And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Mark 4:21-34

And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I continue a focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:21-34, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers three divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) divisions of the text (vv30-34): 

• The text includes the Parable of the Mustard Seed, which is an analogy also used in Matthew 17:20 where Jesus describes how faith as small as a mustard seed can "move mountains." Per the commentary here for vv30-32: "[a]t the beginning a small seed is sown. But soon the small seed explodes in growth. It produces something completely out of proportion to itself. Likewise, from small and meager beginnings, God’s kingdom will expand and grow for all to see. What began as the smallest becomes the greatest! Unlike His first coming, when Christ returns, all the world will see as He surpasses all the earth’s kingdoms in power, glory, and majesty. What an encouraging word for those who think they labor in vain, who endure rejection and persecution, and who may even experience martyrdom!"  
• While less clear, the commentary sees the reference to birds nesting in the shade of the mustard growth as "nations enter[ing] and enjoy[ing]" this rest - we are referred to Psalm 104:12, Ezekiel 17:23, 31:6, and Daniel 4:9-21 for additional scripture how branches represent faith and provide rest and refuge. "This is a parable of growth and grace, of joy and celebration." 
• Based on vv33-34, the commentary winds down with an application for us to draw near to Jesus: "For the tenth time in chapter 4, the importance of hearing is noted. “As they were able to understand” implies that the parables either enlighten or obscure, depending on one’s ability to hear and respond. He purposely chose this teaching method, knowing what would happen. However, to those who drew close to Jesus as His disciples, He explained everything. Only in close communion and connection to Jesus can one understand “the language about God” (Edwards, Mark, 146). Draw close to Jesus and you get more of Him and His Father; draw back from Jesus and you lose both Him and the Father (2 John 9)."  
• The commentary's conclusion for this chapter then points to end times and how the mustard seed of faith will be in full glory per Revelation 7:9-10.

For those of who often struggle seeing how our faith produces fruit or how prayers get answered, we should be encouraged by Mark 4:21-34.  I have seen with my own eyes how God worked in me. Yes, we all experience spiritual deserts and feel as if we are wandering in the wilderness - but we can be comforted in knowing that God never leaves or forsakes us, and just as He did for Israel as a cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22), He leads, directs and is working in all things for good (Romans 8:28) for those who love Him.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion, providing rest and refuge, never leaving or forsaking me, directing and leading me, and You are always at work for good.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings and of course for my salvation.  I am not deserving of such love and compassion and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Mark 3:22-30

He called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mark 3:23-27

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:23-27, which is the text for the second (of three) division of 3:22-30 per the commentary. Excerpts from the commentary for the second division:

•  "Jesus gives a parable. Satan is the “strong man,” and Jesus is the One breaking into his house, his realm, to bind and plunder. Satan is indeed a strong man in this world. His house is a house of horrors, filled with sin, sickness, death, demon possession, and all that is evil and wicked. His possessions are human beings, enslaved by all these evils. Demons are his agents who delight in carrying out his diabolical agenda. No one but Jesus can invade his realm and carry away his possessions. No one but Jesus is more powerful than this strongman."
• "Jesus’ point is that He has come, and He can and will bind Satan. This is what Jesus is doing and will do climactically at the cross."   

Believers can take great comfort that Jesus sets free - not just in this life but for eternity.  All are slave to something and all of humanity is slave to sin and condemned for eternity.  Yet Jesus came to set free those who believe in Him - for eternity.  These eternal benefits can be enjoyed now knowing that this life is not the end.  Additionally, we have Jesus in our hearts through the Holy Spirit and with His Word and this gives what we need to remain steadfast in our faith.  See also Matthew 7:24-27.  Build Your house on The Rock!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are the Rock that can never be shaken and I can place my faith in You because You lead me into green pastures and provide and of course save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You have already defeated sin and death - 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.  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. 

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Genesis 50

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

This morning, as I am in between studies - just ended study of Jude and my next study is TBD - I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today uses the life of Joseph to illustrate how faith helps produce patience.  For those familiar with Joseph's story, you know that Joseph (starting in Genesis 37) endured several hardships where he was solid into slavery and ultimately wrongly accused of a crime and imprisoned in Egypt.  However, Joseph did not resort to anger (which might lead to seeking revenge) towards those who wronged him.  Instead, he turned to God, who calls us, regardless of our circumstances, to trust Him.  In Potiphar's household, it says that the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:2-6).  While imprisoned, Joseph rightly shares that his gift of interpreting dreams is from God (Genesis 40:8 and 41:16).  When Joseph comes face to face with his brothers that originated his suffering, Joseph once again shares how God worked through this suffering for good...in his life and in the lives of his brothers (Genesis 45:5-7 and 50:20). The devotion emphasizes the key for Joseph (and for us all) and poses a challenge to us: "[w]hat would have been the key to patience for Joseph during all those long years of exile and abuse? The answer is: faith in God’s sovereign, future grace — the sovereign grace of God to turn the unplanned place and the unplanned pace into the happiest ending imaginable. That’s the key to our patience as well. Do we believe that God is working for us in the strangest and most painful turns of our lives?"

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always at work - thank You Jesus for this and for never leaving or forsaking me.  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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

I continue my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning, on week 3-day 5, my focus is a deeper review of 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 with the assistance of DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book (Lab) "Peaceful Relations Are Precious, Not Ultimate, 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18, Part 1" to unpack the text. In the lab, John Piper first describes how in v16, Paul refers to Jesus as the "the Lord of peace" noting that no where else in scripture do we have this description of Jesus.  Piper breaks down this description of Jesus in two ways: (1) Jesus is Himself peace, he is not in tumult or inner conflict, he is in perfect harmony; (2) Jesus loves to make peace, it is in His nature to bring about peace, His flesh was torn so that we can have peace - see also Ephesians 2:14-17, Colossians 1:19-20. Second, Piper describes the prayer Paul offers in vv16-18 as Paul prays that Jesus gives peace to the church in Thessalonica.  This is key because as Piper describes Paul expects tension in the church as he commands them earlier in the chapter to confront idleness in the church - there were some in the church who viewed (falsely) that the end times were near so they need not work.  Piper then shares how this is an example where comfortable and peaceful relations in the church are not the ultimate value - greater things such as obedience have higher value - we are referred to Philippians 4:6-9.  Then Paul moves to assuage concerns about false letters and forgeries first raised in 2 Thessalonians 2:2 as he attests to the "genuineness" of his letter.  Piper concludes the lab by looking at Paul's salutation in vv17-18. Piper emphasizes how Paul begins all of his 13 letters in the New Testament with "grace to you" and ends with "grace with you" and Piper suggests that this is done to remind readers of the letter that the letter is the inspired Word of God and the reading is grace flowing to readers and as it remains with you and in your heart (grace with you) - and this grace goes with you not just on Sundays but every day for the rest of your life.

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

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter five - Unshakable Contentment Whether Abased or Abounding.  Here, John Piper describes how Paul endures and perseveres through immense sufferings, remaining content with his circumstances and refusing to grumble and complain. Piper first starts with how Paul was at one point almost brought to death, but recognized that his suffering had purpose and it was God's purpose.  We are referred to 1 Corinthians 1:8-10 for the text where this is described.  Piper then makes this statement about the "truth Paul believed about his suffering— no   matter how severe— was that it came ultimately with God’s purpose, and the purpose was that Paul would trust himself less and trust God more, every moment of his life, especially as death approached.*"  Piper continues on this topic by moving to the key to how Paul avoided grumbling and complaining about his suffering - we are referred to Romans 5:3-5 where Paul sees how God is - according to Piper - "producing endurance and God-saturated hope.*" Even when Paul sensed his suffering could lead to death Piper describes how Paul shared how this did not move him to grumble or complain - we are referred to 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 where Paul tells us that he focused on what was awaiting him in Heaven...an "eternal weight of glory." As Piper wraps up the chapter, he sums up - by pointing to Philippians 4:11-13 - how Paul had found the secret to contentment.  Additional scripture references are provided, including Philippians 3:8 (all satisfying presence and worth of Christ) and Philippians 1:12 and Romans 8:28 (God works all things for his good).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and there are times when I have experienced suffering and You saw me through it and I know there will be more suffering before my life ends and I know You will never leave or forsake me and work in me to produce hope....thank You Jesus for how You bless me.  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.

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at questions many believers have, which is how can I be assured that once God chooses me as one of His elect that I will also endure and persevere such that I can have final salvation.  Piper frames the question this way: "[t]he Bible speaks of our election — God’s choosing us — in Christ before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:4) before we had done anything good or evil (Romans 9:11). Therefore, our election is unconditional in the strictest sense. Neither our faith nor our obedience is the basis of it. It is free and utterly undeserved. On the other hand, dozens of passages in the Bible speak of our final salvation (as opposed to our election in eternity past) as conditional upon a changed heart and life." Piper answers this question, using 2 Peter 1:10, Deuteronomy 30:6, and Ezekiel 36:27, by sharing that election is the start of God working in my heart and life, and it is not the end as God.  God will cause and bring about obedience to Him and continue the sanctifying work over the course of your earthly journey with Christ. Piper wraps the devotion by writing: "[e]lection is God’s eternal commitment to do this for his people. So, election guarantees that those whom God justifies by faith he will most assuredly glorify (Romans 8:30). This means that he will unfailingly work in us all the conditions laid down for glorification." Important question and encouraging indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking me and for the ongoing work of sanctification in my heart and life.  I am not deserving of such blessings and love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin by turning to You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

I pause both my study of Hebrews and Daniel to listen to and reflect on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional for today, where John Piper seeks to encourage believers to use Paul's words in Romans 8:32 as we struggle to "thrive, or perhaps even survive, as a Christian, in the pressures and temptations of modern life." Of course the takeaway is for us to trust God, have peace knowing that God never stops working for our good, even during the most challenging of times.  Piper goes on to share: "...God is taking every setback and every discouragement and every controversy and every pressure and every pain, and stripping it of its destructive power, and making it work for the enlargement of my joy in God." Be encouraged, trust God, and experience the peace of God knowing he gives us everything.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me everything - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You never leave or forsake me, and You are always at work giving me all that I need.  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.  

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

Daniel 6

 So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:23

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 6 and my unaided observations of this chapter.  Here, we see a powerful earthly sin at work - envy and jealousy.  In v1-9 we see Daniel growing in power and status within Babylonia under King Darius, so we see men in Darius' court working to undermine Daniel by getting Darius to unwittingly issue a new law that forces all within the kingdom to worship only Darius.  What is interesting here is how the high officials did not see Daniel do anything wrong, so they came up with a scheme they knew could trap him even though he was otherwise blameless (see v5). Of course, Daniel knew about the law but this did not stop him from openly pursuing worship of the One True God - regardless of how this may be against any earthly or secular law (see v10).  Darius liked Daniel but he felt trapped - he had to enforce the new law, regardless of how he unwittingly agreed to it.  He even prayed to God that Daniel be delivered from the punishment - the lions den (see v16).  Of course, God does rescue Daniel (see v21-23).  The text remarks how no harm was found on Daniel "because he had trusted in his God (v23)."  Darius Those who sought to take Daniel down - and their entire families - were harshly punished as they were thrown into the lions den and not rescued by God (see v24). V26-27 is important to note how Darius praises God for how he rescued God:

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” v25-27

Darius' words seem to be inspired by the Holy Spirit!  Indeed we SHOULD tremble and fear God as His kingdom lasts forever, and His works are incredible and miraculous - and of course He saves!  

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

But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.

Daniel 3

 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Daniel 3:18

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 3 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this chapter.  Of course, the key theme of this chapter is how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago hold firm to their faith, and demonstrate supernatural courage to deny the proclamation that upon hearing the associated music, all shall fall down and worship the image of gold set up by King Nebuchadnezzar.  The commentary notes how, although at the end of chapter two Nebuchadnezzar praises God, such praise was "a shallow and surface praise."  It also notes how Daniel's interpretation of the dream included a vision of how Nebuchadnezzar represented the head of statue and was gold, and how in chapter 3 the commentary notes that Nebuchadnezzar "suggests that Nebuchadnezzar did not accept God’s will that he was only the head of gold and a temporary king. He wanted it all; therefore, he set up a great gold statue ninety feet high by nine feet wide, gold plated from head to toe (v. 1)." The commentary then pivots to the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago to withstand the temptation to worship idols, even when such temptation puts our lives at risk. It shares: "It takes courage not to compromise, and your mind needs to be made up before the pressure comes. If you wait until “the moment of truth,” you may find out it is too late." The commentary then discusses how the fourth man in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago was a "preincarnate appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God. The Lord was in there with them. The God who did not deliver them from the fire was the God who met them in the fire and delivered them out of the fire!" We are encouraged to see how in the Bible, it is clear how God never leaves or forsakes us: Exodus 3:6,12; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 8:37-39; Hebrews 13:5; and 1 Peter 4:12-14. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who never leaves or forsakes us - even when things are very difficult, You never leave us.  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.

As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1

 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17

I continue my pause of a study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. Today my focus is Daniel 1 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this book.  Here, the commentary for Daniel 1 emphasizes a number of key themes, including:

1. God May Sovereignly Send You to a Difficult Place to Spread His Name among the Nations (v1-3)
2. Be Prepared for the Challenges Non-Christian Cultures Will Throw at You to Lead You Away from God (v3-7)
3. Determine Early in Your Life and Heart That You Will Not Compromise Your Convictions and Commitments to God (v8-13)
4. Trust God to Honor Your Devotion and Faithfulness to Him (v14-21)

It shares how believers may find ourselves in challenging places, both figuratively and literally, and how we should "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2) and how we are “not [to] be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).  Daniel and his companions hold firm to their faith and remain obedience, despite the pressure to conform to Babylonian culture while in the service of Nebuchadnezzar's palace.  Believers of today are reminded of similar challenges today. The commentary wraps by sharing how Daniel was a foretaste of Jesus: Daniel and his companions "beautifully typify another Hebrew who will arrive six hundred years later who was also sent to a foreign land to bear witness to the one true God—a Jew by the name of Jesus." Believers should be encouraged by Daniel's example and how God provided for him and his companions and blessed them in their obedience, despite the challenging circumstances.  

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My Prayer: Lord You are good - Your mercies are new every morning, and You provide for all of my needs - and You never leave or forsake me...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:35

I pause my study of Proverbs and Isaiah to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today focuses on how Romans 8:35 describes the inseparable nature of God's "present and powerful love" towards believers. John Piper describes this love as present and powerful based on three reasons:

1. "Christ is loving us now."
2. Christ protects His bride - believers and the church (according to Romans 8:28) - no matter what.
3. "This omnipotent, effective, protecting love does not spare us from calamities in this life, but brings us safely through them to everlasting joy with God."

Believers should be encouraged this morning to see this love of Christ, from which we are inseparable, as not some ephemeral or intangible love, but as real and significant.  

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

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

Proverbs 8

In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:26-27

I continued my study of Proverbs, moving deeper into chapter 8. Today, the questions of my study focus one how wisdom is an attribute of God, how wisdom (God's Word) is more valuable than any earthly treasure, and how humility and a desire to please God drive us into His arms to seek Him and His wisdom. The commentary for this chapter of my study includes thoughts on how God offers wisdom to the undeserving, rewards and blessings for those who seek wisdom, and life and favor to those who find God.  The commentary also includes a discussion of how gates, throughout scripture, served to separated those who believe in God and those who do not. John Piper reminds us how, with Christ, we have direct access to the Father - what a comfort and encouragement!  Be encouraged!  Go to God in prayer!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of compassion and grace for me - You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great - gossip, etc. 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. 

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.”

Isaiah 47-50

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!  Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” Isaiah 48:17-19

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 18 day 2, which focuses on Isaiah 48. My commentary offers the following divisions for this chapter:

1. The sovereign God predicts and works history to win His stubborn people (v1-8)
2. The patient God refines His people for His glory and our benefit (v9-11)
3. The eternal God will bring Cyrus to achieve His purpose (v12-16)
4. The loving God will send another to redeem His people (v16-22)

All believers can identify to some degree as "obstinate" (v4) in one or more areas of their life, but we have a God that is full of grace and compassion for us - saving us DESPITE what we do and who are. God's words to us in v17-19 are all the more special as we recognize how once we became believers we see the truth in these verses. I see four blessings and promises of God as a result of faith and trust in God: (a) God leads us, (b) He gives us peace, (c) many descendants, and (d) He never leaves or forsakes us

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me, and who is full of grace and compassion for me - despite who I am and what I have done (and will continue to do).  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for the gift of faith and salvation.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.]

Isaiah 42-44

He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.] Isaiah 42:2-3

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I move on to Lesson 16, Day 3a, where the focus remains on Isaiah 42, largely on v1-9 where we examine the subject of these verses, and of course it is Jesus.  My study encourages me to see how Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, pointing to Matthew 12:15-21, where Jesus says as much pointing back to Isaiah 42:1-3. As I read this morning these verses, I struggled to fully understand the intent of how Jesus does not "cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.]"  I leaned on John Piper to deepen my understanding and here is Piper (in the broader context of a message on the Pleasures of God) on these verses as he describes (using Jonathan Edwards words): the "excellencies" of Jesus (emphasis added): 

"[T]his servant, in whom the Father so fully delights, is so gentle that if he finds your wick, the wick of your little candle of faith, just smoldering — it’s not even making any light; it’s just smoke — he extinguish you but gently blow on your to light the flame again. That’s tenderness. There’s a grass that grows in Georgia that could be six feet tall. You could break it at the bottom and make a spear. If you hit one of them in the middle, you know it’s just going to flop over. If Jesus finds you that way, he’s not going to but you down. He props you up. A bruised reed, he will not break.

On the one hand, we have a majesty that is breathtaking. He made the world. He upholds the world. On the other hand, you have the most intimate, tender, kind, gentle, patient, loving, sweet, warm, breathe-on-your-wick friend, and the Father delights in that. It really makes God happy when he sees that.

One of the most moving sermons I have ever read on the excellencies of Christ is by Jonathan Edwards. Edwards argues that for us and for God, what makes Christ so delightful, so satisfying is not just his majesty and not just his meekness. It’s the conjunction of many diverse excellencies. It’s that way with people isn’t it? If you meet a masculine man and he’s all man, he’s not a very impressive fellow. He must have some feminine traits. If you meet a woman and she’s all feminine, she’s not impressive either. She needs some masculine traits."

What a perfect and amazing God we have!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me - You are a great encouragement - supernatural encouragement!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the encouragement and hope You provide.  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.

Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

 Isaiah 36-39

Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Isaiah 36:16-17

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I continue with Lesson 14, looking at Day 2, which looks specifically at Isaiah 36.  Core to Isaiah 36 is how King Sennacherib of Assyria sends Rabshakeh to meet with representatives sent by King Hezekiah of Judah. Rabshakeh mocks both Judah and the Lord and it is the manner in which Rabshakeh does his mocking of Judah and the Lord that is instructive for believers.  My commentary offers great insights here.  Rabshakeh uses God's own words (v10) where it is true that Assyria was led by God to invade Judah (for its sin), and just as Satan does, tries to tempt and entice Judah into submission through a promise of prosperity.  This is how Satan works - by tempting us with empty promises. It is God-alone that gives us prosperity, peace, etc. and He can also take it away.  We should certainly not expect prosperity (we all sin and the wages of sin are death (Romans 3:23, 6:23) - in fact Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that we are to expect trouble, and in the same message, Jesus offers us peace through Him that ultimately we will overcome these troubles because of eternal life in Heaven with Jesus.  I am reminded of how Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4) but does not fall for Satan's empty promises.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You offer what none other can - peace, patience, kindness, love, joy, etc. - all the fruits of the Spirit.  Most importantly, You offer eternal life - the greatest gift of all time - for all that repent and turn to You. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of any of these blessings or gifts. My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me and help me turn from these 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.

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out....My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:3, 27

This morning, I pause my study of Isaiah to listen to DesiringGod.com's daily devotion.  Here, John Piper emphasizes how God knows believers fully and intimately - this includes all of our sin and brokenness. This should be highly encouraging because we all want to be loved just as we are.  God does have an expectation that we submit to Him and He will refine and sanctify us, and this may be at times a painful process, but this process is good and for God's glory (and we exist for God's glory). We know that God never leaves or forsakes us, and if we seek Him, we will find Him. We should also approach God confidently.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God - You know everything about me, including my sin and brokenness, yet You still love me - incredible.  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin is great, it is daily, 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.

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon.

Isaiah 33-36:10

O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble. At the tumultuous noise peoples flee; when you lift yourself up, nations are scattered, and your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, it is leapt upon. Isaiah 33:2-4

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I begin Lesson 13, starting with Day 1, which starts with a read of a high level read of all chapters/verses in the lesson, a prompting for our initial thoughts on these chapters, including how Isaiah chapters 1-35 come to a close.  My commentary discusses how Judah's attempts to save itself by leaning on its own efforts (tributes and alliances with both Assyria and Egypt) have failed, leaving Judah no where else to turn except to God. The commentary states: "[h]ow greatly does turning to God as a last resort dishonor the one who should be our first and only Savior! But God lowers himself and accepts it." There are times in our lives when we feel so broken and abandoned, sapped of strength, etc. God seeks for all of us to seek refuge in Him - of course He wants us to seek Him first.  But God is full of grace and compassion and just like with the prodigal son, God welcomes those back who repent and seek Him. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - You loved me while I was still sinning, You love me despite my ongoing sin, and You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is daily 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.

His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,” declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 30-32

His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,” declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem. Isaiah 31:9

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I completed Lesson 12, wrapping with Day 5 and a review of the lesson in its entirety.  As I review, God's attributes as fire are particularly convicting.  Of course, based on my post a couple of days ago, my commentary for Isaiah notes how, for believers, God's love provides warmth and care.  Fire is also a symbol of God's presence and how God led the Israelites out of Egypt through the wilderness - see Exodus 13. We also have God as a sanctifying and refining fire - see also Malachi 2:2-3 and this post on DesiringGod.com.  Of course, for God's enemies, including Satan and death, God is a destructive fire.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, cares for me, never leaves or forsakes me and who protects me from harm - I know You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and 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. 

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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.

...[S]uddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

Acts 16

...[S]uddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. Acts 16:26

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on how believers can endure through difficulties through faith.  Piper, using the story of Paul and Silas' arrest and imprisonment in Acts 16 to illustrate, seeks for us to see how whatever challenges we face, God's care for us is always present.  In Acts 16, although Paul and Silas suffered through an arrest and beating, they were ultimately freed - it was their faith that saw them through.  This is what Piper refers to in the title of today's devotional - "delayed deliverance."  In Isaiah 55:8, God says:

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

The message God wants us to hear from this verse, and from other verses throughout scripture, is that we may not see God in our present circumstances, but is always with us - He says so in Matthew 28:20 where He says:

"I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Returning to the devotion, Piper seeks for us to see how God may delay His deliverance for us but it WILL come...even if it means we see it upon death.  Piper wraps the devotional by pointing us to Revelation 2:10:

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  I know that You will never leave or forsake me - during good or difficult times. Thank You Jesus for never leaving of forsaking me.  I am not deserving of Your love and the salvation You provide.  My sin is daily and it is great. 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.