - to allow God to work through us.  We are also encouraged to support and serve others in their missionary journey - believing that God sees something in all of us that we don't see - a heart to serve Jesus.  This is the element of heroism that Lucado describes - a heroism that relies on Jesus not on the individual abilities of any one person or group of people.  It is how people allow Jesus to work in their lives, to allow Jesus to be the hero of their story.  We must remember that we exist to glorify God.

Discuss and comment on this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and have seen Your heroics in many lives as You use ordinary people for extraordinary service.  It is only through You that we are able to see the heart and life change You make. Thank You Jesus for what You have done in my life - to save me and to use me and to build me up in the process.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I am lazy, worry, and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose Your 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 met today and every day.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 5

 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day four focuses on Paul's words for the church in Corinth about their sexual immorality - and Lucado uses this letter not so much to focus on sexual immorality, but on sin itself, and the attitude of those of who sin and how believers should respond to sin.  The text (1 Corinthians 5:2) indicates the sinner is proud and that believers are to "hand the [sinner] over to Satan" implying that is the end of the story.  Yet John Piper makes it clear in this post that such a "hand off" to Satan is both not unique in the Bible (as Piper uses Job as just one example), it is used by God as part of His sanctifying process. Lucado also provides three scriptural examples of how God "hands off" sinners to their sin - see Romans 1:24, 26, and 28.

Lucado wants us to be firm in how we deal with sin not just in our own lives but in the lives of others, particularly in the church.  Believers are to separate themselves from sin and evil and as part of this we are to speak truth in love.  John Piper unpacks "truth in love" and the message is clear doctrinal truth in the church is paramount, and it is unifying and foundational.

Finally, Lucado encourages us to love - 1 Corinthians 13:6-7.

Discuss and comment on this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who saves me from my sin and provides Your Word to protect me from sin and the Holy Spirit to sanctify me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of who You are so full of mercy, compassion, and patience.  My sin 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.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Acts 16-17 and 1 Thessalonica 1-2

 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day three focuses on Paul's first missionary journey, and the various converts made during this journey, including Lydia, Paul and Silas' jailer, and the Bereans. Lucado reminds us of how God and the Holy Spirit work - that we are not converting anyone but either planting or watering a seed but God is the one responsible for growing and harvesting the seed.  Lucado also wants us to keep in mind that we are never fully aware of the impact others have had on our lives and the impact we have had in others' lives yet we may come to more fully understand this impact when we reach Heaven. We are encouraged to plant and water seeds. 

Whatever our role in the Great Commission and in spreading the gospel, we all have a role and it is to be a light. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am deeply grateful for the many brothers and sisters in Christ You placed in my life to plant and water seeds in my life for my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I do hope that I can be that same blessings for others.  Yet I am undeserving of the many blessings You pour out for me - I worry and I am often harsh with others.  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.

At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 9, 22

At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 22:2-22

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day two of my study focuses on Paul's remarkable transformation from persecutor to persecuted. We see how God used Paul's zeal and passion, not for evil, but for good. This should be part of all of our stories - how God both transforms hearts and lives - instantly.  Yet at the same time God uses who we are and how we've been shaped to accomplish His glory. Lucado also wants us to understand that believers that face persecution for their faith see purpose in such suffering:

• Luke 6:22-23
• John 15:18-19
• 1 John 3:13-14
• 2 Timothy 3:12-14
• 1 Peter 3:17-18
• 1 Peter 4:12-14
• Philippians 4:6 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I have seen heart and life transformation in my life and in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ - only You can produce such life change - we are all a new creation in Christ.  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings You pour for me and for the abundance of mercy and compassion You have for me.  I am undeserving.  I worry, and I am easily distracted by the world.  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.

If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends.

Acts 9 and Jonah 1-4

If you love only the people who love you, you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don’t know God are nice to their friends. Matthew 5:46-47 (NCV)

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day one of my study focuses on Ananias, to whom God spoke to attend to Saul after the Lord spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus (and blinded him). Lucado compares how God used Ananias much like God used Jonah - Jonah was given a mission to preach to Nineveh and Jonah did not believe the city deserved mercy so he ran from his mission. While we don't know much about Ananias' state of mind after the Lord gives Ananias the message to attend to Saul, we do know that there was hesitation on Ananias' part (Acts 9:13-14).  Unlike Jonah, ultimately, it appears that Ananias went to Saul as the Lord directed him, and with what appears to be little to no further resistance. Despite the differences between Ananias and Jonah, a key takeaway remains that God often calls us to missions that are not just tough but undesirable, perhaps missions where we disagree on some level, including loving those we feel are undeserving of love.  Yet Lucado wants us to understand that we don't get to make that call - God does - and God wants us to love everyone, including those we don't think are deserving of it.

Lucado uses Matthew 5:46-47 (NCV) to emphasize this key message. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God as You are so full of love, mercy, and compassion for me - even though I am quite clear I am undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet again, I know I am undeserving. My attitude at work is far from ideal - I grumble and complain, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish the story of "Peter: Gospel of the Second Chance*".

*Title of lesson nine from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five of my study describes how King Herod imprisoned Peter in Acts 12 - he emphasizes how the church responded in prayer (Acts 12:5) and how Peter, once freed by an angel of the Lord, goes to Mary's house where she is holding a prayer vigil for Peter (Acts 12:12). Lucado gives us other verses that encourage prayer:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "pray continually"
• Mark 11:17: Jesus refers to the temple as a "house of prayer"
• Matthew 18:19 (MSG): "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action."

We are encouraged to pray first when we encounter difficult circumstances, and to listen for how God IS working as He is always at work. Lucado writes:"[n]o other spiritual activity is guaranteed...results".

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always at work, hearing all of my prayers and moving in my life and in the life of others...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are at work in my life...my sin of worry, and others sins continue.  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.