Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1-6 

Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1

I move closer to the end of my study of Hebrews, as I start reading chapter 13 - the final chapter of this book.  In the text today - 13:1-6, we see a number of commands related to how we are to love others and treasure God above all.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  God loves everyone and seeks to save as many as possible, because all are fallen and are in need of Savior.  To this end, God wants believers to show hospitality to strangers (vv1-2), to love and serve those who are in prison and mistreated, and to honor the marriage bond by avoiding sexual immorality and adultery - vv3-4.  We must value and treasure God above all, and the text explicitly and specifically seeks for us to avoid the love of money and instead to "be content with what you have" (v5a). Vv5b-6 quotes Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5 and Psalm 118:6 as promises to encourage us to be content as God gives us all that we need, is always with us, and is our refuge and rock.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We are prone to seek our own selfish desires vs loving and serving others.  The hurts and needs in the world around us are staggering - thus God wants us to love Him first then others (2nd most important commandment).  We must put aside and deny ourselves of our selfish desires and go to where the needs are and serve those in need - let brotherly love continue. 
• 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 the love of money (or anything else where you treasure that something above Him).  Claim the promises that God will never leave or forsake you and that the Lord is your helper.  Follow the example of those who love and serve others, including those who go into the prisons and serve those who are mistreated.  Love God, then love others.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who will never leave or forsake me, and You are my helper.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  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.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

 John 16:1-15

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 16:1-15, where the text returns to the Holy Spirit as Jesus seeks to prepare the disciples for His pending crucifixion and their persecution as they follow in His footsteps to share the gospel.  This preparation is simultaneously unsettling and comforting.   Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1 is a transitional statement as Jesus knows that while the disciples will face momentary lapses of faith (we all do), He knows the remaining ones (all but Judas) will remain faithful to the mission He lays out before them.  There will be persecution and difficult times ahead, but if they remain in Him, and Him in them (John 15:1-10), if they love one another and remain unified (John 15:12-13, 17), and if they know the Holy Spirit (the Helper) will be with them (John 15:26), they will not fall away.  V2-4, 12 lays the groundwork for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and how the disciples’ will share in His suffering.  The disciples are more equipped to hear some of this difficult message now at this point in the gospel.  Yet, even now, God does not fully reveal Himself, as He only reveals Himself to us in ways that are intentional – God has a plan, His own timing, and both are perfect. V5-11, 13-15 expands on the coming of the Holy Spirit (the Helper) and by describing it as an encouragement and equal to God and the Father.
  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In v1, we must see how people fall away – this of course does not mean if you truly abide in Him and Him in you that you can lose your salvation.  However, it does mean that if you were never truly in Him and Him in you then you can fall away.  This is both a warning and encouragement to know God and to build a relationship with Him.  In vv5-7, Jesus states to the disciples that He is going back to the Father (the disciples don’t fully understand this, but they can grasp how He is leaving them), and then because He knows that this will be discouraging, and because He knows this will weaken their faith as they will be more prone to sinful behavior, He offers them the Helper as an “advantage” for them.  In vv8-11 we see how those who do not believe in Jesus will face eternal condemnation.  V12 emphasizes how God’s ways and thoughts are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8), so He only reveals to us based on His timing and how He seeks to equip us.
• 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 falling away – abide in Him, and Him in you. Claim the promise of the Holy Spirit as the Helper that He provides to guide us into all the truth (v13).  Follow the example of those who believe in Him and see the Helper as an equal person of the Triune God.  Remember the Word of God – v4 – so that when we face persecution we can take comfort knowing that Jesus told us we would and that He provides the Helper to reassure us that He is still with us. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves, and give us the Holy Spirit to withstand hate and persecution.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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 the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

 John 14:15-31

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 14:15-31, where Jesus shares how He will be providing the Holy Spirit to help believers perform the mission God puts in front of them.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V15 (see also vv21, 23) shares that God sees obedience to His commandments as a demonstration of love for Him. This squares with 1 John 5:2-3 where the text says the same thing and goes further by describing His commandments as "not burdensome."  In Vv16-17, Jesus shares that He is providing "another Helper, to be with you forever."  The Holy Spirit (explicitly called as such in v26) "dwells with you and will be in you."  In v18, Jesus emphasizes how this offers believers great encouragement as we are "not [left] as orphans and [He] will come to us."  God's love for us is promised for faithful believers in v21.  The Holy Spirit is of course not available to those who do not believe - see Judas' questioning and Jesus' response in vv22-23.  In v25, the Holy Spirit promises to teach us "all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."  Jesus also promises peace in v27.  Jesus will soon be arrested and go to the cross but Jesus does not want the disciples to be anxious or fearful as He is returning to the Father - v28.  He prophecies His "going away" and how the Holy Spirit will come so that the disciples believe - v29.  In vv30-31 Jesus shares that Satan is soon to arrest and kill Him, but that "[Satan] has no claim on Him" and that Jesus is doing what the Father sent Him to do...so that the "world may know that [He] love[s] the Father."
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People who love and believe in Him will have the Holy Spirit and God's love with them.  Those who do not, including Judas, are eternally condemned. 
• 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 trust of the world above God and disbelief.  Claim the promise of how God will be with believers and how He loves them.  Follow the example of the disciples who believed.  Obey God's commandments as a response to His love for us.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves and never leaves or forsakes me - giving me the Holy Spirit to teach me all things and to bring about obedience to You - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me 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.

[B]ut [Peter] said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Mark 14:26-52

[B]ut [Peter] said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. Mark 14:31

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:26-52 - vv26-31.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv26-31: (1) God in the text: God joins the disciples in worship - singing a Him (v26); God knows the disciples will fall prey to fear and upon Jesus' arrest will deny their association with Him for their own protection; Jesus shares a prophecy of not just His death, but also His resurrection - see also Luke 24:1-9 where the disciples see the fulfillment of this prophecy; (2) people in the text: the disciples worship with Jesus (v26); Peter and the disciples "emphatically" deny (v31) that they will betray Jesus - this is arrogance because it effectively means that they are without sin because all sin is a betrayal to Jesus;   (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should see how Jesus is faithful and all of His promises (including prophecies) will come true and we can take comfort in how He promises us eternal life in Heaven with Him.  We should avoid arrogance and not claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8).  

Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division: 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The King Who Suffers Alone," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv26-52) is "Jesus is the righteous King who endured betrayal and shame for the sake of sinners."
• "[Jesus] also will suffer at the betrayal of His friends who fail Him in His hour of need (14:37,40-41), sell Him out (vv44-45), abandon Him (v50), and deny Him (vv66-72)." 
• "The suffering of this great King is multifaceted: personal, physical, mental, and most of all, spiritual. Jesus saw His loving Father’s hand in it all. He trusted Him in His most trying hour, an hour our finite human minds can never fully comprehend." 
• The title of the first division (vv26-31) per the commentary is "The King Would Be Abandoned and Left Alone."
• See Zechariah 13:7 for how Jesus refers to the OT for how scriptures will be fulfilled in how the disciples will scatter.  
• In contrast to the disciples arrogance and claims to not betray Him, Jesus shares how He will never leave or forsake us and we are encouraged to claim this promise from Hebrews 13:5. 

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, and who will never leave or forsake me - You will be with me until the end of the age.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...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.

...[D]o not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit....But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 13:1-23

...[D]o not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit....But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:11, 13b

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 13:1-23.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv9-13):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Persecution Can Be Expected, but Do Not Be Anxious." 
• "Not only will there be trouble on a global level; there will also be trials and persecutions on a personal level. Jesus again challenges His disciples to “be on your guard” (the same word as in verse 5). This is also a present imperative, a word of command. Why does He issue a second challenge to watchfulness? Difficult times are to be expected for faithful followers of King Jesus." 
• "All the ethne, all the people groups of the world, must hear this gospel before the end comes. So do not get discouraged." See v10.   
• Vv11 and 13 bring comfort as Jesus shares that we not be anxious as the Holy Spirit will be with us to help us and if we remain steadfast in our faith and endure to the end.  
• "Opposition from governmental and legal authorities will be harsh. Rejection by family and friends will be heartbreaking, but it will happen, so get ready. “Then brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death.” The word “death” occurs twice, emphasizing the extent of the betrayal and persecution some will face. We will be arrested, beaten, betrayed, put to death, and even “hated,” all for the sake of King Jesus. While this may sound surreal and unfathomable in America, it is the experience of millions of brothers and sisters around the world today and throughout church history."  
• "Perseverance is the proof that our profession is real. It may be tough, but our Lord will be faithful to keep us by His power."

We are to "endure to the end."  Enduring starts with remaining in Him and He in us as described in John 15:1-10. Enduring also includes a posture of humility and prayer.  Believers also function as part of a church body with each part playing its role, and as described in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, "God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose."  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that saved me and who pours out mercies every day that never cease...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these mercies nor how You save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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.  Help me endure to the end, abiding in You daily, remaining humble and prayerful, and by performing my function in the church.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

 Mark 1:9-13

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Mark 1:12-13

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  This morning, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 1:9-13 - the text covered by the next chapter of my commentary.  The text broadly describes Jesus's baptism by John (vv9-11) and the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness (vv12-13) - also described in Matthew 3-4, Luke 3-4, and to a certain extent (only the baptism) in John 1.  Although Mark's account of Jesus' temptation by Satan is the shortest, with fewer details, Mark 1:13 strikes me as it also appears in Matthew's account in Matthew 4:11.  In Mark, the timing of when "angels were ministering to [Jesus]" occurs earlier then in Matthew.  Regardless of timing, both Mark and Matthew felt it was important for readers to understand this detail that Jesus had a need - Jesus was suffering.  He was alone in the wilderness, with wild animals, and he was hungry and afraid.  God sent His Son to die on the cross as the sinless, spotless Lamb of God so that those who believe in Him can have salvation and the blessings of a transformed heart and life.  During His ministry on earth, Jesus experienced what we as believers experience, including fear, temptation, loss, pain, etc.  He not only lived a sinless life, He experienced the suffering (and then some!) we encounter in our lives.  Hebrews 4:15-16 is instructive here: "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."  Draw near to Jesus!

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My Prayer: Father God, Jesus, You are awesome God who sympathizes with all of my circumstances, and I always have You where I can cast my cares and anxieties.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and how You allow me to cast my cares and anxieties on You. 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.       

Fear not[.]

Luke 12:5 

Fear not[.] Luke 12:5a

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 22: The Courage of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "Jesus of Nazareth we find bravery at its best, courage at its loftiest, heroism at its climax."
• "There are different kinds of courage. There is a courage which we may call physical. It runs in the blood, it is a kind of instinct. This sort of courage is not peculiar to man, it is possessed also by the brutes. The bulldog has it and so also has the weasel. It is possessed by man in all the stages of his development. It is an indifference to danger, a contempt for suffering and for death. But the courage of Jesus was not this. His was a higher and nobler possession. His was the courage of the mind, the heroism of the heart. It was a sober and reasoned thing. He deliberately counted the cost and paid it. Nor was his courage military. Military courage is the most common of all forms of courage in the world, and one of the earliest developed. Military courage is the courage which the soldier has in the time of battle. The courage of our Lord was not military, it was the courage which manifested itself in isolation. There was nobody to march with him. He marched alone. Palestine was filled with evils, he alone was brave enough to strike them. Injustice lifted its hideous head, and he alone resisted it. Hypocrisy made a mockery of religion, and he alone stabbed it. He trod the wine press alone. Even the men whom he succeeded in attracting to him left him and fled at the final hour. But even then he did not wince or falter, saying, 'I am alone and yet not alone, for the Father is with me.'"
• "[Jesus' revealed His courage] on that day on which for the first time he announced his mission to the men and women who had known him from boyhood. It was necessary for him to say things which would offend, and he said them. He was to preach the truth, but he could not preach the truth without cutting across the grain of the prejudices of these people. He went calmly onward, however, and preached the truth."
• "To estrange the hearts of those who have known and esteemed us for many years, to cut one's self off from the respect and sympathy and love of those in whose friendship we have found solace and delight — that is hard indeed. And that is what Jesus did on that awful day in Nazareth. By the simple speaking of the truth he alienated from him the minds and hearts of the people in whose midst he had grown to manhood and whose high regard had been one of the most valuable of all his earthly treasures."
• "He was a courageous man that day, and equally courageous was he in the streets of Capernaum when he talked to that crowd of five thousand men whom he had fed a little while before in the desert beyond the Sea of Galilee. He came into the world to bear witness to the truth, but men were not willing to receive it."
• "It is not an easy thing to offend society and to offend it in such a way as to lose caste and standing. The people in Jesus' day were great sticklers for forms of fasting. Jesus minimized the value of them. They were exceedingly scrupulous in regard to sabbatical laws. Jesus could not keep them, he did not believe in keeping them. They were punctilious in regard to the number of times they washed their hands before they sat down to eat. Jesus had no time for such elaborate foolery. The best people of his day divided things into clean and unclean, people into clean and unclean — Jesus could pay no attention to these distinctions. All men were his brethren, and so he associated with people who had lost caste. By so doing he lost his own reputation. Has any one courage enough here to do that? He went contrary to the established usages of the best society of his day; he trampled on conventionalities which were counted sacred as the law of the Eternal. And the result was he was suspected, shunned, and abhorred. But he did even more than this: he surrendered the good opinion which many of the people had formed of him."
• "But he did a braver thing even than this: he gave up the good opinion of the best people of his day. He was reverent, religious, sensitive, but there were certain things it was necessary for him to say because they were true things, and he said them. By saying them he exposed himself to the charge of being a blasphemer, but he said them. He was willing to do his duty even though by the doing of it he won for himself the ignominy of being counted a blasphemer, a lunatic, and a traitor. Only the very loftiest heroism can meet such a test as that. But we have not yet reached the climax. If it is difficult for a man to withstand his enemies, much more difficult is it for him to withstand his friends. There are many men who can resist the people who are opposed to them who cannot withstand the opinions and wishes of their friends. Many of us can pour denunciation on the men who hate us, but we succumb at once to the gracious words of those who wish us well. Peter was Jesus' dearest friend; but when Peter on a certain occasion says to him, " Far be it from thee, Lord, this shall never happen unto thee," quick as a flash the reply comes, "Get thee behind me, Satan." James and John present what seems to them a most reasonable request — Jesus says, "I cannot grant this." Judas was one of the most trusted of the apostolic company — so trusted that he was made the treasurer of the band; but Jesus by the simple telling of the truth and the living of a perfect life estranged the affections of this man until at last he became his betrayer."
• "The story of Jesus' life is the most heroic record ever written, and any man who wishes to increase the bravery of his heart must read this book day and night. See him as he sets his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem, where he knows they are going to scourge him and spit upon him and kill him. His friends endeavor to dissuade him, they strive to hold him back. He keeps steadily on, knowing that at Jerusalem he will give his life a ransom for many."
• "Only cowards surrender, only cowards get tired and sick. Jesus steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem and never turned back until he reached the cross. See him as he goes onward, trampling on all the precious things of earth, putting under his feet the ambitions by which the hearts of other men are fired, trampling into the dust the prizes and the joys of life. Make out a list of the things which you count most valuable and worth while, and you will see that Jesus placed every one of them beneath his feet."
• "When the soldiers buffeted him and cuffed him, cursed him and spat upon him, he never said a word. He was so courageous that he dared to be silent. As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. When he comes at last to stand before Pontius Pilate, he stands so erect that Pilate is afraid of him, and the heart of the Roman prosecutor flutters when Jesus says to him, " For this cause was I born, unto this end came I into the world, to bear witness to the truth." And when at last they nail him to the cross the only thing he will say is, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"

Believers are called to proclaim the Gospel in their every day life and to all corners of the earth - just as Jesus came to bear witness to the truth - both in words and in actions. We are also told that we will face tribulation - see John 16:33 and James 1:2-3. Both of these verses exhort us to press on - John 16:33 shares that just as Jesus overcame the world, we too will overcome the world and what challenges it throws at us; James 1 shares how trials and testing "produces steadfastness."  This may seem difficult but we can take heart by understanding how God equips us to do so.  Jesus tells us that He will never leave or forsake us (Matthew 28:20 and Deuteronomy 31:8) and that He provides the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts so that we can feel His presence.  God equips us also through the sanctification process where we are transformed by the renewing of our minds - as our thoughts become more like His (Romans 12:2).  Jesus is courage and it is through His courage that we also can be courageous.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and You are the portrait of courage.  Through Your courage, I have salvation and the all the rich blessings of being part of Your kingdom - eternally.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how Your courage saved 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.         

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Zechariah 13:2-9

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 13:2-9, which the commentary outlines as the first of four divisions for the text 13:2-14:21 (13:2-9, 14:1-3, 14:4-9, 14:10-21).  Here, the text once again focuses on end times using the reference "on that day" twice in the text 13:2-9 (vv2, 4).  Speaking to Israel through Zechariah, God provides a prophecy of end times where He condemns and idols and false prophets.  V7 shares how God will strike "the man who stands next to me" - a clear reference to Jesus and a messianic prophecy.  Vv8-9 refers to a remnant that God will refine and test as if gold and silver where this refining process removes impurities. Malachi 3:3 also refers to this "refiner's fire" and it describes how the "sons of Levi" will be purified.  While God sees all believers as justified and righteous in His eyes - imputed righteousness - God does not promise that our earthly lives will be free of challenges.  On the contrary - we will face challenges and trials as this is the nature of the fallen world in which we live and inherited from the Fall.  At the same time, God does promise that we will overcome these challenges and trials - see John 16:33.  This promise from John shares and implies that we will overcome these challenges in this life and in the life to come in Heaven.  Key ways in which God helps us overcome include the sanctification process where God equips us day-by-day where we become more like Him through our daily focus on spiritual disciplines (prayer, study of His Word, etc.) and our relationship with Him. God is also with us through the Holy Spirit. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me.  You also equip me to endure trials and challenges of all kinds.  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for the blessings You pour out for me every day.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.]

1 Peter 3

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] 1 Peter 3:18

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at what John Piper describes as "the greatest good of the good news - the gospel - [and how it] is the enjoyment of fellowship with God himself." Piper shares how this is explicit in the verse highlighted in the devotion today - 1 Peter 3:18.  He continues: "[a]ll the other gifts of the gospel exist to make this one possible[, including:]

• "We are forgiven so that our guilt does not keep us away from God."
• "We are justified so that our condemnation does not keep us away from God."
• "God is propitiated so that his wrath doesn’t stand between us and God as our Father."
• "We are given eternal life now, with new bodies in the resurrection, so that we have the capacities for being with God forever and enjoying God to the fullest."

Piper concludes the devotion today by writing that the love of God is ultimately expressed in Jesus Christ.  Sin separates us from God but Christ restored us to Himself - not just once but for eternity.  And the result is that we have life to the full now and for eternity (see also John 10:10). Piper's final words for today are to refer us to Psalm 16:11. Amen and praise God!

Comment and discuss this post.

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

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:10-11

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 23 of Advent, and today John Piper looks at how God reconciles us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  Believers know that reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel.  We all sin, sin separates us from Christ, but Christ died to forgive our sins - forever - so that believers could have life now in abundance, and forever with Him in Heaven (John 3:16-18, 10:10)...with Christ now in our hearts, God is with us...always (Matthew 28:20) - Emmanuel.  Piper describes how Christ purchased this reconciliation for us, how Christ enabled us to receive this reconciliation, and finally, how Christ came into the world as flesh (see also post from 2 days ago on incarnation) so that we can exalt and worship Him.  Piper wraps the devotion today by exhorting us to respond: "Exult in [Christ]. Experience him as your pleasure. Know him as your treasure."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who purchased my reconciliation, who enabled me to receive it, and You give me Yourself so that I can exalt and worship You - and I know this is why I exist.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and gifts.  My sin is great and it continue...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[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

Comment and discuss this post.

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.

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.

Job 1-42

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. Job 38:1

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This afternoon, I continue with the story of "Job: God's Presence in the Storm*".

*Title of lesson two from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day two of my study of Job starts by having me focus on the motivation of Job to find himself righteous in his discourse from Job 26-31.  See Job 32:1 where it says (just prior to when Elihu finishes speaking to Job at the end of Job 37):

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Job 32:1

My study guide asks me to review Psalm 22:1 where David says:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? Psalm 22:1

Arrogance and pride lead to such thoughts of righteous in one's own eyes and for one to think that God has forsaken him/her. I know these thoughts as I have struggled with such thoughts (and acted on them) significantly in my life and I have posted frequently on them here with this blog.  

I am then led to Job 38:1 where Max Lucado seeks to have us look deeply at how God speaks to Job "out of the storm".  I am drawn to an image where I see God WITH Job (and any of us in a storm) in the storm. We need to recognize how God IS with us during the storms in our life. 

Lucado encourages us to remember three key points:

1. "An encounter with God-whether or not it is as dramatic as Job's encounter-will forever change our outlook on life."
2. "God allows us to pour out our concerns questions, and emotions to him, and then extends [H]is mercy to us."
3. "Just as God spoke out of the storm and into the storm of Job's life, [H]e meets us where we are in whatever situation we are facing."

 I have been in storms many times in my life and looking back I can see how God was with me each time.  I pray that God give me the wisdom and strength to see Him in whatever future storms I might face.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who is always with me - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for calming the storms and seeing me through EVERY time!  I am not deserving of such love.  I am selfish and I worry among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strnegth.  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. 

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

Revelation 8-13

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. Revelation 13:10

Day 363 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with Revelation as I reach the final days of my chronological study of the Bible. Destruction and death during end times highlights my reading this morning, as God wages war with Satan and Satan makes his final stand. Yet believers know how the story unfolds and while Satan continues to pursue us now and until his final defeat, we are to "patiently endure" whatever we are experiencing.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - I know You have already triumphed over sin and death and that provides me with great peace and hope - that regardless of what I might experience now and in the future, You will never leave or forsake me and that You are reserving a place for me in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and for the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving because I sin...daily. 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.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:3-21:16

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

Day 343 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning my focus returns to Acts where Paul leaves Corinth (where Romans was likely written) enroute to Syria as my commentary* notes "...Paul addresses the elders from the church at Ephesus and tells them that he anticipates possible imprisonment and persecution upon his return to Jerusalem. Paul undoubtedly also warns them of the danger of falling away from the teaching of Christ—a concern which he will address at length in various letters later in his life. Sadly, concluding his close association with the church in Ephesus, Paul leaves resolutely to face whatever outcome awaits him in Syria." While in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus prophecies that Paul will be bound and handed over to the authorities in Jerusalem. Yet Paul is not concerned.

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

All of us will encounter troubles in our lives (see also John 16:33, , ) and we can look to Paul for encouragement in how he modeled his race.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who will never leave or forsake me.  I know that whatever challenge I encounter, You are with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love. My sin continues.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your word for me today and every day.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:21-8

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Day 340 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this evening the focus is chapters 3:21-8 of Paul's letter to the believers in Rome. Like other entries from my study with this commentary, there is much upon which to reflect.  Paul writes about righteousness from God, how God's promise is for all who have faith, how we have freedom the condemnation and the law, how we have freedom from both sin and death, and how believers experience the Grace of Christ. 

My focus this evening rests on these two great verses at the end of chapter 8 where Paul emphasizes how believers grounded in faith (and the spiritual disciplines of study, prayer, etc.) will always be near to God's love.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome man who loves and who has helped grow my desire and faith in Him. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin continues, including gossip, hateful talk, 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 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.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Psalm 107, 116, 118, and 125

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31

Day 273 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with the 11 psalms my commentary* describes as "praise to God for hearing the people’s prayers in captivity and for being faithful in his promises of restoration". Today, I review Psalm 107, 116, 118, and 125. 

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

The highlighted verse in Psalm 107 sticks out of course because it is repeated four times - worth focus today.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your love indeed never fails and Your deeds are indeed wonderful - I have seen them in my own life and in the lives of others.  I am humbled that You would love me as You do and provide for me as You do.  Thank You Jesus. I am not deserving of such love.  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 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

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high[.]

Job 15-17

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high[.] Job 16:19

Day 255 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Job as Eliphaz once again addresses Job to seek to comfort him, and to help him understand his suffering. The MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates that "[Job] had no one to turn to in his sorrow, except God, who was silent and had not vindicated him".

As I posted a few days ago, suffering might suggest an absence of God in our life, but God is always at work. We must lean into God as He promises that if we

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that comes near to me as I come near to You - and I know that You will never leave or forsake me....and You saved me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin continues - harshness in my words and actions - many times directed towards Zach and others close to me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Jeremiah 51:59 and 50

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Day 223 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* this morning focuses on God's message through Jeremiah to Judah regarding judgement of Babylon. My commentary indicates that "[o]f all the people who need this assurance, it is the exiles in Babylonia who need it the most. Therefore this judgment against Babylon is given by Jeremiah to a staff officer named Seraiah, who is being sent to Babylon on behalf of King Zedekiah."

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

Indeed, while the message to Babylonia is harsh, God's words for Judah are encouraging, including:

“In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten[”]. Jeremiah 50:4-5

In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare. Jeremiah 50:20

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go. Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. Jeremiah 50:33-34

As believers, we may all feel periods of "famine", "exile", etc. Yet we do have a strong Redeemer in Jesus Christ.  He purchased our lives through death on the cross and when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He gave us in return freedom from the sting of sin and death, and He will never leave or forsake us.  Whatever we may be experiencing is temporary because we know God is saving a place for us in Heaven.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave me the greatest gift of all - salvation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I sin...daily.  Anger, etc.  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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.

Isaiah 48:16-50

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Isaiah 50:4-7

Day 196 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Isaiah as God seeks to comfort Israel in exile.  My commentary* describes how God addresses Israel through Isaiah, and urges Israel to draw near to God and listen to His words (Isaiah 48:16-19).  He promises redemption, glory and splendor through Israel - God's chosen people (Isaiah 48:20-49:4) - and all believers should understand that we exist to serve and glorify God. Isaiah points to the coming Messiah (Isaiah 49:6), tells Israel that their exile will end and that those in exile will not be forgotten (Isaiah 49:8-21), reminds Israel that exile was punishment for sin (Isaiah 50:1-3), exhorts Israel to understand that God is with Israel, even during periods of punishment and suffering, and that Israel is to view such punishment and suffering as a test of faith and that Israel should remain obedient in its faith/trust in God and endure (Isaiah 5:4-9). 

Yesterday, in Sunday school, our class discussed how in our country, believers in Christ are increasingly under attack and it is becoming more important that we stand firm in our faith and proclaim our faith regardless of the circumstances.  It is God alone who sustains us and He will never leave or forsake us.

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

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

 Isaiah 41-43

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Day 193 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Isaiah. Building on my post yesterday, Isaiah delivers comforting words to Judah who has been taken captive by Babylonia - including a prophecy of the coming Messiah (Isaiah 42:1-4). 

These encouraging words include the below:

“All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:11-13

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Isaiah 41:17

This is what God the Lord says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:5-7

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:1-7

More than anything this morning I know - we have a God - Jesus Christ - that loves us, is with us, helps us, and will never leave or forsake us!

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