You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers....So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers....So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:5-6, 12

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper urges us to examine our life over the past year as if we have a "death rehearsal." With the start of the new year tomorrow, we should look at God's mercies anew - as we should because they never stop (Lamentations 3:22-23) and this gives us an opportunity to double down in our efforts with regard to faith. Piper also wants us to measure our lives not in earthly terms but in eternal terms - did we live a live of faith - we are referred to 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Happy New Year and live a life of a faith - finish the race!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are SO good to me.  Your mercies are new every morning and You bless me beyond my comprehension.  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.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper discusses the eternal covenant brought about by Christ's death and resurrection, and how this equips believers "with everything good that we may do his will," and how "[Christ] works in us that which is pleasing in his sight."  Piper shares, using Jeremiah 31:33 how God writes His "law on our hearts" and how this means that "[t]he will of God is not just written on stone or paper as a means of grace. It is worked in us. And the effect is: We feel and think and act in ways more pleasing to God."  This is the sanctification process at work - read, study, etc. God's Word, etc. and watch God get to work on Your heart and life.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God who has already done so much work in my life to transform my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great...so 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.

...Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1

...Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper discusses the "horrible destiny" that awaits those who fail to submit to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  This is certainly a somber devotion, but nonetheless important to consider so that believers persist in their effort to "work out" their salvation (Philippians 2:12-13) and to save others (Jude 1:23).  John Piper refers to a number of texts to underscore his exhortation that believers "[f]lee [eternal damnation], brothers and sisters. Flee this with all your might. And let us save as many as we can!" For those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, of course persist and endure, and take hope in how in Heaven, there will be "[n]o more tears, no more pain, no more depression, no more sorrow, no more death, [and] no more sin" (Revelation 21:4).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good!  So good!  You grace me with my salvation and You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace - amazing indeed!  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. 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.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper discusses how seeing the glory of God is believers' "ultimate hope".  He provides the following texts for us to understand and appreciate God's glory:

• Jude 1:24
• Romans 9:23
• 1 Thessalonians 2
• Titus 2:13
• Hebrews 1:3 
• John 17:24
• 1 Peter 5:1
• Romans 8:21
• 1 Corinthians 2:7 
• 2 Corinthians 4:17
• Romans 8:30        

Through these texts Piper wants us to "[s]ee and shar[e] in God’s glory[, as it] is our ultimate hope through the gospel of Christ." He writes that [s]uch a hope, that is really known and treasured, has a huge and decisive effect on our present values and choices and actions."  Piper wraps the devotion with the following exhortation: "Get to know the glory of God. Study the glory of God and the glory of Christ. Study the glory of the world that reveals the glory of God, and the glory of the gospel that reveals the glory of Christ. Treasure the glory of God in all things and above all things. Study your soul. Know the glory you are seduced by, and know why you treasure glories that are not God’s glory." Amen!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I have seen and experienced Your glory in the written word - I am in awe of You.  I am not deserving of how You display the works of Your glory in my life.  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.  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, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God....And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus[.]

1 Corinthians 10 and Colossians 3

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God....And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus[.] 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper encourages believers to have an aim not just daily but for your life.  We should have a purpose, and it should be big because God not just designed You for this purpose, but equipped You for it. Regardless of whether we have a daily, short term, or long term aim - we can all start each day with an aim to do everything for the glory of the Lord - this is why we exist. John Piper shares how this aim for every day is a good place to start - but we should not end there.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God.  You saved me and give me life - thank You Jesus!  You give me life abundantly and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and bless me.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me[.]...This God—his way is perfect[.]

2 Samuel 22

“For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me[.]...This God—his way is perfect[.] 2 Samuel 22:5, 31

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper moves on from Advent and Christmas to examines how calamity demonstrates that God's ways are both mysterious yet perfect, and that God's providence extends over all including destruction and death.  Piper pulls from scripture the following responses to calamity:

1. Satan is not ultimate; God is.  Looking at Job, Piper writes: "Satan had a hand in Job’s misery, but not the decisive hand....Satan brings misery. But Satan is not ultimate or decisive. He is on a leash. He goes no farther than God decisively permits."
2. [Satan] is not the decisive cause of [death]; God is. Looking at the world's greatest natural disaster in December 2004 (earthquake that caused tsunami in Indian Ocean that killed 230,000), Piper shares how even though Satan may have created the earthquake, God could have stopped the waves - He did not. See also Psalm 89:8–9 and Luke 8:24 where God has power over the sea and wind.
3. Destructive calamities in this world mingle judgment and mercy.  Using a number of Biblical examples, including Jesus's death on the cross, Piper describes how both judgement and mercy are found in calamity.  Often we don't understand how judgement may be in play - this is the mystery of God. Using Job as an example, Piper writes "God’s purposes are not simple. Job was a godly man and his miseries were not God’s punishment."
4. The heart that Christ gives to his people feels compassion for those who suffer, no matter what their faith is.  Using Romans 12:15, Piper urges us to "weep with those who weep."
5. Finally, Christ calls us to show mercy to those who suffer, even if they do not deserve it. Piper shares how this is the definition of mercy - it is undeserved.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You reign over all, including Satan and calamity.  Thank You for how You demonstrate mercy in my life - 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.

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning...My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 3 and John 2

 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning...My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 3:7-8, John 2:1-2

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 25 of Advent, and today John Piper marks Christmas day by describing three gifts all believers have in Jesus Christ:

1. A clear purpose for living.  Using 1 John 3:23 where it says (Piper highlights how John does so as a single commandment) "believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us."  Piper shares how this commandment - expressed by Jesus as two (and the greatest) commandments in Matthew 22:34-40 - as the "sum of the Christian life". 
2. Hope that our failures will be forgiven.  Piper describes how our hope that our failures will be forgiven is HOW we overcome sin - we continue to fight because we know and have faith that our battle is not for naught.
3. Christ will help us.  Piper uses 1 John 4:4 where it says "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." Jesus has already defeated sin and death and He gives us the Holy Spirit, His Word, etc. as the full armor of God to defeat sin. He will also never leave or forsake us.

Merry Christmas indeed!  Embrace these truths!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great indeed and the presents You provide are incredible as You alone are worthy of worship like no other!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts.  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.

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.

1 John 3

 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. 1 John 3:7-8

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 24 of Advent, and today John Piper highlights two purposes for Christmas - that is why Jesus came into the world (incarnation). Jesus came into the world to defeat sin and to enable believers to battle sin - fearlessly. The second purpose is to forgive and take away sins.  Piper refers us to not just 1 John 3:7-8, but also 1 John 3:5, and 1 John 2:1-2.  Piper shares how these two purposes work together and that "[f]orgiveness is not for the purpose of permitting sin."  Indeed - we should battle sin with an aim to defeat sin. Pursue Christ!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and grace for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and compassion.  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. 

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 23 of Advent, and today John Piper looks at how God reconciles us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  Believers know that reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel.  We all sin, sin separates us from Christ, but Christ died to forgive our sins - forever - so that believers could have life now in abundance, and forever with Him in Heaven (John 3:16-18, 10:10)...with Christ now in our hearts, God is with us...always (Matthew 28:20) - Emmanuel.  Piper describes how Christ purchased this reconciliation for us, how Christ enabled us to receive this reconciliation, and finally, how Christ came into the world as flesh (see also post from 2 days ago on incarnation) so that we can exalt and worship Him.  Piper wraps the devotion today by exhorting us to respond: "Exult in [Christ]. Experience him as your pleasure. Know him as your treasure."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who purchased my reconciliation, who enabled me to receive it, and You give me Yourself so that I can exalt and worship You - and I know this is why I exist.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and gifts.  My sin is great and it 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.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 20

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 22 of Advent, and today John Piper seeks to stir awe and wonder in the hearts of believers who may have lost such feelings towards the gospel after hearing it again and again, perhaps as a result of growing up in the church.  Piper draws an analogy of awe and wonder we sometimes have as a result of movies we watch and he correctly states that this awe and wonder means that we are capable of these feelings, and that we must bring them to bear upon hearing of the gospel. He writes: "[w]hen Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read. Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God." For believers (nearly all or perhaps all) who have been in this state from time to time, we should recite the same prayer.

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God, worthy of awe and wonder every moment of every day - You came into the world to save me - amazing and what a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  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.

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

John 18

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 21 of Advent, and today John Piper reminds us that on Christmas we don't celebrate the birth of Jesus, but the incarnation of Jesus as He existed since the beginning of time (Alpha and Omega - see Revelation 22:13).  As John 18:37 says, Jesus "[came] into the world" - this is incarnation.  John Piper shares how incarnation was God's plan from the beginning (ancient days) - that Jesus came to save sinners, He came into the world to die - so that others would be saved.  We are referred to Micah 5:2 and Mark 10:45. Read and listen to the voice of Jesus (the Bible) and rejoice over His incarnation this Christmas!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You came into the world to die for me so that I could have life now in abundance and for eternity in Heaven with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  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.

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 20 of Advent, and today John Piper uses the analogy of an assembly line to represent how sin persists in the world and how Satan is behind all of this persistent sin as those who live in darkness continue in their sin either because they have not been exposed to the light of Jesus Christ or because they have been exposed to the Light and have either rejected it or not yet been drawn to the Light enough to the point where they now live in the Light.  Of course this Light is Jesus Christ and God offers us the Light so that we can be free from the slavery of sin.  Piper wants non-believers to go on strike at the assembly line of sin; he encourages us that God has defeated sin already and anyone who follows Jesus has the freedom Christ offers - freedom from the slavery of sin, and from the sting of sin and death.

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

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 19 of Advent, and today John Piper explores freedom from fear and anxiety.  Of course, all of humanity at one point or another struggles with fear or anxiety over one thing or another.  Nearly all of us have some level of fear over death.  Piper's opening salvo in today's devotion says "Jesus became man because what was needed was the death of a man who was more than man. The incarnation was God’s locking himself into death row. Christ did not risk death. He chose death. He embraced it. That is precisely why he came" (to serve and not to be served - Mark 10:45).  Although Satan tried to turn Jesus from the cross, Satan failed.  Piper describes how Jesus "stripped Satan of [his] power."  Now that Satan has no power - believers can no longer be condemned (Romans 8:1).  Piper wraps today's devotion by sharing how freedom from condemnation gives believers freedom from anxiety over anything from the smallest details of our lives to death itself.  Rejoice in the freedom that Christ gives us!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and grace for me.  You give me freedom from anxiety and from fear of death.  Thank You Jesus!  What an awesome God You are.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

John 17

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. John 17:18

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 18 of Advent, and today John Piper focuses on how Christmas is a model for missions. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 calls believers to go out and make disciples of all nations.  Regardless of whether we as believers are personally engaged in the global mission field, we are called to support - through prayer, financial assistance, etc. - missions.  Missionaries often place themselves in harm's way by venturing deep into places where sharing the gospel is a known danger based on previous persecution of Christians. For those facing this danger, Piper quotes mid-16th century missionary Francis Xavier (1506–1552) and encourages missionaries to avoid "distrust[ing] the mercy of God."  Piper then goes on to share that if this "danger is avoided, then all other dangers lose their sting. In the end God makes every dagger a scepter in our hand. As J.W. Alexander says, 'Each instant of present labor is to be graciously repaid with a million ages of glory.'"  This serves as an encouragement for all believers to live fearlessly as whatever fear of man we may have, pales in comparison to the danger many missionaries face every day. Be bold!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and grace for me.  You are my refuge and so much more....thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You protect and provide refuge.  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.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah[...]"

Philippians 2

 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah[...]" Jeremiah 31:31

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 17 of Advent, and today John Piper shares how during Christmas we should appreciate how Jesus provides "the greatest salvation imaginable."  Piper uses Jeremiah's prophecy (500 years before Christ) where God promises a "new covenant."  The Old Testament covenant relied on works and one's own strength and will for obedience.  The new covenant promised by God through Jeremiah "replace[s] shadows with the Reality of the Messiah."  As Piper puts it, "[God] would powerfully move into our lives and write his will on our hearts so that we are not constrained from outside, but are willing from inside, to love him and trust him and follow him. That would be the greatest salvation imaginable — if God should offer us the greatest Reality in the universe to enjoy and then move in us to know that Reality in such a way that we could enjoy it with the greatest freedom and the greatest pleasure possible. That would be a Christmas gift worth singing about."  Piper highlights that salvation however, while available to all, is not given to all as sin separates all of humanity from God and the salvation available to us through Jesus is only given in response to acknowledgement of sin, belief and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Once a believer does this, Piper describes this "greatest salvation imaginable:"God is now free, in his justice, to lavish us with all the unspeakably great new covenant promises. He gives us Christ, the greatest Reality in the universe, for our enjoyment. And he writes his own will — his own heart — on our hearts so that we can love Christ and trust Christ and follow Christ from the inside out, with freedom and joy."  Without a doubt the greatest gift of all time - believers rejoice!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who offers the greatest gift of all time - salvation!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - not by a long shot.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus 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.  

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 16 of Advent, and today John Piper shares how God orchestrates and uses setbacks to reveal and unfurl His glory and fulfill His plan.  We can't see all of what God is doing or thinking (Isaiah 55:8) as God's thoughts and ways are not our ways. Yet believers see God's hand in the Bible and in our own lives as He uses adversity and setbacks as part of His plan.  In the Bible, of course Jesus came as a baby, lived a sinless and perfect live, but suffered and died on the cross as the final sacrifice for all of humanity's sins for all times.  The Bible is full of such winding roads and setbacks to His glory.  Piper uses the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis as one of many examples.  Joseph became a slave, then a prisoner, before his dreams/vision became a reality.  We are urged to see how God exalts those who pick up their cross and follow Jesus - by suffering as Jesus did. Piper wraps up today's devotion by stating:"[a]nd this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him as it says in Romans 8:17. The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure. But if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: What Satan and sinful men meant for evil, “God meant it for good!” (Genesis 50:20)." 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ways and thoughts are not my own, but I can trust that You are good, faithful, and You work all things for good. Thank You Jesus. I am not deserving of how You are good to me.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus 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.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 15 of Advent, and today John Piper explores how the Christmas season finds many grieving over loss, and this season, our family is grieving over the loss the Marit, our dear niece who within days of turning 15 died of brain cancer.  During these seasons of loss, John Piper encourages us to not be bitter, or to mask our feelings of loss, as he correctly shares that it is when we allow ourselves to feel loss and submit to circumstances orchestrated by God, this is when we will experience God's love and see Him at work. Piper writes: "[w]hat is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death?"  This is life in abundance now.  We are also encouraged to look forward to Heaven where we are not only reunited with our loved ones who believed.  Rejoice in abundance now and forever!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good father - who is with us during difficult seasons and good seasons...and You save a placed in Heaven for us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide such abundant life.  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.

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises....Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Hebrews 8, 13

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises....Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Hebrews 8:6, 13:2-21

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 14 of Advent, and today John Piper describes how Jesus is not just the Great High Priest whose death and sacrifice on the cross supersedes and replaces the role of the Old Testament priests and sacrifices made by these priests (see post couple of days here and here), but He is also the Great High Priests who "makes [this final reality] real for His people."  Piper states that by Christ serving as a better mediator of a better covenant (secured by His blood), "[i]t means that God, according to the new covenant promises, brings about our inner transformation by the Spirit of Christ. And it means that God works this transformation in us through faith — faith in all that God is for us in Christ. The new covenant is purchased by the blood of Christ, effected by the Spirit of Christ, and appropriated by faith in Christ.  It means that God, according to the new covenant promises, brings about our inner transformation by the Spirit of Christ.  And it means that God works this transformation in us through faith — faith in all that God is for us in Christ."  God makes it real for us by working in us.  Piper wraps up the devotion sharing how we connect this to Christmas: "...the meaning of Christmas is not only that God replaces shadows with Reality, but also that he takes the Reality and makes it real to his people. He writes it on our hearts. He does not lay his Christmas gift of salvation and transformation under the tree, so to speak, for you to pick up in your own strength. He picks it up and puts it in your heart and in your mind and gives you the seal of assurance that you are a child of God."  Jesus is the greatest gift of all time!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God indeed - thank You for coming to save me and for providing the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 today and every day.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man. They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 8

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man....They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:1-2, 5

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 13 of Advent, and today John Piper once again uses Hebrews 8:1-2 (see also post yesterday) to emphasize how Jesus is our great High Priest, and unlike the high priests of the Old Testament, He is not just a shadow or foretaste of God but God Himself. Piper builds on yesterday's devotion by also using v5. Piper sums it up by saying: "Jesus deals directly with God the Father. He has a place of honor beside God. He is loved and respected infinitely by God. He is constantly with God. This is not shadow-reality like curtains and bowls and tables and candles and robes and tassels and sheep and goats and pigeons. This is final, ultimate reality: God and his Son interacting in love and holiness for our eternal salvation." Rejoice that believers have this final, ultimate reality of having the triumvirate Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for serving as the Great High Priest so that I could have life to the full now, and forever with You in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a sacrifice - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great it continues.  Please forgive me, 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 the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man.

Hebrews 8

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent[a] that the Lord set up, not man. Hebrews 8:1-2

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 12  of Advent, and today John Piper uses Hebrews 8:1-2, all of Hebrews in his view, to share "that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has not just come to fit into the earthly system of priestly ministry as the best and final human priest, but he has come to fulfill and put an end to that system, and to orient all our attention on himself, ministering for us first on Calvary as our final Sacrifice and then in heaven as our final Priest."  Piper describes how the "Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. Now the reality has come, and the shadows pass away."  Piper wants us to be full of joy and excitement in Jesus' being our High Priest.  He is able to do what none other can do.  He saves!  Rejoice!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who does what none other can - nothing or no one else compares!  You are the One True God who saves and so much more...Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You saved me and how You continues to bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.  

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Hebrews 2

 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:14-15

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 11  of Advent, and today Piper explores what he refers to as "[his] favorite Advent text." He explains why it is his favorite by sharing that "[he doesn’t] know any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and the end of Jesus’s earthly life — between the incarnation and crucifixion. These two verses make clear why Jesus came; namely, to die." Piper devotes some time demonstrating how believers can use this text to "walk them step-by-step through their Christian view of Christmas."  These steps include:

1. God sent His Son Jesus to save and effect the salvation of His children - those who are adopted by Christ by receiving Him as their Lord and Savior. See also Isaiah 8:18, 53:10.  God loved the world but elected only those He deemed His children.  See also John 3:16, 1:12, 11:15, 1 Timothy 4:10
2. The heart of our faith is belief what is a mystery - that God "became fully man [yet] remained fully God."  See also John 1:1, Colossians 2:9
3. Jesus became a man so that He could die - He had to be born human
4. In dying, Jesus "de-fanged the devil...This means that Satan has no legitimate grounds to accuse us before God....Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon of the devil — the one mortal weapon that he has — is taken out of his hand. He cannot make a case for our death penalty, because the Judge has acquitted us by the death of his Son!"
5. Believers are freed from death.  "God has justified us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the Now.  If we do not need to fear our last and greatest enemy, death, then we do not need to fear anything. We can be free. Free for joy. Free for others."   

In view of this text, and in particular how God frees us (#5), Piper wants us to see how great a Christmas present we have in Jesus!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who gives us victory over sin and death.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 10 of Advent, and today Piper explores how the Magis' gifts to the baby Jesus do no reflect assistance - as if God needs anything (see Acts 17:25) - nor bribes (see Deuteronomy 10:17).  Instead Piper wants us to see how the Magis' gifts reflect a desire to show how wonderful the recipient is. Piper writes: "[i]n a sense, giving gifts to Christ are like fasting — going without something to show that Christ is more valuable than what you are going without."  He goes on to share how the desire to give gifts to Christ is driven by a heart that desires Jesus more than what is given to Jesus (and given up by the giver).  The implication here is that whatever our sacrifice - tithing, time, etc. - believers should give freely to God as a cheerful giver (see 2 Corinthians 9:7). Piper wraps today's devotion with a prayer that we should all offer to God: "May God awaken in us a desire for Christ himself. May we say from the heart, “Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the King of Israel. All nations will come and bow down before you. God wields the world to see that you are worshiped. Therefore, whatever opposition I may find, I joyfully ascribe authority and dignity to you, and bring my gifts to say that you alone can satisfy my heart, not holding on to these gifts.”

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, You are more valuable than gold, or anything else in this world that I may possess or acquire.  You are SO good to me and You are my Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  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.

When Herod the king heard [about the birth of the king of the Jews], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him[.]

Matthew 2

When Herod the king heard [about the birth of the king of the Jews], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him[.] Matthew 2:3

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 9 of Advent, and today Piper examines the reaction of Herod, and all of Jerusalem, to the birth of Jesus, and Piper  contrasts these reactions to that of the chief priests and scribes, and he makes a broader point about the "two kinds of people who do not want to worship Jesus." First, we see in v3 how both Herod and all of Jerusalem are "troubled." Then in v4-6 we see the reaction of the chief priests and scribes and the only known aspect of their reaction is that they see Jesus' birth as the fulfillment of prophecy (referencing Micah 5:2 and other prophecies:

[Herod] inquired of [the chief priests and scribes] where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:4b-6

What's amazing, as pointed out by John Piper, is "[t]he sheer silence and inactivity of the leaders is overwhelming in view of the magnitude of what was happening." They actually acknowledged that Jesus was fulfillment of prophecy, yet they had no desire to seek out Jesus.  Piper indicates the chief priests and and scribes represent the first group of people who do not want to worship Jesus: "They are not passionate about finding the Son of God and worshiping him."  These people are indifferent to Jesus.  They don't see a need for Him.

Piper then moves on to the second group of people who do not want to worship Jesus.  These are those "deeply threatened by" Jesus.  This includes Herod - who is "troubled."  Piper shares how Herod is so troubled that "he schemes and lies and then commits mass murder just to get rid of Jesus" (see v16).

Of course, Piper, nor does Jesus, want anyone to be either indifferent or hostile to Christ.  We are encouraged to believe, and follow Jesus, regardless of the cost.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  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 to me today and every day.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”...After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

Matthew 2

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”...After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:2,9

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 8 of Advent, and today Piper pauses on the Magi's visit to Jesus in the manger (see post yesterday) and how some become overly fascinated (i.e. how did it move and guide the Magi, how did is rest over the manger, etc.) with the star in v2 and 9.  He warns us that we should not become overly fascinated these details because, first of all, we do not know.  He shares that "[t]here are numerous efforts to explain it in terms of conjunctions of planets or comets or supernovas or miraculous lights. We just don’t know. And I want to exhort you not to become preoccupied — not to become fixated — on theories that are only tentative in the end and have very little spiritual significance."  He then goes on to extend this warning out to other natural phenomena in the Bible: "I risk a generalization to warn you: People who are exercised and preoccupied with such things, as how the star worked and how the Red Sea split and how the manna fell and how Jonah survived the fish and how the moon turns to blood, are generally people who have what I call a mentality for the marginal." For such matters, believers should focus on what is known to be true: "[the star] is guiding magi to the Son of God to worship him....There is only one Person in biblical thinking that can be behind that intentionality in the stars: God himself. So, the lesson is plain: God is guiding foreigners to Christ to worship him. And he is doing it by exerting global — probably even universal — influence and power to get it done."  This is the central theme of Piper's book Providence - which is the "all-encompassing reality of God’s purposeful sovereignty over all of creation and all of history." We should avoid getting caught up in how God works (He is a mystery - Isaiah 55:8).  Instead, believers should rest in knowing God is in control (Colossians 1) of all things, big and small, and He loves us.   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who created the Heavens and Earth, everything in it, You are in all the details, and You love me and all Your children!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  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.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 7 of Advent, and today John Piper contrasts Luke's gospel focus of visitors - shepherds in the field (see Luke 2:8-20) - to Jesus in the manger, to Matthew's focus of the wise men visitors from the east - the Magi. Piper points out that these wise men - Magi - were not Jews, but instead foreigners, perhaps from Babylon.  He then reminds us that "Matthew portrays Jesus at the beginning and ending of his Gospel as a universal Messiah for all the nations, not just for Jews" (see also Matthew 28:18-19 where Jesus gives believers the Great Commission). Piper wraps the devotion by sharing how Matthew's portrayal (and contrast from Luke's) "not only opened the door for us Gentiles to rejoice in the Messiah; it added proof that he was the Messiah. Because one of the repeated prophecies was that the nations and kings would, in fact, come to him as the ruler of the world." We are referred to Isaiah 60:3 for one of these prophecies. Matthew's gospel serves as "proof to the messiahship of Jesus and shows that he is Messiah — a King, and Promise-Fulfiller — for all the nations, not just Israel."  Rejoice in Jesus as the fulfillment of our promised King and go and tell it on the mountains!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good Father, and all of Your promises come true.  You are the Promised King, the Messiah, and my Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus for all that You are and do.  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

Luke 2

 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! Luke 2:12-14

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 6 of Advent, and today Piper examines Luke 2:12-14 where an angel praises God and offers what Piper refers to as a "somber note" of warning - peace is only offered and promised "among those with whom [God] is pleased."  Piper reminds us (see Hebrews 11:6) that "without faith it is impossible to please God," underscoring his warning with this: "[s]o, Christmas does not bring peace to all."  Piper then describes how scripture includes many references (John 3:19, Luke 2:34-35) with how, even though Jesus offers "light," many continue to prefer "darkness" - of course precluding them from the peace offered during Christmas in the text in Luke 2:12-14.  On the flip side, for those of us who DO have faith and believe, God adopts us as one of His children (John 1:11-12), and we are promised the peace just as Jesus only offered peace to His disciples in John 14:27.  As Piper moves close the devotion he points to Romans 15:13 stating: "[t]he key that unlocks the treasure chest of God’s peace is faith in the promises of God." Believe and unlock the promises of God that offer peace and so much more!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me with peace and so much more!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how faithful You are to Your promises, etc.  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.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 1

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 5 of Advent, and today we see John Piper looking at the broader context of how Jesus was born in humble circumstances, and how these humble circumstances extended beyond the manger where Jesus was born.  Jesus ultimately dies on the cross, and his road to Calvary is marked with suffering and scorn.  Piper asks what many do (particularly non-believers): if Jesus is so powerful, why didn't He find a nicer place for Mary and Joseph to stay on that first Christmas evening?  Piper poses this question as a series of "could have[s]": "Jesus could have been born into a wealthy family. He could have turned stone into bread in the wilderness. He could have called 10,000 angels to his aid in Gethsemane. He could have come down from the cross and saved himself. The question is not what God could do, but what he willed to do."  Piper points us to 2 Corinthians 8:9, and then moves us along the Calvary road pausing at points in Jesus' ministry, reminding us how all believers are to follow Jesus, deny themselves and take up their cross (Luke 9:23), that "a servant [believer] is not greater than his master, [so] if they persecuted [Jesus], they will also persecute [the servant]" (John 15:20), and that we should be mindful that if we do follow Jesus there will be hardship, suffering, etc. (Luke 9:57-58).  Of course, the broader point is that Jesus did all of us this for us - that we would have life to the full now and for eternity - John 3:16, 10:10.  Rejoice!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who came in the form of a baby, suffered and died on the cross so that I could have life to the full now and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  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.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Luke 1

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:1-5

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 4 of Advent, and today John Piper looks at how God's providence over all of the universe impacts all of us, regardless of how insignificant and far away from God we may feel. The bottom line from Piper is that God is a big God - orchestrating big things (i.e. creation of the world, putting in place earthly authorities, etc.) but He is also involved in every detail of every life - all of humanity (see Psalm 139:13-16).  Piper writes that God "is a big God for little people."  Given we are in the Advent season, Piper refers us to Luke 2 where we see how Joseph and Mary go from Nazareth (where the baby Jesus was born) to Bethlehem - following Caesar Augustus' decree for a census.  We are encouraged to see how this travel was orchestrated by God to fulfill prophecy from Micah 5:2. Piper writes: "[h]ave you ever thought what an amazing thing it is that God ordained beforehand that the Messiah be born in Bethlehem...; and that he so ordained things that when the time came, the Messiah’s mother and legal father were living not in Bethlehem but in Nazareth; and that in order to fulfill his word and bring two unheard-of, insignificant, little people to Bethlehem that first Christmas, God put it in the heart of Caesar Augustus that all the Roman world should be enrolled each in his own town? A decree for the entire world in order to move two people seventy miles!"  Piper then moves towards connecting God's providence to all believers.  He does not want us to miss how any adversity in our lives is not because God's hand "is shortened" towards us.  Piper uses Proverbs 21:1 as he shares that "[i]t is not our prosperity or our fame but our holiness that he seeks with all his heart."  God is always turning His will "for his saving and sanctifying and eternal purposes among his people."  Piper ends today's devotion by exhorting us to respond to rejoice in because God directs all of the details in the universe, big and small, so that "we, the children, might be conformed to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ — and then enter his eternal glory."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a big God, for me and for all of humanity - thank You Jesus for Your providence in my life.  I am not deserving of how Your hand works in my life.  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 be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies.

Luke 1

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of  old, that we should be saved from our enemies. Luke 1:68-71

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 3 of Advent, and today John Piper wants us to see "two remarkable things" from the words of Zechariah - Elizabeth's husband - from Luke 1:68-71.  

First, earlier in Luke, when an angel of the Lord (Gabriel) appeared to Zechariah in v8-17 and foretold that Elizabeth (barren as noted in v7) would give birth to John the Baptist, Zechariah's response was one of disbelief - v18-19: Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” In contrast, when Elizabeth does give birth (v57), Piper wants us to fully appreciate Zechariah's response as noted in v68-71. Piper notes that Zechariah is now filled with the Holy Spirit, and instead of questioning the word of the God, "he is so confident of God’s redeeming work in the coming Messiah that he puts it in the past tense: “he has visited and redeemed his people.” For the mind of faith, a promised act of God is as good as done. Zechariah has learned to take God at his word[.]" We should respond in kind, knowing that ALL of God's promises will come true as He is faithful!

Next, Piper wants us to see how "the coming of Jesus the Messiah is a visitation of God to our world."  Despite the many prophecies of Jesus from Isaiah and others, "for centuries" the Jewish people saw God as "withdrawn" as they "languished" in waiting for the promised Messiah. Piper refers us to Luke 2 where we see Godly examples of Simeon and Anna who were "waiting for the consolation and redemption Israel." In this season of Advent, we should all be awaiting with excitement for the coming of Jesus!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who fulfills all of Your promises to me and all believers!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are so faithful.  My sin is great and it 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.