For [the manslayer] must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.

Numbers 35:9-34

For [the manslayer] must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. Numbers 35:28

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 35:9-34 - God spoke to Moses and gave him commands to pass on to the people to create cities of refuge for those who kill without intent.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God looks at the heart - at one's intent (v11).  See also 1 Samuel 13:14 and 16:7 where the LORD speaks to Samuel when he is searching among Jesse's sons to anoint a new king to replace Solomon.  God exhorts Samuel to examine David's heart.  Our heart condition matters.  Our heart condition works both ways, including sins of omission - we may not have had intent but we sin nonetheless - as this is our sinful nature since the Fall (Genesis 3).  Paul describes this spiritual struggle in Romans 7:15-20.  For the manslayer who has safety in a city of refuge, note how the manslayer must remain within the boundaries of the city of refuge - v28.  This seems to be an encouragement to abide in God, to remain in fellowship with Him because He is our refuge - see also Psalm 9:9-10, 46:1, 91:1–2.  God is also fair - as He allows for deliberate judgement, including witness corroboration (vv12, 30).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We are inclined to judge and seek vengeance on our own terms - yet God alone is the judge and we can rest in how all will be held accountable for their life and deeds. God knows this hence he created cities of refuge.  
• 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 judgement and vengeance - this is for God.  Claim and rest in the promise that on Judgement Day all will be held accountable for their lives and deeds and nothing is hidden.  Follow the example of Paul who recognized his internal spiritual struggle to do good, and sought to remain in Him for Him to live in His heart.  Abide in Him and seek God as your refuge. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who saves and who is my refuge during times of trouble.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of who You save and protect.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from 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 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.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites."

 Numbers 28-31

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites." Numbers  31:1-2

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 28-31 - where, given the wide range of text, we see God's instructions to Moses and the people for daily, Sabbath, monthly Passover, feast offerings, instructions for how to handle vows, and instructions to Moses and the people to take vengeance on Midian.  The focus of my time this morning is God's vengeance on Midian.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God seeks for Israel (and all believers) to avoid sinful influences as He is jealous for Himself and His glory.  Numbers 25 describes how Israel "whore[d] with the daughters of Moab" and Midian, and yoked themselves to the pagan god Baal (Numbers 25:1-6).  God punished those who allowed themselves to be lured away from God into sin - see also Numbers 25:7-8.  In Numbers 25:16-18, we see how God instructed Moses and the people to harass and strike down Midian for how they "beguiled" Israel.  In chapter 31, we see God take His vengeance.  Once again, when God speaks that something will be done, we can be assured that it will be done as He is faithful.     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: When we see evil and sin in the world, many are tempted to take vengeance and punishment into their own hands.  God is clear that we are not to do this as vengeance is His alone - see Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:17-19.  God will hold all - believers and non-believers alike - accountable for their deeds and sin.  In Romans specifically, God's Word shares how we are to live "peaceably" with others, including with those who hurt and persecute us - see also Matthew 5:43-48. 
• 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 taking vengeance on others - this belongs to the LORD.  Claim the promise that all are held accountable for their deeds upon judgement day and rest in this promise. Follow the example of Jesus who loves and prays for everyone including those who betray Him such as Peter.  Love and pray for those who persecute you.  

Comment and discuss this post

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

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

 Malachi 4:1-6

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

I continue my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books. This morning I start a focus on an unassisted review of Malachi 4:1-6.  Here, the message from Malachi builds on God's warning for those who do not fear Him (see post yesterday). V1 describes this ominous warning: "the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." For those who fear God, vv2-3 offers hope and also shares how they will see justice for the wicked.  We can take comfort that God knows all of our deeds, including our sin and the sin of those evildoers and wicked people who do not fear God.  We may feel that we languish in obscurity, faithfully straining to be obedient to God's Word and to fear, love and please Him.  Yet God sees our faithfulness while also seeing wickedness - believers will be rewarded and the evildoers and wicked will suffer in eternal damnation (Hell). V4 reminds us to hold fast to God's Word and for obedience to His Word.  See also Hebrews 12:1-2.  Vv5-6 shares how God will send Elijah before Judgement Day and how there will be an opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord before final judgement is rendered.  Believers hold fast to the faith!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who reigns and sees all - including my sin, my obedience, and the sin of the wicked and those who do not fear You.  You have saved me from eternal destruction and You will deliver justice perfectly.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  I am not deserving of how You 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.

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

 Malachi 3:13-18

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.  “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. Malachi 3:16-18

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books. This morning my focus is an unassisted review of Malachi 3:13-18.  Here, Malachi records God's message to Israel portrayed as God's response to two of His own rhetorical questions where He rightly judges Israel for "speaking against Him" and for doubting "the profit of keeping His charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of Hosts" in v13-15.  V15 describes how God repeats back the thoughts among the faithful who don't see God's justice, even among the nation of Israel itself as they see "the arrogant blessed," and "evildoers [who] prosper [despite how] they put God to the test and...escape."  The good news in the text, starting in v16, is how "those who feared the Lord spoke with one another," and the implication is that at least some of them confessed and repented of their sin as "the Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed His name."  In v17, God makes another of His awesome promises for those who fear the Lord that "they shall be mine, [and] spare[d from eternal damnation]." The text for today ends with an ominous prophecy and warning where God shares another promise that there will be a day - Judgement Day - when all will be held accountable for their deeds, the wicked will be held condemned and the righteous will be spared (based on this book of remembrance).  See also this post from DesiringGod.com.  Believers of today should take note of how we can easily be rightly accused of the same sins of Israel from the book of Malachi.  Confess and repent of these sins and turn towards the Lord.  Non-believers should also take note and seek a God full of grace and mercy who saves - Jesus Christ.  Come to Him and be saved!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are a righteous God whose justice is perfect and who's grace and compassion is incredible.  I am undeserving of my salvation, nor any of the blessings You pour out for me - the grace and mercies that never stop.  Thank You Jesus!  But, again, 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.     

The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him[.]

Zechariah 12

The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him[.] Zechariah 12:1

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 12:1, which the commentary outlines as the first of three divisions for the text 12:1-13:1 (12:1, 12:2-9, 12:10-13:1).  Here, the commentary portends the text in the second and third divisions as prophecy of Jesus' second coming, which interestingly enough is - per the commentary - prophesied more often in the Old Testament than the New Testament.  With v1, the commentary describes how the text serves as a "foundation for everything that God calls His people to be and do rests in the fact that God made us....He has the sovereign and absolute right to rule over us and even to judge us."  In the New Testament, Colossians 1:15-17 shares how God reigns in all things.  Revelation 20:12-15 shares how all will be judged according to their deeds and if we are not saved and in the book of life we will be eternally damned. We are encouraged to be reminded that we are accountable to God - and to live in reverent fear of Him - see also this post from John Piper here.  

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My Prayer: Father God, what an amazing God You are that You saved me - You made and formed me, and You know everything about me, including my sin.  You saved me in spite of my sin and how I was hostile to You and an enemy of You.  Thank You Jesus for Your amazing grace.  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.

I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.

Zephaniah 1:14-17

I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Zephaniah 1:17

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my study focus is an commentary-assisted review of the fifth division per my commentary: vv14-17. Excerpts from the commentary:

• "In a series of declarations that are among the most discouraging and accusatory in all of Scripture, God’s condemnation of His people gets more ominous."
• "God is crushing His people because He desires them to repent and return to Him. He understands that they love other things more than they love Him, so He systematically begins to eliminate the things that they love, and even their own lives, in an attempt to capture their attention and to see their affections pointed in His direction. His wrath, then, is an act of love, intended to accomplish the best for His children."
• The commentary quotes John Piper's book Desiring God: "The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God."
• The commentary then shares three attributes or characteristics of God's justice displayed in the text: (a) imminence: God's words are intended to provoke an immediate response of repentance, (b) intensity: God's coming judgement will be beyond what one can imagine - harsh and terrifying, (c) iniquity: God's judgement is in response to sin.  "While [Judah's] sin has kept them from God and brought them face-to-face with God’s judgment, some, if not all, of this could be averted if they would simply repent and obey." 
  

Earlier in the commentary, a portrait of parenting is used and this is apt - there are times when God needs to immediately get our attention as a means for us to understand who is in charge (He is!) and what He expects - our obedience.  The good news is that God is a loving God and He provides beyond anyone's wild imagination and He saves!  Turn from your sin and believe in Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the life You provide is to the full now and for eternity in Heaven with You and all the saints - amazing.  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 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.

The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.

Zephaniah 1:14-17

The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. Zephaniah 1:14

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my study focus is an unassisted review of the fifth division per my commentary: vv14-17.  Here Zephaniah, continues to warn all those in Jerusalem, and in particular those in Judah who have pursued foreign gods (vv4-5, 8-9), not inquired of the One True God (v6), and have become complacent or neutral about God (v12).  Zephaniah warns them about God's coming judgement and how this judgement or God's wrath will be soon and it will be terrifying.  This is a terrible thing to happen to anyone - hence Jude writes how believers should have mercy on those who doubt (Jude 1:22) by sharing the gospel with them with the hope that they can repent, believe and be saved.  Matthew 24 provides Jesus' warning about judgement day and exhorts believers to be ready.  We should not procrastinate in our faith.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is saving a place for me in Heaven and this provides great comfort to me as I know when You return it will be a terrifying day for those who do not believe.  I am not deserving of 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.

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.

Zephaniah 1:7

Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. Zephaniah 1:7

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my study focus is a commentary-assisted review of the third division per my commentary: v7. Excerpts from the commentary:

• "The Day of the Lord is a reference to the coming judgment of God. While we find it mentioned a number of times throughout Scripture, Zephaniah is more uniquely focused on it than any other biblical book."
• "The Israelites were guilty of disobeying God, and because of their disobedience, God was clarifying through Zephaniah that a reckoning is coming. There is no one, regardless of class, status, or birth order, who can avoid God’s judgment. This would have been difficult for Zephaniah’s hearers to understand, as those who were part of God’s chosen people might have assumed some sense of protection from God’s wrath. Instead, God puts them on notice that no one can escape the coming judgment. The intent of the declaration, as we will see at the end of the book, is not to terrify them into cowering before God. It is not to punish them for what they have done. God is not lashing out in uncontrolled anger or sadistically dispensing judgment. This reminder of the coming day of judgment was intended to provoke them to remember their place as His chosen ones and to repent and return to faithful obedience. He compels them in this manner because He understands that life is lived most fully and completely when one is living in harmony with God."
• While it is inevitable that some will not, we are encouraged to be obedient to heed God's warning of a coming judgement and take refuge in the salvation that only Jesus provides.  This refuge not only provides life for eternity with Jesus in Heaven, but also life to the full now with the Holy Spirit in our hearts working to mold us into more of His image (sanctification) until we are fully glorified on that day when either Jesus returns or He calls us home.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of grace, mercy and compassion.  Your mercies are new every day and they never cease.  You also save and are saving a place for me in Heaven and I can rest in the promises that You make to me as a believer.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I return briefly (for one day) to my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is the concluding division from the concluding chapter in the commentary that explores 12:9-14, which are the last five verses of Ecclesiastes.  The commentary's final chapter is entitled The Preacher on Preaching (Wisdom from a Wise Wordsmith), and this third and final division discussed in this commentary chapter covers Ecclesiastes 12:11, 13-14 and is entitled Exhortation. As the broad theme of this chapter (see also post here) is about how pastors should carefully and fearfully fulfill their role in teaching scripture, the commentary for this division refers us to Luke 24:44 where Jesus "teaches us in Luke 24 that all of Scripture is about Him—all of it. That includes the book of Ecclesiastes[.]"  We are also referred to Tim Keller where he discusses in more detail how the whole Bible points to Jesus.  We are encouraged to dig deeper into scripture to see how Jesus is in all of scripture and the redemptive story of the Gospel.  The text and commentary end with a warning to be obedient and holy as "Solomon tells us a day of reckoning is coming. It will be comprehensive and detailed in scope. Every thought and every action will be exposed to the searchlight of God’s judgment. Not one thing will escape. Not one person will escape." Surrender to God and be ready!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of love and grace for me - making me one of Your elect and helping me prepare for Your return.  Thank You Jesus for Your Word as a means to direct my steps and of course for my salvation!  I am not deserving of such gifts and 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 continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 3

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 3:19

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 3:18-22, which is the second division of the commentary chapter titled Politics and Justice Are Meaningless without Jesus (covering Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3, and 5:8-9). The commentary describes how Solomon reflects on how we - collectively as humanity - treat one another as beasts:  "[E]ven though we have moral sensibilities, we treat one another like animals. We deal with one another in the most disgusting ways imaginable. From Hitler to Stalin to Polpot and the Khmer Rouge killing fields, we see barbaric acts that humans commit against other humans. My first mission trip was to Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge wiped out so much of the population. As we walked over the killing fields with the missionaries, they showed us trees where babies were bashed to death. The barbarism was sickening. That is Solomon’s point. Wickedness increases, and like the days of the flood where both animals and humans died, judgment is needed!" The commentary then highlights how God created man in Genesis 1 to have dominion over the beasts, yet we became like the beasts in how we treat one another. The commentary goes further sharing how beasts are described throughout scripture, including how "evil nations...attack Israel (see Psalm 80:13, Daniel 7:3)," and how "the antichrist and the false prophet  are called beasts (see also Revelation 13)." As the commentary winds down for this division, it explores vv19-21 more closely by sharing that while we have certainty of our own death, we have less certainty what happens after death: "[s]ince we do not know what happens beyond this life, we have to rely on the eternal God who put eternity in our hearts. We are told to enjoy His gifts while we can. Ecclesiastes 3 ends with another carpe diem passage that tells us to live life to the fullest. Ecclesiastes does not deny the afterlife, but it does commend us to take death seriously. Just as the psalmist tells us to number our days (Psalm 90:10-12), Ecclesiastes says that life is short and we need to make the most of it (Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 305)." Making the most of our lives must include loving God and loving others as He intends - the two most important commandments!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me hope in this life and hope that You are saving me a place in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me, bless me, save me, and seal me so that no one can take from You.  Thank You - but again I am not deserving...not at all.  Please forgive me for my sin that is great and daily.  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.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

 2 Thessalonians 2

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I continue my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church - today I start with week 2 which looks at 2 Thessalonians 2 and the memory verse remains Titus 2:11-12. Here, Paul builds on his discussion of the second coming of Christ to describe how Satan plays a role now and during the second coming.  Paul seeks to encourage the Thessalonians by sharing glimpses of end times so that they will know it when it does come and not be frightening - as it will be frightening indeed for those who have spurned Christ.  In vv1-2 Paul warns the church of false teachers who claim that the second coming has already arrived.  Paul then shares in vv3-9 in more details how God is restraining Satan now but during the second coming, Satan will no longer be restrained as Christ prepares for battle when Satan will be destroyed forever. Vv10-12 serves as a strong warning for those who do not repent of their sins and surrender to Christ as their Lord and Savior.  In vv13-16 Paul offers tremendous encouragement to believers to stand firm waiting for the second coming.  Believers take heart and be encouraged!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God who comforts and encourages me in this life by sharing Your plan for the ultimate defeat of sin-forever.  Thank You for Your Word for giving me confidence about what awaits and for power and protection now to battle against sin.  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please 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.

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

2 Thessalonians 1

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, I my focus is 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12, assisted by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series volume for 1-2 Thessalonians unpack the text. 

For this text, the commentary's: 

• Title: When God Balances the Books 
  
• Main idea:  "When Jesus is revealed from heaven, He will bring relief to those who love Him and retribution to those who reject Him."
• Introduction (excerpts): God's people [almost certainly true of Thessalonians] often struggle to understand "the pain, affliction, and suffering that is often associated with following Christ. God’s people have always desired to know “how long” until God would bring an end to such injustice, to right all wrongs, and to judge those who harm His followers."  We are referred to Habakkuk 1:2-3 and Psalm 13:1-4 for scriptural examples where God's people demonstrate this struggle.  Luke 12:2-8 is also provided as it shares how "God is not offended by such questions. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that He told us to ask them."
  

Divisions provided by the commentary:

1. The Hopeful Future of Those Who Are Faithful (1:6-7, 10-12): "One of the most difficult things to do when walking through painful times is to keep the proper perspective. A loss of perspective is almost always followed by a loss of purpose. When our mind becomes fixed on what we don’t like about our circumstances, we will invariably fail to consider what God may be doing in our circumstances."  Believers are encouraged to draw near to God and remain near to God through spiritual disciplines and faith - we are referred to Isaiah 46:9-10 as the commentary provides this text for us to maintain a Godly perspective on our circumstances - to look towards the eternal for hope, rest, and rewards. Paul is seeking to do this for the Thessalonians as they face persecutions and affliction.  The commentary also points to the text and how it seeks for us to maintain a Godly perspective in our prayer lives.  God knows all of our needs and He provides - such prayers for temporal circumstances are "not sinful." However, "Jesus expects that our prayers will be focused on much more significant matters like glorifying His Name, expanding His kingdom, and accomplishing His will (Matthew 6:9-13, 32-33). We must learn to view the temporary things through the lenses of God’s eternal plans." The commentary also shares how Paul pivots from an encouragement that comes from having a Godly eternal perspective on our daily lives to a reminder in v11 that as we wait for Christ's second coming, there is more work to do, and that we focus on God's glory in all that we do.
   
2. The Fateful Future of Those Who Do Evil (1:6, 8-9): Here of course, we are reminded of the harsh punishment that awaits those who deny God and who are the source of persecution and affliction.  Believers should not worry about justice - God's justice is perfect.
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  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 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 who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

1 Corinthians 3

He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 1 Corinthians 3:8

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 3:5-17.  The introduction of the commentary* for today's text shares the following main point: "God uses his servants to build the church and will judge the quality of each person’s work, but he is responsible for the church’s growth." It continues to describe how the text seeks to ensure all believers are properly focused on loving and serving God in preparation for Judgement Day.

The commentary* then outlines how the text includes "three pictures to describe the church of God" and how the text uses each in three divisions:

1. The Church Is God’s Field (3:5-9): Paul seeks to address the politics and conflict within the church at Corinth by explaining that neither himself, Apollos or Cephas (see also 1 Corinthians 3:22) are to be exalted as they are merely servants of Christ doing what God called them to do. The workers are not rivals but teammates working towards the same goal - glory to God.  The commentary* also explains that "how we serve matters. What we do and why we do it matter."  It makes a point to ensure we don't miss v8b and how Paul reminds us that "each will receive his wages according to his labor." Using the farming analogy, Paul then moves to share how even though God's workers - whoever they may be - plant and water the field, it is God alone that gives the growth. We are referred to John 4:34-38 where God is the Lord of the harvest. The commentary* for this division concludes with an admonishment: "[e]xalting a person to divine status is idolatry and robs God of the glory that rightly belongs only to him. Thank him for the service of his servants, but praise him for the growth in his field that only he can give." 
2. The Church Is God’s Building (3:9-15): The commentary* highlights how the text moves from a farming analogy to an architectural one where "[t]he church of the Lord Jesus is his field in which he sends his servants and coworkers to plant, water, cultivate, and reap a harvest. It is also his “building” (v9) where he sends his “skilled master builder” (v10) and other laborers and workers to build with materials of excellence that will withstand the purifying fires of revelation on “the day” of judgment (v13)[.]" We are reminded that Christ is the foundation and the members of the church are to work together to build upon that foundation.  The commentary writes: "[w]e work with good motives, methods, and goals. How we work in and for the church matters. Why we work in and for the church matters."  We cannot forget that Christ is the foundation of the church. The commentary* digs deeper into how Paul encourages Corinth to build on Christ's foundation carefully, using quality materials and methods.   It warns us against efforts that produce little value, particularly in light of how our efforts - all of us - will be judged according to our labor and the quality of our work.  The commentary* provides several key points about this judgement, including (a) this is a judgement of service, not salvation, (b) this judgement involves the quality of our work, not its quantity, (c) this judgement will evaluate both actions and motives. 
   
3. The Church Is God’s Temple (3:16-17): Paul's final division for the text extends the use of a building as a metaphor by referring to the church as God's temple. The commentary* shares four observations made by Paul about the church: (a) we (the church) are His sanctuary, (b) we have His spirit, (c) we are special, and (d) we are sacred.  The commentary* writes about how we are His sanctuary: "[w]hat an amazing statement of their identity in Christ and their status before God."  It writes about how we have His Spirit: "[t]he sovereign God of the universe now dwells in a small, insignificant people called the church." Regarding how the church is special, the commentary* writes how Paul warns the church (v17) to treat God's temple with respect and to avoid the many things that reflect poorly on the church: "[a] focus on entertainment, false conversions, preaching a watered-down gospel, spending resources on fancy programs or impressive buildings, weak preaching, acceptance of gossip and materialism, lack of prayer, loss of missions and evangelistic passion, and much more will drain a local church of its life." The warning here to not destroy the church is a grave one - we are referred to Galatians 1:8-9. Paul's words in this division conclude as described by the commentary* by emphasizing how the church is holy and set apart and this includes both privileges and responsibilities...and God will hold the church accountable for how we do.
   

 The commentary* concludes for the text today by quoting Andy Davis' book The Glory Now Revealed: What We'll Discover About God in Heaven and how it lists ten kinds of good works we should pursue:

1. Anything done for the glory of God (even simple daily tasks; 1 Cor 10:31) 
2. Humble servant-hood (Matthew 20:26-28) 
3. Sacrificial giving (2 Samuel 24:24; Luke 21:3; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7) 
4. Suffering for the kingdom (Matthew 5:11-12) 
5. Advancing the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:19) 
6. Giving to the poor (Luke 14:12-14) 
7. Secret acts of piety—fasting and prayer (Matthew 6:6,18) 
8. Anything done to help those advancing the gospel (Matthew 10:42) 
9. Anything done to help other Christians in any way (Hebrews 6:10) 
10. An honorable life of hard work (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace for me in SO many ways - thank You for the love and grace You pour out for me.  I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

Hebrews 12

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. Hebrews 12:25

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 12:25-29, 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. He Who Speaks and Warns (12:25): The commentary describes, and it is important for believers to constantly remind themselves of this, how the gospel is not just an offer but a command: "[i]t is presented as an ultimatum, as something to be either received or rejected." For those that reject the gospel, they face eternal condemnation - Jesus will return as He promises and His wrath against those who reject Him will be terrifying!

II. All That Remains (12:26-27): The commentary shares how the author of Hebrews in this text refers back to Exodus 19:18, Judges 5:5, and Haggai 2:2-9 as these passages describe how the earth shook on Mount Sinai and how God will once again shake the earth but also the heavens and all of creation - and only God's elect will remain in New Jerusalem.

III. An Unshakable Kingdom and Its Holy King (12:28-29): The commentary focuses on how the author of Hebrews ends the text to encourage believers to be grateful for the amazing grace and abounding love of God and for believers to remain serious about their faith and reverent towards God - not flippant nor haphazard. We are also referred to Romans 12:1 where Paul appeals to believers to offer themselves as a "living sacrifice."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God who saves because of Your amazing grace and abounding love - even for those who are broken and sinful as I am.  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.

[A]ll who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Revelation 13

[A]ll who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13:8

This morning, I pause in my study of Daniel, to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which helps clarify for believers the role of the books (multiple) described in Revelation.  Salvation is of course sealed if you are in the Book of Life as defined in Revelation 20:12,15 (see also this video).  While a more complete understanding of the plural or reference to multiple books used on Judgement Day, at this point, I can surmise there is a (1) a Book of Life, and (2) a Book of Deeds.  John Piper describes the latter (referred to as "the books" as follows: "The answer is that the books, which record our deeds, contain enough evidence of our belonging to Christ that they function as a public confirmation of our faith and our union with Christ." There is also an inference here in this last statement that the Book of Deeds also confirms the lack of faith and union for those NOT in the book of life.  Of course our salvation is a gift from God, not of our own doing or works and we MUST remember this and worship God for His unbelievable and amazing grace.  See also Ephesians 1:4-6 and 2:8-9. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace, mercy and compassion for me - providing for my salvation....and I know 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.

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

Isaiah 61-63

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. Isaiah 63:7

I resume my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  My study of Isaiah moves on to day 5 (of 5) of week 22, which looks at Isaiah 61-63.  Day 5 focuses on a more detailed examination of how Isaiah 63 depicts judgement day.  My study includes comparisons of Isaiah 63 to Isaiah 61:2, 59:15-16, Joel 3:9-17, Zechariah 14:1-19, Revelation 14:14-20, and 19:11-16.  My study urges me, and all believers to live a holy, Godly life, maintaining faith and trust in God as I prepare for judgement day.  Isaiah 63:7 helps in this regard by constantly reminding myself of all the blessings God has poured out for me - and His steadfast love and compassion. My study also refers me to 2 Peter 3:11-12 as preparation for judgement day:

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father Jesus, You are an amazing God and You are judge and justice - and Your justice is perfect and You are perfect in all of Your ways.  We cannot fully appreciate Your ways and thoughts and know as we live an earthly life, but we can rest knowing that You alone are our refuge, now and forevermore!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love, grace, and compassion.  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.  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 I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Revelation 20

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:12

I continue my D-Group's study of Revelation using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide - moving along with week 9, and my look at Revelation 20:1-15. The reference to "the dead, great and small" implies a comprehensiveness of humanity across all of redemptive history and how God authored the "book of life" before the foundation of the world - see also Daniel 7:10, Romans 2:6-11, and Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8.  We must all be ready, as we don't the day or the hour of our own death or Christ's return, we will all be judged, and God offers salvation for those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is saving a place in Heaven for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such amazing grace!  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. 

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Revelation 20

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. Revelation 20:12

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how all believers are to be judged upon Jesus' second coming or on judgement day - either one of us will be face one or the other without fail.  While we see a picture of amazing grace from our Lord Jesus, we should remind ourselves that we are to aspire for treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19) and allow fear of the Lord to serve as a preservative against sin in our lives.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace for me.  I know that You also saved a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God or such blessings.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose 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 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Leviticus 26-27

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twenty-three (the final chapter) - Either-Or - covering Leviticus 26-27, looking specifically at the third theme for the chapter - God Judges Our Unfaithfulness.  Here, the commentary breaks down v13-39, where we see the details of God's judgement awaiting those who fail to heed God's commands as described in Leviticus.  God's judgement and punishment is described in the commentary as a "cycle of judgement five times....He was stating that He would give His people opportunity after opportunity to turn from their sin, but if they continued to be unfaithful, more judgement would come." The commentary points out that Nehemiah 9 writes about God's warnings from Leviticus 26 coming to pass, including God's cycle of judgement that repeated itself five times. Of course, believers familiar with the Old Testament understand that exile awaited those Israelites whose disobedience persisted. The commentary wraps by encouraging all believers to avoid disobedience to God - draw near to Him and stay near to Him. God brings about obedience through a daily, personal relationship with Him. We are referred to 2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10-12, and 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  I 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 is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Leviticus 10

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing with chapter ten - Our Response to God's Holiness - covering Leviticus 10:1-20, looking specifically at the chapter's final theme - God's People Announce God is Gracious.  Here, the commentary encourages us to see how, in the death of Nadab and Abihu, God's grace exists.  It explains that if God allowed sacrifices to be offered in any manner the priests saw fit, such an attitude towards sin could have easily derailed God's plan to use the root or remnant of the Israelites as part of his grand design to send Jesus to die for all sin of all humanity for all times. Similar to how a parent punishes a child, the punishment served to discipline and sharpen the Israelites (or at least some of them we refer to as the root or remnant from which Jesus arose). The commentary also reminds us that God's grace abounds today as the world is full of sin - both intentional and unintentional; it states that "in God's holiness and righteous wrath He could put all sinners to death and rid the planet of evil once and for all.  But in His grace He is giving us time--time to turn to Him, time to put our faith in Him instead of our own way."  We are urged to refer to 2 Peter 3:9 where Peter writes about Gods patience. The commentary then reminds us that God's judgement (eternal damnation) awaits those who spurn God's grace, and refuse to repent and turn to Him. While God's wrath is rarely discussed in church, we must understand that all of us sin and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The commentary wraps by having us focus on how Jesus took the wrath of all sin upon Himself and in so doing, He gave us Himself as a place to rest where we can have forgiveness of sin and freedom in Christ.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is so full of grace for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your amazing grace.  My sin continues - harshness of others, worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  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.