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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion. The highlighted text today mildly emphasizes a somber message on one hand - death - while largely focusing on the hope believers have how God offers renewal and new beginnings...appropriate for a year ending message.  John Piper entitles this devotion - Death Rehearsal - as he begins by describing how he treats year's end as a rehearsal for his actual death.  Of course because he has not died, Piper is able to reflect on the past year, and the extent to which he glorified God (pointing to Matthew 25:21).  Through this reflection, Piper looks back at positives and negatives, and how the Psalmist in the highlighted text describes how we should treat each day as something that is gone leaving us with fresh start in the new day.  Piper writes: "[n]umbering your days simply means remembering that your life is short and your dying will be soon. Great wisdom — great, life-revolutionizing wisdom — comes from periodically pondering these things."  Piper also refers us to 2 Timothy 4:7-8 as another example in scripture that gives a litmus test for how we should measure each passing year.  Piper concludes by sharing "...if we discover that we did not keep the faith this past year, then we can be glad, as I am, that this year-end death is (probably) only a rehearsal, and a whole life of potential faith-keeping lies before us in the next year."

Comment and discuss this post.

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 how You give me life and the mercies that are new every morning.  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.  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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion. The highlighted text today shares that Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection, "by the blood of the eternal covenant" not only secures believers' salvation, but also equips us by working in us.  John Piper provides not just Hebrews 13:20-21 but other text, including Jeremiah 31:33 to describe how this works: "Therefore, the blood of this covenant not only secures God’s equipping us to do his will, but also secures God working in us to make that equipping successful.  The 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."  Piper then provides Philippians 2:12-13 to describe the role believers have in using the "equipment He gives."  He concludes by stating: "If we are able to please God — if we do his good pleasure — it is because the blood-bought grace of God has moved from mere equipping to omnipotent transforming."

Comment and discuss this post.

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

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

Romans 5

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today shares details of the eternal damnation of those who spurn God's love and reject Him as Lord and Savior.  Piper starts the devotion by sharing 1 Thessalonians 1:10 where Paul describes the hope he has in Jesus who delivers believers from "the wrath to come."  Piper then provides several verses that share the ominous details of what it will be like for those damned for eternity: Romans 2:8, Ephesians 5:6, Revelation 14:10-11, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 19:15, and Revelation 14:20.

Besides 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Piper provides Revelation 22:17 and 21:4 to encourage believers with what awaits them in Heaven.  

As Piper concludes the devotion for today, he urges believers with: encouragement and a message to save others from the fire: "I tremble with joy that I am saved! But oh, the holy wrath of God is a horrible destiny. Flee this, brothers and sisters. Flee this with all your might. And let us save as many as we can!" 

[H]ave mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire[.] Jude 22-23a

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus for saving me from the wrath to come.  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  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.

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today emphasizes that - as the devotion title makes clear -  Glory Is the Goal.  John Piper points us to text throughout scripture that provides evidence of how glory is the goal - these texts include:

• Seeing the glory of God is our ultimate hope: Romans 5:2, Jude 24
• God makes His glory known: Romans 9:23, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, Titus 2:13
• Jesus, in all his person and work, is the incarnation and ultimate revelation of the glory of God: Hebrews 1:3, John 17:24
• Believers will partake and participate in God's glory to be revealed: 1 Peter 5:1, Romans 8:21
• God will glorify believers: 1 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 8:30
  

Piper continues by sharing that: "Seeing and sharing in God’s glory is our ultimate hope through the gospel of Christ.  Such a hope, that is really known and treasured, has a huge and decisive effect on our present values and choices and actions.  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."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and worthy of all honor and glory.  Thank You Jesus for sharing Your glory with me and all believers and for allowing us to share in Your glory.  I am not deserving of how You bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 3:17a

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today - as we move close to the start of a new year - encourages believers to not live aimlessly but to live with purpose. John Piper shares: "God’s revealed will for you is that when you get up in the morning, you don’t drift aimlessly through the day letting mere circumstances alone dictate what you do, but that you aim at something — that you focus on a certain kind of purpose."  Piper uses the analogy of leaves blowing randomly across the backyard, pushed around by the wind to describe how God does not want us to live aimlessly.  Piper states that "[i]t is crystal clear in the Bible, including these texts [in 1 Corinthians 10 and Colossians 3], that God means for us to aim consciously at something significant in our days." Piper concludes the devotion by sharing: "God did not create humans in his image to be aimless, like lifeless leaves blown around in the backyard of life. He created us to be purposeful — to have a focus and an aim for all our days."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that gives all of His children gifts and talents to be used, shared, and to bring value and good into the world - thank You for how You knit all of us together to share these talents into our various communities at work, at home, church and elsewhere.  You are an awesome God for how You bless us.  Yet I am undeserving 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.  

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 22:5,31a

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at How to Contemplate Calamity, using a devotion by the same name.  Piper starts the devotion by pointing to the book of Job - a Bible book that explores loss and suffering.  Piper then points to the massive Indian Ocean tsunami that occurred nineteen years ago today, an epic tragedy that killed more than 200,000, including vacationing Norwegian relatives of my wife Lisa.  Of course, this is an extreme example of calamity, but all of us experience tragedy, suffering, etc., although for most of us it rarely reaches such epic proportions.  Such tragedy, regardless of the scale and impact, leads many, including believers, to question the role of God.  Piper refers us to Job 1:21 and 42:11 as he shares God's providence over all things, including tragedy, suffering, trials, pain, etc.  Piper also highlights 2 Samuel 22:5 and 31 where David sings a song of deliverance from the hands of Saul.  In light of tragedy and suffering and how scripture helps us, Piper moves to share five "crucial implications" in the form of lessons for believers:

1. Satan is not ultimate; God is - "Satan is real. Satan brings misery. But Satan is not ultimate or decisive. He is on a leash. He goes no farther than God decisively permits."
2.  Even if Satan caused that tsunami in the Indian Ocean the day after Christmas, 2004, he is not the decisive cause of over 200,000 deaths; God is - see also Psalm 89:8-9, Luke 8:24.
3. Destructive calamities in this world mingle judgment and mercy - "The clearest illustration of this is the death of Jesus. It was both judgment and mercy. It was judgment on Jesus because he bore our sins (not his own), and it was mercy toward us who trust him to bear our punishment and be our righteousness.  Another example is the curse and miseries that have come on this earth because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Those who never believe in Christ experience it as judgment, but believers experience it as merciful, though painful — a preparation for glory. See also James 5:11, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:20.
4. The heart that Christ gives to his people feels compassion for those who suffer, no matter what their faith is - "Pain is pain, no matter who causes it. We are all sinners. Empathy flows not from the causes of pain, but from the company of pain. And we are all in it together." See also Romans 12:15.
5. Finally, Christ calls us to show mercy to those who suffer, even if they do not deserve it - "That is the meaning of mercy — undeserved help."  This means that we are to show mercy to those we might otherwise call our enemies.  See also Luke 6:27, Romans 5:10.

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord You are good - no matter the circumstances.  I know You never change and You are just, good, merciful, etc.  Thank You for how You never change and how I can count on You as You are faithful.  I am not deserving of Your faithfulness.  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. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil....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 1 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. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil....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, 2:1-2

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians, and I concluded using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions yesterday as today is Christmas. Building on yesterday's post, John Piper challenges us by asking if the incarnate Son of God Jesus Christ came into the world to help us stop sinning, and to remove His wrath when we do so, what then does this imply for our lives?  He shares three gifts - Christmas gifts:

1. A Clear Purpose for Living: Negatively, Piper describes this as to stop sinning.  Positively, this is described as loving God and loving others.  We are referred to 1 John 3:23: "this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us."
   
2. Hope That Our Failures Will Be Forgiven: Piper shares: "[w]e make progress in overcoming our sin when we have hope that our failures will be forgiven. If you don’t have hope that God will forgive your failures, when you start fighting sin, you give up."  We are encouraged not to give up because Jesus Christ forgives and is our advocate.
   
3. Christ Will Help Us: The final gift shared by Piper in this devotion is how Jesus truly will help us - Piper shares: "[h]e came to destroy sin because sin is fatal. It is a deceptive work of the devil, and it will destroy us if we don’t fight it. He came to help us, not hurt us."  We are referred to 1 John 4:4 as Piper concludes: "Jesus is alive, Jesus is almighty, Jesus lives in us by faith. And Jesus is for us, not against us. He will help you in your fight with sin in the new year. Trust him."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me...showering me with blessings mercies and blessings day after day.  Thank You Jesus!  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.

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. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

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. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7-8

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 24.  Here, John Piper describes - as the devotion title suggests - Two Purposes for Christmas.  Piper starts by asking what are "the works of the devil?"  To answer this question, Piper backs up in 1 John 3 to verse 5.  He points out that Jesus appeared, or became the incarnate Son of God in both verse 5 and in verse 8, providing evidence that the work of the devil in verse 8 is sin.  Piper then points us to 1 John 2:1 where we have additional evidence.  Hence we have the first Christmas (birth of Jesus) purpose: which is the means by which believers can defeat sin.  1 John 2:2 provides the second purpose: "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."  Thus, of course, Jesus, as He suffered and died on the cross, took the wrath for our sin that we should have received (see also Romans 6:23).  Piper then shares as he winds down this devotion that "[t]he upshot of this second purpose is not to defeat the first purpose. Forgiveness is not for the purpose of permitting sin. The aim of the death of Christ for our sins is not that we relax our battle against sin. The upshot of these two purposes of Christmas, rather, is that the payment once made for all our sins is the freedom and power that enables us to fight sin not as legalists, earning our salvation, and not as fearful of losing our salvation, but as victors who throw ourselves into the battle against sin with confidence and joy, even if it costs us our lives." Celebrate both of these purposes of Christmas! 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for both helping me defeat sin and for forgiving my sin - and of course for eternal life.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of such blessings and gifts.  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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 23.  Here, John Piper describes - per the devotion's title - God's Indescribable Gift.  He starts by asking how believers receive reconciliation with and exult God.  He then provides the answer as "we make [the] portrait [of Jesus in the New Testament] the essential content of our exultation over God." Piper then points us to 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 as Paul describes conversion. We are then pointed to Romans 5:5 where Paul describes how "God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Piper uses this verse and shares how it describes how we exult in God in "its fullest experience."  Piper then points us to Romans 5:6 where we read how Christ "while we were still weak, at the right time, died for the ungodly." We are to ponder this reality as we approach Christmas. Piper concluding thoughts for the devotion: "Not only did God purchase our reconciliation through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10), and not only did God enable us to receive that reconciliation through the Lord Jesus Christ, but even now we exult in God himself, by the Spirit, through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11).  Jesus purchased our reconciliation. Jesus enabled us to receive reconciliation and open the gift. And Jesus himself shines forth as himself the indescribable gift — God in the flesh — and stirs up all our exultation in God. Look to Jesus this Christmas. Receive the reconciliation that he purchased. Don’t put the gift on the shelf unopened. And when you open it, remember God himself is the gift of reconciliation with God. Exult in him. Experience him as your pleasure. Know him as your treasure."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is worthy of all honor and glory.  You came to save me and all sinners - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such an indescribable gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 and 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, apply Your Word 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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 22.  Here, John Piper seeks to awaken the souls of all believers who, at least from time to time, maintain a sense of spiritual lethargy upon a reading of the Christmas story.  Piper shares: "You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.  How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, 'God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.'"  Piper continues as he prays: "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." He then describes how likely it will be at the end of times, when things get really crazy, chaotic and scary, that we will be surprised how we could ever have had any emotional dead-ness in the face of such an unimaginable portrait of God throughout all of redemptive history.  Piper concludes the devotion with: "[t]hese things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world." We should all pray that we always have a sense of wonder and excitement when we encounter the Word the God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I am grateful for a sense of excitement and wonder you have given about Your Word.  Yet I know there is more work to do - my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa 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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 21.  Here, John Piper discusses how Jesus came into the world, which means that He already existed and on Christmas day in Bethlehem became the incarnate Son of God Jesus Christ.  He of course was also the fulfillment of prophecy as Piper refers us to just one of these prophecies in Micah 5:2.  Micah refers to Jesus "coming forth...from of old, from ancient days." Piper then shares that "therefore, [Jesus's] birth was purposeful. Before he was born he thought about being born. Together with his Father there was a plan. And part of that great plan he spoke in the last hours of his life on earth [John 18:37]." Piper concludes the devotion by stating that "[Jesus] was the eternal Truth. He spoke only the truth. He acted out the greatest truth of love. And he is gathering into his eternal family all those who are born of the truth. This was the plan from ancient days." Take comfort in knowing that God has a plan and it is glorious for all believers!

Comment and discuss this post.

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 You love and mercy.  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.  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 reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 20.  Here, John Piper encourages believers to unite with unbelievers in what he refers to in the devotion title: Christmas Solidarity. The devotion starts with Piper describing how Satan goes about his business cranking out sin via an "assembly line" and then by distributing them via "huge cargo planes."  As this sin is "spread out before God...[Satan] laughs and laughs and laughs."  The devotion then shares that Satan's objective is to make God the laughingstock of Satan and to draw people away from "the light and beauty and purity and glory of God."  For Satan, "[n]othing pleases him more than when creatures distrust and disobey their Maker."  The devotion then pivots to its connection to Christmas and how the birth of the incarnate Son of God - Jesus Christ - offers hope and good news for sinners - believers and non-believers alike.  We are referred to 1 Timothy 1:15 and 1 John 3:8 where Paul and John share that Christ came to save sinners and to defeat sin.  The devotion concludes with John Piper encouraging believers and non-believers to unite in solidarity, and to go "on strike" against Satan's "business" of sin.  Piper writes: "Christmas Solidarity will not give up until a complete shutdown has been achieved.  When sin has been destroyed, God’s name will be wholly exonerated. No one will be laughing anymore.  If you want to give a gift to God this Christmas, walk off the assembly line of sin and don’t go back. Take up your place in the picket line of love. Join Christmas Solidarity until the majestic name of God is cleared, and he stands glorious amid the accolades of the righteous." 

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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 - giving me the full armor of God to protect me in my daily battle with sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving as my sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa 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.      

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 19.  Here, John Piper discusses the freedom in Christ believers enjoy, and that we should celebrate during Christmas. First, Piper shares that Jesus became the incarnate Son willingly - He chose this so that believers could have life to the full (John 10:10). He willingly died on the cross "to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). We are then reminded by Piper that Satan tried to stop Jesus from dying on the cross by tempting Him in the wilderness and by working through human agents, including Peter (Matthew 4:1-11, 16:21-23). But Christ was not stopped and He endured an unimaginable death, despite a sinless life.  The crucifixion - per Hebrews 2:14-15 gives believers power over sin and death - and as a result, believers live with hope and that we can live fearlessly...for Him and His glory.  Piper shares as He concludes the devotion: "Christmas is for freedom. Freedom from the fear of death.  Jesus took our nature in Bethlehem, to die our death in Jerusalem — all that we might be fearless in our city today. Yes, fearless. Because if the biggest threat to my joy is gone, then why should I fret over the little ones? How can you say (really!), “Well, I’m not afraid to die but I’m afraid to lose my job”? No. No. Think!  If death (I said, death! — no pulse, cold, gone!) if death is no longer a fear, we’re free, really free. Free to take any risk under the sun for Christ and for love. No more enslavement to anxiety."

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My Prayer: Lord You are good indeed and You give me freedom and victory over sin and death - thank You Jesus!  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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 18.  Here, John Piper highlights missions and how "Christmas is a model for missions. Missions is a mirror of Christmas."  Just as Christ came into the world on Christmas Day to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), we are to go out into the world - to all nations - to proclaim the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20).  The mission field is often very dangerous as there are many places where proclaiming the gospel or starting a church is against the law and persecuted harshly.  Piper shares how Jesus encountered resistance but we are go out just as He did: "Christ came to his own and his own received him not. So you also. They plotted against him. So you. He had no permanent home. So you. They trumped up false charges against him. So you. They whipped and mocked him. So you. He died after three years of ministry. So you."  Piper then shares the greatest danger - to lose faith and trust in God: "[t]he greatest danger a missionary faces is not death but to distrust the mercy of God. If that danger is avoided, then all other dangers lose their sting."  He concludes with hope and encouragement for those facing danger by stating that if believers "Conquer [temptation to distrusting God's mercy] and nothing can harm you for a million ages."

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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 mercy.  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[..."]

Jeremiah 31

"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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 17.  Here, John Piper describes what he refers to in the devotion title The Greatest Salvation Imaginable.  Believers have this salvation through Jesus, who gave His life for us, and was promised, as Piper shares, 500 years prior to His birth through the prophet Jeremiah.  This prophecy from Jeremiah also describes how - as Piper puts it - "[Jesus] 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." Christ is able to do this by cleansing us of our sin so that we could be holy in the eyes of God.  Piper refers us to Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 8:3, Romans 8:1, Acts 10:43, and Jeremiah 31:34 to remind us of what Christ's "once for all" sacrifice did for us.  Piper concludes the devotion by stating that with this salvation for believers, "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."  Amen - praise for the greatest salvation - and gift - of all time!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace for me, and who gives me salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  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.

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 16.  Here, John Piper uses Philippians 2:9-11 to describe God's Most Successful Setback. He starts by stating that "Christmas marked the beginning of God’s most successful setback. He has always delighted to show his power through apparent defeat. He makes tactical retreats in order to win strategic victories."  Piper uses Joseph as the example for the devotion in how Joseph first became a slave then a prisoner.  However, God meant it for good - Genesis 50:20.  We don't understand how God works (Isaiah 55:8), but He is always at work on behalf of those who love God (Romans 8:28). Piper of course uses Jesus in the devotion as he writes: "[Jesus] emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Worse than a slave — a prisoner — and was executed. But like Joseph, he kept his integrity."  This is where Philippians 2:9-11 comes into the devotion as Piper shares that Jesus' way "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."  Instead of despair in the face of struggle and setback, we should look to Jesus' work on the cross and other examples such as Joseph for how God means it for good for those who love God. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who has never left or forsaken me and You have seen me through difficult periods - many times.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You 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.

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 15.  Here, John Piper unpacks how Christmas of course stirs up feelings of joy and family, etc. Yet during the Christmas season, many have lost loved ones and John Piper briefly shares a few words of how he and an older member of his church have experienced loss.  My own father died in December 1998 and my niece Marit passed just after Thanksgiving last year.  These are all painful things indeed.  John Piper does not want us to escape this pain as we may perhaps reflect on this during Christmas - Piper shares: "[m]any of you will feel your loss this Christmas more pointedly than before. Don’t block it out. Let it come. Feel it. What is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death? But oh, do not be bitter. It is tragically self-destructive to be bitter." Piper then refers us to John 10:10 where Jesus shares how He provides abundant life - and of course this is an eternally abundant life.  We are encouraged to focus here and how regardless of what we may experience in this life - our ultimate home is in Heaven with Jesus.  This in turn gives us hope to endure what we may experience now as we know that what we are experiencing is temporary until we are at home with Jesus. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is full of grace and compassion for us, providing life - abundantly - now and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus 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.  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 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.

Hebrews 8

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. Hebrews 8:6

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 14.  Here, John Piper unpacks what occurs in the hearts and lives of believers through the better covenant that is described in Hebrews 8:6 and related text.  Piper first starts by explaining that Christ is a mediator of a new and better covenant because the blood of Christ (His crucifixion and resurrection - see also Luke 20:20, Hebrews 13:20) "finally and decisively purchased and secured the fulfillment of God’s promises for us." Piper continues by sharing that this 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." Piper then refers us to Hebrews 13:20-21 where the text, in Piper's words describe "[t]he best place to see Christ working as the Mediator of the new covenant."  Expanding on Hebrews 13:20-21, Piper then concludes the devotion by sharing that "[t]he words “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight” describe what happens when God writes the law on our hearts in accord with the new covenant. And the words “through Jesus Christ” describe Jesus as the Mediator of this glorious work of sovereign grace. So, 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."  For believers, Christ working in our hearts and lives is dramatic as we and others see the fruit of our faith through heart and life transformation as God molds us into His image.  It is not of course always a fun process but nonetheless God gives us joy and a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). 

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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 continues to mediate and interceded for me to the Father.  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for working in my heart and life.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 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 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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 13.  Here, John Piper builds on yesterday's Advent devotion - Day 12 - by not only looking at Hebrews 8:1-2, but also by looking at Hebrews 8:5.  In doing this, Piper shares that "[w]e’ve seen it before. But there’s more. Christmas is the replacement of shadows with the real thing....The point is that the one priest who goes between us and God, and makes us right with God, and prays for us to God is not an ordinary, weak, sinful, dying priest as in the Old Testament days. He is the Son of God — strong, sinless, with an indestructible life. Not only that, he is not ministering in an earthly tabernacle with all its limitations of place and size while getting worn out and being moth-eaten and being soaked and burned and torn and stolen....This is not the shadow. It’s the real thing in heaven....another great thing about the reality which is greater than the shadow is that our High Priest is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. No Old Testament priest could ever say that. 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." 

Jesus is not only better than the shadows of the Messiah from the Old Testament, He IS THE REAL THING...and better than anything else we can chase in this world that is fallen and broken. 

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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 continues to mediate and interceded for me to the Father.  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for working in my heart and life.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 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 that the Lord set up, not man. Hebrews 8:1-2

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 12.  Here, John Piper unpacks Hebrews 8:1-2 where the author of Hebrews encourages believers to see how Jesus - particularly as we celebrate Christmas - replaces Old Testament ceremonial practices, shadows and prophecies of the coming Messiah.  Piper writes: "[t]he point of the book of Hebrews is 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.  The Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. Now the reality has come, and the shadows pass away."  Thank You Jesus for coming into the world so that You could save me from this world!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion.  You came into the world to save me and others from sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  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.    

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 11.  Here, John Piper unpacks Hebrews 2:14-15 as he describes the text as his "favorite Advent text because I don’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 then proceeds to go line-by-line with the text:

• “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood..."  In other words, in sending Christ, God has the salvation of his “children” especially in view." Those who believe in Christ become God's children and are adopted into His family.  We are referred to Isaiah 8:18, 53:10, John 3:16, 11:52, 1 Timothy 4:10, John 1:12.
• “ . . . he himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood]...” > "Christ existed before before the incarnation" (since the beginning of time) but became the incarnate Son of God - fully man and fully human.
  
• “ . . . that through death...” > Christ came to die for us - and this could only be accomplished if He became fully human. "He was born to die. Good Friday is the purpose of Christmas. This is what most people today need to hear about the meaning of Christmas."
• “ . . . he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil...” > "In dying, Christ de-fanged the devil. How? By covering all our sin. This means that Satan has no legitimate grounds to accuse us before God." We are justified by 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." We are referred to Romans 8:33, 5:9.
  
• “ . . . and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” > "So, we are free from the fear of 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." 

A great message indeed! What a great God we have that has done all of this for those who believe!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for coming for me, dying for me, and giving me victory over sin and death - the greatest gift of all time!  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. 

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 10.  Here, John Piper unpacks Matthew 2:10-11 where the magi worship the new born Jesus, and bring Him gifts.  Piper starts by referring us to Acts 17:25 where the scripture is clear that God does not need anything - He is not "served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything."  So these men from the east, the magi - who are not Jews - worship Jesus and offer Him gifts.  Piper's devotion seeks to help us explore why these gifts were offered and the purpose they serve. The devotion states that these are not bribes - pointing us to Deuteronomy 10:17.  Instead, Piper shares that anytime gifts are given to wealthy, self-sufficient people, these gifts echo and intensify "the giver’s desire to show how wonderful the person is. In 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."  Piper continues by sharing that "[w]hen you give a gift to Christ like this, it’s a way of saying, “The joy that I pursue (notice Matthew 2:10! “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy”) — the joy that I pursue is not the hope of getting rich by bartering with you or negotiating some payment. I have not come to you for your things, but for yourself. And this desire I now intensify and demonstrate by giving up things, in the hope of enjoying you more, not things. By giving to you what you do not need, and what I might enjoy, I am saying more earnestly and more authentically, ‘You are my treasure, not these things.’"  Piper concludes by sharing that it is his prayer that all people in all nations awaken to a desire for Christ Himself as their treasure above all else.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion.  Thank You Jesus - I seek to make You my treasure above all else - You are worthy.  Help me with this response to Your grace and compassion.  I need Your help desperately every day.  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 this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him[.]

Matthew 2

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 9.  Here, John Piper unpacks Matthew 2:3 and what he sees as "two kinds of opposition to Jesus."  Piper starts by sharing that "Jesus is troubling to people who do not want to worship him, and he arouses opposition against those who do. This is probably not a main point in the mind of Matthew, but it is an inescapable implication as the story goes on.  In this story, there are two kinds of people who do not want to worship Jesus."  Piper then describes the first kind of opposition as that posed by the chief priests and scribes in Matthew 2:4 - these Jewish leaders know earlier prophecies of Jesus and while they see the birth of Jesus as fulfilling prophecy, unlike the magi, they chose not to inquire further about Jesus.  Piper shares: "[t]he sheer silence and inactivity of the leaders is overwhelming in view of the magnitude of what was happening....[The Jewish leaders] are not interested. They are not passionate about finding the Son of God and worshiping him." On the other hand, in v3 we see how not only Herod being troubled by Jesus' birth but "all Jerusalem."  Herod opposes Jesus because he sees Jesus as a threat so he seeks Him out and because he does not find Jesus, Piper shares how Herod "commits mass murder just to get rid of Jesus."  Piper concludes the devotion by sharing a sentiment that he hopes readers of the devotion are not opposed to Jesus but interested, engaged, saved, etc. by Him.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You provide for all of my needs, and never ever leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and 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.

"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

"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 2:2

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 8.  Here, John Piper unpacks Matthew 2:2 as he describes how God is using a star to "guid[e the] magi to the Son of God to worship him."  Piper first starts by sharing how many Bible readers concern themselves with "theories that are only tentative in the end and have very little spiritual significance."  Piper uses several examples of how the Bible does not share how a star can guide people (and rest over a place per Matthew 2:9); nor does it share how Jonah survived being in the belly of a fish, how manna fell (Exodus 16), nor how the moon turns to blood (Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20, Revelation 6:12).  Piper refers to people preoccupied with how these things occur as having "a mentality for the marginal."  Instead Piper seeks for us to "cherish...the great central things of the gospel: the holiness of God, the ugliness of sin, the helplessness of man, the death of Christ, justification by faith alone, the sanctifying work of the Spirit, the glory of Christ’s return, and the final judgment."  Coming back to the star, Piper shares: "what is plain concerning this matter of the star is that it is doing something that it cannot do on its own: It 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."  Piper also wants us to see how God's design is for "all nations (see also Matthew 24:14) to worship His Son."  This includes not just all nations, but in everything we do we are to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Piper concludes the devotion by building on yesterday's devotion by sharing that Matthew begins with a "come-see" Jesus and at the end we have a "go-tell" all nations about Jesus. "The magi came and saw. We are to go and tell."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is in and over all things in the universe...and You saved me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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. 

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 7.  Here, John Piper unpacks Matthew 2:1-2.  Piper first contrasts Matthew's account of the gospel with Luke's (see Luke 2:8-18 and also post yesterday). Piper shares: "Unlike Luke, Matthew does not tell us about the shepherds coming to visit Jesus in the stable. His focus is immediately on foreigners — Gentiles, non-Jews — coming from the east to worship Jesus."  Piper then highlights how Matthew's gospel both starts and ends with a focus on how Jesus "[was/is] a universal Messiah for all the nations, not just for Jews."  Piper continues: "Here the first worshipers are court magicians, or astrologers, or wise men not from Israel but from the East — perhaps from Babylon. They were Gentiles. Unclean, according to the Old Testament ceremonial laws."  Of course we know from Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus's words from the Great Commission that gospel is not just for Jews but "all nations."  The devotion then refers us to Isaiah 60:3 as the devotion pivots to how Matthew's focus on non-Jews not only opened the door for Gentiles to be saved, "it added proof that [Jesus] 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." Piper concludes the devotion by sharing that "Matthew adds proof to the messiahship of Jesus and shows that he is Messiah — a King, and Promise-Fulfiller — for all the nations, not just Israel."

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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 for including me in Your plan to be saved and so many others.  I am not deserving of such love 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.  

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

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians and my study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus (as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church) has come to an end. So, during the Advent season, it is appropriate that I lean on DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 6 where John Piper unpacks Luke 2:12-14 and how God gives peace to those with whom He is pleased.  Piper first starts by referring us to Hebrews 11:6 where the author writes how "without faith it is impossible to please [God]."  By implication peace is only available to believers, those who have faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Piper is more pointed as he shares that "Christmas does not bring peace to all."  He amplifies this point by referring to John 3:19 and Luke 2:34-35 where some love the darkness (and stay there), and how Jesus was opposed when born. Piper then provides John 1:11-12 and 14:27 where only those who believe and faith become children of God and how peace is given supernaturally only to those who believe and have faith.  Paul expands on this in Philippians 4:6-7 where he writes how believers who pray earnestly have a peace that "surpasses all understanding." Piper concludes by sharing that "the key that unlocks the treasure chest of God’s peace is faith in the promises of God," and he refers us to Romans 15:13 where Paul prays for this kind of faith.  

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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 and who gives me a peace that surpasses understanding...thank You Jesus!  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. 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church. My focus this morning is Titus 2:11-14, which are the memory verses for this week. To aid in my memorization efforts, I break down this text as follows:

• For the grace of God has appeared (first coming of God's one and only Son, Jesus Christ)
• bringing salvation for all people (Jesus desires to save all people)
• training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (salvation brings about new birth or regeneration as the Holy Spirit works in our heart as we draw closer and closer to Jesus in our journey with Him; this regeneration process moves into sanctification as we are trained and molded into more of His image)
• to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (our lives in this world, in our earthly bodies, is temporary, and during this time our salvation and the resulting regeneration and sanctification processes move us to not only battle against sin, but also for Him)
• waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (as we live in the present age, we wait patiently - enduring whatever circumstances God places us in - for the second coming of Jesus Christ)
• who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness (once again Christ "bought back" our salvation - He redeemed us)
• to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (we were redeemed for a purpose - to be purified and to become His so that we work for His good and to bring others to Him)
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave Himself to redeem me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You redeem and purify 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.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning I read Titus 3, specifically vv4-7, assisted by a sermon message on this text from John MacArthur's Grace to You website. Here, John MacArthur digs deeply into vv4-7 where Paul writes about how God "saved us" and what that means for believers.  First, MacArthur looks at v3 where Paul emphasizes to Titus and the church at Crete that all believers were - before they were saved "foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another."  MacArthur refers us to text elsewhere that highlight this pre-salvation state - slave to sin and condemned to eternal damnation - see also Romans 1:21-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11a, and Ephesians 2:1-3 just for a few examples. Of course, such a state leads to death as a deserving punishment - Romans 6:23.  MacArthur then highlights a "seven-fold" salvation in the text:

1. We are saved by His kindness; " It means that He has a concern in His heart toward people in misery. God is basically good. He is inherently good. He is inherently kind."
2. We are saved by His love; based on the Greek word philanthropia - "It literally means pity, compassion, eagerness to deliver from pain or distress because of strong affection. It has the idea of a strong affection. It doesn't have some kind of self-serving component in it. It's not pity for the wrong reason. It's pity out of strong affection. God is kind. He is kind toward the ungrateful and evil men, as Jesus said, and His kindness causes Him to have a strong affection out of which He wants to act in pity and compassion."
3. We are saved by His mercy; "It's different than grace. Grace relates to guilt. Mercy relates to misery. Grace relates to the state of the sinner before God the judge. Mercy relates to the condition of the sinner in his sin. Grace is a judicial concept that forgives the crime. Mercy is a compassionate concept that helps the criminal recover. Mercy looks at misery, grace looks at guilt."
4. We are saved by His regeneration; "Obviously we can't cleanse ourselves, we can't give life to ourselves. That's all the work of God."
5. We are saved by His Spirit; "There's nothing you can do to get the Holy Spirit. There's nothing you can do to gain or earn the renewal work of the Holy Spirit. That's something God pours out and it tells us in verse 6 He poured out the Spirit upon us richly."
6. We are saved by His Son.
7. We are saved by His grace; "He paid the price and therefore our sins are removed, justice is fully satisfied, kindness, love, mercy and grace can act freely. Justified by His grace. Grace is giving us what we don't deserve. We don't deserve to be forgiven. We don't deserve to have our sin removed. We don't deserve to be imputed the righteousness of God. We don't deserve that. We don't deserve to be just before God. We don't deserve to come into His presence. We don't deserve heaven. But grace gives it to us because God's justice is satisfied in Christ and He declares us justified...justified."        

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good in how You saved me and You intercede for me eternally, praying for me and never leaving or forsaking me.  Thank You Jesus!  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.