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

1 John 3 and 1 John 2

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

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

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

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me...showering me with blessings mercies and blessings day after day.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love you with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

John 18

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

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

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You came into the world to die for me so that I could have life now in abundance and for eternity in Heaven with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Luke 2

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

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

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me with peace and so much more!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how faithful You are to Your promises, etc.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Luke 1

And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1:16-17

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 1 of Advent and Piper provides for us a daily devotion for Advent.  He starts by urging us (using Luke 2:11) to meditate on how we all sin and need a savior.  Piper writes: "[i]f you don’t need a Savior, you don’t need Christmas. Christmas will not have its intended effect until we feel desperately the need for a Savior. Let these short Advent meditations help awaken in you a bittersweet sense of need for the Savior." Next, he encourages (using Psalm 139:23-24) us to examine our hearts and make room in our hearts for Jesus. He then moves to inspire us to "build God-centered anticipation and excitement into [our] home." He wraps the devotion by stirring us to "be much in the Scriptures," in particular through scripture memorization.  He ends by referring us to Jeremiah 23:29 as he wants us to "[g]ather ’round that fire [God's Word] this Advent season. It is warm. It is sparkling with colors of grace. It is healing for a thousand hurts. It is light for dark nights."  What great words for us and a great start to Advent. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are and I am excited for Advent and the season of Christmas where we celebrate Your birth.  You are worthy of this excitement and all the glory!  I am not deserving of what You do for me.  My sin is great and it continues...fear of man, 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.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

1 John 3 and 1 John 2

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on what John Piper sees as three implications - or gifts - that result from the truths espoused by John in his epistles for this morning.  The truths for this morning - on Christmas Day - include how (1) Christ came to destroy the works of the devil - sin, and (2) that we have forgiveness of sin.  The implications, or gifts, that Piper sees in these verses are:

1. We have a purpose for living
2. Hope that our failures will be forgiven
3. Christ will help us

These are all incredible encouragements and underscore how Christmas - and of course Christ - are worthy of celebration.

Christ for us is indeed the greatest gift of all time - and this morning Piper helps us begin to unpack how many blessings flow from this. Merry Christmas to all!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of celebration and white-hot worship - today and every day.  I am not deserving of how You give me the greatest gift of all time - Yourself...and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving at all - I worry and I have 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 Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3

 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:7-8

This afternoon, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on 1 John and what it says about what Piper says are the two purposes of Christmas. First, "Jesus came into the world to enable us to stop sinning."  1 John 3:8 certainly makes this clear, but Piper points us to 1 John 2:1 for additional context and support for the first purpose. 1 John 2:2 then provides the second purpose, which is that Jesus came to give us forgiveness from sins. Piper encourages us to avoid using this forgiveness as permission to sin. Instead Piper writes, "[t]he aim of the death of Christ for our sins is not that we relax our battle against sin....The upshot...is the freedom and power that enables us to fight sin not as legalists, earning our salvation, and not as fearful of losing our salvation, but as victors who throw ourselves into the battle against sin with confidence and joy, even if it costs us our lives."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who enables me to battle sin with confidence and joy!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving how You help me - certainly not deserving of my salvation.  I sin constantly...including worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as you love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Romans 5

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

This afternoon, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on "God's Indescribable Gift" - how "Jesus purchased our reconciliation [and how] Jesus enabled us to receive reconciliation and open the gift." Piper describes the process of receiving this gift by referring us to 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 where we see the "glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (v4) and in v6 where we see the "glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Piper emphasizes that part of receiving the gift includes how we are to exult God and we do this by "mak[ing] the portrait of Jesus in the Bible — that is, the work and the words of Jesus portrayed in the New Testament — [making] that portrait the essential content of our exultation over God. Exulting in God without the content of Christ does not honor Christ. And where Christ is not honored, God is not honored."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who purchased my reconciliation to You and who enabled me to receive this reconciliation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God...I sin every day...worry, distraction, 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.

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

John 20

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

This afternoon, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on how believers are often dead to the wonder of God and how we need to be awakened to the majesty of God. Piper writes about how we too often seek worldly facsimiles of wonder - in books and movies, etc. but we fail to seek the wonder and glory in Jesus, whose incarnation, Piper writes (referring to John 18:37) is "as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as [anything] in science fiction that you have ever read." Piper prays for the readers of his devotional; he prays "for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God."  We are urged to seek and experience the unimaginable reality of God before Christ comes again and we face grave irreversible consequences. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are unimaginable.  Yet I have experienced Your hand and Your Spirit personally - I have experienced Your grace and power and I am humbled that You would pour it out for me.  Thank You Jesus! I am certainly not deserving.  I sin every day.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

John 18

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

This evening, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on how Jesus was born as a baby, from a mother who was a virgin - Mary - yet Jesus as human being was not just a birth but an incarnation.  Piper describes this: "[t]he uniqueness of his birth is that he did not originate at his birth. He existed before he was born in a manger. The personhood, the character, the personality of Jesus of Nazareth existed before the man Jesus of Nazareth was born....The person, not the body, but the essential personhood of Jesus existed before he was born as man. His birth was not a coming into being of a new person, but a coming into the world of an infinitely old person.  Piper encourages us to refer to Micah 5:2 to see how it was God's plan from the very beginning of time - from the "ancient of days"  - to send His Son Jesus to save us from our sins. 

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - full of grace and mercy - and You knew everything about me even before I was born; You knew everything about my sin, etc. yet You still came to die for my sins - even though You were not deserving as You led a sinless life.  You willingly laid down Your life so that I could have have freedom from the sting of sin and death - salvation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I sin daily and I wish I did not but I do.  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.

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

1 John 3

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

This evening, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on what Piper refers to and encourages - Christmas solidarity.  Satan seeks to separate from God as many as possible, he seeks to mock God and defeat Him, but believers know that God ultimately wins this battle and defeats sin and Satan.   Piper seeks for those who are not believers to join believers in solidarity to say that I too seek to defeat sin and Satan - I no longer want to be a slave to sin, I want to be a slave to God.  I want to become more like God.  That is certainly how I feel and I know that God has molded me into more of His image.  Clearly there is work to do but I have seen how God has molded me and I am grateful for His sanctifying work.  I urge others to join this Christmas solidarity.  Piper not only uses 1 John 3:8 but also 1 Timothy 1:15 to encourage us to see how God came to defeat Satan and sin:

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners[.] 1 Timothy 1:15

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who defeated sin and Satan for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin continues Lord Jesus!  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin.  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 Savor.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

 Hebrews 2

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on the power of death possessed by Satan and how Jesus' death on the cross took Satan's power of death away, giving us freedom - a freedom that not only frees us from anxiety over death, but from anxiety about anything that this life and Satan may throw at us.  Piper's words today remind me of Paul's words from Philippians 3:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11

Freedom indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are incredible God who gives me freedom - an unsurpassed and unimaginable power - the blessings of salvation and the greatest gift of all time.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and such a gift.  I sin...daily...worry, etc.  Please forgive me for my lack of trust in You Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

John 17

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on how Jesus conquered everything the world and Satan threw at him, including death.  Piper encourages us to see how God's escape from all dangers should encourage us to fear nothing, and to use this fear to reach the lost so that they too can enjoy salvation and all the promises of God.  Piper quotes mid-16th century the missionary Francis Xavier (1506–1552) about how, even in the face persecution as a missionary in China, he faced in an even greater danger - and that was to lose trust and confidence in God: "The danger of all dangers would be to lose trust and confidence in the mercy of God. . . . To distrust him would be a far more terrible thing than any physical evil which all the enemies of God put together could inflict on us, for without God’s permission neither the devils nor their human ministers could hinder us in the slightest degree."  

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility....Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ....Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Ephesians 2:14, Romans 5:1, John 14:27

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died on the cross and faced all the dangers one could possibly imagine - trusting that the Father's plan was good and perfect.  You overcame so I can overcome - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You give me the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and how You live in my heart.  Thank You Jesus.  But again, I am not deserving.  I sin...every day...failing to honor You, etc. Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Jeremiah 31

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on how God overcomes our sin such that we can experience the promises of the New Covenant with Jesus.  A key promise Piper raises is that Jesus "would powerfully move into our lives and write his will on our hearts so that we are not constrained from outside, but are willing from inside, to love him and trust him and follow him." But first God must overcome our sin - which separates us from Him and the promises of the New Covenant. Piper then offers up several scriptures to demonstrate how Christ's death on the cross removed our sin.  Piper writes: "Christ bore our sins in his own body when he died (1 Peter 2:24). He took our judgment (Romans 8:3). He canceled our guilt (Romans 8:1). And that means our sins are gone (Acts 10:43). They do not remain in God’s mind as a basis for condemnation. In that sense, he “forgets” them (Jeremiah 31:34). They are consumed in the death of Christ." Piper then wraps the devotion for today by stating by dying on the cross, "God is now free, in his justice, to lavish us with all the unspeakably great new covenant promises."

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of salvation and for taking my sin on the cross - I am certainly not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  Yet I am not deserving - I have worry and other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth[.]

Philippians 2

 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth[.] Philippians 2:9-10

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on how God works through what Piper calls "divinely appointed setbacks."  He uses the story of Joseph to show how although he was "promised glory and power in his dream (Genesis 37:5-11)," Joseph first had to become a slave and a prisoner.  Jesus also had to be beaten, mocked, spit upon, and then crucified before He rose from the grave three days later. Piper explains that both received glory because they kept their integrity. He then wraps today's devotion by stating that: "[a]nd this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him as it says in Romans 8:17. The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure. But if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: What Satan and sinful men meant for evil, 'God meant it for good!' (Genesis 50:20)."

We are also pointed to a hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way", written by William Cowper in 1774.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I have seen Your hand in both good and bad times - through suffering and times of great joy - in and through it all I see Your glory.  Your ways are both good and perfect - yet often mysterious.  Thank You for pouring out Your many blessings for me and for never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not deserving of how You do all of this.  My sin continues - harshness with others, 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.

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

 John 10

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on death and loss, and Piper encourages us to see how God tells us that He came so that we "may have life and have it abundantly."  We are encouraged to see how this abundance is not only promised for our earthly lives but more so for eternity in Heaven. 

But, as it is written,“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him[.]” 1 Corinthians 2:9

As we near Christmas, let us focus on the abundance God promises - particularly eternal abundance. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has a prepared a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the abundance You give me now and what is awaiting me in Heaven.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

 Hebrews 8

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry builds on the devotional from yesterday, and also from a couple of days ago, where Piper emphasizes how the new covenant with Jesus is the ultimate and final reality, and moves beyond the first covenant - which represents mere shadows of God's promises ultimately fulfilled by Christ.   Today, Piper further develops this reality by referring to God as Reality (note upper case), and by sharing what happens to us as God works in our lives as  Reality.  First, Piper writes that through the shedding of His blood, Christ "finally and decisively purchased and secured the fulfillment of God’s promises for us." Next, Piper writes, is how "God, according to the new covenant promises, brings about our inner transformation by the Spirit of Christ. And it means that God works this transformation in us through faith — faith in all that God is for us in Christ."  Piper wraps today's devotional by ensuring that we not only see that we have this new reality, but that we also see that God does not leave us to our devices to "make it real."  Piper writes: "He writes it on our hearts. He does not lay his Christmas gift of salvation and transformation under the tree, so to speak, for you to pick up in your own strength. He picks it up and puts it in your heart and in your mind and gives you the seal of assurance that you are a child of God."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  You promises are awesome and You are faithful - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful for how You have worked in my heart and life.  Yet I am not deserving of the grace and compassion You pour out for me - and for how You work in my life.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sins of today - already I have anger and harshness - help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Hebrews 8

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry builds on the devotional from yesterday, where Piper also focused on how Jesus replaces both the Old Testament sacrificial system and the need for a priest to intercede on behalf of worshipers seeking cleansing of sins.  As Piper so aptly puts it, "another great thing about the reality which is greater than the shadow is that our High Priest is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. No Old Testament priest could ever say that." Piper wants us to be certain that we see the "ultimate" and "final reality" in how "the persons of the Godhead in relationship, dealing with each other concerning how their majesty and holiness and love and justice and goodness and truth shall be manifest in a redeemed people." We often strive to achieve the ultimate in our various pursuits, and we must recognize that with our relationship with God, it is not our efforts that make a difference; instead it is the ultimate efforts of our God the Father who has chosen us as His elect. 

...[H]e chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4-6

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  I am not deserving of how You chose me - I know it is a gift.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Hebrews 8

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

This morning, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on how Jesus replaces both the Old Testament sacrificial system and the need for a priest to intercede on behalf of worshipers seeking cleansing of sins. See also a post from my recent study of Leviticus that also looked at this. As we continue to anticipate Christmas, let us be thankful for Jesus - who is not merely just a shadow of what need but a full representation of everything that we need. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and worthy of my worship - all the time - white hot worship.  You are all that I need and I know that You love me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not deserving of such love.  I continue to sin...daily - with worry and 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.

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

Hebrews 2

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

This afternoon, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on what Piper urges us to see Hebrews 2:14-15 as his favorite Advent text as "[he doesn't] know any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and the end of Jesus’s earthly life — between the incarnation and crucifixion. These two verses make clear why Jesus came; namely, to die." With this devotion, Piper systematically reviews Hebrews 2:14-15, referring us to supporting scriptures (Isaiah 8:18; 53:10, John 1:12, John 3:16, John 11:52, 1 Timothy 4:10, John 1:12, John 1:1, Colossians 2:9, Romans 8:33, and Romans 5:9) that reinforce his case. He goes on by stating that "[t]he reason [God] became man was to die. As God pure and simple, he could not die for sinners. But as man he could. His aim was to die. Therefore he had to be born human. He was born to die. Good Friday is the purpose of Christmas. This is what most people today need to hear about the meaning of Christmas."  Jesus did this of course so that we would have freedom from sin and death as He defeats both through His death on the cross and the resurrection. Piper wraps today's devotion with the following: "Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon of the devil — the one mortal weapon that he has — is taken out of his hand. He cannot make a case for our death penalty, because the Judge has acquitted us by the death of his Son! So, we are free from the fear of death. God has justified us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the Now. If we do not need to fear our last and greatest enemy, death, then we do not need to fear anything. We can be free. Free for joy. Free for others. What a great Christmas present from God to us! And from us to the world!"

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed an amazing God and You are the greatest gift the world has ever known and will know.  You came to die so that I could have life to the full now and eternity in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such an amazing gift.  My sins continue...daily, including 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.

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

 Matthew 2

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

This afternoon, I continued with my listening/reading of a Christmas/Advent devotional from John Piper. Today's entry focuses on the meaning of the gifts given by the wise men (Magi) to the baby Jesus - the promised Messiah. Piper makes it clear that God does not need gifts - referring to both Acts 17:25 and Deuteronomy 10:17.  However, Piper does write that gifts - by definition - are an expression of the giver's "desire to show how wonderful the person is. In a sense, giving gifts to Christ [is] like fasting — going without something to show that Christ is more valuable than what you are going without."  When we give to the church monetarily, or to a ministry, or otherwise give in service for glory of God, it is our way of expressing how we desire Jesus more than what we are giving.  Piper of course seeks for us to treasure God more than we seek earthly treasure.  Jesus, later in the Sermon on the Mount, exhorts us to seek "treasures in heaven":  

"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." Matthew 6:19-20

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God, worthy of my worship and worthy of what ever I give up in terms of talent, time, and treasure.  You certainly gave Your life for me - that I could life now in abundance and for eternity - Thank You Jesus!  This is the greatest gift of all time!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I continue to sin...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 accept You as their Lord 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.