“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Conclusion: Pages 650-669

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

This morning, I completed John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) after reading the conclusion. Here Piper recaps the extent of providence: "God's eternal plan includes everything-from the most insignificant bird (Matt 10:29), to the movement of stars (Isaiah 40:26), to the murder of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).  It includes the moral acts of every soul-its preferences, choices, and deeds. Neither Satan at his hellish worst nor human beings at their redeemed best ever act in a way that causes a revision in God's all wise plan.  Whether God planned to permit something or planned to be more directly involved, nothing comes to pass but what God planned as part of the process pursuing his ultimate goal.  Therefore, the extent of this providence is total."

Piper also shares with us "ten examples of the effects that knowing and loving this providence will have," including how "seeing and savoring this providence: 

1. awakens awe and leads us into the depth of true God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated worship."
2. makes us marvel at our own salvation and humbles us because of our sin."
3. causes us to see everything as part of God's design-everything as from him and through him and to him, for his glory."
4. helps protect us from the trivializing effects of culture and from trifling with divine things."
5. helps us be patient and faithful amid the most inexplicable circumstances of life."
6. shows us that the "problem" of God's sovereignty in suffering is more than relieved by the sustaining purpose and power of his sovereignty through suffering."
   
7. makes us alert and resistant to man-centered substitutes that pose as good news."
8. makes us confident that God has the right and the power to answer prayer that people's hearts and minds would be changed."
   
9. shows us that evangelism and missions are absolutely essential for people to be converted to Christ, because God makes them the means of his work in creating saving faith."
   
10. assures us that for all eternity God will be increasingly glorified in us as we are increasingly satisfied in him."

While all I have experience all of these effects to a certain extent, one in particular rings true this morning - #5 and #6. As a father of a special needs child (Dustin), I prayed that God would equip me to be the man, parent, and husband needed not just by Dustin, but by my other child Zach and by my wife Lisa. God's providence has seen to it this prayer has been answered and for the praise and glory of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior!  More often than not, when I encounter challenges and trials, I know God is in control and God loves me, that He will never leave or forsake me, and that His ways are good and perfect...and that I can rest.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your thoughts and ways are indeed unknown, but they are perfect and good.  I can rest in knowing this.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such rest and of all the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin continues...selfishness, 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 today and every day.

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Chapter 45: Pages 633-648

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to the final chapter - forty-five - "New Bodies, New World, Never-Ending Gladness in God".

Here, Piper places a capstone on the entire book (and the Bible) by describing "five climactic works of providence that grow out of the second coming of Jesus." These works are:

• We will see the Lord in the Greatness of His Glory > 2 Thessalonians 1:10
  
• We will be profoundly changed > 1 John 1:3:2
  
• We will experience everlasting, ever-increasing measures of pleasure > John 17:26, Ephesians 2:6-7
  
• The universe will be set free from bondage > 2 Peter 3:12-13, Romans 8:19-21
  

Finally, Piper states that we should not forget that in all of this - as is the case with everything - (see Colossians 1:16-18) - God will be supreme and central.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and again I am beyond grateful that You saved me and are saving a place for me in Heaven - which sounds amazing!  I am not deserving of the glorification that awaits me - my sin continues...daily, including 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 the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Chapter 44: Pages 621-630

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty-four "The Triumph of Missions and the Coming of Christ".

Here Piper focuses on the certain victory that awaits believers persisting in the current age: "[n]ot one Christian is made perfect in this life.  God's way is to magnify the patience of grace through the persistence of sin.  We have not yet seen the climax of God's saving achievement." As believers await victory and glorification (final day), Piper describes how "[t]he Lord of the harvest will catapult his workers to the nations" and "His mission cannot fail". Piper goes on to say that "[w]hen the gospel has done its appointed work in all the nations, the end will come (Matthew 24:14)."  But Piper continues (using Matthew 24:30-31), encouraging us to not see this as the end but instead as the "beginning of something radically new....Jesus is coming with power and glory to 'gather his elect'.  He is not gathering them for nothing....This is the consummation of what he has been doing for the elect during all of redemptive history.  He has predestined his elect, called them, justified them and sanctified them, and now he is gathering them for the eternal future of their glorification." Piper provides 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 as another example of the ingathering and states that "[t]his is a work of omnipotent providence.  No one but God can do this.  Just as the flood swept the old world clean of sinful people, so the resurrection will fill the new world with the redeemed and renewed people of God."

Piper wraps us up this description of the ingathering by ending on a somber note as both joy and sadness accompanies this time because not all will be save but instead some will perish - "conscious misery forever."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is saving a place for me in Heaven and You promise to gather me and all believers to bring us there - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin does continue...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Chapter 43: Pages 608-619

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty-three "Killing Sin and Creating Love-by Faith".

Here, Piper examines how God uses faith to fulfill his transforming or sanctifying promise - the process itself.  Faith is described as producing love (and killing sin) and Galatians 3:5 to demonstrate that "faith has in it the power to sever the root of sin's deceptive promises by saving the superior promises of God." 1 John 5:4 is yet another example of how faith gives believers victory over sin.  Piper describes the process in play: "[i]t is the work of his Spirit, awakening faith in the word of God, that kills sin (Romans 8:13) and creates love (Galatians 5:6)."  In this process, "we act the miracle...and [h]e causes the miracle - see also Philippians 2:12-13 - God is finally and ultimately decisive as "[w]e work, because God is at work in us. We will and do, because God is willing and doing in us". Both Paul and Peter provide additional examples of how this works:

• Galatians 2:20
• Colossians 1:28-29
• 1 Peter 4:11 

Finally, Piper looks at the question, which many believers have, including myself, of why the sanctifying process can be so slow - why does God tolerate sin and imperfection from believers? Piper writes that is not because God cannot perfect us in an instant at conversion - He can.  This process works itself out over time and sometimes slowly because God seeks "for the fullness of his beauty and worth to be magnified in the way his people prefer him over what Satan offers.  God's worth and beauty are magnified in proportion to our preference for them over all that Satan can offer.  God intends for Satan to be defeated in this age not merely by being shown to be weaker than Christ but also by being shown to be less beautiful, less valuable, less desirable, less satisfying....triumphs in warfare with sin would not happen without the warfare." 

Comment and discuss this post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You and Your Spirit are at work in me, willing obedience and love for You and others.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving how You work in me.  I fall down and sin every single day.  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 to You Jesus.  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 has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life....ow the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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 42: Pages 597-606

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life....ow the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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 3:6,17-18

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty-two "Working in Us That Which Is Pleasing in His Sight".

Here, Piper seeks to demonstrate that "God brings about obedience in his people[.]"  We are encouraged to step back and reflect on the ultimate purpose of God's providence; that it "necessarily includes the Christ-exalting (2 Thessalonians 1:10,12), grace-praising (Ephesians 1:6), God-glorifying (Philippians 2:11) holiness and happiness of his people...[and] happiness in God as our supreme treasure is the essence of holiness." Our holiness was predestined, promised, purchased, and performed by God - with the latter being the core focus of this chapter.  Under the Old Covenant, "[o]bedience was commanded but not created."  Ezekiel 36:27 was highlighted in my last post, and Piper draws the connection from this Old Testament prophecy to that and how God causes obedience in believers and it is from God and the Holy Spirit - 2 Corinthians 3:6,17-18 and Hebrews 13:20-21 both serve as scriptural evidence. "[The] transformation-conformity to Christ that God commands and creates-is required not because the righteousness imputed to us in justification is insufficient to bring us instantly into God's eternal favor.  At the moment we are united to Christ through faith, his sin-bearing punishment and perfect obedience are counted as ours."

Piper wraps up the chapter by stating that our obedience is an "effect of our acceptance with God, not a means to it. Our acceptance with God is the root of our obedience, not the fruit."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who gave me a heart of flesh and are working in me to cause obedience and ever increasing conformity to Yourself - for Your glory and my happiness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You work in my life.  I fall short, with sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Chapter 41: Pages 586-595

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:27

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty-one "Blood-Bought Zeal for Good Works".

Here, in my view, perhaps through repetition or time to digest, among the chapters so far where he describes how God has providence over Christian living, Piper writes how through Christ's death on the cross, "the wholehearted pursuit of holiness" is not just promised, but also purchased.  In other words, here Piper describes the "effectiveness of the death of Christ in securing for us the life change demanded from us."  Jeremiah 31:31-34 is used to show how forgiveness of sins is the foundation for the heart change necessary for obedience.  Similarly, Ezekiel 11:19-21, 36:27 express the same process of how God causes sanctification and the resulting obedience.  We are then encouraged to look also at Colossians 1:21-22 and Philippians 1:9-10 to see how we are reconciled to God so that we can achieve our pursuit of holiness. Moreover, this pursuit of holiness is described by Piper as a progressive, imperfect blamelessness in Philippians 2:14-15 - it does not happen in a "big-bang" on our final day.  It's not just Paul who writes about how God equips us for holiness and obedience, but Peter and the author of Hebrews as well.  Piper provides 1 Peter 2:24-25 as an example of how we are ransomed from "futile ways" to live "to righteousness" and Hebrews 9:13-14 of how "dead works" are cleared away for us to pursue "a life of service to the living God."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has circumcised my heart, gave me a new heart, wrote Your laws on my heart and mind and caused me to pursue holiness - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed...but not deserving. I continue to sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Chapter 40: Pages 573-584, Romans 8:28-39

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter forty "Those Whom He Called, He Also Glorified".

Here, Piper continues his focus on how God's providence preserves us to the end.  He uses Romans 8:28-39 as the "clearest and fullest promise that God will give us all we need and infallibly bring us to glory."  He makes the bold claim that "this is the greatest section of the greatest chapter in the greatest book in the world....[and that 8:32 specifically] may be the most important verse in the Bible."

Piper provides additional scriptural examples that demonstrate how God preserves us until the end:

• 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
• Philippians 1:6
• Jeremiah 32:40
• John 10:27-30
• Ezekiel 36:27
  

Piper ends the chapter with an emphatic set of statements that "[y]our being kept for a joyful meeting with God has been promised.  God is faithful.  He will do it.  But that is not all.  He not only promised it; he purchased it."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for preserving me until the end when I will see You face to face - this provides great comfort, confidence, hope and joy!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from it 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. 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

 Chapter 39: Pages 556-571

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter thirty-nine "God's Command-and-Warning Strategy".

Here, Piper's focus is to explore how God "see to it that his people are conformed to Christ and make it safely from conversion to glory?"  His answer is that God does this "by commanding us to engage all that we are in the wholehearted pursuit of holiness." Piper refers to how God does this as God's "command and warning strategy." We must first hold fast our faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Hebrews 3:6, 12-14). We are to be "earnest, rather than cavalier, about our perseverance" (Hebrews 6:11-12). We are warned about "drifting" (Luke 8:14) and the remedy is to earnest and vigilant (Mark 13:37).  

Piper tell us that "the strategy of God's providence to make us holy is not to make us passive."  He uses 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Matthew 5:29 to warns us about running aimlessly and to make war on lust and sin. 

We are not only to have a strong defense against sin but also a strong offense - and Piper writes this this is love. He uses 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 and 1 Corinthians 16:14 as key scriptural examples of how love is the "essence of holiness and the sum of obedience."

Piper wraps it up by stating that "God bring us to glory by commanding us to engage all that we are in the wholehearted pursuit of obedience, holiness, and love.  And he warns us that if we don't obey, we don't know God (1 John 2:4); and if we don't pursue holiness, we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14); and if we don't love, we abide in death (1 John 3:14)."  This pursuit is described as "striving" and Piper wants us to see that if we are don't feel like we "agonize, struggle, fight, wrestle....we may not be living the Christian life."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are a great God and worthy of my praise and sacrifice - You are a good, good Father - thank You for saving me and adopting me into Your family...and for providing for strong defenses and equipping me to pursue obedience, holiness and love.  I am not deserving of all that You have done and will do for me.  I continue to sin...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.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Chapter 38: Pages 543-554

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to chapter thirty-eight "Forgiveness, Justification, and Obedience".

Here, Piper begins (continues through chapter 43) to explore "God's saving providence between conversion and eternal glory." Piper wants us to understand "what [God] command[s] from us and commits to do for us so that we will have vigilance and confidence for every hazard." He then moves on to state that "[t]he provision of God's providence for our perseverance does not begin with the commandments to persevere, or with God's power to help us."  Forgiveness, justification (Christ's perfect righteousness counted as ours) and and obedience are all preceded by both Christ's death (once for all) and resurrection and our conversion. Piper uses Romans 3:28, 4:5, 5:1, and Galatians 2:16, 3:8) to clarify that although justification occurs "the moment we believe...[t]he obedience of Christ, the basis for our justification, was completed once for all before we existed (Romans 5:19)." 

As a lead in to the next five chapters, Piper sums it up by stating that "forgiveness and justification are indispensable starting points for the Christian life. And they form the ongoing foundation of every act of Christian obedience."  We are encouraged to avoid chasing acceptance but instead charged to see that we have already been justified through Christ's blood and our conversion.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who both forgives and justifies me through Your death on the cross - thank You!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time. My sin is great and it will continue until I die - including my sin today.  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.

Chapter 37: Pages 526-539

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 7 "Providence Over Conversion" - moving to chapter thirty-seven "Driven Back to the Precious Roots of Election".

Here, Piper explores the challenging subject of "election", or the extent of God's providence in conversion that looks back in time to eternity past.  He starts by ensuring we know that believers are God's "special possession", pointing to scriptural examples in Amos 3:2 and Psalm 1:6. Additional examples are provided in Matthew 22:14, 22, 31, Luke 18:7, Romans 8:33, 11:7, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 2:9, and Revelation 17:14.  Piper writes that "it is clear that [God] has chosen which dead, unresponsive "stones" are his.  And in this choosing, God does not act whimsically and without a wise plan.  Therefore, this choosing (that is election) must be part of a plan."  A more "explicit" example is found in Acts 13:48. Piper uses this example to show how the Gentiles referred to in the verse believed "because they were in the group that was ordained to believe....God's providence in seeing to it that his people believe includes his choosing them for this."

Piper than pivots to John 8 (47), 10 (26), 17 (6) - 18 (37) to show how people belong to the Father before the Father gives them to Jesus. Piper then is emphatic in his statement that "being of God can't include all humans.  So belonging to God before being given to Jesus does not include everyone." God's election of anyone is a free act of God, an "act of free grace" - no one "qualif[ies] for God's choice."

He wraps it up using not just Acts 13:48, but Ephesians 1:4 to show God's providence over conversion and how it "stretches back into eternity" - election. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

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

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Chapter 36: Pages 507-523, 2 Timothy 2, 1 Timothy 2

 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 7 "Providence Over Conversion" - moving to chapter thirty-six "Saving Faith as the Gift of Providence".

Piper starts by reinforcing the critical point that God is ultimately decisive in our conversion and he points to Ephesians 2:4-10 and 1 Corinthians 1:27:31 as scriptural evidence. He moves to God's providence in repentance by primarily pointing to Paul's letters to Timothy.  He connects 2 Timothy 2:24-26 to 1 Timothy 2:4 by stating that God desires all to be saved yet NOT all ARE saved; Piper wants us to clearly see the loose connection between God's desires and actions: "[N]ot all of [God's] desires govern God's actions. He is governed by the depth of his wisdom through a plan no ordinary human deliberation would ever conceive." Piper does want us to understand that while God alone may grant repentance for some but not others, there is a role for pastors and teachers to help "lead" people to a "knowledge of the truth."

Piper wraps up the chapter by stating that "[God] opens our blind eyes and grants us to see the compelling truth and beauty and worth of Jesus in such a way that we find him irresistible, and so gladly and willingly embrace him as our Savior and Lord and treasure."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who reigns for all eternity in all things...and You granted me repentance and faith and You have done so in the lives of those close to me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...nor is anyone.  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.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Chapter 35: Pages 493-505

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 7 "Providence Over Conversion" - moving to chapter thirty-five "Three Biblical Pictures of How God Brings People to Faith".

Here, Piper explores "three biblical descriptions of God's providence in bringing people to faith." He begins by re-stating what we reviewed in the last chapter, that before conversion we are "slaves to sin", "dead in trespasses and sin", "loving the darkness", and "under the wrath of God" - we also are unable to taste the glory of God without God decisively acting on our behalf.  Piper sums up our pre-conversion condition as "bondage...the overwhelming force of our heart's preference for self-exaltation over submission to God." 

Piper then moves to the three descriptions of our conversion (1) new birth, (2) God's call, and (3) new creation.  Our new birth is required because our natural birth "is a condition of spiritual deadness" and "hopeless unless there is a new birth." God's call is not the "general call of preaching", but the same call as done by Jesus to Lazarus (John 11:43) - this call "creates the belief."  Piper points to Romans 8:28-30 to further explain this call. Finally, Piper uses 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 to describe the new creation and he contrasts the light used in these verses to the same light commanded in Genesis. 

Piper wraps it all up: [i]n the new birth, God gives spiritual life where was none.  In the call of God he awakens the dead and causes Christ crucified to be seen as the wisdom and the power of God. In the new creation, God overcomes the blindness of the soul and gives the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  In each case, the answer to our question is this: God's providence brings his people to faith in Christ by doing for them what they cannot do for themselves.  We cannot cause our own birth.  We cannot cause our own resurrection.  And we cannot cause our own creation. These are divine miracles that must be done to us and for us." 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gave me new birth, You called me, and made me a new creation - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts!  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

 Chapter 34: Pages 482-490 

 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 7 "Providence Over Conversion" - moving to chapter thirty-four "Our Condition Before Conversion".

Here Piper turns to how "God is uniquely at work in the lives of his people in a way that he is not in the lives of others.  In the case of true Christians, God's providence is an inexorably saving providence." He explores whether "God or man [is] the final and decisive cause of...conversion[.]" 

To explore this question, Piper starts "in the middle" as it is less theoretical. He states that it is less important for believers to rely on the memories of our conversion, but critical to learn from scripture what happened.  He writes "[i]n fact, many people must unlearn aspects of what they think happened, when they finally see in Scripture what truly happened in their conversion."

We are encouraged to recognized the gravity of our situation and to not see our conversion as boring, particularly in light of our dreadful spiritual condition prior to conversion. Piper points to several scriptural examples of our pre-conversion spiritual condition:  

• Romans 6:17 (slaves to sin)
• Ephesians 2:1-3 (dead in trespasses,following the prince of the power of the air)
• John 3:19-21 (loving the darkness)
• Romans 3:5-6 (under the wrath of God)

He then points to 1 Corinthians 2:14 to show how unbelievers and those in whom the Holy Spirit does not dwell are not able to "taste the glory of Christ."  Piper writes that the same thing is said in Romans 8:6-8.

Piper sums it up: "[t]he Spirit of God must move into our lives....[as] the door into light is locked."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - thank You for unlocking the door to the Light!  I am grateful - immeasurably so. Yet I am also undeserving - I know I sin...every single day.  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.

...[S]ince what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Chapter 33: Pages 468-478, Romans 5, 8, Luke 13, and Romans 1 

...[S]ince what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20

This afternoon, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter thirty-three "A Wickedness God Especially Abhorred".

Here, Piper explores God's providence over the suffering and death of children. He first explores how God deals harshly with those in the Old Testament who sacrifice their own children.  He then quickly moves to the shedding of blood during the Great Flood and during the Passover in Exodus 12. While of no comfort, Piper reminds us - through use of Paul in Romans 5:12-21 - that the original sin from the Fall brought suffering and death for all - no one escapes the consequences.  He then points to Romans 8:20-23 where all - including children - experience eternal life in Heaven.  

We are then urged to look at Luke 13:1-5 where Piper sees "all calamity as a call to repentance." 

Finally, Piper looks at Romans 1:19-20 for hope with children not yet able to declare Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Piper believes that children that "don't have the perception through mental reflection, and therefore do not have access to the revelation of God, and therefore will be treated by God as having an excuse at the judgment day."  As a father to a special needs child - I embrace this hope.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God who has given me faith and You have given me hope - I am grateful beyond what my words describe.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving of the love You pour out for me.  I worry and I have many other sins...today and every day.  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. 

Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Chapter 32: Pages 448-466, Lamentations 3

Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Lamentations 3:37-38

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter thirty-two "Though He Cause Grief, He Will Have Compassion".

Here, Piper explores God's providence over suffering, including how He orchestrates evil.  He looks at Israel's time in captivity in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and uses Isaiah 45:1-7 to remind us that God holds "absolute sway over good and evil is part of what it means to be God.....The God of Israel is behind everything....[God] is not just...manager, but [He]...decides (like a creator) all that is there to manage."  Amos 3:2,6 is another example provided by Piper.   Here, God orchestrates "thousands of human decisions which are in the sway of God's providence, accomplishing his purposes of just punishment."

Most strikingly, Piper uses Jeremiah and his authorship of Lamentations - specifically Lamentations 3 - to demonstrate his sway over evil. 

Piper points us to hope in the amidst of punishment and suffering - using Lamentations 3:19-26:

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 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. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:19-26

Piper points us to this hope to see how "every morning, during the worst of horrors God's mercies are newly present." He also points us to Paul (2 Corinthians 1:8-9) to ensure we rely not on ourselves but on God.

He wraps up the chapter by leaving us with Lamentations 3:31-33 to ensure we know that "God's steadfast love will have the last word....some of God's acts are means to the ends that are ultimately aimed at and more heartily desired as the final end. The means affliction and grief are exactly what God wills for that time and situation. They are perfect as means.  And, as perfect, they are perfectly approved by God's perfect mind." 

For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. Lamentations 3:31-33

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know Your ways and perfect, including Your sovereignty over evil and suffering that is present in my life.  I know You love me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for the love and mercy You pour out for me.  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.

He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Chapter 31: Pages 436-446

He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind. 1 Samuel 15:29

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 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter thirty-one "Deception and Dullness of Heart".

Here, Piper explores how God uses false shepherds, dullness of heart, and false prophets to accomplish His perfect will.  He provides examples (Amos 8:11, Zechariah 11:16-17, Lamentations 3:65, Isaiah 6:9-10, and 44:8) of His providence over withholding the Word, understanding the Word (Isaiah 53:1, 6:10, John 12:37-40, Matthew 11:25-26, 13:10-12, and Luke 8:9-10), and over sending a strong delusion (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, Revelation 17:16-17).  

He works to ensure we can defend how God is able to do all of this but never lie (Titus 1:2) by demonstrating that God does all of this not as man does - see 1 Samuel 15:28-29. He summarizes this defense by stating that "God does send a lying spirit and deceive a prophet and send a delusion, but he does not do this in such a way that his divine veracity or truthfulness is compromised....[God] is guided by [His] infinite wisdom...[and]...perfect justice."

Piper wraps up the chapter by providing the ultimate example of how God does not regret, lie or deceive as man does by pointing to Judas and how the orchestration of this sin led to Jesus' death on the cross - thus providing all believers forgiveness of sins and salvation.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good in all Your ways and paths - I am grateful for how You have orchestrated all things in my life for my good and Your glory.  Thank You!  You are deserving of the glory and I am not deserving of the mercy and blessings You pour out for me.  I have many sins...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Chapter 30: Pages 424-435, 1 Samuel 2, and 2 Samuel 12

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:10-11

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 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter thirty "Broken Families".

Here, Piper continues to explore God's providence over sin, and specifically in this chapter he looks a broken families and how God reigns decisively over sin in the lives of priests and kings AND how this is an encouragement for believers where we perhaps struggle with sin and tragedy in our families.  Piper starts by saying "while family-governing providence is sobering (as it all ultimate reality), nevertheless it gives far more hope than the thought of Satan, sinful man, or mindless fate having the upper hand."

Piper uses as his two key examples here the stories of Eli's wicked sons (Hophni and Phineas) from 1 Samuel 2:22-25 and Absalom's rebellion against his father from 2 Samuel 12:9-12 to demonstrate God's providence over sin in these two families.

• Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. 1 Samuel 22:25
• Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” 

Shimei's cursing of David (2 Samuel 16:11-12) is also used in the context of Absalom's rebellion to demonstrate God's providence over sin.

Finally, Piper wants us again to be encouraged by God's hand and providence over sin - even if this includes broken families or other challenges. Piper points to Psalm 25:10-11 as David sees God's providence as perfect and good.  Piper leaves with the thought that "even in the midst of God heavy and severe and painful providence that came to him and his family, David believed that God was loving and faithful to him[.]...[o]n this side of the cross of Christ, such confidence is also how Christians endure the unremitting hardships and sorrows of life."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am greatly encouraged that Your hand and providence is upon me versus that of Satan or of some blind fate - I know who I am in You, that You are always with me, that You will never leave or forsake me and that You are saving a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and salvation.  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 accept to 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.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Chapter 29: Pages 407-422, Exodus 4, 7-8, 10, 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.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Romans 9:17-18

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 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter twenty-nine "Israel Hated, Pharaoh Hardened, God Exalted, Helpless Saved".

Here Piper explores Israel's exodus from Egypt and how Paul "elevate[s] this Old Testament event to supreme importance in our reflections on God's providence over sin." Piper decisively makes the case that it was God alone who hardened Pharaoh's heart and that God's actions were not in response to self-determination by Pharaoh. Piper uses the following scripture to make his case:

• The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Exodus 4:21
• But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Exodus 7:3-4
• Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.” Exodus 10:1-2 
• Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said. Exodus 7:13 
• But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Exodus 7:22
• But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said. Exodus 8:15 
• But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said. Exodus 8:19 

Piper emphatically states that "[n]othing in man, good or bad, past, present, or foreseen, determines who is hardened and who is shown mercy." Regarding, God's ultimate providence over sin, we are once again encouraged to avoid seeking answers on how God does this but THAT He does this.  Piper also points to how this in and of itself is encouraging, pointing to how God rules over "hateful circumstances in such a way that they regularly lead to a greater deliverance than otherwise possible", pointing to other stories such as the stories of Esther and Mordecai, Haman, as well as of course the preeminent story of God's rule of the crucifixion of Christ. Piper summarizes how this provides encouragement by pointing to Romans 8:28 where God works all things together for our good. "What sustains us, when surrounded by hatred, is not our ability to explain God's providence, but the unshakable fact of God's providence.... [N]othing-absolutely nothing-can happen to us but "by God's fatherly hand." 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who reigns over all things for my good - thank You Jesus!  I know You are both with me and You love me...always.  Yet I am undeserving of such mercy and love.  I worry, am lazy, and have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus!  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.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Chapter 28: Pages 398-405, Genesis 50

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

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 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter twenty-eight "Joseph".

In this and the following five chapters, Piper provides six "striking instances" where God has "explicitly" governed or "brought to pass" sin.  Here in chapter twenty-eight, Piper explores in more detail the well known story of Joseph and how God's providence over sin is clearly demonstrated. Piper refers to Genesis 50:20 is "one of the most important statements on the providence of God in all the Bible." But even before these words are spoken, Piper points to earlier statements made by Joseph that demonstrate God's providence. In Genesis 45, when Joseph is first reunited with his brothers after twenty-two years, and he reveals his identity to them, he shares how God sent him (not his brothers):

• And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Genesis 45:5
• But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:7 
• So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Genesis 45:8 
  

In Genesis 50, Piper shows us how the exact same Hebrew word is used to describe how Joseph's brothers "intended" evil/harm, and God "intended" good (for His purposes). Piper encourages us to avoid getting lost in how God does this as only God knows.  Instead, we are encouraged to see how Joseph's brothers sinful act "set in motion an astonishing sequence of events [designed and orchestrated by God] that would lead to their own deliverance from famine."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is so full of compassion and mercy for me - I am clear how You have designed and orchestrated events in my life for my good and Your purpose.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You love me.  I worry and have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus!  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 what should we say about this? Is God unfair? In no way.

Chapter 27: Pages 390-395

So what should we say about this? Is God unfair? In no way. Romans 9:14

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 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter twenty-seven "Things We Know and Things We Do Not Need to Know".

Here Piper prepares us for chapters 28-33 where he focuses on God's providence over sin.  The key takeaway from this chapter is that God governs and has "providence over explicitly sinful choices and their effects." He writes that such "providence is all encompassing and hopeful."

We are encouraged to look for how this is so from Scripture alone and also encouraged to avoid looking to the world for answers as the world assumes that "humans (not God) must provide the final and decisive cause in the instant of decision, or else the decision cannot be justly praised or blamed.  That is, they insist on ultimate human self-determination in the act of choosing, if there is to be moral accountability."  Piper rejects such a view.

As a cornerstone to the next six chapters, Piper seeks for us to trust in the view that "God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness and holiness and justice, knows how to govern the good and evil choices of all humans without himself sinning and without turning human preferences and choices into morally irrelevant, robot-like actions."  We are also asked to avoid seeking full disclosure "how God can govern sin and not be a sinner."  We can take comfort in Paul's words that God justice is perfect. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who reigns in all matters, over life and death, and over sin - and Your justice is perfect, just as Your love, compassion and mercy are - thank You Jesus for how You reign in my life and how You are full of mercy and compassion for me.  I am undeserving.  I worry far too much - and I should not worry at all.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

Chapter 26: Pages 363-387, James 4

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.  James 4:13-16

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 6 "Providence Over Sin" - moving to chapter twenty-six "Natural Human Willing and Acting".

Here Piper demonstrates, using scripture, that "there is no sphere of life-no matter how ordinary or seemingly insignificant-where providence is suspended or limited in its ultimate decisive dominion." He distinguishes "natural" persons - unbelievers - from believers as not being under the influence of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14) and writes that unbelievers are "acting in rebellion against God at all times and therefore are sinning in all they do (Romans 14:23)."  This latter statement is Piper's focus in this chapter.

Piper uses the following Bible examples of how God turns the hearts of:

• Pharaoh to bless Joseph
• Egyptians to favor the Israelites (Exodus)
• Nebuchadnezzar to give favor and compassion to Daniel
  

Piper also points to how God turns hearts to dread, panic and confusion to accomplish His purposes (Deuteronomy 2:25, Joshua 10:10, Judges 7:22-25, 1 Chronicles 14:17, Ezekiel 16:37, 1 Chronicles 5:25-26, etc.).  God turns the hearts of kings Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes to accomplish His will in rebuilding the temple (Ezra 1:1, 5:13-16, 6:8, 6:22, 7:21-22, 7:27).

Less specific Biblical examples are also used, including Proverbs 16:7, 21:1, and Ephesians 1:11.

Most decisively, Piper uses James 4:13-16 to show how human "willing and doing are not decisive in our ordinary living.  God is.  This is pervasive providence."  This includes providence over decision making in what we do, but also over whether our decisions lead to success or failure (Proverbs 16:33, 21:31).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and mercy for me.  You gave me faith and You help me by giving me the Holy Spirit in my life so that I can become more like You - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such compassion and mercy and for such a gift.  I am harsh with others and I worry, among my many 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.