For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14

Today, I continue a pause of my study of Zechariah as I prepare for leading worship at The Gardens and The Lodge this upcoming Sunday as part of a ministry outreach of my church Bay Leaf Baptist. Since the start of the new year, worship for this ministry is based on Tony Evans' booklet The Grace of God, and for this Sunday's worship specifically, we are using chapter 4 Set Free by Grace.  Since the concept of Christian freedom is front and center as I prepare, today I lean on DesiringGod.com and John Piper's view on this topic.  Piper outlines Christian freedom as being free on four levels:

1. Of opportunity - you need to be exposed to the gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ before you can experience Christian freedom
   
2. Of ability - you have to have the capacity to understand what salvation means to you in the context of Christian freedom
   
3. Of desire - you have to have a heart and a motivation for Christian freedom
   
4. Salvation from what can enslave us
   

Of course, Piper shares that "Jesus makes us free at every single level."  Piper explains: "He has given us the freedom of opportunity: he died for us. The freedom of ability: he gave us the gift of faith. The freedom of desire: he put a new heart in us and wrote his law on it, causing us to have new desires and new loves."  Of course we must also be humble and truly believe in Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords - we must not put any other god before Him.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace for me and who gives true freedom - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the rich blessings You continue to 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 and 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 he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.

 1 Corinthians 7

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:22

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explains the text's correlation of "slavery (rather than liberation) with Messiah, and liberation (rather than slavery) with Master[.]"  John Piper explains broadly by sharing that believers in Christ do have new freedom in Christ (no longer slaves to sin), but this freedom is limited in that while we are free from other lords (and hence "uncontested" and "secure"), Jesus remains our Master.  Similarly, while we gain new freedom, we are bound by and slaves to Christ, and this brings us "from the confines of captivity into the open spaces of peace." Piper goes on to share that by being His we experience the "sweetest of joy."  Piper refers us to Isaiah 9:7 and Psalm 81:16.

This morning's devotion calls to mind how Jesus' commands are not burdensome nor "restrictive" - our obedience is in response to how great God is, and how He is full of grace and compassion for us. 

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great, Your mercies are new every morning, and they never cease - and You give me freedom from the sting of sin and death.  You also give me the sweetest joy of being slave to Christ.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sins are great and they continue....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 shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.

 Psalm 119

I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. Psalm 119:45

While I anticipate going back to my study of Isaiah, for today I once again listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today focuses on the freedom promised to believers - which John Piper describes negatively as the freedom from sin, shame, guilt, etc. and positively as the freedom for holiness - namely the good works God prepares for us beforehand (when we were created by Him - Ephesians 2:10).  Piper describes the text for today as a promise and he translates the beginning of the text "wide place" by using "freedom" to emphasize the power of the promise of freedom for believers. Piper first starts by defining freedom as "open spaces", confinement, and "smallness of mind."  He urges believers not to be confined the thoughts that might be planted by Satan but instead we should renew our minds (Romans 12:2).  He uses Psalm 18:19 and God's gift of wisdom to Solomon from 1 Kings 4:29 to help us more fully understand the openness God promises for those who seek His precepts (His Word). Piper then defines the freedom Jesus wants us to appreciate - using John 8:34 and 32. This freedom is more fully defined as Piper uses 1 Peter 1:4 where is shares how believers are "partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."  This is of course an incredible freedom - one that I aspire to more fully appreciate every single day - starting by seeking His Word.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your Word is lamp to my feet and a lamp to my path - and I am grateful for how I get to experience Your presence daily and for You to communicate with me and further sanctify and mold me into more of Your image.  Thank You Jesus!  Incredible blessings.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Revelation 12-14

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Revelation 12:10-11

I continued with my D-Group's study of Revelation using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide.  For this week, the study looks at Revelation 12-14, which according to my commentary looks at "the spiritual reality behind and beneath [the] conflict [arising both within and without the church].  For today, I focus on the "Gospel Glimpses" section of the commentary for this week. The first passage of this section emphasizes one of the most critical aspects of the Gospel and how believers truly have freedom because "no accusation will stand" once Jesus died on the cross for us. I know this but like many other blessings, I often forget and perhaps even take for granted.  Today, I am starkly reminded of this truth and greatly encouraged by it. The commentary states: [b]efore the cross and resurrection of Jesus, Satan could accuse God’s people by arguing that their sin hadn’t been atoned for, since the blood of bulls and goats wasn’t sufficient for the task and God had simply “passed over” the sins of his people, that is, taken no action of any kind with regard to them (see Rom. 3:25). But through Jesus’ death, God made full atonement for the sins of his people. After the cross, Satan’s grounds for accusation are demonstrably invalid."  I am also reminded of Romans 8:1-2:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who died in my place so that I could have freedom from the sting of sin and death - the greatest gift of all time!  Of course I am not deserving.  Please forgive me for my sins of worry, etc.  Help me overcome and turn from my sins towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more. Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away.

 Nahum 1-3

Although I have afflicted you, Judah, I will afflict you no more. Now I will break their yoke from your neck and tear your shackles away. Nahum 1:12-13

Day 202 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move from Isaiah to the book of Nahum where my commentary* describes how Nahum "prophesies against Judah’s archenemy, Nineveh (Assyrian capital), and predicts her fall".  Assyrians are described as "ruthless" and "cruel" and Assyrian "atrocities are particularly disappointing in view of the fact that, only 125 years before, the people of Assyria had responded penitently to the preaching of Jonah and had been the recipients of God’s mercy".  While Nineveh will experience God's wrath, Judah's "vassalage will cease".

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

As God delivers an encouraging message to Judah that her freedom is near, I am reminded that Jesus Christ provides a freedom in Him that surpasses any other we may experience.  Many view Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him as a burden or yoke of another kind but I can say for myself this is not so!  All of us are either slave to sin or slave to God - for me I would rather have the latter than the former!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and mercy for me.  You give me freedom in You - a gift for which I am not deserving.   Thank You Jesus. Yet, again, I am not deserving.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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.

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Judges 17-18

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. Judges 17:6

Day 81 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 a man named Micah, whose idol worship and sin spreads from his household into the lives of an entire tribe (Dan).

My commentary* emphasizes how "[t]he power of individual influence shouts aloud in this seemingly well-motivated and innocent deviation from God’s directed pattern".

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

As I have remarked before:
- freedom and free will to do what we choose is not freedom at all, as we are all born as slaves to sin, and believers should instead seek to become slaves to God
- who and what we place in our lives serve to influence our heart, thoughts and actions and we should be aware of we have (and isolate ourselves from these or remove them if we can), and replace them with

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Deuteronomy 26-30

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 

Day 64 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 renewal of the covenant between God and the Israelites as they transition to the Promised Land.

As I posted yesterday, God promises severe punishment for disobedience but once again God promises forgiveness if the Israelites repent from any disobedience - see Deuteronomy 30:1-10.

As part of the renewal of the covenant, God also tells us in Deuteronomy 30:11-14 that this renewal is not too difficult because the "the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it." 

It's not hard for readers of Moses' Laws to believe that these laws are a burden - thankfully Jesus fulfilled the law and freed us from the ceremonial law - see John Piper on this (see also .

Casual observers of Jesus might also believe that following Jesus is also a burden - but we are ALL slaves to sin and Jesus offers us true freedom - in Christ.

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

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. v12

John ends the first of his two letters likely from Ephesus to the church body at large. As he ends this letter, he reminds us who Jesus is and what faith in Jesus provides.  John tells us that Jesus' commands are not burdensome (v3) and from my own experience I believe this to be true and I posted on a similar theme (freedom) last Monday.  Because only Jesus provides true freedom, and because we know that He loves us and only wants what is best for us, we can be assured that we have a life provides an unsurpassed joy.

John Piper's team writes that "joy is not optional" for believers.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and You provide life - to thes full...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...far too often...every day...I don't want to disappoint but I do.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

2 Peter 2

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” v19

There are many who have heard the Good News but hesitate to submit to Jesus because they fear lack of freedom under Jesus.  Yet Peter blows a hole in this claim as he rightly says that we are all either slaves to sin or slaves to Jesus.  

Only Jesus provides true freedom - all else is a lie.

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

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

1 Peter 2

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. v16-17

In his words of encouragement to believers in modern day Turkey, in v11-25, Peter "urge[s]" us to live Godly lives in a pagan society.

First, Peter points out that we are "foreigners and exiles" (v11) - implying that we are citizens of Heaven, and our allegiance lies with Christ and as such we should glorify Him (v12).  We must submit ourselves to "every human authority" (v13-14, 17-18) and in the face of persecution, we should follow Christ's example (v21-25).   

Believers ARE free - free from the bondage of sin and free to live FOR Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have given me freedom indeed!  Thank You Jesus for freeing from the bondage of sin!  What a great God You are!  I am not deserving of adoption into Your family because me sin continues!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. v12-13

Our lives are filled by moments when we make judgements and our judgements precede our actions.  We must first be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we can limit those judgements which prevent mercy.  Believers are all granted mercy and forgiveness by Christ and He tells us to love and forgive others as the Lord loves and forgives us (John 13:34, Colossians 3:13).  

James references "the law that gives freedom" and I am reminded of John Piper's awesome post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who forgives me...You are SO full of mercy and compassion for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such love.  I too often judge without mercy.  Please forgive me Jesus!  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.  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 to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1

 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. v21

Both Overviewbible.com and MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) describe the "joyful tone" of Philippians.  Indeed, Paul is writing this letter from prison in Rome to the church in Philippi. For more on Paul's imprisonment and the "prison epistles", check this out.

Paul is joyful because of his freedom in Christ - as v21 captures this joy.  It is essentially a no lose situation for him.  As long as the gospel is advanced, he is good with that.  Paul is at the center of God's will - this is true joy and freedom in Christ.  John Piper also describes this freedom in Christ: "Freedom is doing what you love to do, if what you love to do is what you ought to do, and transformation is the change of our hearts, so that what we love to do is what we ought to do."  Piper describes how we can achieve this transformation of our hearts and minds here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who HAS transformed my heart and life - this I KNOW!  Yet I know this work is still in progress and there is much to do.  Thank You Jesus for the miracles You have worked in my life.  I am not deserving for the many, many blessings You pour out for me.  I sin...daily.  I am selfish, lazy, 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. Provide Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. v13

Paul warns the Galatians to avoid using freedom in Christ as justification to continue in sin.  Yes, we are no longer slave to sin and we do have freedom from the sting of sin and death, but we should use this not as freedom to sin but to serve.

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

 

We are warned once again by Paul in v26 to not be conceited as such arrogance leads to sin in spite of our freedom (sin of commission).

 

Sandwiched between of course in 5:22-23 are Paul's fruits of the Spirit verses: "[b]ut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law". 

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has saved me from the sting of sin and death; You sustain me, encourage me, protect me, heal me, etc. and so much more - thank You Jesus for the many blessings You pour out for me.  I am not deserving - I am often full of conceit - 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 mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. v6

As Paul continues to unpack how the Holy Spirit provides freedom, he shares with us another nugget - this time how the Spirit gives us life and peace.  This is particularly comforting because at any given point in our lives we worry about this or that and Paul wants us to be free of these earthly worries - Jesus of course says the same thing in Matthew 6.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the abundance and peace You provide - I am blessed...far more than I deserve.  I worry...too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus.  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. 

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

John 12

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. v9-11

As a follow up post to yesterday where Judas Iscariot objects to using expensive perfume to anoint Jesus, this morning we are reminded of how desperate Satan is to get a hold of us.  MacArthur suggests that, in v11 we see "a conscious, deliberate move away from the religion of the authorities and a move toward genuine faith in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God".  The chief priests would have none of this - hence their plot to kill BOTH Jesus and Lazarus!

According to John Piper, "Satan hates evangelism and discipleship", so it is no surprise that we see the plot to kill Lazarus.  "[M]any of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in [H]im"..."on account of [Lazarus]", and earlier in John 8:44, Jesus accuses those plotting to kill Him of "belonging" to the devil.  Satan was desperate to stop growth of the early church.

Satan is equally desperate to prevent believers from growing in our relationship with Jesus - he plants our minds with lies - go here to learn more from John Piper on Satan's Ten Strategies Against You.  

To protect ourselves, we have the Armor of God, and our belief that true freedom and joy is found in Christ alone. 

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

    

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. v34-36

As Jesus continues to teach in the temple courts throughout John 8, He is challenged throughout on a number of key points - only one of which is my focus this morning.  There are many in the world who believe that being a believer means LESS freedom.  Yet Jesus addresses this in v34-36 and I can testify in my own life over the validity and truth in these verses.

See also Freedom in Christ. 

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 2 Peter 2:19

We instead should be slave to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You give me freedom from both sin and from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving such love and such gifts.  I worry, I gossip, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

Luke 9

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. v24

We may all have plans and desires for our lives but those plans and desires must be aligned with God, otherwise we end up serving another God and such a life leads to destruction and damnation. 

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Matthew 7:13

Therefore, our focus should be an identity and purpose found in and through Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You have given me life, and life to the full - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a life.  I daily miss the mark.  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 whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. v35-38

Certainly before I became a believer and for a significant period even after I became a believer it was important for me to be in control - for me to dictate as many of the circumstances and events of my life.  The more I could control the more I had life - particularly because I believed I knew what was right for me...and others.  Yet over time, I am blessed because of it, Jesus took over my heart and life and I began to give my life over to Him and for His service and glory.  Amazingly, the more I LOST control, the more at peace and content as because God gave me peace He promises.

Also of note in today's verses include Jesus' warning about being ashamed over Jesus.  I often feel worry about expressing my faith publicly and this is what Jesus is warning us about.  There must be NO QUESTION about whom we serve and why.

Jesus is Lord and He is freedom and life, etc.  There is no other way.

 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

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

So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth. Those who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.

Jeremiah 34

So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth. Those who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces. v17-18

In verse 9, God through Jeremiah makes a covenant with the people that they are to free their Hebrew slaves.  It did not take long for the people to renege on their commitment and re-enslave those Hebrews previously freed.  At least of couple of takeaways:

1. God offers an amazing covenant through His Son Jesus Christ - God will forgive us of our sins and give us eternal life in Heaven if we accept Christ as our savior and believe in Him (John 3:16-18).  As part of this covenant we must follow his commandments - see also Matthew 22:34-40.  We should not renege.
2. We may have an earthly definition of freedom - but it is not for us define.  If we choose not to believe in Him, we will have no freedom at all as we all are slave to one sin/idol or another.  For those of who believe, we can have true freedom - freedom in Christ and freedom from the sting of sin and death.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who provides freedom in Christ and freedom from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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.

Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? declares the Lord. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

Jeremiah 18

Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? declares the Lord. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. v5

Regardless of how we come down on the question of free will, we can agree that we are unable to blunt God's designs and plans - God is in control.  

We must look at our circumstances as a glimpse into His plans. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is always with me - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I miss the mark and am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive 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 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.