In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.

Isaiah 3-4

In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Isaiah 4:2-4

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  On day 6 of my study, where I start looking at Isaiah 3-4, the key takeaway comes from Isaiah 4:2-4, where God offers hope for those who remain close to Him, the remnant that will not be brought low, humbled and destroyed. I am reminded of John 14:6, where Jesus says "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Those, whom I will refer to as "the world," who rely on idols above the One, True God, Jesus Christ, will not be saved but instead be destroyed.  Yet, again, for those who fail to submit to God, they will perish for eternity. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who has sealed me for eternity and called me as one of Your elect - thank You Jesus!  What an incredible gift!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin of worry and other 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.

Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?

Isaiah 2

Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? Isaiah 2:22

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  On day 5 of my study, the key takeaway comes from Isaiah 2:22, where God seeks for us to focus on Him first and foremost (vs man). Of course, man can be defined in terms of ourselves as well as others. Selfishness is a key sin as is the desire to be approved by others.  We should seek to please, honor and glorify God - for that is why we exist. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of my focus and my energy - You are good!  Your blessings and mercies are new every morning and You provide for all of my needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin continues - including focus on self vs God.  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.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 2

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 2:5

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  On day 4 of my study, the key takeaway comes from Isaiah 2:5, highlighted also in this post from John Piper.  Isaiah 2 is filled with prophecies of how God will bring low the haughty and proud, those who spurn or forsake God. I have seen in my own life how such a spurn leads to ruin and I don't seek this for myself or anyone.  Such ruin is not only in this life but also for eternity as spurning God leads to eternal damnation.  Instead I seek to "walk in the light of the Lord" all the days of my life. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is a light unto my path - thank You Jesus for being my light in a world full of darkness.  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin of 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.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 1

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied...Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Matthew 5:6, Romans 12:2

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  On day 3 of my study, the key takeaway was based on an instruction from the study to look more closely at the use of "iniquity" and "sin" in Isaiah 2.  Iniquity is referenced twice (v4, 13) and sin three times (4, 18, 28).  My study guide indicates that iniquity is defined as "deviat[ing] or twist[ing] from the standard," while sin is defined as "fall[ing] short of the standard."  Believers should certainly be aware and avoid both, but understanding the standard is the pre-requisite in both cases.  If we are not aware of or don't understand the standard, we are more susceptible to both iniquity and sin. I am reminded of how God promises to satisfy us if we pursue hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and how God will renew our minds (Romans 12:2) if we seek to conform to His image (assuming we do that by first reading about and understanding His image via daily study of His Word).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who satisfies me and who renews my mind - making me more like Him.  You sanctify me - and I am better for it - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for how You sanctify and refine me.  Blessings beyond description!  I am not deserving.  My sin continues.  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.

But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God[.]

Isaiah 1

 But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God[.] 2 Chronicles 26:16

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  For me, on day 2 of my study, the key takeaway was based on a close look at King Uzziah who reigned (790-739 B.C.) during the period of Isaiah's vision as referenced in Isaiah 1:1. 2 Kings 14-15 and 2 Chronicles 26-27 both discuss how Uzziah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord," but failed in other important ways with regard to loving and serving God.  He did not remove the high places used for idol worship (2 Kings 15:4).  God did move in Uzziah's reign and prospered him (2 Chronicles 26:7).  However, Uzziah grew proud and sinfully entered the temple to burn incense (2 Chronicles 26:16) and scripture writes how pride led Uzziah's destruction and unfaithfulness to the Lord.  Pride causes us to move in dangerous ways, including for us to think that we don't need God, or that we can accomplish things in our own power and based on our own understanding. We all sin and need Savior - Romans 3:23 and 6:23.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is so full of grace and compassion for - even know my life has been full of pride and arrogance.  Yet You love me and saved me anyway...and helped me see the folly of my ways.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the faith You give me.  My sin of worry and other 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.

Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.

Isaiah 1

Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Isaiah 1:4

Today, I started a deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - which my wife Lisa has strongly recommended. In fact, we are studying this together - starting with each us doing our own daily study during the morning/day, and we convene together in the evening to share our thoughts on the study.  For me, today the key takeaway lies with the last question from the study for day 1, which asks what parallels do we see with current times - my response is that there are many who profess to believe in God today who are no less hypocritical or wicked then Judah was during Isaiah's time.  Isaiah 1 lists out the many sins of Judah, including:

• corruption (v4)
• forsaken the Lord (v4)
• empty spiritual disciplines (v11, 13)
• poor treatment of those in need (v17)
• murderers (v21)
• thieves (v23)

I often feel as if my spiritual disciplines are empty or I poorly treat others (everyone has some degree of need, including the need to hear and see the gospel).  I deserve judgement and condemnation just as much as Judah did in Isaiah's day.  God help me!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is so good to me...even though I know I am sinful and my sin persists.  You are full of grace for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving.  Please forgive me for my sin...worry, etc. and help me 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.  Please provide wisdom and energy for myself and Lisa. 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]uddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

Acts 16

...[S]uddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. Acts 16:26

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how believers can endure through difficulties through faith.  Piper, using the story of Paul and Silas' arrest and imprisonment in Acts 16 to illustrate, seeks for us to see how whatever challenges we face, God's care for us is always present.  In Acts 16, although Paul and Silas suffered through an arrest and beating, they were ultimately freed - it was their faith that saw them through.  This is what Piper refers to in the title of today's devotional - "delayed deliverance."  In Isaiah 55:8, God says:

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

The message God wants us to hear from this verse, and from other verses throughout scripture, is that we may not see God in our present circumstances, but is always with us - He says so in Matthew 28:20 where He says:

"I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Returning to the devotion, Piper seeks for us to see how God may delay His deliverance for us but it WILL come...even if it means we see it upon death.  Piper wraps the devotional by pointing us to Revelation 2:10:

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  I know that You will never leave or forsake me - during good or difficult times. Thank You Jesus for never leaving of forsaking me.  I am not deserving of Your love and the salvation You provide.  My sin is daily and it is great. 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.

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

Mark 8

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Mark 8:17

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how a serving others will result in God taking care of you.  After the miracles of feeding the five-thousand and four-thousand respectively, the disciples began to discuss how they had no bread left for themselves (Mark 8:16).  Yet Jesus quickly points the disciples to the leftovers - see Mark 6:43 and Mark 8:8. Piper exhorts us to serve tirelessly and give generously and not to worry about our own needs as God will take care of those who follow His example.  Piper wraps today's devotional by stating that "Jesus would take care of [you]. You can’t out-give Jesus. When you spend your life for others, your needs will be met." We are referred to Philippians 4:19:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed and amazing God and You provide for all of my needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide.  My sin is great and it is daily.  I do 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.

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

John 16

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:26-27

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on what Piper sees as an encouragement for us to "go to God directly" or to not see Jesus as "more of a mediator than He is." We have access to Jesus directly and we are exhorted to see this as astonishing. This should give any believer "confidence" to approach God (Hebrews 4:16). Today's verses are indeed an encouragement for us to develop a deep and permanent relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  He indeed loves and He wants to spend time with us...He also wants us to approach Him anytime.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God that we can approach with confidence anytime - You desire a deep and personal relationship with us and seek us daily - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a Savior.  My sin is great and it is daily - worry, 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 for me today and every day.

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Revelation 3

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:21

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on what another of Piper's posts refers to as "perhaps the most staggering promise in the Bible."  This promise is made to believers, who, "in spite of every threatening pain and luring, sinful pleasure", overcome as described in 1 John 5:4. Ephesians 1:22-23 is key here, as described by Piper, as "Jesus fills the universe with his own glorious rule through us."  Piper wants us to "feel...this as we should" and encourages us to seek the Holy Spirit's assistance so that "the eyes of [our] hearts [are] enlightened."  We are urged to seek such assistance so we can begin to see that "[t]he strange and radical commands of the New Testament [are] not...as strange as they once seemed."

Staggering promise indeed!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your promises are indeed incredible and this one is staggering indeed - and You are faithful!  Thank You Jesus for Your promises and Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of such promises and faithfulness.  My sin is great and it is 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.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account....Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Matthew 5 and Luke 10

 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account....Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Matthew 5:11 and Luke 10:20

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on what Piper refers to as the "tyranny of worldly pain and pleasure."  He gets right to it by stating that "Jesus revealed a secret that protects our happiness from the threat of suffering and the threat of success. That secret is this: Great is your reward in heaven." He refers us to John 17:24 for a description of the promised "fullness of the glory of Jesus Christ[.]" The world sees suffering as a threat to joy and scripture warns us that earthly success is also a threat to success in that it promises something that is a myth. Piper wants us to see that "[o]ur joy is safe. Neither suffering nor success can destroy its anchor. Great is your reward in heaven. Your name is written there. It is secure."

See also my various posts on peace of mind. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  This I know and I can rest in this promise.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin of worry and other 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.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end[.]

Lamentations 3

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end[.] Lamentations 3:21-22

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on what Piper refers to as "the great battle of [our lives]."  He unpacks this great battle by first stating that "[o]ne of the great enemies of hope is forgetting God’s promises." The antidote is the constantly remind ourselves of the "greatness and grace and power and wisdom of God." Otherwise, Piper writes how "we languish...[by] wallow[ing] in the mire of godless messages in [our] head."  We are referred to John 14:26 where Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and says that the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."  We are also referred to Psalm 77:11-12 where it says:

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.  I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12

I am indeed grateful for all that God is and for all that God has done.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and all that You have done is great and You have done much, and in fact You have done it all as You are the source of all things and my life.  Thank You Jesus for giving me life to the full and for eternity with You in Heaven.  I am not deserving of these blessings...not by a long shot!  I sin daily...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.

[R]endering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Ephesians 6

[R]endering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Ephesians 6:7-8

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post encourages us to understand how, in our work, believers work for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Piper asks us to consider five things about our work:

1. A call to radically Lord-centered living: unlike most earthly career advice where we are the "masters of our own domain", believers must consider that we exist to glorify God, and this is a radical concept for non-believers.  
2. A call to be a good person: this extends beyond our professional life such that anything and everything we do be seen as good so that we are seen as a light in a world of darkness; we are referred to Matthew 5:16. 
3. Power to do a good job for inconsiderate earthly employers
4. Encouragement that nothing good is done in vain: "Every little thing you do that is good is seen and valued and rewarded by the Lord."
5. Encouragement that insignificant status on earth is no hindrance to great reward in Heaven

I often struggle with earthly status with regard to my work - great encouragement today indeed.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed amazing and You provide my income and my job - and You have provided through good times and bad times and You have never left or forsaken me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I 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.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

James 4

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on pride, closely related to arrogance and its antonym - humility. These topics strike a chord in my life as I have struggled with pride and arrogance as sin...I have posted about these sins in this blog often as I have on other blogs. One glance at the tag cloud of this blog reveals - if my study is indicative of God's true intent for believers reading the Word - that God recognizes the pervasive nature of these sins and He of course has something to say about them - much to say in fact. John Piper, I believe, is correct (as are C.S. Lewis and others referenced in today's devotional) in stating in today's devotion that pride and arrogance exist as core obstacles to faith.  Piper refers to "three categories of self-reliance - wisdom, power, and riches — they form a powerful inducement toward the ultimate form of pride; namely, atheism."  Piper goes on to state that "[u]ltimately, the proud must persuade themselves that there is no God. One reason for this is that God’s reality is overwhelmingly intrusive in all the details of life. Pride cannot tolerate the intimate involvement of God in running the universe, let alone the detailed, ordinary affairs of life."  Piper encourages us to battle "this arrogance...[by] yield[ing] to the sovereignty of God in all the details of life, and rest in his infallible promises to show himself mighty on our behalf."  Piper gives us several scripture references to emphasize God's sovereignty and infallible promises:

• 2 Chronicles 16:9 - God "give[s] strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."
• Psalm 23:6 - "goodness and mercy" await all those who follow the Lord
  
• Isaiah 64:4 - God "acts for those who wait for him."
• Hebrews 13:21 - God equips us to do His will

I pray of course that I can rest in God's sovereignty and infallible promises.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who has helped illuminate sin in my life, and You are full of grace and patience as I work out my faith.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace and that You never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My worry persists, among 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.

...Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 9

...Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:28

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on Jesus' second coming and how believers with authentic faith eagerly await this second coming. We are to - in Piper's words - simply "love him and believe in him — really believe in him, authentically."  In contrast, Piper seeks for us to avoid "a phony faith that wants only escape from hell, but has no desire for Christ. That kind of faith does not save. It does not produce an eager expectation for Christ to come. In fact, it would rather that Christ not come for as long as possible, so that it can have as much of this world as possible." Instead we are to pursue a "faith that really holds on to Christ as Savior and Lord and Treasure and hope and joy is the faith that makes us long for Christ to come. And that is the faith that saves. 

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God that has given me faith - as a gift!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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 win 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 you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?

Job 6

Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? Job 6:26

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how we or others speak from temporary pain or struggle.  Job's friends attempted to disprove the words Job spoke from pain and Piper encourages us to look not at the temporary darkness as we know from time to time there will be pain (John 16:33), but the words we speak from pain will pass. Piper encourages us to "learn to discern whether the words spoken against us, or against God, or against the truth, are merely for the wind — spoken not from the soul, but from the sore. If they are for the wind, let us wait in silence and not reprove. Restoring the soul, not reproving the sore, is the aim of our love."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is with us always - through pain and suffering - and You are both deeper and more lasting.  You are everlasting and You are light and hope, and so much more.  I am grateful that You entered my heart and life - blessings beyond description!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...daily, including 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 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.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus[.]

Ephesians 2

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus[.] Ephesians 2:4-6

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on the "freeness of grace" - meaning that the manner in which God brings about our conversion to faith is through a "one-sidedly free and non-negotiated" conversion from spiritual deadness to life with Christ.  Piper remarks at the abruptness of Paul's insertion of how "by grace you have been saved" between v5 and 6 to underscore the depth of God's grace.  This grace is emphasized once again - this time more explicitly and less abruptly - in v8 where in one of the more well referenced verses in the New Testament Paul writes: 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God[.] Ephesians 2:8

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace - that I was dead in my sin, hostile to You - yet You brought me to life and made me one of Your elect and gave me faith - thank You!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  Yet I am not deserving - I sin...daily, including 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.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:3

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how anyone - believer and non-believer alike - can more aggressively, and more actively pursue change in our lives - of course this is through belief in Jesus and a through a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) that drives us into His arms through daily study and prayer in His Word where we are hearts and minds are transformed (Romans 12:2).  Piper provides the following scriptures for us lean on as we explore this topic:

• Romans 8:5-6
• Colossians 3:2

Comment and discuss this post here.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of love, grace and power for me - power to change and become more like Yourself...to be sanctified.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I 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. 

...[F[or anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 5

...[F[or anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on the power of God to command us to give us rebirth in Jesus. Piper explains that we "first experience the divine gift of life and breath, and then to do what living, breathing people do: cry out to God in faith and gratitude and love. When the command of God comes with the creating, converting power of the Holy Spirit, it gives life. And we believe and rejoice and obey."  We are provided several scriptures that illustrate this process of how God's commands give us new life from our spiritual deadness:

• John 11:43-44
• Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6
• Ezekiel 18:31 and 36:26
• John 3:7 and 1 Peter 1:3 
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You gave me new life...a new heart, a heart of flesh - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin is daily - 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.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on generosity (the broader context of 2 Corinthians 9:8) and how God's grace, both in the past and in the future, serves as the motivation for such generosity. Piper refers to the role of past grace by referring to 2 Corinthians 8:9:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Piper states: "[w]ithout this historical work of grace, the door of Christ-exalting generosity would remain closed. That past grace is an indispensable key to love. But notice how the past grace in this verse functions. It is made the foundation (Christ became poor) of future grace (that we might become rich). Thus, the historical key to our generosity operates by putting a foundation under the experiential key of faith in future grace."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You grace is amazing and it abounds both historically when You became like us and died on the cross, and in the future - thank You Jesus!  I can no good things without You.  Thank You for Your grace and how it serves as the foundation for good works in my life - I am not deserving of Your grace - not one bit. 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.

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Romans 3

 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” Romans 3:3-4

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on truth, an appropriate response to truth, and how truth serves believers. Piper starts by stating: "Not to care about truth is not to care about God. To love God passionately is to love truth passionately. Being God-centered in life means being truth-driven in ministry. What is not true is not of God." Piper then lays out four applications for truth:

1. We see how God is truth - Romans 3:3-4, John 14:6, John 15:26 
2. Not loving the truth is eternally ruinous - 2 Thessalonians 2:10
3. Christian living is based on knowledge of the truth - 1 Corinthians 6:15-16
   
4.  The body of Christ is built with truth in love - Colossians 1:28
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth and I am grateful that You give Yourself to me, including the Holy Spirit and Your Word - thank You Jesus!  Thank You for the many blessings that You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings. I worry, am easily distracted, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Revelation 20

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:12

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how all believers are to be judged upon Jesus' second coming or on judgement day - either one of us will be face one or the other without fail.  While we see a picture of amazing grace from our Lord Jesus, we should remind ourselves that we are to aspire for treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19) and allow fear of the Lord to serve as a preservative against sin in our lives.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace for me.  I know that You also saved a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God or such 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.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5

 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how God, as Piper describes how Jesus provides "assurance that he will not delay beyond what we can endure, and that he will abolish the flaws we bemoan, and that he will establish forever what has tottered so long — that assurance comes from the God of 'all grace.'" In the midst of pain, Piper encourages us to hold on and to endure lest we succumb to the fears that threaten our faith.  He points us to Hebrews 10:39 and Mark 13:13:

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:39

And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:13

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and strength for me - through all times good and bad.  Thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  I worry - I know this is sinful - 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.  

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10

 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

This evening, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on encouragement primarily for those in the frontier mission field, but also for those who might work locally among ministries and missions close to home. We are encouraged to be bold - Piper provides two incentives to be bold:

1. Every impossibility is a possibility with God - Mark 10:27
2. Whatever we lose in this world pales in comparison with what we gain now through Christ Jesus and for eternity - Mark 10:29-30 

Piper writes: "[w]hen we follow his missionary prescription, we discover that even the painful side effects work to improve our condition. Our spiritual health, our joy, improves a hundredfold. And when we die, we do not die. We gain eternal life."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and Your power is beyond our comprehension - You created the Heavens and the Earth and all that inhabits the universe.  You created me and give me and all others life - and believers life to the full.  You rose from the grave and give believers the same power now and eternal life.  Great incentives to work on Your behalf - indeed!  I am not deserving of the power You provide for me - nor any of the 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.

[T]hrough many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14

[T]hrough many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how God often denies a prayer for grace yet responds with another form of grace that we are unable to perhaps see in the moment but able to see later in hindsight.  We should understand that from the Fall (Genesis 3), human existence moved from the perfection of the Garden of Eden, to a world full of sin and hardship. Jesus tells us in the gospel of John (John 16:33) how we are to expect hardship but that we will overcome (ultimately) anything hardship we experience. In today's post, Piper emphasizes how we are to see grace in the form of denied prayer - we don't know God's ways or thoughts (Isaiah 55:8) - but we do know that for those who love God, He works all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). Piper refers us to 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul shares how God denied his request to remove a "thorn":

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Let us pray that we can mindful of how God works in and through our weakness to accomplish great things. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has poured out an indescribable amount of grace on my life - of course when I am undeserving and also when I cannot even recognize it in the face of suffering.  Thank You Jesus!  I AM not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

...[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10

...[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on Piper's (and God's) call for all believers to draw near to God.  Piper refers us to Psalm 16:11 where we see a great promise that results from our nearness to God:

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

There are many promises in scripture that discuss the blessings of nearness to God - examples include:

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

 

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73:27-28

 

Piper wraps the devotion for today by stating: "[God] does not need us. If we stay away, he is not impoverished. He does not need us in order to be happy in the fellowship of the Trinity. But he magnifies his mercy by giving us free access through his Son, in spite of our sin, to the one Reality that can satisfy our souls completely and forever, namely, himself."

 

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who blesses me as I draw near to You.  You and Your Word are a lamp to my feet - I am lost without You and I am blessed by Your direction.  Thank You Jesus for entering my heart and life.  I am not deserving of Your love, blessing, and salvation.  My sin of worry persists, as does other 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.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Colossians 2

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Colossians 2:13-15

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how, although Jesus death on the cross "did not remove Satan from the world, but [it] disarmed him to the extent that the weapon of damnation was stripped from his hand." Piper goes on to say that "[Satan] cannot accuse believers of unforgiven sin. Which is the only accusation that can destroy us. And therefore, he cannot bring us to utter ruin. He can hurt us physically and emotionally — even kill us. He can tempt us and incite others against us. But he cannot destroy us."

Piper then refers us to Hebrews 2:14-15 and 1 Corinthians 15:55 for additional scripture references that support this post. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible and amazing God who is full of grace and compassion for me, and I know You love me, forgive me and sanctify me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings and the many indescribable ways You bless me.  My sin of worry continues. Please forgive me 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 by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:14

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on encouraging everyone to acknowledge their imperfections, and on how Jesus sanctifies those who surrender to Him and "work out their faith" (Philippians 2:12) in Him. We are all imperfect but  God not only forgives those who place their faith in Him, but He also sanctifies them.  Those who truly believe in Jesus hate sin, just as God does, but faith in Jesus and a desire to seek Him for forgiveness and sanctification put us on a path towards victory over sin. I need both forgiveness and sanctification. Great encouragement indeed! 

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

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Romans 9

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.  Romans 9:16

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how, regardless of the maturity of our faith, all believers are never "above the status of beneficiaries of [God's] mercy. We are always utterly dependent on what we do not deserve." Piper highlights that Jesus came into the world because of His mercy for us:

• Romans 15:9
  
• 1 Peter 1:3  
  
• Hebrews 4:16  
  
• Jude 1:21 
  
• 1 Corinthians 7:25

Piper also refers us to Luke 17 both 5-6 and 7-10: 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

It is our faith that matters, not our obedience, because it is out of our faith that obedience is brought about (Romans 16:26)...and regardless of our obedience we are all beneficiaries of God's mercy.

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