“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

Today, while traveling in WV...once again I am mindful of how I did not offer time to the Lord in the morning (my first fruits) as I'd like do, but I am also mindful that I need to go to God daily and while it is late in the day it is my first opportunity to get online and not just focus my mind on God's message, I do want to document my time.  For this opportunity, I go to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explores Matthew 5:11-12 and how we as believers should focus on the eternal when we find ourselves suffering - there is a greater reward then one found in our earthly bodies. For this, Piper also refers us to Romans 8:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 as supplemental text to support encouragement found in scripture for those suffering. We are not just to rejoice based on this eternal reward, but this rejoicing causes us to love, and to love in supernatural way that draws others to Jesus.  See also Luke 6:35 and 14:14.  Finding joy in our suffering then deepens the hope we have in the eternal. See also Romans 5:3-4.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the example You provide of rejoicing in suffering!  Through Your example and the Holy Spirit I can share in suffering with You and as such rejoice in this suffering.  I am not deserving of the love from which I can never be separated.  My sin is great and it is 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.

And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

Genesis 6-9

And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. Genesis 6:22, 7:5

Day 3 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Noah and the Great Flood.

Broadly speaking, it is certainly noteworthy to highlight how quickly sin becomes the big story here - it all begins with falling prey to the temptation and seduction of the world.  God desires holiness and righteousness from us yet those who led a more righteous life (indicated in my study* as those from Seth's line) chose to marry women from the less righteous line (Cain's line) - focusing on physical attractiveness (see 6:1-2).  Contrast this with God's decision to select and anoint David as king based on his heart condition vs physical features (see 1 Samuel 16:7).  David lived to find favor in God's eyes.  Similarly, Noah did as well and while scripture does not discuss it my study* indicates Noah faced "undoubted ridicule" for constructing the ark as God commanded it.  Yet Noah "did all that God commanded" - we should strive for such a life.  We must remember that we don't exist to please earthly beings but instead to glorify God.

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and I DO seek to please and glorify You - You have blessed me well beyond what I deserve....I often fail to glorify You and am seduced by the world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin torwards 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 and 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 so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. v26-28

Today's passage reinforces yesterday's post on serving Him and others vs serving our own interests and desires.

James and John with their mother came to Jesus and she sought favor for her two sons - favor above the other disciples.  Regardless of what we may have done or think we may have done - it is not for us to feel deserving of recognition of reward - this is only for God to do.  

We will all be accountable for the lives we lead and judged only by God.  As I posted yesterday, we must be humble - and we must also learn to live with the end in mind.

For us men, we must live as "authentic men".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who came to serve, including serving me!  I am not worthy of such service and love...I know what You did and do for me (some of this as I can't wrap my head around everything you've done and do).  I am undeserving.  I daily miss the mark.  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.

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”

Isaiah 62

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” v11

As Isaiah continues to prophecy about the coming Savior - Jesus Christ - we get a glimpse of who He is; as a God who brings reward and payment for our sins.  What great gifts indeed! This reward is freedom from the sting of sin and death and everlasting life...among the many rewards.

Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for such gifts but I am not worth such gifts as I am often harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  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.

Taking the Hit
Acts 20

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. v24

Today's devotion focuses on sacrifice as a demonstration that we are willing to serve God and expect God's greater reward.  Yet another theme of this devotion that was implied and should have been more explicit is one of control.  I have had difficulties turning control of my life over to God and He has graciously molded me in this area, demonstrating immense patience, compassion, mercy, etc. in the process - Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...You are merciful and patient with me, even though I am not deserving.  Again Jesus Thank You.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love and dispense grace to others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.