Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word[.]

 Ephesians 5

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word[.] Ephesians 5:25-26

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at how God's unconditional love is not the "sweetest experience of [God's] love" according to John Piper.  First, the elephant in the room for many regarding the highlighted text is that Piper is not focusing on marriage and how husbands are commanded to love their wives.  Instead, Piper first describes how God does have unconditional love for us and this is the basis for our election, justification and salvation as we are not deserving of such love and blessing but God provides for these things unconditionally.  Piper then proceeds to describe how the sanctification process is where God loves us conditionally based on the extent to which that sanctification process matures and we progressively become more like Him, reflect His glory and please Him.  Piper shares: the "sweetest experience [of God's love] is conditional on our transformation into the kind of people whose emotions and choices and actions please God....When [God] unconditionally chooses us, and sends Christ to die for us, and regenerates us, he puts in motion an unstoppable process of transformation that makes us glorious. He gives us a splendor to match his favorite kind: his own." Piper moves from Ephesians 5:25-26 to verse 27 where Paul writes how Christ "present[s] the church to himself in splendor."  Piper concludes the devotion by writing: "[i]t is unspeakably wonderful that God would unconditionally set his favor on us while we are still unbelieving sinners. The ultimate reason this is wonderful is that this unconditional love brings us into the everlasting enjoyment of his glorious presence. But the apex of that enjoyment is that we not only see his glory, but also reflect it." In closing we are referred to 2 Thessalonians 1:12.  We should all seek to please God by progressively reflecting His glory.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who not only loves us unconditionally, but also never leaves or forsakes us and continues to be with us working in our hearts and lives such that we are transformed into more of Your likeness that we can enjoy You more and You can be please more with us!  Incredible - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues...please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and overcome it 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.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 14-15

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter eighteen Gospel Unity, which covers Romans 14:1-15:13.  My focus today is v15:1-13, which my commentary refers to under the heading "The Lord's Example." In these verses, Paul builds on my discussion yesterday to further the case for church unity. We are encouraged to see how we have "an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves" (v15:1).  I know I too often seek to please myself, whether that is out of being right or to just find comfort by lack of action - convicting indeed! We are again told to build others up (v15:2). We are reminded of Christ's example that He did not seek the easy path of pleasing himself but instead willingly submitted His life for us - see v15:3. Paul tells us that we should review our Old Testament to find hope to follow Christ's example and "to live in such harmony with with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v15:5-6).  We exist to glorify God - remember this! OT is referenced that we should be clear about God's saving plan as it was written in the OT - therefore we should not stand in the way of God's great design and work - unite among believers, weak and strong - we are all brothers and sisters in Christ!  Paul wraps up today's verses by providing scripture from Psalm 18:49, 2 Samuel 22:50, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 117:1-2, and Isaiah 11:10. 

My commentary stress humility - so that we may put the needs of others first.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I have been weak - You have placed other more mature believers in my path to build me up...to strengthen me in my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessing.  My sin continues...worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” v17

We are told on many occasions throughout the Bible to become more like Jesus.  The directive is to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).  In this way, we become less and Jesus becomes more so that others see Jesus in us.  If we allow Jesus to work in and through us, others will see the power of Him and be drawn to Him just as described in Mark 1:45. Of course this is what Jesus wants...to reconcile His children to God.  Sin has separated us but through the blood of Christ we are restored.

In Mark 2, we see an example of what God wants for us - to go to those who need help.

Jesus - please help me become less so that You can become more.  Help me also be Your hands and feet to that others see Jesus in me.

My Prayer: Jesus, You came for me - broken and sinful - thank You Jesus!   I am not worth such love. I am week and I daily miss the mark.  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 greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Matthew 23

The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. v11-12

In Matthew 23, Jesus continues to warn His followers to avoid the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the law.  Jesus did not come to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45).  We are called to deny ourselves, be more like Jesus and draw others to Him by allowing the others to see not us but the light of Jesus in us.

Be a light.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who as King did not come to be served but to serve - thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for me and for paying the price not just for my sin but for all of humanity!  Thank You - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish and weak and lazy.  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 sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say...[.]

2 Chronicles 6

When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to a land far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say...[.] v36-37

Solomon, in a prayer to God dedicating the newly built temple, acknowledges that all people sin (see also Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and asks for God to forgive those who repent and turn from their sin towards God - here is the rest of his prayer:

'We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause. And forgive your people, who have sinned against you. v37-39

We have a God who loves us SO much that He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ (John 3:16) to die on the cross so that we could have freedom from the sting of sin and death.  He not only hears our cry but He is able to transform our hearts and minds so that we become more like Him (see also Romans 12:2). 

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me so much that You gave Your one and only Son so that I would have freedom from the sting of sin and death...I know that You love me, even though You know everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish, hurtful with my words and actions, and more.  Please forgive me 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 do.  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 the land had peace forty years.

Judges 5

Then the land had peace forty years. v31

In the book of Judges, the Israelites do as we all do...we do "evil in the eyes of the Lord". Thankfully, God has raised up for us a Savior in Jesus Christ who nailed all of our sin to the cross so that we would not be caught in the cycle of sin and shame and sin.  

We must be humble and allow Jesus to work in and through our lives - to be transformed to be more like Jesus.  

As I posted yesterday, we may not like what God is doing in our lives but He is always present with us, by our side, working in and for us, refining and training us.

Lord Jesus, please take my life and make me more like You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are my God. I am Your child.  I desire to be more like You.  I want to please You and glorify You.  Thank You that You loved me enough to not only adopt me as Your child but that You would go to the cross for me.  Thank You Jesus! I am not worth such love.  Please forgive me for my harsh words and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  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.

There he built an altar to the Lord.

Genesis 13

There he built an altar to the Lord. v18

Those whom the Lord called often built altars - first Noah, now Abram, and others will follow.  This post here is a great read on why altars are built.  From this reference, I pick up several tidbits:

1. That we come to the altar (to God) as a starting point for transformation - "alteration" if you will
2. That broken stones are the basis for our altar - just as we come to God broken and sinful; we place our weights there for God to take them as well as our sacrifice and of course Jesus desires not animal sacrifice but our bodies as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1)

I desire to be transformed into more of who Jesus is - please alter me Jesus.

He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full of love, compassion and mercy.  You have spared me what I deserve - You did so by willingly and undeservingly submitting Yourself on the cross.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such a price.  Please forgive me for my lack of action and trust.  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 do.  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.

Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.

Psalm 106

Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.  Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. v43-45

God gives us MANY second chances for He is full of mercy, compassion, gentleness, grace, etc.  What a God we have!  Yet God does not have an unlimited amount of these attributes for us...we must remain awake, alert, sober, etc. for we do not know the hour of His return nor the hour when He may call us home.  See also Matthew 25:1-12 for the Parable of the Ten Virgins.  

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.  Matthew 25:13

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are - you provide SO many second chances through forgiveness and freedom from sin!  Thank You Jesus for the overwhelming love, patience, mercy, compassion, etc.  I am not worth such blessings.  I don't want to sin but I do...I continue to worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

Psalm 81

But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. v11-12

God either creates circumstances in our lives or he allows events to unfold that are a result of our own sin.  Either way, they are designed to rebuke, discipline or train us.  We need to be aware of how God is working in our lives to mold us into more of His image. See post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God always coaching me to be more like You.  I desire to be more like You.  I know I was made in Your image and to glorify You.  I also know that I often fall down and disappoint You.  I am easily distracted by worldly matters, I worry and I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Keep her safe.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.

Psalm 24

The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. v4-5

In the verse 3 David asks: "Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?"

We all want to be near to God for He is our refuge, strength, who comforts us in our afflictions and suffering, guides us, etc. Yet we sin, and when we do we experience separation from God.  We seek His forgiveness and when we do, He is full of grace and provides it...what an awesome God.  Further, when we turn from our sin and turn towards God (repentance) and we strive for renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2), God will transform our heart and life to be more like Him...with "clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false God".  The blessing of course follows....it is a promise as true as Jesus is great.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, author of heaven and earth and all of its inhabitants...You created me, and You know everything about me, including my sin...yet You came and died for me anyway...thank You Jesus!  I stand in awe!  I am not worth such love and blessing...I continue to be selfish in my life...often.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.