“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:1-3

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. Zephaniah 1:2

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is vv1-3 and the commentary for this first division of the text vv1-18.  Here, I build on yesterday's post, complementing my own reading of the text with that of the commentary specifically for this division - excerpts from the commentary for this division:

• division title per the commentary: "The Whole Earth Will Be Destroyed"
•  "In what can be viewed as one of the more depressing prophetic books, Zephaniah attempts to awaken the people to their disobedience. In an attempt to convey the seriousness of this charge, God, speaking through Zephaniah, threatens not only to judge them, but to wipe them off the face of the earth. Not only will He wipe them off the face of the earth, He makes the claim that He will wipe every living thing off the face of the earth. This is a deep and devastating warning that Judah must heed."
• Believers and non-believers alike are warned to not take this admonition lightly, and to take it seriously even today, that our sin DOES have consequences and we are to live in reverent fear of God as He is in control and it is only through His grace that we have breath and life. 
• We are warned not to turn earthly comforts and success into idols; instead we should seek to please God - this is why we exist.
  
•  We are referred to scripture that describes how we must choose God over false images of Him; see also Matthew 6:24 and Joshua 24:15.
• "While we often do not like to speak of God’s anger, we cannot study Zephaniah with integrity and not recognize that God is not just a little displeased; no, He is very angry, and His anger has very real and dangerous implications." Ultimately the book of Zephaniah will show a powerful portrait of God's grace but this grace only comes into sharp focus in light of our own sin as demonstrated by Judah. 

Repent and turn to Jesus - Our Creator and the Living God!
 

Comment and discuss this post.

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

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.”

Numbers 27,32-35, Deuteronomy 4:41-43

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” Numbers 27:12-14

Day 44 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the selection of Joshua by the Lord to succeed Moses as leader of Israel, and in preparation for battle to secure and settle in the Promised Land, God orders complete destruction of the inhabitants of the land.  He also gives detailed instructions regarding the borders of the land, as well as assignment of leaders by tribe to assist in the allocation of the land.

Prominent in today's scripture are the consequences of sin experienced by Moses who has otherwise been a faithful servant of God.  God may forgive our sin but this does not mean we get to avoid the consequences of sin - of course this is in God's hands as He is Judge and His justice is perfect.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose justice is perfect - I am grateful for how You have exercised compassion and mercy in my life and grateful as well for the discipline I've received as well - Your justice is perfect.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God - Abba - as You.  I sin...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 Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 1-3

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. v21-24

Having long desired to do so, I began a chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith).

Of note from my reading this morning - consequences of sin include:

• sin produces shame* - see Genesis 3:6-7 for Adam and Eve's shame of their nakedness.
• sin produces fear* - see Genesis 3:8-10 where Adam and Eve hide from God in fear of punishment.
• sin produces blame* - see Genesis 3:11-13 where Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent.

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

None of these consequences are good for us and of course sin separates us from God.  But as believers we know that God sent His Son Jesus for us because He loves us and does not want us to be without Him.  We get a glimpse of God's abounding love and grace in Genesis 3:21 where He clothes Adam and Eve and while He does banish them from the Garden of Eden, He spares their lives.  God is good indeed.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good indeed!  I know You are good and You have poured out blessings on me well beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I 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.

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

John 5

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” v14

Clearly, Jesus' healing of the man at the pool is yet another remarkable example of Jesus' compassion and love for all - and of course a miracle.  The most striking thing about this story is Jesus' reaction to the man when He sees the man later at the temple after healing him.  Jesus warns the man to stop sinning.

We must avoid sin - including sins of omission and commission (more on this distinction here).

MacArthur writes that Jesus' warns us not just about the "inevitable [eternal] consequences of sin" (Galatians 6:7-8) but that we also face consequences during our earthly life. "Although not all disease is a consequence of sin (John 9:1-3, Luke 13:1-5), illness at times may be directly tied into one's moral condition (1 Corinthians 11:29, James 5:15)."  

Before we read too much into whether our own current predicaments are the result of sin or not, we must above all know that God loves each of us and He desires a relationship with us.  Sometimes God brings us to a place where we have nowhere else to go but to Him before we surrender our lives to Him.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I have seen You with me in all times - including during times of great difficulty.  Thank You for always loving me and for always being with me.  I am undeserving of such a God.  I worry, and I have other sin.  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, apply, and be obedient to Your message today and every day.

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

Joel 3

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. v2

God punished Judah for turning away from Him (see chapter 1-2) as an example of how we all face consequences for our sin.  While we are held accountable for our actions, it is not our role to judge others in their own sin.  Judah's neighbors were certainly not innocent - see v2-3,5 - but it is God's role to judge others.

Do not judge.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2

...

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13

...

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

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

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.

Hosea 3

For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or household gods. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days. v4-5

All of us sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and turn to other Gods from time to time.  Yet we have a God who welcomes us back with open arms – we must first repent and ask for His forgiveness.  God is full of grace and mercy and He will forgive us.  However, even though God forgives us, we will all be held accountable for our actions – either in this life or on the Day of Judgement when we die or when Jesus returns. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace, mercy and second chances – You forgive even though I am undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving of such forgiveness.  I worry.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such 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.  Please 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 I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Daniel 4

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. v37

In my previous post, we saw Nebuchadnezzar begin to recognize the true nature of God as the God who reigns over all.  Today we see Nebuchadnezzar greatly humbled and he makes continued progress towards seeing God for who He truly is.

In verse 27, Daniel interprets a new dream from the king and encourages him to repent, humble himself before God, and to be kind to the oppressed.  Yet we don't see this (verse 28) and Daniel's interpretation of the dream (v19-26) comes to pass and Nebuchadnezzar becomes a beast of the field.  John Piper's team discusses here the arrogance that can lead many of us to be transformed into a beast.  Piper's team writes: ..."we won’t be that impressed with our salvation until we're thoroughly disgusted by the perversion we're saved from".   It's likely Nebuchadnezzar begins to reach this point and in v34-36 he is restored to his throne and offers worship of God.  John Piper does not believe however that Nebuchadnezzar becomes a true convert.

I am left with how destruction awaits us (either now in this life or at the end of our live on judgement day) if we fail to heed God's words for us or if we refuse to submit to Him as our Lord and Savior.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who defeated the sting of sin and death for us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am often arrogant.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash.

2 Chronicles 24

Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash. v24

We have no control over when and where God dispenses His grace. Our salvation is by grace alone:


For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

While Jehoiada the priest was alive, "Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (v2).  However, after Jehoiada dies, Joash demonstrates wickedness by conspiring against Jehoiada's son
Zechariah and Joash was killed in his bed (v21-25).

Yet the question for all believers is: how is Joash's faith any different then our faith and what makes Joash any less deserving of grace.  From time to time, even Ahab experienced God's grace.  On a daily basis, we all sin.  

Repentance is key - and unfortunately we don't see any mention of Joash's repentance.

Keep in mind that just because we repent does not mean we escape the consequences of our sin (see also post here) - it just means that we are sealed for eternity in Heaven with Him.  See also Luke 23:39-43.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who is rich in grace, compassion, and mercy.  I am not deserving of such grace, compassion and mercy.  I worry - far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  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 they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”

2 Chronicles 12

“Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.” v7-8

God is so full of grace and compassion - slow to anger and abounding in love.

As a follow up to yesterday's post, we all sin and are in need of a savior.   Time and time again His children (including ourselves) have sinned but God - through His Son - gives us an opportunity to repent from our sin.

However, we must remember that we are not free from the consequences of sin - which does not escape Israel in these verses.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God, full of love and compassion, and slow to anger and abounding in love....for me and all of Your children.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry...alot!  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 do.  Help me have peace in confidence through You.  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.

She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.

2 Samuel 12

She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. v24-25

Through Nathan, the Lord strongly rebukes David.  Yet, at the same time God is full of grace. 

Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. v13

Within this grace - David does not escape consequences.

But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”  v14

Yet within the consequences, we can see God at work - in v24-25, David and Bathsheba have a son, Solomon, and this son is loved by the Lord and will go on and do great things for the Lord.

This chapter is a great example of God's perfect justice.

We are forgiven - yet we don't escape consequences for our sin.  God gives us grace - which we don't deserve, and we don't get what we do deserve.  And God redeems us and our sin for His glory - as He is able to take a broken and sinful world and use it for His purposes.  We cannot fully understand how God works (Isaiah 55:8), yet we can come to understand and appreciate God as perfect in all ways.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God, full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of such compassion because I often fail to show compassion to others. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses for them.  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.

Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.

Judges 9

Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. v56-57

Sin separates us from God - and we face other consequences...not only in this world but also in Heaven when we meet Jesus face to face.

We should all be thankful that we have Jesus Christ who provides reconciliation to God through the cross.

God does not want us to be without Him - just like He did for Adam and Eve, He provides second chances (although not always).

Although we have these second chances, God wants us to repent which means to turn to Him and away from sin.  This means growing in our relationship with Him.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God[.] Hebrews 6:1

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me - slow to anger and abounding in love...indeed!  I am grateful for the second chances You provide through Your Son.  Yet I am undeserving as my worry continues.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did. The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.

Judges 2

I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.  The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua. v22-23

Bad things happen in the world because of sin; since the Fall, we no longer live in perfect unity with God.  However, God sent his Son so that we may reconciled to God. As is the case here with the Israelites, God either causes or allows things to happen for his purpose. 

We must all be aware for what God is doing in our lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has refined me, trained me and made me more like You.  Thank You Jesus - it has not been a straight path or an easy one but You have always been with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such God - I often neglect You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

Joshua 7

Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. v25-26

Achan disobeyed Joshua's instructions - relayed from God - to handover all plunder from Jericho to the treasury (see Joshua 6:18-19). What is important here is how both Rahab are in focus and in contrast to one another - Rahab's family is spared for working on behalf of the Lord and Achan is not because of his sin.  God wants us to know how he rewards faithfulness to Him while He also wants us to know how there are consequences from sin.  Throughout scripture we see the impact of sin:

The Fall
The Flood
Sodom and Gomorrah
David
Solomon
Ananias and Sapphira

Sin ALWAYS has consequences.  It is important for us to remember this.  When we know that sin always has consequences, we can better appreciate what Jesus has done for us.  

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are a God full of compassion and patience and grace - my sin continues yet I know You died for me so that I would not be a slave to my sin and so I could have eternal life with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift.  I am lazy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Numbers 20

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” v12

Moses was indeed a righteous man (see also Deuteronomy 34) but he as not perfect.  In fact, he was a murderer, arrogant, etc.  But God molded Moses into the servant of God Moses needed to be according to God's plan.  Yet even as God's servant from time to time, Moses fell short - as we all do.

We must remember that sins do not go unpunished and that our arrogance and lack of trust in God has a price - as it did for Moses.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of forgiveness and compassion - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love. I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of cancer.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

Jude 1

Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them. v10

This is of course a warning for all believers and it is just as relevant today as it was when Jude penned this letter.  The patterns of this world (Romans 12:2) lead to sin and destruction and we to easily fall into these patterns when we don't understand the character of God and his design and plans for us.  We need to draw close to God so that He can protect us! 

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

See also scripture in Jeremiah, etc. here . 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and only You can protect me from the sin of this world and how this WILL destroy me if I am left on my own.  I have felt the power of Your hand in my life and want it daily, every day...please help me Jesus!  Thank You for Your many blessings Jesus but please forgive me for my harshness with my family!  Help me please!  Please help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 10

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. v19-22

Key for me in these verses is that we should have confidence in Jesus that He can save us both from being slave to sin (and shame) and from death itself.  One thing that stands out is that while we may avoid a guilty conscience, we do not escape consequences of sin either here on Earth or in Heaven. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have once and for all freed me from being slave to sin and You give me eternal life - what amazing gifts these are!  I am not worth such gifts!  I am lazy, harsh with my thoughts, words, and actions, and I am weak - easily distracted.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me have the peace and strength that comes with complete confidence to approach You and believe in You. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, energy, comfort, and freedom from pain - please heal her of this cancer and help her feel better today!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.