Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

Hebrews 12:3-6

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?  “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:3-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 12:3-6 - the author builds on the previous two verses expanding on the example of Jesus and how He endured to the cross - giving us two ways for us to endure.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus endured all the way to the cross, shedding His blood as He looked past His suffering and death to the eternal establishment of His Kingdom. VV3-4: He is a good example for us as He endured God's wrath for all of humanity's sin on our behalf - therefore our suffering pales in comparison to what Christ endured as He suffered and died for us.  Vv5-6: God disciplines those whom He loves - so we should see our suffering as both training and as love from Him. See also Romans 8:28.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often cannot endure difficulties and suffering, but with Christ we can. He is in us and He gives us the same power that raised Him from the dead. See also Romans 8:11 and Ephesians 1:19-20.  If we see Jesus as our example and as someone who is in our hearts and lives, we can endure - reason #1.  We can also endure by seeing suffering as training from God to perfect our faith.  The author of Hebrews uses Proverbs 3:11-12 to remind us how God trains us through suffering and discipline - if we keep this in mind we have reason #2.   
• 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 shrinking back (see Hebrews 10:39) when difficulty arrives. Claim the promise that we God is saving a place for us in Heaven - the New Jerusalem.  Follow the example of Jesus who endured, and gives us the same power that raised Him from the dead.  Focus on Jesus - treasure and love Him more than anything. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who gives me what I need to endure to the end.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Numbers 21:9

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 21:4-9, the people once again grumble and complain against the LORD, yet God is abounding in love, relents from His punishment and provides a way out.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God sees grumbling and complaining as a sin, so Israel is punished - v6.  Yet God is merciful and He responds to prayer as the people confess and seek for Moses to intercede - v8.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people are not yet in the Promised Land, and of course one can imagine the people (as we would) seeking the quickest way possible to get to their destination.  Impatience can be seen as a childish behavior (are we there yet?), but it afflicts adults just as well.  The pattern of Israel's grumbling and complaining, and of God showing mercy, is staggering - God not only provides second chances, but third, fourth, etc.  Yes, many are harshly punished, but we have to acknowledge that we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). So we don't deserve God's mercy - yet He provides a way out.  Jesus is this way out - if we confess, like Israel does here in v7 and we have someone like Moses who intercedes on our behalf (we do in Jesus), we can be assured of forgiveness and of salvation (Romans 10:9-10).  Yet we cannot prevent punishment as this is for God alone to determine and we must see punishment as love from the Father for good.  Israel should have seen this in how they remained in the wilderness.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not grumble and complain.  Claim the promises that God disciplines those He loves, and God forgives and saves.  Follow the example of Israel who confessed - and the example of those acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Be thankful in all circumstances. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from 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 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.

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.

Malachi 2:17-3:5

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. Malachi 3:1-3

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book as my focus remains Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament. Today my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 2:17-3:5. The commentary emphasizes the main idea is one where God's people question Him whether He is a God of justice as they perceive His delight in wickedness (3:17).  God of course, in the same verse, shares how He is annoyed and frustrated by such a perception.  The commentary then shares how he will send His messenger (Christ) to "purify the priesthood and judge Israel."  Here are excerpts from the following divisions provided for the text:

• Israel Accuses God of Injustice for Allowing the Wicked to Prosper (2:17): "Basically, the people are becoming impatient with the rampant immorality and the political corruption in Israel. They say, in essence, “God, why are you making the wicked prosper? Do you find joy in their transgressions? Where is your justice?"  Of course, believers should understand that God alone is judge and His justice both perfect and in His time (see also Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35). Believers should also be careful in accusing God of lacking justice because we all sin and the wages of sin are death so Israel would have been justifiably wiped out if God was not a God of grace and love and patience with Israel's questioning.    
  
• God Defends His Justice, Promising Vindication through His Appointed Messenger (3:1): Christ is described as God's Messenger: "So, who is the approaching “Messenger of the covenant?” He is the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, God incarnate. Jesus’ entry into the temple precincts during the week of His passion is the fulfillment of this prophecy. John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by summoning the people of Israel to repentance. With the scene set, God, in the form of man, enters His temple and evaluates His people."  The text alludes to Christ's judgement of how in the temple He judged the money-changers in the temple (see also Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, Luke 19:45-47, John 2:14-16).  
  
• God’s Promised Vindication Begins with the Purification of Israel’s Priestly Leadership (3:2-3): God's people are molded into His image, often through trials and suffering - see also Hebrews 12:5-6, 11, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).  Although Malachi's messages was intended primarily for the priesthood, we as believers are also urged to examine our own lives for sin and to assess our spiritual condition. The commentary shares: "praise God for purging us through suffering. The goal of God is to conform us into the image of His Son. It is not to make us happy. It is not to keep us healthy. It is not to make us wealthy. It is to conform us into the image of His Son (see also Romans 8:29)."  
  
• God’s Promised Vindication Culminates with the Judgment of His People Israel (3:4-5):  God makes explicit how He will judge all, not just the priesthood.  The commentary shares: "the fear of the Lord preserves us for the Day of Judgment. It teaches us to live in light of God’s grace and mercy. Without this proper fear, we are prone to forget the radical nature of the good news of the gospel and to wander from our covenant God. If we lack fear, we may be judged through fire to be lacking worth, showing that we had never truly surrendered to God in the first place." 
  

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for providing scripture to help reveal sin in my life.  I want to please honor and glorify You.  You are worthy!  I, on the other than, remain broken and sinful, and undeserving of my salvation and grace - which You pour out daily.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the grace You pour out daily that never ceases.  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 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.

So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’”

 Zechariah 1:1-6

So they repented and said, ‘As the LORD of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.’” Zechariah 1:6b

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 this morning, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 1:6b, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions for the text vv1-6 (1:1-3, 1:4-6a, 6b). The first two divisions share Zechariah's warning to God's people to not be like their ancestors, who did not repent from their wicked thoughts and ways - this led to their captivity and exile. Zechariah then shares how God's people repented and acknowledged God's justice was appropriate given their sin.  This is an important message for all believers - God reigns in all circumstances - good and bad.  He is in charge - see also Colossians 1:15-17.  God also has a plan for all of us and for believers "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28).  Sometimes it is hard to see how suffering is good - yet we need to see how our circumstances are part of God's plan and how it is "working together for good." See also 2 Corinthians 12:7 where Paul shares how God did not remove the "thorn in his side" because it was serving a purpose - to keep him "from becoming conceited" (mentioned twice in same verse).  We cannot take our eye off our singular purpose - to love and glorify God and to love others as God loves us - these are the two greatest commandments and all the other commandments hang on these (see also Matthew 22:37-40).  When something is happening in our lives we must see God at work.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a just and holy God who is perfect in all ways - and You reign and work in all things for good.  Thank You Jesus for using all circumstances for good and for the love and mercy that never ceases.  I am not deserving.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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!

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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.

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

1 Corinthians 4

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 1 Corinthians 4:15-16

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 4:14-21. The commentary's* main point for this text: "[t]he church needs spiritual fathers to live exemplary lives and provide gentle, firm correction to help others mature in Christ."  The introduction* shares the blessing of fatherly wisdom - referring to Proverbs 1:8, 2:1-5, 3:1-2, 4:1-2, 6:20-22, 23:22) and how Paul offers this to the church in Corinth.  It* also shares how Paul founded this church and he serves as an "authoritative figure" for the church, just as an earthly father does for his children.  Divisions for the text include*:

1. Spiritual Fathers Have a Unique Relationship with Their Children (4:14-15): Paul only wants what is best for the church in Corinth and right now they need correction to ensure they can stay on the right path.  Paul acknowledges how the church in Corinth has many advisors, including Apollos and Cephas (Peter), but Paul's unique relationship to the church (as founder and primary nurturer of the church) emphasizes one of a fatherly figure and the love that flows from such a relationship.  Paul seeks to live a live worthy of imitation just as son follows in the footsteps of a father.   
2. Spiritual Fathers Provide an Example to Follow (4:16-17): We are referred to 3 John 1:11 where John also writes about imitating Godly behavior seen in others.  Additional scriptural examples include Ephesians 5:1, Philippians 2:5, 1 Peter 2:21, 5:2-3. We are urged to follow others to the extent that they follow Christ and of course remember that our primary model is Christ and not man. 
3. Spiritual Fathers Confront Us When We Sin (4:18-19): Paul emphasizes how children need correction and similarly those less mature in their faith - as was the case with Corinth - need correction.  This correction include confronting sinful attitudes, but also sinful actions.   
   
4. Spiritual Fathers Correct Us as Needed (4:20-21): Paul closes the text by providing spiritual correction and discipline and issuing a challenge for the church in Corinth - a harsh rebuke when he sees them again and nothing has changed or warm embraces and a more encouraging visit that highlights positive change in how Corinth has repented of its sin.
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for placing spiritual fathers and mentors in my life that serve to encourage, rebuke, correct, and point me back to Jesus! I am not deserving of how You do this 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 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.

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

1 Corinthians 4

I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 1 Corinthians 4:14

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 - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 4:14-21. These verses emphasize Paul's endearing love for the church in Corinth - despite all of the challenges as described so far in 1 Corinthians, Paul writes in v1 how he admonishes them not to bring them shame but he does so out of love. See also Proverbs 3:11-12. In v14, Paul refers to the church in Corinth as his children, and he refers to himself as their father in v15.  In v16, he "urges" the church to imitate him as one who lives humbly to bring glory not to self but to Christ.  He sends Timothy to them to encourage and support them on their journey - and similarly he refers to Timothy as his "beloved and faithful child in the Lord" (v17). Paul then concludes the text for today by sharing that he will visit Corinth soon (v19) and that he will expose those who boast in themselves in their power - only to find that they are fools and that wisdom and power comes from Christ alone. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and love for me - amazing grace.  Thank You Jesus...I am not deserving of such blessing and grace.  My sin is great and it persists.  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. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:1-11, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text: 

I. Run the Race (12:1-3): Here, the commentary shares how author of Hebrews uses an athletic metaphor as a means to encourage us to keep striving in our faith - keep running. We are encouraged to keep running because God sustains us.  The commentary describes how in v2 it states how God is the "founder and perfecter of our faith" (ESV), and we can look to Jesus to help carry us through to the end of the race.

II. The Father’s Discipline (12:4-11): Here, the commentary shares how author of Hebrews compares an earthly father's discipline to that of how God disciplines us and how both are done out of love for us - first by our earthly father, then by our Heavenly Father. We must be prepared at any time for discipline.  The commentary wraps by sharing that "Christians question how God can work for good through horrifying loss. Yet God was working for our good in the gruesome death of his Son. If ever we doubt God’s love because of our circumstances, we can look to the cross and remind ourselves that God gave us his own Son so that we might in turn become sons of God."

Keep running, have faith and look to Christ for encouragement, discipline, training as means to run the race to the end.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for never leaving or forsaking me as I continue to run the race of faith.  Thank You for the inspiration, encouragement, and discipline/training along the way.  There have been periods of challenge for sure - but I see how You have been part of all of it for my good and Your glory.  I am undeserving of how You have blessed me during my race.  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 [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12

For [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:10-11

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:1-11, and my unaided observations of the text.  Here, we pivot from chapter 11 and the "hall of faith," where the author of Hebrews provides examples from the Old Testament - those who did not taste the fullness of the promises made by God but remained obedient and faithful regardless.  They believed in the unseen and saw what others (those not faithful) could not see because of the hardness of their heart. Chapter 12 starts with a "therefore," where the author wants us to, in light of the many examples of faith provided, also be faithful...and faithful to the end when either Jesus returns or He brings us home to heaven.  We are encouraged not be weary and to look to not just the Old Testament examples of faithfulness, but more importantly to Jesus Himself, who despite His suffering up to and including the cross, endured. The author of Hebrews uses the analogy discipline and how an earthly father disciplines us for our own good - although it may be difficult for us to endure. Earthly discipline is compared to how God disciplines us.  

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are so good and You are full of amazing grace and compassion for me - even when I am disciplined.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and compassion for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus.  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.  Please give wisdom and energy to Lisa and myself.  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 crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Proverbs 17-22:16

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. Proverbs 17:3

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I wrap my review of 17-22:16, week 7 from my study workbook, and as indicated yesterday, my focus for today is judgement. The study emphasizes that "God alone knows the heart of individuals, pointing to Jeremiah 17:10. Proverbs 17:3 portrays the "refiner's fire" and how God tests us and molds, and by removing impurities - often using trials and adversity as part of the process. It is through this sanctification process where God is molding us into more of His image - of course for His glory. My study states that "[w]hen God's people undergo such testing, it should be understood as God's fatherly discipline: trials work to purify the hearts of believers, conforming them to the image Christ." For additional references and to support this theme, we are pointed to Malachi 3:2 and Hebrews 12:7-11.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I see how Your hand in my life works, including through the refiners fire with trials and challenges.  While it may be painful - it is for my good and Your glory.  I also know that You never leave or forsake me and You never stop loving me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  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.

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 1-3

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19

I continue with my D-Group's study of Revelation using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide.  My focus this morning is my memory verse - Revelation 3:19. When speaking to the seven churches in Revelation - of course keeping in mind that the intent is all churches - there are both kind words and words of rebuke (or reprove).  God loves His children and when we experience difficulties, it is appropriate to see how God may be using challenges to refine us, prepare us for some coming work, or to discipline us.  Irregardless, we must see God at work in our lives - good or bad.  God is always at work (Romans 8:28) and He never leaves or forsakes us (Matthew 28:20). Also, one way or another - this life is not the end as one day will see Jesus face to face as He saves a seat for believers in Heaven. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know You love me - when I experience hardships - I know You are at work doing something for good. Thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin continues - worry, anger, 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.

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

Jeremiah 46-47:7

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.” Jeremiah 46:27-28

Day 215 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 with my study of Jeremiah. This morning, building on yesterday's post, my commentary* discusses how, Egypt seeks to overtake Babylonia (and Philistia), but will be defeated (Jeremiah 46:1-11) and subdued by Egypt (Jeremiah 46:12-26).

Addressing those who have remained faithful AND those who have not, God offers "reassurance to Judah".  As I have posted previously,

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

 Jeremiah 7-9

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

Day 208 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 with my study of Jeremiah. It is understandable that Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet (see DesiringGod.com for a good application of Jeremiah).  Jeremiah must deliver a warning message to Judah with respect to her sinful and wicked lives, including what my commentary* describes as "false religiosity", idolatry, hypocrisy, false use/application of the law, and failure in leadership. Jeremiah's warning from God includes impending destruction of Judah, including destruction of the Temple of the Lord constructed by Solomon. This is of course a very difficult message - on top of this God tells Jeremiah that Judah will reject God's message and remain stubborn in her ways: 

When you [Jeremiah] tell[s] them all this, they will not listen to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.  Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips. Jeremiah 7:27-28

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

God then instructs Jeremiah that upon rejection, he is to lament - hence the "weeping prophet" as this is one of Jeremiah's several "laments":

Cut off your hair and throw it away; take up a lament on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned this generation that is under his wrath. Jeremiah 7:29

God is also lamenting as He is a jealous God - desiring for His people to be His own.  Unfortunately, Judah has sought other Gods.  God is not happy that He must punish His children:

Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Jeremiah 8:21

As I posted yesterday, God disciplines those He loves: 

See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people? Jeremiah 9:7

Among their many sins, Judah has boasted of its own wisdom and strength - failing to acknowledge what God has done as Judah's prosperity and strength is due to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an AMAZING God who has done so much for me - I am blessed.  Yet I know I am undeserving.  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.

And when the people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’

 Jeremiah 5:14-6

And when the people ask, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’ Jeremiah 5:19

Day 207 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 with my study of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah delivers God's word of judgement to Judah, and a warning, that they will be overtaken by Babylonia and taken captive.  God is angry...yet He has every right to be angry.  In fact, God's justice is perfect - He acts out of both love and justice and He only disciplines those He loves.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me...and who disciplines me because You love me and I need discipline.  I am grateful for how You have refined me...including through fire.  I am not deserving of Your love and instruction. I gossip, 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 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 plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

Hosea 1-3 

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:23

  

Day 167 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 with a study of Hosea, a prophet whom God calls to marry a promiscuous woman (Gomer), as this experience is used as an analogy for how Israel sought foreign gods rather than God (Hosea 1:2). Gomer gives birth to three children and the names given to these children - Jezreel or God sows, Lo-Ruhamah or not loved, and Lo-Ammi or not my people - all reflect God's plans for Israel as foreign invaders will overcome Israel.  John MacArthur indicates that for the time being Judah is spared (Hosea 1:7) as God intervenes "on behalf of Hezekiah"(see 2 Kings 19) - this will be covered in more detail in the coming days as my study of Hosea is split across three days.

God's words to prepare Hosea include sharing God's anger with Israel, as well as his plans for forgiveness and acceptance following repentance.

Several key takeaways this morning:
- We must acknowledge where life and our blessings come from - we cannot exist without God. (Hosea 2:8); Israel stopped doing this and drifted away from God. 
- Just as God disciplines Israel, we should view discipline as training.
- Forgiveness awaits those who repent.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has demonstrated unbelievable mercy, compassion, forgiveness and acceptance for me!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...worry and more.  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.

It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

Psalm 76, 82, 84, 90, 92, 112, and 115 

It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. Psalm 76:7-10

Day 116 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I start a new group: "Psalms About Righteousness and Wickedness" where David cries out to the Lord regarding the apparent inequity of the wicked who seem to escape judgment and punishment while the righteous suffer.

Today's psalms focus on how God's wrath against evil is to be feared, a warning to those wicked who claim to be gods yet will nevertheless die, the superiority of the house of God over dwellings of the wicked, the importance of remembering life's brevity, how only the righteous will truly flourish, how benefits accrue to a righteous person, and how idolaters have no source of trust as do believers.

Fear of the Lord strikes me this morning as the key theme of today's psalms.  I have previously posted John Piper's view on how fear of the Lord should serve as a preservative in my battle with temptation and sin - essentially that fear over God's wrath and anger over my sin should stop me in my tracks over sin. While this may be a sobering thought to many we should view it as a measure of God's love as well - God only disciplines those He loves.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:4-6

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God who I KNOW loves me.  I know You despise sin and sin separates me from You, and their are eternal consequences to sin.  I am undeserving of Your forgiveness, grace, compassion, and most importantly for Your gift of salvation.  My sin of gossip, worry, etc. 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.