Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today emphasizes that - as the devotion title makes clear -  Glory Is the Goal.  John Piper points us to text throughout scripture that provides evidence of how glory is the goal - these texts include:

• Seeing the glory of God is our ultimate hope: Romans 5:2, Jude 24
• God makes His glory known: Romans 9:23, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, Titus 2:13
• Jesus, in all his person and work, is the incarnation and ultimate revelation of the glory of God: Hebrews 1:3, John 17:24
• Believers will partake and participate in God's glory to be revealed: 1 Peter 5:1, Romans 8:21
• God will glorify believers: 1 Corinthians 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 8:30
  

Piper continues by sharing that: "Seeing and sharing in God’s glory is our ultimate hope through the gospel of Christ.  Such a hope, that is really known and treasured, has a huge and decisive effect on our present values and choices and actions.  Get to know the glory of God. Study the glory of God and the glory of Christ. Study the glory of the world that reveals the glory of God, and the glory of the gospel that reveals the glory of Christ.  Treasure the glory of God in all things and above all things.  Study your soul. Know the glory you are seduced by, and know why you treasure glories that are not God’s glory."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and worthy of all honor and glory.  Thank You Jesus for sharing Your glory with me and all believers and for allowing us to share in Your glory.  I am not deserving of how You bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  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.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Psalm 103:1

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at how David seeks to bless the Lord in Psalm 103.  John Piper highlights how David seeks for his soul to bless the Lord because for God to be truly glorified any act we do must be out of an overflow of love and reverence for God - which is of course a heart condition.  Piper continues that David knew this and Piper uses - by way of warning and contrast - Jesus's words from Matthew 15:8 where Jesus accuses the Pharisees of hypocrisy for their self-serving deeds of obedience to the law that did not reflect a genuine and true love of God - from the heart.  We should all go to God as much as we can to know Him, and in turn love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good...and worthy of all honor and glory forever and ever!  Thank You for all the blessings You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper uses David's words from Psalm 69 to urge us to magnify God.  Piper first draws a distinction between two types of magnification: one where you make a small thing look bigger, and the other where we make a a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.  He writes how the latter is David's intention.  He then urges all believers to magnify God in the same way: "Christians are not called to be con-men who magnify their product out of all proportion to reality, when they know the competitor’s product is far superior. There is nothing and nobody superior to God. And so the calling of those who love God is to make his greatness begin to look as great as it really is." Piper reminds us that we exist for this very purpose, and why we were saved, "to proclaim God's excellencies" (see 1 Peter 2:9). Piper wraps up today's devotion with a response - we must first see God for who He is, to get to know Him, and to do so daily, lest we forget.  He offers two texts to emphasize this response: Ephesians 1:18 (open the eyes of my heart), and Psalm 103:2 (soul, forget not all the benefits).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are worthy of magnification - I desire to proclaim Your excellencies because You are infinitely valuable - more so than anything else.  I am not deserving of how You made me one of Your own - Your elect.  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.

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper discusses how a life of humility and gratitude glorifies God.  Piper starts by positing that when we express our gratitude to God, we are the beneficiaries - we receive grace (and other blessings) and we in turn we are thankful. Piper then states that a posture of humble gratitude leads us to "acknowledge our need and God’s beneficence," glorifying the giver (God).  This is the key, according to Piper, as he uses Paul's words to the Corinthians to stake his claim: "this is Paul’s final goal in all his labors. Yes, his labors are for the sake of the church — the good of the church. But the church is not the highest goal....God’s all-supplying glory in giving and our humble gladness in receiving are not in competition. Joyful thankfulness glorifies God." So, believers, we should - not just on Thanksgiving (yesterday) - daily be joyfully thankful for God's grace and blessings.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and worthy of my gratitude - daily!  You died for me and You never leave or forsake me and Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path!  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 accept 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 king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Daniel 1-2

Day 218 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 pause from Jeremiah and pivot to Daniel, as my commentary* indicates that "[w]hile Jeremiah is having his problems with Jehoiakim, several captives in Babylon are being singled out for duty in the king’s service....Among those chosen is a young man by the name of Daniel, who distinguishes himself by refusing to eat food or drink wine from Nebuchadnezzar’s royal table. For this act of faith Daniel and three others with him are exceptionally blessed by God. After three years of special training they enter the king’s service and are found to excel in understanding whenever Nebuchadnezzar inquires of them."

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

This morning's reading, which focuses primarily on Daniel's ability to interpret a dream for Nebuchadnezzar includes several important takeaways:

Leaving aside how the new covenant with Jesus frees us from obedience to ceremonial law (see

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” Daniel 2:20-23

As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. Daniel 2:30

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Luke 6

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, and insult you, and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. v22

I don't think I am hated, excluded, insulted or rejected because of my faith, but I also don't try to hide my faith and love of Jesus.  God wants us to be a light and for me this in my house, my neighborhood, in my community, my workplace, wherever I am.   

I am reminded of Paul's words to the church in Colossae:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I love You - You came to save me, knowing everything about me, including my sin and You continue to be with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I am easily distracted by earthly and worldly matters.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin by turning to You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.

Exodus 34

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. v29

We all want God to be us - and He is always.  This is a promise He makes many times - one such time is in Matthew 28:20. However, we should be more concerned about BEING more like Jesus. God wants us to glorify Him and bring others to Him - so we should focus on submitting to Him and allowing Him to work in and through us....just as Moses does here.

We want to be seen as the hands and feet (and face) of Jesus.

See Acts 6:15, where Stephen, although under arrest, faces the Sanhedrin and appears like an angel.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You love me and You are slow to anger and abounding in love and compassion for me.  I see this in my own life...daily.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  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.

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did[.]

Genesis 39

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did[.] v2-3

The MacArthur Bible commentary points out a contrast between Joseph in this chapter and Judah's in Genesis 38 where wickedness and immorality prevail. Like Reuben, Judah attempts to rescue Joseph from death at the hands of his brothers (Genesis 38:26-27), yet is complicit (and even provides the idea!) in the plot to sell Joseph into slavery.  Like yesterday's post, perhaps we see once again how sin is punished with Judah just as it may been with Jacob.  

Joseph is enslaved yet he still focuses on glory for God - even in prison (v21).

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

[G]ive thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

Jesus - help me glorify You in all that I do...where ever I am.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know that You are with me....always.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God.  I love You.  Forgive me.  Help me overcome my weakness.  Help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

God is with you in everything you do

Genesis 21

God is with you in everything you do. v22

Abimelek sees God in Abraham. God wants us to be a living sacrifice so that others may see Him in us (see also Romans 12:1).  We must first understand who God is and be obedient to Him (see also Romans 12:2).  In all that we do we must also do it all for the glory of God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16 

 

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

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 10

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. v5

We all have a job to do.  Our most important job is to tell others about Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).  We also all have spiritual gifts and talents and God expects us to use these gifts for our glory.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters[.] Colossians 3:23

We should not be lazy with our time, treasure or talents - see also the Parable of the Talents.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You provide and You provide abundantly - Thank You Jesus but I am not worth such blessings.  I worry too much and I am often lazy not using my gifts or working to glorify You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

His Will Be Done
Haggai 1

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”  v9-11

The prophet Haggai's message from the Lord is quite appropriate for today's devotion because in the book of Haggai, although the Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem after being in exile in Babylon, they fail to focus on God's glory and He who rescued them, and instead focus on their own desires. Of course if we fail to focus on the glory of God, He knows how to get our attention! 

See also posts here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are...full of compassion, mercy, patience, etc. for me...yet I am wholly undeserving!  I lack patience for others...please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You - this is why exist!  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. v9

Peter's words remind me of Isaiah's words:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Peter is preventing us from being suckered by false teachers and by Satan himself who is trying to goad you into disbelief and to weaken your faith.  Yet Peter is firm and he encourages us to be firm in our faith and to bring others to Jesus...and the 2nd sentence of verse 9 to me says it all:

Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is good - and He demonstrates this in part by being patient and by being merciful and compassionate.  He is patient with us (although I am reminded that His patience is not unlimited - I will die and the world as we know will come to an end perhaps during my earthly life - either way I must be ready) so we must repent and turn from our ways to His ways.  We must also bring others to Him.  We exist to glorify Him and to bring others to Him.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed are a great God full of patience, compassion, and mercy for me - although I am completely undeserving of such blessings!  Thank You that You bless me so, but please forgive me Jesus for such sin and help me turn from such sin towards You instead.  Transform my heart and my life Jesus and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me bring others to Him.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. v11

I know I am Christ's ambassador and that I exist to glorify God and to bring others to Him...yet often I don't. Christ please forgive me for my disobedience!  I know I should be a living sacrifice.

See also Isaiah 60, 1 Peter 2, 1 Corinthians 10, John 15:16, and Romans 12:1 (and elsewhere).  2 Corinthians 5:20 says:

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are great...pure, holy, blameless, all knowing and all powerful.  Blessed with all fruits of the Spirit to an abundance that I cannot fathom.  And You poured out Your life for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  How great You are!  Thank You for the many, many ways that You have blessed and continue to bless me...there are too many too mention!  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus.  I fail to fully live up to the life You intend for me as Your ambassador.  Please forgive me!  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me truly be Your ambassador.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. v12

We exist to glorify God:
- see v9
- John 15:16
- Romans 12:1

and to bring others to Him.  This latter part of the verse is often overlooked.  Jesus help me focus on this.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of compassion, mercy, gentleness, patience...love for me...I not worth such blessings...I am weak and I fail to boldly proclaim Your glory...with my life and words.  Thank You that You bless me so but please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me live such a life that others are drawn to me and I can share the gospel with them.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.

2 Timothy 1

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. v6-8

God gifts us all spiritual gifts - see also 1 Corinthians 12.  God calls us to use these gifts to the best of our ability for His glory.  In Timothy's case, his gift is teaching and proclaiming the gospel.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You have given me the gift of teaching and it something that blesses me...yet I sometimes get lazy about using this and other gifts.  Forgive me Jesus!  I am not worth the blessings You provide - I am broken and sinful.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Thank You for Your grace and compassion and mercy.  I am constant need of such things and You provide - Thank You Jesus!  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me fan into flame those gifts You have entrusted with me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. v14

Paul is addressing Timothy here encouraging Timothy to use his gift of teaching.  I found a great reference on this topic here. We must all remember that we exist solely to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord, what an awesome God You are that Your design for all things is so perfect that all things work together for Your glory and for such good!  How great You are!  You give me and all of Your children spiritual gifts that we enjoy using and bless others...Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth all of Your love and blessing.  I am harsh with my thoughts, words, and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me use my spiritual gifts to all of my ability.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

2 Thessalonians 3

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” v10

Regardless of your political views, this admonishment from Paul is clear - at least to me.  We must work - this is true since the Fall when God punished Adam:

Cursed is the ground because of you;
    through painful toil you will eat food from it
    all the days of your life. 

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
    and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow
    you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
    since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
    and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:17-19

God also spoke through Paul when He urged us to obey our earthly masters:

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Ephesians 6:5

We are to work as means to glorify God.

My Prayer: What an awesome God You are.  Although You punish man by giving him work and requiring him to work, You give men skills and gifts that when used fulfill and satisfy souls - work that is life giving.  You have done this for me in my life - what an awesome God You are!  I am not worth such love and blessing....I continue to be quick to anger and slow to listen.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Thanks for all of Your love and blessing Jesus but help me overcome and turn from my sin.  Help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me earn my way and work and in doing so glorify You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength and comfort.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Colossians 3

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. v21

Paul's exhortation to father's appears elsewhere in his letters:

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Paul's full words on "Instructions for the Christian Household"in this chapter are equally important:

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

 

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. v18-25

Bottom line: we exist to glorify God and we are to focus on things above and serving Him with all that we are and all that we do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - worthy of all of my attention and all of my praise.  You created the heavens and the earth and all of its inhabitants.  You existed before time, You created time, and You will be forevermore even after the end of time.  You are pure, holy and blameless....and You love me and serve me.   What an awesome God.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am prideful and selfish....focused on me.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me glorify and serve You with all that I am and all that I do.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Philippians 1

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. v14

In this book, Paul is writing from prison in Rome to the church in Phillipi.  He is convinced that his present circumstances are for the glory of God...that there is goodness in his suffering.  Later in this chapter he encourages us to live in a manner "worthy of the gospel", implying that our circumstances should not prevent us from being a "light" to others and to the world:

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. v27

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God, the one and only God, the King of Kings and my Lord and Savior.  I cannot live without You and I desire desperately for You to transform my heart and my life.  I am broken and in need You in all ways and in all things.  I am selfish, lazy, easily distracted, arrogant, prideful, etc. Thank You that You love me anyway, knowing everything about me including my sin. Please forgive me for such sins and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me glorify You regardless of my circumstances, including Lisa's cancer.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6

A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. v7-8

This is a sobering warning for myself and all people that focus on pleasing themselves and others vs God.  We exist to glorify God...see other posts here.

My Prayer: Lord, You alone are worthy of my worship and I know I exist to glorify You.  You are a great God that defines "fruits of the spirit".  I desire to be more like You knowing that I can never even close to Your greatness.  I know You suffered and died for me and I am deeply grateful.  I am not worth such an act of love...I many times lack the fruits of the spirit.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome my sin and help me turn away from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me love others as You do.  Strengthen me and strengthen Lisa.  Help me serve and lead Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.