But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 11 - we see the widely read "Hall of Faith" where many of the Biblical heroes are described as enduring through fear, suffering, etc. and looking beyond their current circumstances to what God had in store for them - all based on their faith. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3 describes God as Creator, and His Word as the basis for all of creation.  Also, while God's Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12), it is not seen as creation as seen.  Throughout the text God is seen as faithful to those described. In v16 God is described is unashamed by those who seek Him in faith as He is "preparing for them a city."
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Those mentioned explicitly and even those not not mentioned - vv33-38 - are described with their various attributes of faithfulness.  This faithfulness is described in vv13-16 as feeling more at home in God's kingdom (the eternal one) than in any earthly kingdom - "a better country...a heavenly one."   
• 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 growing comfortable in an earthly body - becoming a friend of the world.  Claim the promise that God is preparing a place for us in New Jerusalem. Follow the many examples detailed here that lived obediently to God's will through faith.  Trust and follow God. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is faithful in all things and You are saving place for me in New Jerusalem.  How awesome!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

 Numbers 1:1-19

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. Numbers 1:17-19

I've completed my study of John and start a study of Numbers, as I alternate between Old and New Testament studies.  In the text today, God organizes the people of Israel according to tribes, taking a census, and establishing leaders among the tribes as they set off from Mt Sinai into the wilderness with the promised land as their destination.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God takes a census, as He organizes the men of Israel to lead the people to the promised land.  Leaders (to assist Moses and Aaron) are named as God sets apart specific people for the roles they will play in the journey He sets before them.  Similar to Israel, all of us (speaking to believers) are on a journey heading to the promised land, and this is Heaven.  This is where our citizenship and allegiance lies and it is the home God gives us.  Earth is temporary and it and us will fade away as God's kingdom in Heaven is permanent. God puts people over us to lead us on this journey and we must faithfully follow God and the leaders He appoints over us.  This organization and unity is key if we are to function as God intends.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Each of us as believers is set apart for a specific role, whether we are a leader or not we have a function.  No one is left out nor is anyone less worthy.  See also 1 Corinthians 12 where the text describes how the church is organized of members with different spiritual gifts and how they all work together - even when one is weaker than the other. Moses, Aaron, the tribal leaders, and all of Israel has a role on our collective journey to the promised land. The leaders did as the Lord commanded (v19) so we must do as well. 
• 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 focusing on self on your journey to the promised land (Heaven) but instead seek God's will and be humble to follow those set above you to lead you. Claim the promise that God is saving a place for us in Heaven - our home.  Follow the example of those who followed leaders set above the people in Israel in the Sinai wilderness - be humble and and follow according to the role God gives you.  As we go on our journey support, encourage, pray for, and be unified with other believers.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for the leaders who faithfully serve our church and me as they lead me in my journey to the promised land.  I am not deserving of how You save and provide leaders to guide and serve me.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me understand, 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. 

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

 John 17:6-19

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. John 17:15-18

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 17:6-19, where Jesus continues with the High Priestly Prayer and the text for today, Jesus prays for the disciples.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God loves the disciples, as He loves all those who have been adopted into His family through faith, and here we see Jesus praying for the disciples.  Jesus prays for the disciples to be "[kept] in [the Father's] name" (v11), "that they may be one, even as [He and the Father] are one" (v11), "that they may have joy fulfilled in themselves" (v13), that "[the Father] keep them from the evil one" (v15), and that "they also may be sanctified in truth" (vv17,19).  These themes are critical.  Jesus emphasizes and prays for them to abide in Him (John 15:1-17), for unity among the disciples and believers, joy (in service of God and others, regardless of circumstances, including persecution - 1 Thessalonians 5:8, James 1:2-4), to be protected from Satan, and to submit to God's pruning and sanctification (John 15) as He makes us more like Him.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Believers are in the world, but not of the world (vv11,14,16).  As citizens of Heaven and God's Kingdom, our allegiance is first and foremost to Him.  We are also ambassadors sent by Him into the world (v18) to seek and save the lost just as He did.   
• 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 being a friend of the world and falling prey to the dark forces of this world.  Claim the promise that we belong to Jesus (v6) and we can never be separated from His love.  Follow the example of Jesus to abide in the Word and Him just as He followed the will of the Father and fulfilled scripture.  Love God, love others, and seek and save the lost.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - You give me Your Word and arm me to have refuge from the evil one and You sanctify me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

 John 15:18-27

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 15:18-27, where Jesus shares (and warns) with the disciples that the world will hate (and by definition and implication persecute) them on account of Him.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God's kingdom is not of this world and He opposes friends of the world, including Satan, the father of lies and deception. The world hates Jesus. Jesus fulfills scripture in the text today as He references Psalm 35:19.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: God chose us and gave us faith and adopted us into His family and kingdom.  This means our (primary) allegiance is to Him, and not to those in this world. Because believers are part of God's family, and His kingdom, we also should expect to be hated/persecuted. Those who persecute and hate Jesus and believers had an opportunity to believe because they heard and saw Jesus (either directly or through us who are image bearers of Christ) and have no excuse for their unbelief.  The Holy Spirit will help us bear witness to Jesus, even in persecution. 
• 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 becoming too comfortable with the world and worldly influences.  Claim the promise that Jesus will provide the Holy Spirit to enable us to withstand the dark forces of this world and overcome.  Follow His example of doing the Father's will despite temptations of this world to do otherwise. Share in His sufferings.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves, and give us the Holy Spirit to withstand hate and persecution.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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.

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

 John 12:20-26

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:25-26

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 12:20-26,   Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God has a purpose and a plan for His Son Jesus and the Son is obedient to the plan, including the timing.  V23 reveals Jesus' obedience to the plan and the timing.  The plan itself is for Jesus to be glorified and on this Good Friday (April 3, 2026) this includes Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection three days later on Easter Sunday. The world does not see death as glory, so Jesus has to clarify v23 and vv24-26 do that by sharing that for those who believe in Him, their lives belong to Jesus and they must reflect the Light of the Son of God and must bring glory to Him (1 Corinthians 10:31). V24 first includes a warning a warning that if we don't die to self (see also Luke 9:23, Galatians 5:24), we remain alone - implying separation from God, including eternal damnation. But, if we do die to self and live for Christ, we bear much fruit for Him.  We must lose and hate our earthly life but live for Him as citizens of Heaven and His Kingdom - and we have this promise of eternal life. We must follow the example of Jesus losing His life and gaining glory for Himself...and we will be honored by the Father.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People may not express it as the Greeks did in v20 but all have needs and seek what only Jesus can provide - victory from sin and death in this world (forgiveness) and for eternity - salvation.  We should connect people to Jesus just as Philip and Andrew did with the Greeks in vv20-23.      
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid living for ourselves.  We should claim the promises of how faith and dying to self bears fruit for Him, provides eternal life, and honor from the Father.  We should follow the example of Philip and Andrew to connect others to Jesus.  We should follow Jesus - where ever He tells us to go.  We must live for Him.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  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 he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.

John 8:21-8:30

And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. John 8:29

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 8:21-8:30, where Jesus continues to teach in the temple in Jerusalem after the Feast of Booths, and now He describes how He is from Heaven and from the Father, and this gives Him the authority to judge and condemn those who do not believe in Him.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus once again refers to soon His to be ascension to Heaven following His death on the cross and that if you don't believe in Him (as the Jews do not) they will "die in [their] sin) - v21.  In response to the Jews who think He is going to kill Himself (v22), Jesus shares that He is from above - Heaven - clarifying where He is going (to be seated at the right hand of God), and that He is not of this world (v23).  Jesus repeats the promise that if you don't believe in Him, You will die in your sins (v24) - emphasizing an important Gospel (negative) promise and warning.  In response to the Jews' continued confusion about what Jesus is saying (vv25, 27) and their questioning, Jesus shares that His message has been consistent "from the beginning" (v25).  He then goes on to share that He has much to say about the Jews and much to judge (v26) and what He has declared about them He learned from the Father, who is He is true. In v28, Jesus reinforces the point that upon His resurrection, they will know that He is from the Father and the Father has granted Him authority to share what He has been sharing (and for these words to be true). Vv29-30 pivots to a hopeful message how the Father is always with Jesus and how Jesus seeks to please the Father, and how upon Jesus saying these things "many believed in Him."             
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Jewish leaders and Pharisees don't really want to earnestly learn about Jesus, as their questions are motivated by anger and spite as they seek to do harm to Jesus (arrest and kill).  This questioning is more to trap Jesus into heresy or sin so that the Jews have a basis to condemn Jesus - which of course we know they will never have. We should strive to understand people's questions and have mercy on those who doubt (Jude 22-23). 
• 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 judging others as this is for God alone to do.  Claim the promise that Jesus is who He says is and that He is Lord and Savior.  Follow Jesus' example to please the Father. Obey the command to bring glory to Him in all that we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - 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.

And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

Mark 12:18-27

And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” Mark 12:26-27

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 12:18-27.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the third (of three) division (vv26-27):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "The Divine Power to Do What God Promises." 
• "Jesus defeats the Sadducees on their own turf, the books of Moses. The doctrine of resurrection finds Old Testament support in places like Job 19:25-27; Psalm 16:9-11; and Daniel 12:2. Jesus in grace meets the Sadducees where they are and takes them to the “burning bush” story found in Exodus 3:6. There God speaks to Moses in the present tense: “I am . . . the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Though they died physically, they are alive spiritually right now!" 
• "Further, being their God implies covenant, and it is inconceivable that the eternal God does not maintain an eternal covenant with His people, which is exactly what we find in the covenant God made first with Abraham (Genesis 12) and later with David (2 Samuel 7)."  
• The commentary then encourages us to dig deeper into the glory of Heaven which, while not possible for our earthly minds to fully comprehend, will truly be amazing!  The commentary then shares seventeen observations on Heaven, providing the below table: 

 

 

 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are amazing!  You created the Heavens and the Earth and You hold all of this in Your hands and reign with love and compassion and perfect justice!  You reached down into the pit to save me while still an enemy and hostile to You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings nor 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. 

[He] died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

1 Thessalonians 5:10, Philippians 1:21, 23, and 2 Corinthians 5:8

[He] died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

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 #40: So That We Would Be with Him Immediately After Death.  The devotion opens by making it clear that "[t]he Bible does not view our bodies as bad."  We are referred to 1 Corinthians 6:13 where Paul is clear when he writes the Lord is "for our body."  Extending his reasoning in the devotion, Piper shares that "death is an enemy," and that "we lose something precious" when we die.  At the same time, we should be clear that when we die, we gain eternity in Heaven with Christ. This is of course incredibly hopeful, building on yesterday's devotion which focused on how Christ gives us freedom over the fear of death. The devotion directs us to Philippians 1:21, 23 where the text describes the tension Paul felt between living for Christ in an earthly body vs living eternally with Christ in Heaven.  We are also directed to 2 Corinthians 5 where Paul shares how early believers looked forward to Heaven, being with Christ, and feeling more "at home."  The devotion concludes, pointing us to 1 Thessalonians 5:10 and stating that "[t]his is one of the great reasons Christ suffered" - that a believer's death brings one home to Christ.  For sake of clarity in summarizing this devotion, I omitted the devotion's discussion and references to the "in-between" state where believers who pass and are buried are merely "asleep" awaiting bodily resurrection - for more on John Piper's views on this topic, go here.  Rejoice in how Christ bring us home after death!

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

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

 Hebrews 11

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Hebrews 11:15-16a

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at saving faith, and what this means.  John Piper uses Hebrews 11, which as much as any other chapter of the Bible gives us examples of this saving faith, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites that crossed the Red Sea, and Rahab.  Hebrews 11 shares attributes of those have this saving faith, including:

• "died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth" v13
• "seeking a homeland" promised and spoken of in prophecy but not seen v14

Common to all of these attributes is a desire to be with God - to be with Him.  John Piper shares of those seeking this saving faith:  "They had been so gripped by God that nothing short of being with God would satisfy.  So, this is true saving faith: seeing the promises of God from afar, and experiencing a change of values so that you desire and seek after and trust in the promises of God above what the world has to offer."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who lives, never changes, and is always there for me - I can call on You always and I know You listen, respond, and move.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worthy nor deserving of such a God with such mercy.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

John 10

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

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

Comment and discuss this post.

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

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how God is proud of believers.  John Piper writes this devotion with a genuine desire to please God with his life and to make Him proud.  He writes how this is possible based on reasons in Hebrews 11, specifically in 11:16 where it is explicit that - referring to those in the hall of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 - God is not ashamed to be called their God. The first reason in the text is that God is proud because he has prepared for them a city.  Piper emphasizes here that God has done something for believers - He has prepared and saved a place for them in Heaven.  The second reason emphasized by Piper how God is proud is because of believers desire - that they desire a better country - Heaven.  We are urged by Piper to desire Heaven more so than anything else - more than anything the world could ever offer.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I am grateful this morning for my salvation - that You have prepared and saved a place in Heaven for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor for the place You are saving for me.  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.  

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Hebrews 13

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 13:7-14, and my unaided observations of the text. Here, the text offers a number of instructions from the author of Hebrews, including:

• Model the faithfulness of your leaders, those who have taught You from the scriptures (v7)
• Beware of false teachings, particularly those that seek to follow trends or how cultures change over time - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (v8-9a)

It is less clear the instructions with regards to food in v9b-13.

With regards to v14:

• Once again, the author of Hebrews reiterates a point previously raised that we owe an allegiance first not to an earthly kingdom or country, but to a Heavenly one.

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

He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Hebrews 11

He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. Hebrews 11:19

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 11:11-19, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines three divisions for this text:

I. The Faith of Sarah in Childbearing (11:11-12): Here, the text shares how God has providence over all life, including childbearing.  It shares: "First, there are no accidental births. Every human being is made in the image of God and comes to life because God says, “Let there be life.” Second, there are no naturalistic births. Scripture speaks of God opening the womb. God is ultimately sovereign, even over the conception of children." Referencing Genesis 21, where it is written in v1-2 that the "Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him," the commentary states "in his sovereignty, God chose a ninety-year-old woman in order to make a point about his power to fulfill his promises."

II. The Faith of Those Who Died in Faith (11:13-16): Here the text describes how those in Hebrews 11 - the "hall of faith" - only saw a foretaste of God's promises but still believed in the ultimate fulfillment of these promises.  It references both 1 Peter 1:1, 2:11 and Philippians 3:20 where both Peter and Paul write about a longing for believers true home in heaven.

III. The Faith of Abraham in Child Sacrificing (11:17-19): Here, the commentary discusses Hebrews reference to Genesis 22 and how it describes Abraham's response to God's command to sacrifice Issac as "most important and also one of the most infamous passages in all of Scripture."  It describes Abraham's obedience as he "believed God was able to raise Isaac from the dead if he was sacrificed."  It does further in describing this passage by sharing that "Issac didn’t die physically, but he did die in a figurative sense. He was taken right up to the point of death and then brought back to life. So in a sense we can say that Isaac died and was resurrected. In this way, this story and Isaac’s role in particular anticipate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our great high priest. Abraham passed God’s test because he was committed to God’s promises. He showed faith in God through his willingness to obey God’s command and sacrifice his son. He trusted God to deliver Isaac, and he may have even perceived that doing so would be the greatest display of God’s glory. That’s the story of the gospel. God has determined to save sinners and has done so in a way that brings him the greatest glory possible. This explains why God, who loves his Son to an even greater degree than Abraham loved Isaac, sent his Son to die for us."

Believers should our current life and what God has done as a foretaste of the promises we have yet to see.  While we have yet to see what God has in store for us, we have faith.

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My Prayer: Lord You are good and You have given me and all believers a foretaste of what we are ultimately promised in heaven - thank You Jesus for the faith that we have and I pray that my faith will continue - regardless of the circumstances.  Help me see the faith of those described in Hebrews as an encouragement and model for my own faith and trust in You that You are faithful.  I am not deserving of how You encourage and bless.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin towards You and overcome 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 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 as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:11-19, and my unaided observations of the text.  Continuing with text referred to as the "hall of faith," Sarah is provided as an example who had faith in the promise God gave her that she would conceive, despite her age (v11).  V12 describes how the Abrahamic Covenant, first given in Genesis 12 but more specifically given once again in Genesis 15 is referred to here in Hebrews 11, and it is described as fulfilled.  The text then pivots to how faith drives us to allegiance to our eternal home - Heaven - where our true citizenship lies.  V13-16 describes the faithful from the Old Testament as being "strangers and exiles on the earth" and as having faith in new land where God is leading them - that this land is better and there is no desire to return to the old country.  V17-19 then describes how Abraham believed in the promise of God once more when asked to sacrifice his only son Issac - an amazing verse where the author of Hebrews describes Abraham as believing that "God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back" (v19).  Believers, do not go back to your former country but instead look forward to the home and city God has prepared for us!  It will be amazing!

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus - You are good and You are saving a place for me in Heaven and it will be amazing...thank You Jesus for my salvation!  I am not deserving of such a God and for such a blessing...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.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:3

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:1-11, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines five divisions for this text - which is often referred to as the "hall of faith."

I. An Invested Assurance (11:1-3): As posted yesterday, we can endure and persevere though faith and trust in God that He has something in store for us greater than any joy we can experience in this life. The author of Hebrews gives us examples of Old Testament faith to demonstrate faith. V2 includes commendation, something believes should seek but the commentary refers us to this as "final eschatological approval—an eternal commendation instead of an eternal condemnation."  It shares that there are only two options - commendation or condemnation.  Each of the examples provided here received commendation. "They had an assurance that they invested in the promises of God. They hoped in things yet unseen, in a deliverer that had been promised but had not yet come."

II. Abel’s Faith (11:4): Abel's faith was demonstrated by a superior sacrifice - one of shedding blood, vs first fruits of the harvest as provided by his brother Cain. The commentary shares that "Abel understood that his greatest problem was that he was under divine judgment, and he needed a propitiatory sacrifice. His blood sacrifice pointed to his own sin and to his hope in God’s provision of a sacrificial Savior. This is why Abel’s sacrifice was “acceptable” to God: it was offered “by faith” in God’s promises (Gen 4:4)."

III. Enoch’s Faith (11:5-6): Enoch is only noted in scripture in Genesis 5 and here again in Hebrews but we understood that he walked with God and God "took him."  Such an inclusion offers great encouragement for those who sometimes view themselves as insignificant - God never shares these views and He is pleased anytime a believer walks with God and we never know how God will use our small faith to move mountains (see Matthew 17:20).

IV. Noah’s Faith (11:7): Noah is described by the commentary as living in reverent fear of God, as God stood in judgement of all of humanity as the flood "is the archetypal example of God’s judgment and the catastrophe of human sin." 

V. Abraham’s Faith (11:8-10): Abraham is noted for his faith as he never saw the fulfillment of those promises of fruitful land and vast descendants.  The commentary also shares the following about Abraham: "Abraham’s faith is seen in the fact that he left his home country of Haran in Mesopotamia in obedience to God, even though at the time he had no idea exactly where he was going. Of course, this may not strike us as a remarkable act of faith, but that simply proves how unfamiliar we are with the culture of the ancient Near East. The Mesopotamian world could be quite dangerous. Physical protection was often the result of being closely knit to one’s kin and community. Travel was particularly hazardous since it separated a person from his place of protection and exposed him to marauders and thieves. In this light, the fact that Abraham left Haran and traveled to a land that he did not know is indeed a remarkable act of trust in God."

The commentary wraps by summarizing how believers should live with the end in mind - seeking a better possession that we experience now. It notes: "we cannot place our ultimate satisfaction and hope in the promises and pleasures that this world has to offer. We must live by faith, recognizing that one day we will experience a joy that is greater than any joy we can know here in this life. The joys of this world are fleeting and passing. But the joys of heaven are eternal, abundant, and never-fading. If we live for those joys, we will set our affections on eternity, live meaningful lives for Christ, and endure suffering in his name as we look for the joy that awaits us in God’s heavenly city."  Amen!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me a greater possession than anything I will ever experience in this life.  Thank You for not just saving me but for saving a place for me in Heaven!  Incredible.  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 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 as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

Pausing again from my deep-dive study of Isaiah, today I listened to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which focuses on the extent to which God is proud of us. John Piper uses Hebrews 11 as the text to examine this question. The author of Hebrews (11:8-21) describes the faith of Abraham, Sarah, Issac and Jacob and Piper zeroes in on v16 where he unpacks how these faithful "died in faith", and "not having received the things promised" (v13) and how it is that "God is not ashamed to to be called their God" (v16). Core to Piper reasoning is the "before" where these faithful "desired a better country" - heaven.  We of course are not citizens, nor should our allegiance be to this earthly life, but to heaven which is our home. The more we truly believe this and long for the day when we ultimately will be at home and with Jesus (after meeting Him face to face). 

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

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7

This week marks (meeting Monday nights) the final week of my D-Group's study of Revelation for - using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide. For this week's study, we are collapsing the Epilogue (week 11) and the Summary/Conclusion (week 12) into a single week. One of questions this week asks about the divine blessing in Revelation 22:7, and what it means to "keep the words" of this book and why it may be important.  Earlier scriptures indicate that, for believers, our citizenship is in Heaven (see Philippians 3:20-21), so for me, citizens have an obligation to learn about their home.  Keeping these words also implies that I maintain confidence and assurance of what is to come - final victory over sin and death, and a world where there is no mourning, crying or pain.   

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your words are true and faithful and You give me great confidence, assurance, and peace - knowing that You are saving me a place in Heaven - in such a glorious place!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing and for my salvation.  My sin is daily and it is great.  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.  

From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe is me! For the traitors have betrayed, with betrayal the traitors have betrayed.”

Isaiah 24-25

From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe is me! For the traitors have betrayed, with betrayal the traitors have betrayed.” Isaiah 24:16

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 9, Day 1, the focus is on Isaiah 24, where we see God's judgement on the whole earth.  The scope of the judgement is clear as the word "earth" appears eighteen times in this chapter - we are to understand at least two things: (1) Sin has spread throughout the earth and all of its inhabitants, (2) God reigns over all the universe, including earth and all of its inhabitants.  Believers should keenly understand that as we are surrounded by sin on all sides, we should not seek comfort or refuge in anything earthly because earth is not our home, and ultimately we will all be in Heaven. 

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You reign and You are saving a place in Heaven for me - my true home. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God and such a blessing, among the MANY blessings You pour out for me.  I am not deserving.  I have sin...daily...and it is great.  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.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 10:19-13

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

Day 359 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - today I wrap up my study of the book of Hebrews. These closing chapters of Hebrews include encouragements and exhortations to maintain our faith and holy living, including practical ways to demonstrate our faith (i.e. hospitality).  These chapters also include the "Hall of Faith" (Hebrews 11), those in the Old Testament under the First Covenant who by faith were obedient but did not (immediately) receive what was promised. Like those in the "Hall of Faith" we too are asked to live by faith and to focus on things eternal because our home is not of this earth but in Heaven.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the creator of the universe and everything in it and You created Heaven and reserved a place for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift...the greatest gift of all time.  I sin...daily; including placing my own comfort and convenience ahead of You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

1 Corinthians 5-11

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

Day 333 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this afternoon the focus is on chapters 5-11 of Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth. Paul's teachings this afternoon include topics such as sexual immorality, divorce, singleness, and various other topics.  My focus this afternoon is to revisit a previous post on the "indigenous principle and the pilgrim principle" where I highlight the same scriptures in 1 Corinthians 10.  This post discusses peer pressure and the extent to which we are to fall prey to culture or to avoid "conforming to the patterns of this world (Romans 12).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who helps me understand Your word - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed by Your Word and its teachings...but I am undeserving of such love and blessing.  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 an 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.