Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

 John 16:16-24

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 16:16-24, where Jesus continues to help the disciples prepare themselves for both the crucifixion (sorrow) and Pentecost.   Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus continues to reveal Himself as one person of the Triune God that are all equal.  In the text today, the focus is how the Son (in a little while) will no longer be with the disciples and Jesus shares how this will be sorrowful for the disciples, and how (a little while later) the Holy Spirit will be with the disciples, and this will be joyful.  Jesus knows that the disciples do not understand what He is saying, so He is patient with them, using the analogy of a mother giving birth (labor), which when the baby arrives is a joyful moment. In v22, Jesus promises that the joy given in that moment (Pentecost) will not be taken from us, and "in that day you will ask nothing of me" (v23). Also in v23, we see an apparent contradiction in the same verse where at first Jesus says on Pentecost the disciples will ask nothing of Him, then (emphasizing the authority of His statement), Jesus shares that "whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you."  The apparent contradictory statements can be reconciled by seeing how the first statement emphasizes the disciple asking, while the second statement emphasizes the disciple asking in Jesus' name - two entirely different asks.  The latter statement is an ask with an intention to bring glory to God (vs ourself) and to align our prayers with His will.  V24 is an encouragement from Jesus to ask for things in His name, with a promise that our joy will be full in doing so....this seems to align with John Piper's Christian Hedonism.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Once again, we see how the disciples do not understand, even as Jesus is patient and He continues to reveal Himself in ways to help the disciples understand.  We may not understand everything that Jesus says, yet we can always rest in what we DO know about Jesus and ask Him to reveal Himself to us so that we can more fully understand Him, His will, etc.  This is the essence of Romans 12:2 where Paul encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we can understand and follow His will...so that He is glorified.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking our own will vs that of God.  Claim the promise that asking for things in Jesus' name and His will will give us joy as we seek to please and glorify Him. This joy cannot be taken from us - what a great promise.  Follow the example of Jesus as seeks the will of the Father.  Be transformed by the renewing of the mind to align desires, thoughts, etc. with that of Jesus. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You provide the Holy Spirit that will guide us into all the truth.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save, and guide me into all the truth.  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.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Mark 10:17-31

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:29-31

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 10:17-31.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv23-27):

• The title for the second division per the commentary is: "It Is Better Than You Think."  
• "Jesus affirms that whatever you might lose or give up in this present age (or life) for Jesus and the gospel, you will not fail to receive a hundred times as much “now at this time” and in the age to come “eternal life.” The things Jesus notes we may have to give up are precious things: home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands. It costs to follow Jesus. However, the blessings far outweigh the losses. In God’s kingdom the benefits and blessings are simply too great to imagine."  
• "One surprising “blessing” is “persecutions.” Its inclusion strikes a sobering note of realism for the person who would follow Jesus. To be a member of Christ’s kingdom means to share in all that is His. This includes suffering on His behalf, a momentary light affliction when seen against the promise of eternal life (2 Corinthians 4:17)."  
• "[Jesus' words] means mainly that if you are deprived of your earthly family in the service of Christ, it will be made up a hundredfold in your spiritual family, the church....Surely what Christ means is that he himself makes up for every loss. If you give up a mother’s nearby affection and concern, you get back one hundred times the affection and concern from the ever-present Christ. If you give up the warm comradeship of a brother, you get back one hundred times the warmth and camaraderie from Christ. If you give up the sense of at-homeness you had in your house, you get back one hundred times the comfort and security of knowing that your Lord owns every house and land and stream and tree on earth (quote from John Piper)."    
• "God does not evaluate things in the same way fallen humanity does. As citizens of His kingdom, His children should think more like Him than like the world."

God wants us to treasure Him above everything else.  John Piper refers to this as Christian Hedonism. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and worthy of all praise, Honor, glory and worship - above anything else.  You love and You save.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  I am not deserving of such love and gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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 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).  

Comment and discuss this post.

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. 

Rejoice and be glad[.]

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad[.] Matthew 5:12

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 19: The Gladness of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "Jesus says that he is a bridegroom. He seized upon a word that is the symbol of human joy. If ever a man is happy in this world, it is on his wedding day. Jesus says that he lives in an atmosphere of wedding joy, and so also do his disciples."
• "He told the men who criticized him that his life was different from the life of John the Baptist and also from the life of the Pharisees. You cannot mix the two kinds of piety, the two forms of life will not mingle. Let me give you an illustration or two, he said: 'A man does not put a new patch on an old garment, because the new patch will tear out and the rent will be still worse. Neither can you put my form of life on to the old form of piety, the two will not hold together, the strength that is in my form of life will simply tear the old form of life to pieces. Or, to give you another illustration, men do not put new wine into old wine skins, for there is too much life and movement and sparkle in new wine for the old skins. If you attempt to put the new wine into the old skins, the old skins will burst and the wine will be lost. So do not think that you can put the new life which I live and which I want all my followers to live into old forms of pharisaic piety, for this cannot be done. I am living a new kind of life, and I want a new kind of man, a new spirit, a new form of religion.'"
• "It would seem, then, that Jesus was a man abounding in joy. Gladness was one of the notes of his character. Listen to him as he teaches, and again and again you catch the notes of happiness. He was all the time saying, "Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God" — and what was it in the little child that attracted him? One thing which attracted him was the child's sunny heart. What would we do in this world without the children laughing away the cares and sighs?"
• "Or listen again to what he says about worry. He defines it as one of the deadliest of all sins. We are not to worry about the present, about the necessities of existence, about to-morrow, about what we ought to do or say in the great crises which lie ahead of us. It is not right, he says; it is contrary to the law of God.  Listen to him again as he says to the great crowds, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." A glum-faced prophet could never speak so. He was glad even to the end. Even in the upper chamber, with death only a few hours away, he goes right on speaking of the joy that is bubbling up in his own heart and he prays that the same joy may abound in the hearts of those that love him. He tells his disciples that all of his teaching has been granted unto them because of his desire that his joy might remain in them and that their joy might be full. There was no shadow on his face that night in the upper chamber. The cross is near, but it casts no shadow."
• "The very finest apples, you know, in the earlier stages of their growth are sour and green. It is not until the sun has done his perfect work that they are golden and luscious. Just so it is with souls in the earlier stages of development — they are often green and sour, crabbed, and full of acid. But if they will only subject themselves to the shining of the sun, the great joyous, exuberant, laughing sun, all the juices of their nature will grow sweet and mellow, and they will find themselves at last in the kingdom of peace and joy."
• "It is the tragedy of this world that there are so many people in it who find it impossible to rejoice. What is the matter with you that you are not happier than you are ? Certainly there is something wrong! What a pity it is to live in a world like this and not enjoy living! It is amazing that any one should live in a universe so glorious, and not feel like shouting! If you are lachrymose and drooping it is because there is something wrong. You are not well in body or in mind, or it may be you are sick in both. You have not yet learned the high art of living, you have not yet come to Jesus. Why not come and sit at his feet? Why not take his yoke upon you and learn of him, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light."

For believers, salvation alone is worthy of living joyfully every day.  Yet for many believers this may not be enough.  If this is you, I would encourage you to press on in your faith and lean into Jesus.  One of the great promises in scripture is Matthew 5:6 where early in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus shares: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."  Another word for satisfaction is contentment - and when one becomes content there is joy.  Joy in God. As believers mature and come to know God more intimately, it becomes abundantly clear that God is treasure enough - above anything else the world can offer.  John Piper refers to this as Christian Hedonism - "God is most glorified in us, or Christ is most magnified in us, when we are most satisfied him."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are so great that You provide Your Son and so much more so that we can enjoy all the rich blessings of faith.  Thank You for my salvation, for the mercies that You provide every morning that never cease, for Your Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, etc. I am not deserving - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.  

...[B]eing found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name[.]

Hebrews 2:9, Philippians 2:7-9, and Revelation 5:12

...[B]eing found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name[.] Philippians 2:8-9

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #49: So That He Would Be Crowned with Glory and Honor.  The devotion today explores Piper's premise that he thinks many find as vanity: that Jesus would die to bring attention to Himself.  Piper opens by referring us to John 17:5, where the text describes how Jesus prays the night before He went to the cross that He be glorified "with the glory [He] had with [the Father] before the world existed."  Hebrews 2:9, Philippians 2:8-9, and Revelation 5:12 are then provided as text to show how the Father affirmatively responded to this prayer.  Piper states: "[Christ's] glory was the reward of his suffering."  At this point, Piper responds to those who might see this act of self-glorification as vanity.  Piper shares that people erroneously assume that love is the result of "being made much of" - what he calls self-saturation.  Yet he challenges this by explaining that "[o]ur happiest moments have not been self-saturated moments, but self-forgetful moments."  These moments are filled with awe and wonder based on displays of majesty - "but not ours."  Examples of such displays include what we experience in nature.  Piper then states that humanity was made for something greater then self-saturation as he moves his emphasis to Christ: "[i]f we are to be as happy as we can be, we must see and savor the most glorious person of all, Jesus Christ himself. This means that to love us, Jesus must seek the fullness of his glory and offer it to us for our enjoyment."  We are then encouraged to read John 17:24. Piper then concludes the devotion by sharing: "Love is the labor—whatever the cost—of helping people be enthralled with what will satisfy them most, namely, Jesus Christ. That is how Jesus loves."  Amen - be satisfied above all by Christ!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me....giving me Your Son Jesus Christ so that I could be filled with awe and wonder, joy, and most importantly, so that I can be saved!  Thank You!  I am not deserving of these blessings and my salvation.  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.

...[F]ar be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 Galatians 6:14

...[F]ar be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #33: To Make His Cross the Ground of All Our Boasting.  In today's devotion, Piper unpacks Galatians 6:14, Piper by sharing that, while the Bible shares that believers are only to boast in the cross, and this for some may seem "over the top" to non-believers.  Yet this is indeed what the Bible says, not just in Galatians 6:14, but also in Romans 5:2, 3, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and 1 Thessalonians 2:19.  While these verses seem to describe boasting about things, they all point to honoring the cross.  Piper then connects the dots for us as he shares that "every good thing—indeed, even every bad thing that God turns for good—was obtained for us by the cross of Christ. Apart from faith in Christ, sinners get only judgment. Yes, there are many pleasant things that come to unbelievers.  But the Bible teaches that even these natural blessings of life will only increase the severity of God’s judgment in the end, if they are not received with thanks on the basis of Christ’s sufferings."  We are referred to Romans 2:4-5.  Piper then goes on to share that "everything that we enjoy, as people who trust Christ, is owing to his death. His suffering absorbed all the judgment that guilty sinners deserved and purchased all the good that forgiven sinners enjoy. Therefore all our boasting in these things should be a boasting in the cross of Christ."  Piper encourages all believers to be "radically cross-focused."  We do this by recognizing that when we truly trust in Christ, our old self is dead and we are born again and we belong to Christ.  We also recognize that all of our enjoyment is sourced by God and we seek what God seeks because we love Him and therefore love to please Him.  See yesterday's post.  Piper concludes by sharing that "every legitimate pleasure in the world becomes a blood-bought evidence of Christ’s love and an occasion of boasting in the cross."  Trust in Jesus and experience everlasting joy in Jesus as he becomes "the ground of all our boasting."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and mercy for me.  Thank You Father God - Jesus - You are deserving of all my boasting.  I am not deserving of the grace You pour out for me...which of course started on the cross and continues though today and ultimately to Heaven where You are saving a place for me.  Thank You for these gifts for which I am undeserving.  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.

...[H]e died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

 2 Corinthians 5:15

...[H]e died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #32: To Enable Us to Live for Christ and Not Ourselves.  In today's devotion, Piper unpacks a truth that he says troubles some - that "Christ died to exalt himself."  Some may view this as vanity but Piper dispels this thought.  To unpack this truth, the devotion first shares that "[t]he very essence of sin is that we have failed to glorify God—which includes failing to glorify his Son (Romans 3:23). But Christ died to bear that sin and to free us from it. So he died to bear the dishonor that we had heaped on him by our sin. He died to turn this around. Christ died for the glory of Christ."  The devotion then continues by sharing that Christ's death on the cross should be viewed as "the supreme act of love."  As such, it is both an act to exalt Himself and to show His love for this He seeks to save.  Piper then shares: "Christ is unique. No one else can act this way and call it love. Christ is the only human in the universe who is also God and therefore infinitely valuable. He is infinitely beautiful in all his moral perfections. He is infinitely wise and just and good and strong....To see him and know him is more satisfying than having all that earth can offer."  See also Hebrews 1:3.  Paul describes this in Philippians 3:7-8.  When scripture states that "we might live for Him," Piper emphasizes that God does not need our help - see Acts 17:25 and Mark 10:45 - "[w]hat Christ died for is not that we might help him, but that we might see and savor him as infinitely valuable. He died to wean us from poisonous pleasures and enthrall us with the pleasures of his beauty. In this way we are loved, and he is honored. These are not competing aims. They are one." The devotion concludes by pointing us to John 16:7, 14 and John 17:24, which describe how (1) Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help believers glorify Him, and the Holy Spirit is the "greatest help in the world" and another act of love and (2) how Christ's love for us is so great for us that He prayed that those who have faith in Him would join Him in Heaven.  Rejoice in Him who loves us so much that He died for us and gave us help to glorify Him (we exist to glorify Him) and to give us "everlasting enjoyment."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God that gives us Your Son and the Holy Spirit so that we can enjoy You now as infinitely valuable and for eternity with You.  Incredible - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor the blessings You provide for such everlasting enjoyment.  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.    

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] ...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

1 Peter 3:18 and Ephesians 2:13

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] ...But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 2:13

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 40-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #22: To Bring Us to God.  Here, John Piper highlights what he believes is "crucial" for believers to comprehend: "what is the ultimate good in the good news? It all ends in one thing: God himself. All the words of the gospel lead to him, or they are not gospel."  Piper expands on this by sharing that none of doctrine (salvation, forgiveness, justification, redemption, adoption, etc.) is "good news" without a relationship with God where a believer deeply desires Him and is thoroughly satisfied with Him above anything else.  Piper states: "[t]his is the greatest thing Christ died for. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18)....Long before Christ came, God revealed himself as the source of full and lasting pleasure. 'You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore' (Psalm 16:11). Then he sent Christ to suffer 'that he might bring us to God.' This means he sent Christ to bring us to the deepest, longest joy a human can have. Hear then the invitation: Turn from 'the fleeting pleasures of sin' (Hebrews 11:25) and come to 'pleasures forevermore.'" Repent, believe in Him and enjoy Christ as Savior and the source of our greatest joy forevermore.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and my source of inexpressible joy - there is nothing else I enjoy more than You.  I am undeserving of how full of grace for me that You provide such joy for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 for 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.

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Hebrews 11:26

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 11:26

Today, once again I traveled - this time home from WV...thus I am mindful again of how I did not offer time to the Lord in the morning (my first fruits) as I'd like do, but I am also mindful that I need to go to God daily and while it is late in the day it is my first opportunity to get online and not just focus my mind on God's message, I do want to document my time.  For this opportunity, I go to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explores Hebrews 11:26.  Here, John describes the purpose of suffering for believers as "to manifest, in childlike faith, the infinite preciousness of [Christ's] all-satisfying promises — the all-satisfying greatness and beauty of his own glory as the fulfillment of all of them."  Using Hebrews 11:25-26, Piper points us to Moses who "[chose]...to be mistreated with the people of God [rather] than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin."  Moses chose to share in the suffering of Christ even though He did not even know of Him...He was called by God in obedience and to live by faith expecting something greater.  Piper then describes this as Christian Hedonism, where "[i]n the pursuit of joy through suffering, we magnify the all-satisfying worth of the Source of our joy. God himself shines as the brightness at the end of our tunnel of pain...If we do not communicate that he is the goal and the ground of our joy in suffering, then the very meaning of our suffering will be lost. The meaning is this: God is gain. God is gain. God himself is gain. That’s the meaning of our suffering. The chief end of man is to glorify God. And it is truer in suffering than anywhere else that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are the greater reward...You are the gain...above all things.  Thank You for Your faithfulness and that I can never be separated from Your love...despite what may and will happen to me.  I am not deserving of such faithfulness and salvation.  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.     

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the the first division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the first division as 11:7-10 with the division entitled Enjoy Life as God Intended.  The commentary highlights how Solomon shares that life is fleeting (see James 4:14) and that in light of this we should enjoy life, including all of the ups and downs of life.  At the same time, we are encouraged to live as God intends and according to His design as God warns us that if we don't harsh judgement awaits.  See also this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is the source of glorious and inexpressible joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this joy that You freely give to Your children.  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.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is an unassisted review of the the first division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the first division as 11:7-10 with this division entitled Enjoy Life as God Intended. V7 describes how God intends for us to enjoy His creation, including the sun, sunrise, sunset and the evening skies. V8 shares how God wants us to rejoice in all the years of our lives, but we are reminded that our lives will be full of darkness, challenges, and pain - this is the human experience since the Fall.  At the back end of this verse, Solomon (without the knowledge of everlasting life with Jesus) states that this is vanity - our lives are devoid meaning, so you might as well enjoy your life when you can (i.e. in your youth).  V9a and b shares how we should enjoy our youth when we are likely to have youthful looks, good health, etc.  V9c shares how ultimately God will judge your life so whatever we do, be mindful of pleasing Him, living in reverent fear of how He is in control and if we don't please Him, we are subject to His wrath.  V10 shares how we should not be vexed (or annoyed, irritated, or troubled) by the meaninglessness of youth and the effects of aging.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gives life, now to the full and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus for saving a place for me in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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 and 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.   

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14

Today I pause both my study of 1 Corinthians and my study that accompanies participation in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Instead, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today provides a highly convicting message from John Piper on how to achieve spiritual maturity and a deeper understanding of God's Word. Piper starts by referring us to Hebrews 5:14 and then he says "if you want to become mature and understand and appreciate the more solid teachings of the word, then the rich, nutritional, precious milk of God’s gospel promises must transform your moral senses — your spiritual mind — so that you can discern between good and evil."  He then states that this is not an "intellectual challenge" but a "moral" one.  We must value God above all other things and value God such that it directs everything we do and how we spend our time - avoiding influences of this world that God detests (and are sinful) and not finding it burdensome but instead joyous to love what God loves - which is delight in Him...or in John Piper's words Christian Hedonism. THIS is the path towards spiritual maturity. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me discernment and wisdom to help with all matters of life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You do this - I know that apart from You I have nothing - certainly no good things - and can do nothing - certainly no good things. 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 Your 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]t is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1

[I]t is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21

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 six - Magnifying Christ through a Satisfying Death.  Here, John Piper shares how a deeper study of Paul's letters - starting with Philippians - addressed an unresolved tension when he was younger.  This unresolved tension afflicts all believers at some point - that we want to be happy, and at the same time we want to glorify God (with the latter being of course the reason why we exist). Piper saw these options as at odds with each other - if I pursued one it compromised the other.  Piper then describes how, as he started seminary, a reading of Philippians 1:20-21 unlocked the secret which helped him resolve this tension - and this is what what led him to Christian Hedonism. This text by Paul reads that Christ is honored regardless of whether we live or die....because in death we gain.  How we gain is then described in verses 22-23 where Paul shares how in death we then are unified with God in Heaven which is course incredible!  Piper shares how Paul explains that "[d]eath gives him a closer experience of Christ.*"  Piper then describes how this resolved the tension for him: "you cannot glorify God in your heart if your heart does not find God more satisfying than everything else.*"  Additional scripture references provided include Philippians 3:8, Psalm 37:4, 32:11, and Philippians 3:1 where we are commanded to be glad and rejoice in the Lord. Piper wraps the devotion by pointing to Psalm 16:11.

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

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You give me joy, nor how You bless me in innumerable ways...thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 Matthew 6

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6

While my plan is to resume my study of Isaiah tomorrow, for today I once again listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today focuses on John Piper's response that Christian Hedonism puts the interests of man above God.  Of course, those who know John Piper, his teachings, and what he says about Christian Hedonism, all point to how the interests of God and man are aligned because Piper writes in today's devotion (and others) that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."  Today Piper uses Matthew 6:6 as the text to illustrate his response.  He writes that the joy attached to referenced reward in the text "is a reward he wants us to seek. He does not lure us with joy we shouldn’t have! But this reward — this joy — is the overflow of turning away from human praise, and going into our closet to seek God." Earlier in the devotion he states: "[w]hen we humble ourselves like little children and put on no airs of self-sufficiency, but run happily into the joy of our Father’s embrace, the glory of his grace is magnified and the longing of our soul is satisfied. Our interest and his glory become one." Amen - believers should run into the arms of our Father's embrace - daily and all day long!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who blesses me indescribably and innumerably - and I am stunned and amazed every day that You do this.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of these blessings, nor my salvation - I know this.  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.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

I paused once again this morning from my studies of Proverbs and Isaiah to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional - which today focuses on encouraging us to avoid "[d]evoting a life to material comforts and security and thrills," but instead pursuing what John Piper calls Christian Hedonism. Piper introduces us to Christian hedonism as "the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."  Piper further unpacks it a series of resources on DesiringGod.com, including this article. He points out that believers delight in God is not at odds with our joy - they are not opposed to each other.  Instead Piper writes that "obeying God is the only route to final and lasting happiness." We are encouraged to not be satisfied "too easily."  Piper concludes this article on how he wants believers to be Christian Hedonists by writing that "we [should] bend all our effort, by the Holy Spirit, to persuade people [of course including ourselves]

• that they can be happier in giving than receiving (Acts 20:35);
• that they should count everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus their Lord (Philippians 3:8);
• that the aim of all of Jesus’s commandments is that their joy be full (John 15:11);
• that if they delight themselves in the Lord he will give them the desire of their heart (Psalm 37:4);
• that there is great gain in godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6);
• and that the joy of the Lord is their strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are worthy of glory and my ceaseless pursuit that my life demonstrate Your glory.  I am beyond grateful this morning of how You have saved me and blessed my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.