The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Mark 12:28-34

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mark 12:31

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 12:28-34.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of two) division (vv31-34):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "We Are Commanded to Love Others Genuinely." 
• "How you respond to the first [command] (loving God) will determine how you respond to the second (loving your neighbor). When you obey the second, it shows that you have embraced the first."  
• "Jesus adds Leviticus 19:18 to complement Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Growing out of my love for God, I love those who have been created by God in His image. “Neighbor” is not used here in a restrictive sense. All of humanity, even my enemies, are in view (see Luke 10:25-29)."  
• We are referred to a Don Carson sermon where he looks at the Parable of the Good Samaritan and Leviticus 19 and how the text instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves, including commands from Leviticus 19: "care for the poor (19:10),  not steal (19:11),  not lie (19:11),  be fair in business dealings (19:14),  care for the deaf (19:14),  care for the blind (19:14),  deal justly with all (19:15),  avoid slander (19:16),  not “jeopardize” the life of your neighbor (19:16),  not “harbor hatred against your brother” (19:17),  rebuke your neighbor when necessary for his and your good (19:17), and not take revenge or bear a grudge against others (19:18)." 
• The commentary highlights v33 from the text for today and how Old Testament rituals "have no real meaning unless they are expressions of our love for Jesus and others."  We are referred to 1 Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 21:3, and Hosea 6:6.
• "Obeying rules and regulations will never get me into the kingdom because I can never measure up to God’s perfect standard. No, I need a new me. I need a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). I need the grace and mercy of my God who can make me a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I need to draw near to Jesus, who has brought the kingdom of God near (Mark 1:15). One draws near and enters the kingdom not by religion but by a relationship with Jesus, a relationship that results in loving God supremely and others genuinely."  
• The commentary for today's text wraps by sharing 1 John 4:7-12. 

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 My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You loved me first and while I was still an enemy and hostile to You, I was snatched from the fire and saved.  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 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 continue to 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.

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

Mark 9:30-50

John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Mark 9:38-40

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 9:30-50.  Excerpts from the third (of four) division (vv38-41):

• For the third division, the title is: "Allegiance to Others."
• "At this point the disciples just aren’t there. Oh, they are zealous, but it is a misplaced zeal, myopic and self-centered. In fact it is downright sinful." 
• "The disciples are about to learn that God’s kingdom is bigger than their experience of it. It is so large that anyone who is for Christ is with us."  
• In response to the disciples trying to stop someone (though not a disciple) from casting out demons in Jesus' name, Jesus "responds with a strong command, “Don’t stop him.” On the contrary, stop what you are doing! Why? First, anyone doing these things in My name does so by the power of God. It is an evidence of My call on his life (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3). No, do not try to hinder him. Help him. Don’t try to restrain him. Rejoice in and with him."  
• We are also referred to Philippians 1:15-18 that aligns with Jesus words from v40.
• V41 exhorts us to serve others as the commentary shares: "[s]ervice to others frees us. It gets our eyes off of us and onto others who need the same Christ we need. An anonymous author said, “World Missions is God’s major therapy for our sin of selfishness that eats the heart out of the local church” (source unknown)."

Believers know that the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:34-40) are to love God then love others.  This life is not about us...it's about Him and for Him to get all praise, honor and glory.  He is worthy and we exist solely for His purpose. 

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My Prayer: You are an awesome God that loves me and who saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  I often focus on myself.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome 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 continue to 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 taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Mark 6:30-44

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Mark 6:41-44

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 6:30-44.  Excerpts from the commentary for the third (of three) division (vv37-44):

• The title of the second division per the commentary: "Like Jesus We Should Seek to Meet the Needs of Others." 
• "It is one thing to recognize a legitimate need. It is another to do something about it (James 2:14-17)."
• "Their problem [(the crowd's hunger)] was now clearly beyond their resources. If Jesus does not intervene, then it’s not going to happen. But He does intervene. He commands them to get organized, so in obedience they sit down by groups of fifties and hundreds (Exodus 18:21)." 
• "God loves to demonstrate His power and sufficiency in our lives. Often He allows problems to invade our lives that are far beyond our abilities or resources to handle. Why? He wants us to look to Him." 
• "Jesus now serves as the Host of a messianic banquet. The desolate place becomes a place of plenty. As Moses met Israel’s physical needs with manna and quail, a greater Moses, who is not only the “good shepherd” (John 10:11) but also the “bread of life” (John 6:35), will now feed His people with an abundant feast unlike any they have ever known."  
•  "[God's] provision is satisfying. (v42)."
•  "Where we see human problems, He sees and accomplishes divine possibilities. A little can become a lot with Jesus!"

Everything about Jesus is satisfying.  I am drawn to John Piper's definition of Christian Hedonism and how he says "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him." There is no higher pursuit in life than of Jesus - run after Him and seek Him - You WILL find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).  

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves, provides and who satisfies!  Thank You Jesus for the joy that You are and that You provide.  How great You are!  I am not deserving of how You save, bless and give such joy!  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 continue to 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 have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Jude

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 22-23

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a review of Jude 17-23, with a focus on an unassisted review of the third division per the commentary - vv22-23.  In light of Jude's previous words that warn us of false teachers, and how in v20-21 (see post here and here) where we are encouraged to grow in the scriptures, pray in the spirit, and wait for the Savior, Jude turns to believers to show mercy, first to those who doubt and even to others, such as those who sin and reject God.  I have people in my life that doubt and indeed and I pray for their faith and salvation and I seek to demonstrate mercy for them such that my example of mercy plus my witness to them can play a role in Jesus making them one of His elect.  For those "others" that include those who reject Jesus, God wants us to show mercy to these people as well. Love of God is the most important commandment followed by love of others and no where in the Bible are there qualifiers to say don't love when a person does this or that.  We should always love...even when someone persecutes you.  This is difficult indeed.  We should hate and abhor sin generally and how it enslaves and for some condemns them (when they reject God)...but most of all we should love and it is through this love that mercy appears. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good...and You are SO good to me....demonstrating both mercy and grace to me...and I am clearly undeserving...my own 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 this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 3:11-18. Here, John dives right into the second greatest commandment as given to us by Jesus - to love one another (see Matthew 22:34-40).  We are given the biblical negative example of Cain from Genesis 4, where Cain, driven by envy, killed his brother.  Then, in v13 we are told not to be surprised if the world hates us as believers - the world (those not children of God - children of God bear the image of God and follow/obey God) loves itself and created things first and not God first.  As such the world does not love as God loves and there is no Holy Spirit for the world - so of course the world will want to hate and persecute Christians.  But we as believers, per v14 we have life and this is marked by our love of God first then for others.  Hate - even in our heart - per v15 is murder itself and contrary to love and this is a marker of being of the world and a lover of the world vs God. A positive example of love is provided in v16 where we know love because of what Jesus did - he died for us! A negative example of love is provided in v17 where we see that we are not obeying God or abiding in Him if we see a brother or sister in Christ in need but we don't help them.  This commandment is carried over into v18 where John shares that we should not be seen as hypocrites by talking about love but not doing it - similar to a message in James 1. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I KNOW You laid down Your life for me and that You love me - and that You ask that we love You and love others.  Help me grow in my love for You and others - please help me with obedience to You.  I am grateful for the blessing of being a child of God but I need Your help - every day 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.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

“A new command I give: Love one another. As I have love You, so you must love one another.”

John 13

“A new command I give: Love one another.  As I have love You, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter twenty - Not Lonely at the Top, but Linked with Precious Friends.  Here John Piper emphasizes how Paul acted Christ-like in how, even though he was a very powerful and influential leader in the church, he took the time to build and cultivate relationships with ordinary Christians throughout the churches where he spent time.  Piper starts by referring us to scripture where Paul’s high position in the church is highlighted – either explicitly or implicitly.  These examples, include 1 Corinthians 14:37-38, 4:1, Acts 26:16-18, and 2 Corinthians 10:8, and the combination of these examples emphasize how Paul did not use his position to avoid relationships with people of lesser position.  Instead, as Jesus commands us to, Paul seeks to love everyone regardless of position or status.  Piper then moves to the closing chapter of Romans where Paul, in detail seeks to greet and pass on his love (through others) to twenty-six people – which Piper notes as “remarkable.”  Piper writes: “Amazing. I’ve never written a letter like this. I’ve never asked a friend to greet twenty-six people by name. Nor have I read anything like this in any biography or memoir. This personal connectedness is rare. From the most influential Christian leader in the first century—a man at the top—we see a relational connectedness that fills us with wonder. He had never even been to Rome, where all these people were living! He had met them elsewhere but followed their travels and knew their situation.  Here is a man who did not let his authority, or his being at the top, choke off the affections that he felt for these friends.*”  Paul is an outstanding example of how to follow Christ’s command to love others as He loves us (John 13:34).

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me even though You certainly don’t need to – and thank You for providing Godly men and women such as Paul who love others, who serve as Christian models for how to love, and such as those in my life now – my brothers and sisters in Christ who love me, even though sometimes I know it is difficult.  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.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter thirteen - From Logic on Fire to Lyrics of Love.  Here, John Piper highlights Paul's ability to craft not just "demanding intellectual level, but he also could write poetically, beautifully, and with such universal appeal that some of his words are among the most widely quoted in the world, even by non-Christians.*" Piper points to Romans as a "spectacular example of careful argumentation.*"  He then moves to 1 Corinthians 13 as "beautiful in the combination of morally luminous thought combined with aesthetically arresting prose*."  Piper speculates that Paul could have made quite a living in the literary world but instead chose to humbly write this letter to "help ordinary people love each other.*"  He also inquires as to whether Paul could have written such incredible prose without the suffering he endured, and it is this line of inquiry where Piper sees how Paul's incredible letter of 1 Corinthians 13 is an also an example of how "Paul followed the path of suffering as an apostle of Christ. He subordinated great possibilities as a celebrity to the service of Christ’s church.*"  ...Out of love...

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is able to give us incredible examples of love so we can be encouraged and inspired for us to love others as You call us to.  Thank You for the example of Yourself, of Paul and so many other brothers and sisters in Christ.  I am not deserving of how You encourage and bless.  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.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 12-13

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter sixteen Living in View of That Day, which covers Romans 12:17-13:14.  My focus today is v13:8-10, which my commentary refers to under the heading "Love Your Neighbor." Perhaps underpinning my post yesterday, which discusses how to submit to earthly authorities, as they placed in our lives by God, today we see the primacy of love above all commands.  This is consistent with Jesus' words in Matthew 22:34-40 where the Jewish leaders sought to test/trap Jesus by asking him what the most important commandment is; Jesus responds with how we are to first love God, then to love others as "[o]n these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

 

My commentary refers to v13:10 where it says that "love is the fulfilling of the law" by describing the law as "train tracks" whereas the Holy Spirit is the engine: "[w]ithout Christ the law is powerless; without the law, love is directionless.  Because of Christ, the Holy Spirit has been poured into believers' hearts, enabling us to love; and Spirit-empowered love involves keeping God's commands."  We are encouraged to see how loving is a permanent obligation. My commentary points out that both Jesus' and Paul's words (v13:9) on loving others refers back to Leviticus 19:18. We are further encouraged to see how love involves looking for ways to "bless others" - to listen, care, give, etc. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of love for me.  It is my proper response to worship You and love others as You love me.  I am so grateful that You love and You first loved me as a sinner - thank You Jesus for such grace and mercy.  I am not deserving of such grace and mercy.  I continue to sin and often fail to love others as You love me.  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.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:9-10

  

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter sixteen Living in View of God's Mercy, which covers Romans 12:1-16.  Building on my post yesterday, where I focused on Romans v12:3-8, this morning I review the v12:9-16 and the associated commentary. While the sub-heading of the text (ESV) refers to these verses as "Marks of the True Christian," the commentary indicates that irregardless of the subheading the implication and intent of these verses is for Christians to outwardly demonstrate lives that oppose conformity to worldly behavior - we are to be "counter-cultural."  Our renewed mind (v12:2) transforms our thinking and actions, enabling us to live this worldly-opposed life and God works through us, causing our obedience.  While we see a number of commands, including how we are to love and treat our "enemies" or those who persecute or treat us harshly, the over-riding command is to love others as God loves us (see John 13:34) - given all believers where at one point enemies of God (see Romans 5:10).  My commentary stresses that such love leads to action - empathy and compassion towards others (see 1 John 3:16-18).  We must also hate evil as God does. We must also live with zeal - not apathy!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that even while we were still enemies of God, You loved us and offered salvation for those who believe - what an amazing gift of grace!  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not deserving.  I have gossip, worry, harsh words, anger, etc. in my life.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.

1-3 John

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. 1 John 5:2-4

Day 360 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - today I read the letters of 1 John. My commentary* indicates for the first letter: "[t]oward the end of the first century the church begins to face serious challenges both from without and from within. Persecution and suffering are the shared fate of Christians everywhere. Yet an even greater enemy has come from within—the enemy of false teaching. The Gnostic philosophy, popular at this time, teaches that matter is inherently evil, and that human flesh is therefore evil. This philosophy has led not only to flagrant immorality in exercise of fleshly desires but also to the conclusion that God himself could not possibly become flesh....As if he were their father, John writes to his “little children” about the need to continue walking in the light of God’s righteousness. He warns his readers about the antichrists—those who teach that Jesus was not God in the flesh. Concerned with their daily walk, as well as their belief in Jesus’ deity, John exhorts them to lead lives befitting children of God. He points out that true believers can be distinguished from unbelievers by their mutual love, godly lives, and obedience to God’s commands. John concludes his letter by noting the assurance and security which God’s children have in Jesus Christ."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

While there are three letters in 1 John, the first of the three dominate in terms of themes and of the themes the two core themes include warnings of false teachers and encouragement to love God, love one another, that our love of God and one another compels us to obedience to God's commands - and such obedience is not burdensome because it flows from our love of God.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who first loved me and sent His Son so that I would have forgiveness of sin and eternal life - the greatest gift of all time!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin continues...including worry, etc. and other sin such as harshness of others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.... Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 1-6

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.... Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 3:16-19, 5:1-2

Day 348 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning I continue with another Prison Epistle: Ephesians. My commentary* notes how there is some debate whether the letter is written to the church specifically in Ephesus or to churches more broadly in the area around Ephesus. "Whatever its intended destination, the message is universal. Paul writes about the exalted relationship between Christ and the church and the practical results which that knowledge ought to bring into the lives of individual Christians. He begins by summarizing how God’s eternal plan is revealed through Christ, then proceeds to teach various lessons regarding the church, personal righteousness, earthly relationships, and the Christian’s relationship with God."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

For purposes of a post this morning in the context of this study - there is far too much in the entire book of Ephesians to do justice by calling out one set of verses vs another - there are many nuggets here. Yet, consistent with Jesus' words that loving God and loving others are the two most important commandments, I am focusing on Paul's exhortations on these two commands.  I am not ignoring Paul's words on relationships (Ephesians 5:21-6:9) and other important points of scripture in this book but instead focusing on what I believe is most important.

We all must understand (or attempt to understand to the extent we can) the depth of God's love for us and this of course should motivate us to love Him and others.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and time and time again You have blessed me and continue to do so.  I am not deserving of how You love and bless me.  I worry and have other sins.  Please forgive me for my worry and other sins 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.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

2 Kings 15-17, 1 Chronicles 5, and 2 Chronicles 27-28 

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40

  

Day 178 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* describes the early beginnings of Israel's captivity as Assyria invades the northern kingdom. Early captivity impacts the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh within Israel (map here).

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

A few highlights from the scriptures this morning:

They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. 1 Chronicles 5:24-26

We may have positive earthly attributes as part of our character but none of it matters if we don't first and foremost love the Lord!  See my post yesterday!

In Judah, Ahaz assumes the throne and his worship does not portend good things for the southern kingdom:

Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Kings 16:2-3

Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Chronicles 28:1-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me like no person ever can - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  I worry and I have many other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

“They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

1 Samuel 3-7

“They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven. 1 Samuel 6:10-12

Day 84 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's initial calling of Samuel and growth as a prophet, the Philistines capture of the ark of the Lord, the death of Eli, the return of the ark, the Israelites re-dedication of themselves to the Lord, and their victory over the Philistines.

According to John MacArthur*, "[t]he placing of the ark of God in the temple of Dagon was supposed to be a sign of Dagon’s power and Yahweh’s inferiority, a visual representation that the god of the Philistines was victorious over the God of the Hebrews".

*MacArthur, John F.. The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Location 11224). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

We as believers may claim to love God more than anything else, as we are commanded by God, yet our actions may belie this claim.  We may view what the Philistines did to plunder the ark and relegate God to a lesser position as something we would never do or have never done, but as John writes we may be deceiving ourselves (see 1 John 1:8).  John Piper also warns us about breaking the third commandment not to take the Lord's name in vain - he warns us that our worship may be "empty, futile, pointless, wasted".

God must come first:

Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy

Do not go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:16-18

Day 62 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on directives from God through Moses (Moses' Laws) for the general welfare of the poor, weak, and the stranger - fairness, benevolence, are in focus. 

God wants us to love others as He loves us. 

My commentary* emphasizes how the last of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21) calls for us to avoid even an "attitude" of malice towards our neighbor. 

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The words "love neighbor" show up in the Bible at least 11 times.

Jesus refers to love of neighbor as the 2nd most important commandment (Matthew 22:39).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided us with great neighbors who have loved us and blessed us - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and blessings that You provide because I sin...daily, including an oft neglect of the command to love my neighbors.  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 (my neighbors) 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 the LORD commanded him.

Exodus 39:2-40

 ...as the LORD commanded him. Exodus 39:2-40

Day 32 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the completion and blessing of the tabernacle and God's glory fills the tabernacle.

Moses and the Israelites did just "as the LORD commanded [them]" using these exact words in scripture sixteen (16) times in these two chapters.  Clearly God wants us to pay attention how obedient Moses and the Israelites were.

Obedience to God of course is critical - and this calls into focus God's commands and then of course our ability to do God's commands.  When we have repeated commands - we know they are important.  God also tells us He has the most important commandments (1st, 2nd) and how all other commandments hang on these two (see Matthew 22:34-40).

See also these posts from John Piper regarding how God makes obedience possible and how obedience is not burdensome.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who makes all things possible - including obedience to Your commands.  I know You love me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin daily...including grumbling and complaining.  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.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

1 John 2

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.  But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. v9-11

Hate is a powerful word and it implies hardness of heart, which impedes our ability to love - both God and others.  We certainly should not hate anyone nor should we hate other believers as the scripture today indicates. John refers to a "new command" not just in v8 here but also in John 13:34-35 (as told by Jesus):

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

These are the two most important commandments - to love God and to love others.

The Holy Spirit has helped rid me (mostly) of use of the word "hate" - as He has "luck".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You love me and I know You desire for me to love others.  Thank You Jesus for loving me - knowing everything about me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and I have other sin - falling short often of not loving others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. v3-4

Consistent with the theme of joy throughout Philippians, Paul believes that it will bring him great joy (v2) if we are to empty ourselves of our selfish desires and instead become more like Christ.  Counter to what the world believes, our humility will not only bring joy to Paul but also to Christ and bring glory to God - which is why exist.

V6-8 articulates Christ's humility as part of God's plan to provide salvation for those who believe.  In particular v6-7 which states:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Through the Holy Spirit, believers have access to the and power and wisdom of God yet once again it is not for our advantage but for God.  Love God and love others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You did not take advantage of Your time on earth to enrich Yourself but instead died a gruesome death on the cross...so that I could have life...and to the full.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and such a gift.  I sin...I am lazy, selfish, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. v31-32

Paul wants the Ephesians to be a light to others encouraging them to work (so "they have something to share with those in need" v28) and to speak in encouraging ways (to "benefit those who listen" v29).  Underlying Paul's words is a hope that believers love and glorify God and love others ("created to be like God" v24, avoid grieving the Holy Spirit v30, and to forgive as Christ God forgave us v32).

As Paul continues in Ephesians to give us practical advice and instruction on Christian living - it starts with loving God and then loving others - the most important commandment and the 2nd most important commandment.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me in ways that I cannot even fathom - I just know that You love me and You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...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.  

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. v31-33

Using the example of how we should respond to offers of food sacrificed to idols, Paul wants us to focus on glory of God so that others be saved - emphasizing the two most important commandments to love God and to love others (to be saved).

According to John MacArthur, believers should not object or worry about food sacrificed to idols if offered by an unbeliever (so as to not offend the host) but should refrain from eating such food if another believer of weaker faith objects to such a meal - again so as to not offend the host - "since love for other believers is the strongest witness Christians have".

Today's scripture reinforces Paul's efforts from my post several days ago to be "all things for all people". 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has graced me with blessings beyond my imagination - forgiveness, life, joy, grace, compassion, etc.   Thank You Jesus!  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving.  I often focus on myself above others - please forgive me and help me 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.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. v7

In Romans 14 (see previous post), I wrote about how Paul desires for us to be humble and not get wrapped around the axle based on debatable matters of faith.  Paul wants us to focus on what matters - loving (God and others) and encouraging one another so that there is unity in the church because if their is unity - there is strength. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who encourages me - constantly...through the Holy Spirit, Your Word, the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and encouragement.  I worry...and I neglect You.  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.