The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders)[.]"

Numbers 34

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders)[.]" Numbers 34:1-2

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 34 - God gives Moses and the people of Israel commands for how to divide the Promised Land by tribe and to give the land borders in which they must remain.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  See also this map. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God is faithful - He promised this land to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, He delivered and rescued God's people from Egypt, brought them to this land and gave it to them.  God wants us to be satisfied with what He gives us.  He draws specific boundaries and borders for the Promised Land and the people are to trust Him that the land is enough - the people are to learn how to be content with what God provides.  We know the land is good because Joshua and Caleb, when they were part of the group that scouted the land from the wilderness, described it as "exceedingly good" and "flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 14:7-8).  At the same time, we know from the arc of redemptive history that Israel is surrounded by neighbors that are hostile to her - God knows this and He seeks for Israel to be secure and He will be their refuge.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: While the scripture here is silent on this in the text, we know that the people of Israel will consistently sin, including idolatry, etc.  This is the nature of all humanity since the Fall in Genesis 3.  With Jesus, all of God's promises find their yes in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).  
• 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 not seeing God as enough and then acting out of fear and/or covetousness. Claim the promise that God will never leave or forsake us, we can never be separated from His love, that He provides for all of our needs - we can trust in Him and see Him as faithful.  He is also our refuge.  Follow the example of Joshua who saw the Lord is with Israel.  Love God, abide in and follow Him.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness, how You provide, and how You never leave or forsake us - among the many blessings You pour out daily for those who love and trust You.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  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.

Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”

 Numbers 26-27

Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” Numbers 27:15-17

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 26-27 - God prepares Israel to enter the Promised Land as He instructs Moses to take a census, and He commissions Joshua to be the new leader of the people. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God is faithful - back in Numbers 14:28-35, God promised to punish the entire first generation of Israel who did not trust God or rebelled against Him - the punishment will be that they not enter the Promised Land.  Here in the text today, this promise is kept - see Numbers 26:63-65.  This may not be the faithfulness one seeks - a promise to condemn of punish - but it is a promise nonetheless and we should be mindful that if God shares that man will be punished or condemned, this is not an idle threat - it is a promise.  God responds to   the pleas (prayers) of His people.  In Numbers 27:1-11, we see the plight of the daughters of Zelophehad, who are not going to get an inheritance of land in the Promised Land, yet the daughters took their plea to Moses who interceded on their behalf.  God answers their prayer and He seeks for all believers to bring their cares and concerns to Him - see also 1 Peter 5:7.  God hears our cries and responds to us - the response may not be what we seek, but He does respond and He does provide, comfort, encourage, etc. God's promise (Numbers 20:12) that Moses will not enter the Promised Land is also fulfilled here - Numbers 27:13-14.  God chooses and prepares Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land.         
• What do we learn from the text about people?:  Moses does not quarrel with God about his punishment - that he will not enter the promised land.  His concern once again is for the people - what an incredible response of humility.  Moses surrenders his life to God's will.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise that God is faithful in all things - 2 Corinthians 1:20.  Follow the example of Moses, who in humility and obedience, surrender to the will of God and trusted Him.     

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

God is not man, that he should lie,or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

 Numbers 23:13-30

God is not man, that he should lie,or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 23:13-30 -  we see an obstinate Balak who is determined to curse Israel, despite God's will that they be blessed.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God once again makes Himself and His will clear.  He will not curse Israel.  In doing so, He also reveals part of His nature - that He does not lie (He is Truth) and when He makes a promise, He fulfills His promises. God also uses both believers and non-believers such as Balaam - a pagan prophet - and He works through them in both words and deeds to accomplish His will. And once again, we must understand that God's will is not to be thwarted.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: As I posted yesterday, Balak does not like God's word spoken through Balaam so he pushes his will, even though it is contrary to God's will.  See v13 where Balak continues to push Balaam to curse Israel.  Balak is not as wise as Solomon who shared in Proverbs 19:21 "[m]any are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." In vv25-30, Balak, continues to disregard God's will and in chapter 24 (for Saturday) we will God's reaction.
• 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 blatantly and repeatedly disregard God's will.  Claim the promise that God's Truth is eternal, it never changes, and God does not lie - we can rest in His Word and His promises.  Follow the example of Balaam who finally recognizes that He must follow God's will and desires. Understand God's will (Romans 12:2) and pray for obedience and that God make it not burdensome because You love Him and You want to follow His desires because of how good He is. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Your Truth is eternal, You never lie, nor change Your mind, and we can rest in Your Word and promises.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You are faithful.  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.  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 the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given [Og, king of Bashan] into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

Numbers 21:21-35

But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given [Og, king of Bashan] into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land. Numbers 21:34-35

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 21:21-35 - God leads Israel into battle, as they defeat the armies of King Sihon and Og.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God is faithful (going all the way back to Genesis 15:18-21).  He rescued Israel from bondage in Egypt and directed Israel from the wilderness to the Promised Land and used Joshua and Caleb (see Numbers 14:6-9) to give confidence to the people that they should not fear the existing inhabitants - God is with them.  The text is once again explicit sharing how God spoke to Moses (and Israel) and told them not to fear Sihon, Og, and their armies.  God is more powerful than any earthly power and if it is His will to destroy them - He will.  For believers, Ephesians 6:12 clarifies how we are not [only] fighting against "flesh and blood, but against but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  We are directed to put on the "whole armor of God," which includes scripture, the Holy Spirit, etc.  Ultimately, we can take comfort knowing that He is saving a place for us in Heaven and the victory over sin and death is already won and our salvation is assured.          
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Since the Fall (Genesis 3), when sin entered the world, we experience violence, fear, sickness, death, etc.  We should not fear as Israel did in Numbers 14:10 when they sought to stone Joshua and Caleb for their confidence in the LORD.  We should bring our cares and concerns to the LORD (1 Peter 5:7).     
• 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 fear. Claim the promise that victory over sin and death is already won and salvation assured.  Follow the example of Joshua and Caleb who saw how God is with them and were confident.  Trust in God, and rest in how He is our strength and refuge.

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves, and You are my strength and refuge!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  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.

But my servant Caleb [and Joshua vv30, 38], because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

Numbers 14:20-38

But my servant Caleb [and Joshua vv30, 38], because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Numbers 14:24 [30, 38]

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 14:20-38 - the Lord responds to Moses' prayer of intercession on behalf of the people - He is full of righteous anger as He describes the punishment for those who do not trust in Him and instead grumble and complain.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Based on Moses' prayer in vv13-19, God relents from the punishment described in v12 to disinherit the people.  Yet God still plans punishment for those who did not trust and instead grumbled and complained - including those among the spies that shared a bad report from the promised land.  They (and their children will suffer until their parents die) will not be able to enter the promised land and will die in the wilderness (vv22-23, 29-30, 32-35).    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Unlike the spies and the people who did not trust God to fulfill His promise to give the people the promised land (by giving Israel victory over the existing inhabitants), Caleb and Joshua were men of a different spirit as they followed God fully.  This description in scripture reminds me of similar descriptions from scripture for not just David, but other men such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Job, and Daniel, among others (see Genesis 5:24, 6:9, 6:22, James 2:23, Job 1:1, Daniel 10:19, 1 Samuel 13:14).  While none of these men are perfect - no one is (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) - we do see for each of these men a portrait of Godliness where there is fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  See also this post on Job.  For Caleb and Joshua, it was trust in God.  For believers, we know that Jesus is faithful and that we can trust in Him - 2 Corinthians 1:20.
• 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 fear. Claim the promise that God is faithful.  Follow the example of Caleb, Joshua, Moses, David, Daniel, Enoch, Job, Abraham, Noah, etc. Trust God. He is with us always. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that is always with us and with You who can stand against us?  No one or no thing!  Thank You Jesus that You have already defeated sin and death and removed their sting.  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.

While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague.

 Numbers 11:31-35

While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague. Numbers 11:33

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 11:31-35 - we see God fulfilling His promise to punish the people who complained about their provisions of food and craved meat.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: On the backs of their grumbling and complaining -  see post from two days ago and yesterday - God fulfills His promise to provide meat (quail) - in a gluttonous amount - to the people who craved such meat.  While God did not specifically promise a plague and for them to die, God did express anger and promised consequences.  This leads one to believe that perhaps God was giving the people an opportunity to repent and seek mercy for their sin of complaining before He delivered on the promise of consequences.  Regardless of how one interprets the text, it is hard to deny that God was faithful - He was angry and promised consequences and these consequences came to pass.  Every promise of God finds their yes in Jesus - 2 Corinthians 1:20. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people suffered due to God's wrath and there is no record in the text that they repented.  You would expect that after such suffering that they would - those who remained and moved on to Hazeroth (v35).  Often we see only what we want to see and not see what God wants us to see.  God wants us to see His glory and how He saves.  He rescued Israel from bondage and led them through the wilderness and provided for them - yet they complained, focusing on their own expectations and not God's plans.  He was building a nation, and ultimately a church.  We should seek God and pray that He renews our mind (Romans 12:2) such that we can His will. 
• 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 missing what God is doing and focusing on how your circumstances don't meet expectations and then complaining or expressing frustration.  Claim the promise that God is always at work for good (Romans 8:28).  Follow the example of Paul who gave thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  Seek God and how He renews minds to align our thoughts and desires to be more like His.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  You are SO faithful and always at work for good.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save and are so faithful.  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.  

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 John 20:24-29

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 20:24-29, where, after the resurrection, Jesus appears to the disciples again - this time with Thomas, who did not believe that Jesus had rose from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God does not mind that we doubt - see also Jude 22-23 where we are encouraged to have mercy on those who doubt.  In this case, Jesus overcomes locked doors (not a difficult feat for God) to bring Thomas to faith.  Jesus uses this as a teaching moment to encourage belief in Jesus without full evidence - this is faith.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: All of us, like Thomas, have sufficient evidence to know that God exists - without excuse (general revelation) - see Romans 1:20. Yet many continue to doubt - if this is you, I would encourage you to lean into God because if You seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13) (special revelation).
• 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 testing God - see the latter remarks of this post. Claim the promise that Jesus is who He says He is - King of Kings, the Good Shepherd, and your personal Lord and Savior who has already defeated sin and death and rose again giving believers life now to the full and for eternity.  Follow the example of those who have not seen everything but believe - have faith.  Trust God's promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are my personal Lord and Savior and I know I can never be separated from Your love.  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.

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

 John 20:1-10

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. John 20:8-9

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 20:1-10, where we see the initial details of Jesus' resurrection.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus rose from the tomb (later starting in v14) - just as prophecy described and Jesus shared He would (see John 2:18-22). Jesus fulfills the law and is faithful to His promises. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Mary Magdalene, Peter and the other disciple seek Jesus, and we see the other disciple believe after entering the tomb and not seeing Jesus but only the burial clothes.  The other disciple had not yet "underst[ood] the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead, but he did now.  Also part of the text is how both Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb (v4) with the other disciple outrunning Peter to the tomb.  God wants us to run after Him - to seek Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind.  This is the most important commandment.  Here we see that the other disciple ran after and sought Jesus and Jesus' promise came true as do all of His promises - that if we seek Him with all of our heart, soul and mind we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
• 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 lack of trust in God.  Claim the promises that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him, and that all of the promises of God find their yes in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). Follow the example of Peter and the other example who ran after God.  Trust in Him as He is faithful.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  I am not deserving of how You save and are so faithful and bless...abundantly.  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.

This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

 John 18:25-32

 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. John 18:32

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 18:25-32, where we see the final details of Peter's denial of Jesus, and the initial details of Jesus brought before Pilate.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Other than v28, Jesus is not explicitly acting in the text - yet we must remember from John 1:1 that "[i]n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  All scripture points to Him and He fulfills all prophecy.  He is also always at work.  See also Colossians 1:15-17 where Jesus is Creator of all things and He holds all things together - either allowing or orchestrating the details.  V32 is key as Jesus' death by crucifixion at the hands of local Roman rule fulfills prophecy - see Matthew 20:19, Luke 18:32-33 as well as this Bible dictionary entry which discusses how this manner of death was not likely one used by the Jews. God is faithful and no word from Him will ever fail (Luke 1:37 NIV).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In contrast to Jesus, Peter in this instance - and all of humanity - cannot be counted on 100% of the time (John 13:37-38) based on the claim that he would lay down his life for Jesus which of course Peter did not do upon Jesus' arrest and trial - his comfort was more important as he was "warming" himself.  The text also describes the Jewish leaders seeking to put Jesus to death - an innocent man who was threatening their status and power - they were not concerned about their heart condition - full of envy, rage, anger, etc. They were only concerned about their external behaviors - not to be defiled (v28) and to avoid "put[ting] anyone to death" (v31).         
• 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 focus on external behaviors.  Claim the promise that Jesus is faithful 100% of the time.  Follow Jesus' example to surrender to God's will for your life.  Focus on heart condition by allowing Jesus to change you from the inside out.

Comment and discuss this post

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

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

 John 14:1-14

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 14:1-14, where Jesus once again emphasizes that Jesus and God the Father are One.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God does not want believers to be troubled - where He is going He is saving a place for us (in Heaven) and when He returns for second time He will take us there.  We should rest in this promise - see vv1-4.  In response to Thomas and Philip, Jesus shares in v6 that "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," and "no one comes to the Father except me," and that He and Father are One (vv7, 10-11) so if we know Jesus, we know the Father.  Jesus encourages us to believe (questions are OK but don't stop believing) - see vv11-12.  Jesus also shares that He wants believers to do the works that Jesus does - v12 - and "greater works than these [a believer] will do, because [Jesus] going to the Father."  Here Jesus reveals that the Holy Spirit will be with them and He will share more on this in vv15-31. Finally, in vv13-14, Jesus shares oft misinterpreted text on prayer - we should not view Jesus as a vending machine with our prayer.  Focus on understanding God's will for our lives as He transforms our heart and mind to think more like Him.  Then our prayers will be for His purpose - not our own.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The disciples are troubled because Jesus is sharing that He is leaving them (soon to be crucified) and they cannot join Him where He is going (at least not yet). Again, this is God revealing Himself to the disciples but there is still mystery to what and how this will occur.  Mystery is not reason to doubt God but to question Him and remain in Him, leaning on what you know is true and that He is faithful.  Thomas and Philip seek to understand but Jesus appears a bit frustrated with them because He feels by know they should know the answers to their questions (Thomas - how can we know the way - v5, Philip - show us the Father - v8).  
• 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 doubting God or disbelief because we do not fully understand what He is saying in scripture.  Claim the promise that Jesus is saving a place for us in Heaven.  Follow the example of Jesus who is faithful.  Believe.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves - and You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

Now no one at the table knew why [Jesus] said this to [Judas].

 John 13:21-30

Now no one at the table knew why [Jesus] said this to [Judas]. John 13:28

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 13:21-30, where Jesus shares how Judas will betray Him.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus loves all of His creation and it troubles Him when someone does not believe, follow Him, and surrender his life to Him be saved. V21 shares (emphasizing His authority via the words "[t]ruly, truly" at the same time) how Jesus was troubled as He prophecies that one of the disciples will betray Him.  When asked by one of the disciples who will betray Him, Jesus does not specifically name Judas as His betrayer, but in vv26-27, He gives them an obvious clue tipping off the disciples that His betrayer will be Judas.  Then, in v27, the text shares that "Satan entered into [Judas]", and Jesus tells Judas "[w]hat you are going to do, do quickly."  Jesus does not stop Judas from what He was going to do and He allows or orchestrates Satan influence and actions.      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The disciples at first do not know who will betray Jesus, but even though Jesus helps them understand that it will be Judas, their understanding of how this betrayal should work is incomplete - see vv28-29.  Believers should know that God is in everything, including allowing sin and brokenness' existence.  Judas was part of God's plan - but not in a positive way.  This is the mystery of God - why some are saved and why some are not - all in control by God (Ephesians 2:8).  What is not a mystery is that (1) God uses sinful and broken people as part of His plan, (2) every single one of us, believer or not, are sinful and broken, and (3) God knows all and we can trust that what He says will come to pass - He is faithful and He is Truth.  We don't know how God works (Isaiah 55:8) but we do know He is control of all details and nothing can stop His promises or plan.
• 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 sinful influences (and Satan entering you) in your life by understanding sin (read scripture).  Claim the promise that God is in everything, His Word is Truth, He is faithful, and what He says will come to pass.  Follow the example of Jesus to save as many as possible (all the disciples except Judas) and use a troubled spirit to urge you into action (Jude 22-23). Know and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd (vs Satan who is real). 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for saving me - I know this is not of my own doing.  Thank You for also protecting me from sinful influences.  I am not deserving of how You save and provide refuge.  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.

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

 John 4:46-54

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. John 4:50

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 4:46-54 using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: In response to the official who requested that Jesus "come down and heal his son who was ill," Jesus shares that "[u]nless you see signs and wonders you will not believe" (v48).  The order of events is key here as Jesus challenges the official to believe before he sees his son's healing.  God seeks faith in Him that He will deliver upon His promises as He is faithful (see 2 Corinthians 1:20).  In response, the official once again pleads with Jesus to come heal his son (v49).  Jesus then shares that "[g]o; your son will live."  The text then shares that the official then believed (v50) before he sees his son healed (vv51-53) - see a similar story in scripture where Jesus heals a centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10).  The text also shares that this the second sign from Jesus after he came from Judea to Galilee (v54). 
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People often want evidence or results before they believe - this is the nature of how the human mind works.  When Jesus makes claims that He saves or offers eternal life, for many this is a "bridge too far."  This is a hardened heart.  At the same time, many reach a point in their life where they are so desperate for what Jesus offers that they are prepared to believe Him and have faith - see also Psalm 42:1.  In the text, vv51-53 describes how the official returns home to learn that his son has been healed and the healing corresponds with the hour when Jesus told him that his son would be healed.  The official's faith started in v50 with faith in the "word" Jesus shared that his "son will live." In v53, faith in Jesus as His Lord and Savior then followed when he witnessed (at least heard of it) the miracle of his son's healing.  The official's faith and witness/testimony then became the basis for the faith of "all his household" (v53).
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not demand evidence of Jesus or put God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16).  Claim the promise that God is faithful.  Follow the example of the official and the centurion to have faith. Abide in Him to grow in your faith and to bear fruit - what He seeks from us.        

Comment and discuss this post

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

But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it....And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Mark 16:9-13

But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it....And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Mark 16:11, 13

I continue my study of Mark, focusing on Mark 16:9-13 as we read about the disciples unbelief in Jesus' resurrection.

Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: After His resurrection, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, who had been healed by Jesus as He had cast out from her seven demons - v9.  While the motive to appear to Mary first vs others may be difficult to discern from this text, we do know that Jesus recognizes the great generosity of Mary and other women "healed of evil spirits and infirmities" as they provided for Jesus and His ministry "out of their [great] means" (see Luke 8:2 and this Bible encyclopedia entry for Mary Magdalene).  Jesus then appears "in another form" to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus- v12.  We know from Luke 24:18 that one of these is Cleopas.
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Mary M goes to tell the disciples of Jesus' resurrection as they had been in mourning over His death - v10 - but they would not belief Mary M - v11. Cleopas and his traveling companion also share with the disciples that they saw the resurrected Jesus, but, again, even though the disciples had then been told this news now twice, they still did not believe the it- v13.  The disciples' unbelief reveals an incomplete understanding of and lack of faith in what Jesus had shared with them that He will rise after death (see John 2:19-21).    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Belief in the resurrection is core to the gospel - without it we are not saved.  We must claim the promise that the victory over sin and death is already won and that our faith and salvation provides eternal life with Jesus in Heaven. We must trust in God that He is faithful - that all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that is faithful - we can trust in You.  Thank You for my salvation and for the rest You provide based on Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.  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.

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

Mark 16:1-8

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:6-7

I continue my study of Mark, focusing on Mark 16:1-8.  

Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus inspires devotion, love and service as Mary Magdalene and Mary - Jesus' mother - go to the tomb where Jesus is buried to anoint Him with spices - vv1-2.  The angel in the tomb shares to Mary Magdalene and Mary that Jesus has risen - He is no longer in the tomb - vv6-7.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Mary Magdalene and Mary are alarmed at the scene they encounter both at the tomb entrance and in the tomb as the very large stone sealing the tomb had been rolled away - vv3-4 - and in the tomb Jesus was not there but an angel instead sharing that Jesus had risen - vv5-6.  While one may appreciate that this is alarming, we should also remember that Mary Magdalene and Mary had seen Jesus perform many miracles during His ministry time, and almost certainly had at least heard of Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11).  Mary Magdalene and Mary understood that Jesus had the power to raise Himself from the dead, but at this point fail to make the connection that Jesus had earlier that same week (Passion Week/Holy Week) shared that He would rise (see John 2:19-21). Although the angel tells Mary Magdalene and Mary to not be alarmed and that they will find Jesus "going before Peter and the disciples to Galilee" (v7), they are still trembling, astonished, afraid, and fled the tomb (v8).     
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): God does not want us to fear - do not fear.  This is a tough one because of course, although Jesus tells us that with Him we will overcome the world (John 16:33)- the temptation to fear is great. We should claim this promise that the victory over sin and death is already won.  We should obey God to abide in Him so that we can stand firm in the faith (John 15) and avoid fear...trust God (and His messengers such as the angel in the text).      

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves....You rose from the grave just as You promised You would and You are faithful to Your Word.  I am not deserving of what You did on the cross for me, for how You reveal Yourself to me in the Word, and for Your faithfulness.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Mark 10:1-12

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 10:1-12, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God is faithful - see also 2 Corinthians 1:20 - as His promises always come true. If God is faithful and we are made in His image and believers - through sanctification - become more like Him as they grow closer to Him in their journey as believers, then believers are expected and commanded to be faithful to what He expects from them.  Of course this only happens through God and the Holy Spirit, but nonetheless God wants faithfulness from us, in our devotion to Him first and foremost, then to our spouses in our marriages.  See v5 for a wrongful interpretation of God's commands for divorce and then see vv6-9 and vv11-12 for His desire and commands for what He seeks.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Unbelievers seek to justify their lack of faith by using reason, often twisting scripture to bend it to their interpretation but fail to test scripture with other scripture, avoiding what John Piper shares is "isolating" one text by not seeing how it relates and is supported (and not "out of step") by text elsewhere.  We must study ALL scripture and see how it points to Jesus and how it supports the broad narrative of the gospel - the books of the Bible are not standalone works but par of this broader gospel narrative.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): If we marry, we should remain married to one spouse for a lifetime.  We should avoid twisting one text seeking our own interpretation - instead test scripture with scripture.  God is faithful so we should be faithful.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and created my marriage to Lisa - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You bless through marriage.  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. 

He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3:31-35

He answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 3:31-35, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God seeks to create a family of believers whose bond is stronger than that of bloodlines.  Our love of God is more important than our love of others, including family.  Describing to the apostles the coming persecution they will face, Jesus shares how we can count on Him but be aware that even family will let you down and may indeed also be part of this coming persecution (Matthew 10:21). Bonds between those who share a love of Jesus and seek to do the will of God are stronger than than any other including with family.  God seeks for us to surround ourselves with other believers that can encourage, pray, and support one another in their journey with Christ, particularly during times of hardship and persecution.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People will let us down.  It's not that we can't love them and form relationships with them, it's just that we should be aware that all sin, even in the church. First and foremost we should trust in Him.  We should be aware and remain humble that even in the church we are all broken and sinful and this should drive us into the arms of Jesus seeking to know and love Him more.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey)?: Family is important, but we should place Christ first, above all, including in marriages. We can also claim the promise that Jesus unlike any other, including family, Jesus will always be faithful and never let us down or disappoint us in any way and He will never leave or forsake us.  We should be mindful of the corollary which is that we should avoid placing our trust in family or others  above Christ.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion, pouring out mercies ceaselessly and every morning. I know You will never leave or forsake me and You have saved me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 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. 

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

 Haggai 2:1-5

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. Haggai 2:4-5

I continue my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a unassisted review of Haggai 2:1-5, which the commentary outlines as the first division for Haggai 2:1-9. More encouragement delivered through Haggai from the Lord!  In chapter 1 we see God express His disappointment and anger in Israel as they focus on their own lives while the temple lies in disrepair and ruin.  He works in the hearts of leadership and the people and they turn towards the Lord and begin work on the temple - and God shares how He is with them.  Encouraging!  Here in chapter 2, the Lord continues to encourage the governor, the high priest and the people.  He first encourages them to remember the former glory of the temple (v4).  All believers should have top of mind all that God has done, not just in our own lives but everywhere throughout redemptive history.  Our hearts should be filled with gratitude as we recall all that God has done and we should draw nearer to God stay there - in fellowship with Him.  God then encourages us to be strong - there is hard work ahead of Israel to rebuild the temple - there will be days when they grow weary or are otherwise discouraged or afraid to proceed - in the face of this God is with them (vv4-5).  God says to be strong and fear not - the people are to recall God's faithfulness as He shares the covenant He made with them as they left bondage in Egypt - leading them to the promised land. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a faithful God, always keeping Your promises and You are always with me, and I can never be separated from Your love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.”

 Haggai 1:13

Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.”  Haggai 1:13

I continue my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is commentary-assisted review of Haggai 1:13, which outlines this verse as both the the first and subdivision of 1:13-15 and for this morning I explore the second subdivision from the commentary which is entitled The Lord Promises His Presence to His People to Stir Them to Obedience. Excerpts from the commentary for this second subdivision:

• "What is this promise that God felt so compelled to declare to His people? Simply put, He promises that He is with them. This is no small thing. This promise indicates a change in tone from the Lord. The people were disobedient, so He compelled them to obey. Then they turned from their sin and embraced righteousness, so God immediately began to affirm them and His presence among them. He is with them, and He will be with them. This is a promise of comfort, it is a promise of blessing, and most of all, it is the promise of grace."
• We should be greatly comforted for how God declares that He is with us not just at any moment in time but always as scripture repeatedly shares how God is with this.  The commentary points us to Deuteronomy 31:6, but there are others including Matthew 28:20 where Jesus commands His disciples to go out into the world to deliver the gospel (The Great Commission) sharing "I am with you always, to the end of the age."  See also Romans 8:38-39 where Paul shares that nothing can separate believers from the love of God. 
• The commentary describes moments of weakness we are all apt to have, including where Peter disavows knowing Jesus after Jesus' arrest that night in the garden of Gethsemane. In these moments we should lean on and take strength being confident in how God is with us always.  "God is with us, and He will conquer evil in the end. This confidence allows Christians to be like no other group throughout history and to thrive even when we are seemingly being defeated."
• Christ's resurrection gives us confidence that ultimately we will defeat both sin and death and be with Jesus eternally. 
• The commentary describes how this verse also emphasizes God's grace and how we should always know how faithful God is and how His grace never ends - despite our sin. See also 1 Timothy 1:15 and Romans 5:8. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and the promise of Your love and grace and how we can never be separated from Your love and grace is incredible - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  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.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

Ecclesiastes 7:14-25

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. Ecclesiastes 7:14

I resume my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. Building on my study yesterday, my focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 7:14-25 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the first division of the commentary: God Has a Design for Everything. Clearly, Solomon's text in v14 describes how God designed and has providence over both prosperity and adversity - God is in both and we should see God at work in both.  The text also shares how this should humble humanity such that - apart from God - we should not think with any certainty we know what happens to us after we die. Yet for believers we know we have eternal life as God promises this and He is faithful.  Surrender your life to Jesus Christ - be saved from sin now and for eternity. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - I know all things come from You and that You are in all circumstances.  Thank You for using all circumstances to make me more like You.  I am broken without You.  Your grace is amazing indeed.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of the grace and blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

James 4:13-16

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16

I continue a pause of my study of Ecclesiastes to study James 4:13-4:17 (primarily vv13-16).  Recognizing that the text focuses on pride, and that my posts this week on this text have explored pride in more detail, its important to explore and understand what to do about pride, so this morning I turn to what John Piper refers to in his DesiringGod.com post The Remedy for Pride. Piper starts by describing a slippery slope as he warns that "[w]hen you take three categories of temptation to self-reliance — wisdom, power, and riches — they form a powerful inducement toward the ultimate form of pride; namely, atheism."  Referencing Psalm 10:4, Piper bluntly states: "[u]ltimately, the proud must persuade themselves that there is no God." Prideful people get to this place because as Piper describes "[p]ride cannot tolerate the intimate involvement of God in running the universe, let alone the detailed, ordinary affairs of life."  Piper admonishes us for the little things that may lead to pride such as ending a social interaction with a friend or co-worker "see you tomorrow."  If we say these things without a humble posture that it is God alone who either wills this or not, this is when we get into trouble and start down the slippery slope.  Pointing back to the text in James, Piper then shares "James says that not believing in the sovereign rights of God to manage the details of your future is arrogance." 

Piper then moves to describe how to battle arrogance and pride.  

1. "yield to the sovereignty of God in all the details of life"
2.  "rest in his infallible promises to (a) show himself mighty on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9)", (b) "pursue us with goodness and mercy every day (Psalm 23:6)", (c) "work for those who wait for him (Isaiah 64:4), and to (e) equip us with all we need to live for his glory (Hebrews 13:21)."  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is in control of all things and You give me breath today and most importantly my salvation....thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings...no I am not...not by a long shot.  My sin continues every single day.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You to receive the mercies only You can pour out.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me grow in my faith and become more like You every day.  Take me I am Yours.  Please provide 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.