For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people.

 Numbers 32

For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people. Numbers 32:15

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 32 - where the people of Reuben and Gad petition Moses to occupy land east of the Jordan River, an alternative to entering the Promised Land.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God often turns us over to our earthly desires and sin as a means to discipline or chasten His people (see also Romans 1:24-28, Psalm 81:11-12, Acts 7:42).  God's will was to bring all of His people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, and He would lead the people in battle to overcome those who inhabited the land.  In the text today, the people of Reuben and Gad propose an alternative to remain east of the Promised Land because they see that this land was good for their livestock - vv1,4.  Moses, speaking on behalf of God, initially rebukes - see vv6-15 - the people of Reuben and Gad, but they share in vv16-19 that they will not abandon the mission to work with the other tribes of Israel to conquer the Promised Land, and Moses relents to the request of the people of Reuben and Gad - v33.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Very often we, just as the people of Reuben and Gad did, seek to bend God's will in our direction, failing to completely trust and surrender to His plan. Although God, through Moses, allowed for this with the people of Reuben and Gad, we should remind ourselves that God seeks complete dependence and obedience to His will - see also this search in scripture for the string "just as the LORD commanded."  Jesus did not propose anything to the Father short of a brutal beating and crucifixion...He simply said in Luke 22:42 "not my will, but yours, be done."
• 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 seeking to bend God's direction and will to suit your own desires and agenda.  Claim the promise that God's will is "good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2) and that obedience to Him is not burdensome (1 John 5:3).  Follow the example of Jesus and follow the Father's will completely. Abide in, trust, follow Him.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus. I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and I know my desires and sin often pull me away from You.  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 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.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

 John 11:17-27

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 11:17-27, where we continue the story of Lazarus, whom we know from the larger story arc is ill and dies, and that Jesus raises him from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God has a plan for everything and his design and plan is perfect.  Jesus knew that and allowed/planned for Lazarus to die (see vv4, 14), and that He would use Lazarus' resurrection from the dead as a means for others to believe in Him and to strengthen their believe in Him.  In v23, Jesus repeats - authoritatively - once more, that Lazarus will rise again. In vv25-26, Jesus shares that through Him there is resurrection and life (see also John 10:10).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Martha is seen as being frustrated with Jesus - v21 as she sees others who have come to console here (v18) but sees Jesus as being too late to heal Lazarus as he has died and was in the tomb already for four days (v17).  People are often frustrated with Jesus' timing after Martha and Mary had sent their request (not a prayer explicitly) for Jesus to intercede on their behalf to heal Lazarus.  Martha very quickly, however, in vv22, 24, and 27 pivots to a posture of trust and faith in Jesus.  When we have faith in God, He blesses us - we don't know how He will bless us but He does - see Matthew 5:6.  We must understand that God's thoughts and ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8) and that God works all things for good and for His purpose (Romans 8:28).   We exist to glorify God.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid frustration in God's timing as this is a form of a complaint.  We should claim the promise that Jesus gives us life now (abundantly or to the full) and for eternity - He saves.  We should follow the example of Martha who sees the err of her ways and quickly turns to Jesus - this can be seen as true repentance.  We should believe.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You work all things for good and for Your purpose.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and for revealing Yourself to me.  I am not deserving of how You love, bless, and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mark 7:24-37

And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7:36-37

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 7:24-37, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus is the incarnate Son of God and during His ministry, although He sought the Messianic Secret - that is He not be more fully revealed who He is until the appropriate time - it is difficult to fathom how Jesus could perform the miracles He did and word not spread about Jesus.  At the same time, John Piper describes a preventing "illumination" of the disciples in particular but also others and us by extension (see vv24, 36).  Piper explains how this "preventing" forces us to acknowledge how badly we need Him.  God's ways are difficult to fathom (Isaiah 55:8) but it is not difficult to fathom how desperately we need Him.  We all desperately need Jesus just as  the woman/daughter and deaf man in the text do.  God heals and saves.  God had a plan and regardless of how others could not follow His plan to prevent the spread of Him, Jesus' plan could not be stopped and Jesus ministry continued until the appointed moment where He died and rose again.  Jesus sought His Father's help in prayer - see v34. 
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People, once they acknowledge the saving power of Jesus Christ, cannot help but share the Good News (v36, Acts 4:20).   
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Jesus wants us to share who He is - not just what He did.  Yes Jesus performed miracles but most importantly He Saves!  We can also lay claim to the promise that, yes, although we don't know how God works, we do know that He does (Romans 8:28) and that once He starts a work in us, He will continue a work in us until completion - sanctification. This process may be slower than we like but it is according to plan!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are a good, good God.  Perfect in all Your ways.  I may not know how You work but I know that You do, and that You love and save.  I also know that I NEED a savior and You are that Savior.  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 continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Mark 4:21-34

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29

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 second (of three) divisions of the text (vv26-29): 

• "This is Mark’s only unique parable. Jesus crafts a second parable about sowing seeds. In the parable of the soils, the focus was on the necessity of sowing and the receptivity of the soils (vv3-8). Here the emphasis falls on the innate power of the seed. The Word of God has within it the power of its own success and triumph. Let the Word loose and watch it work. This parable is instructive concerning the nature of the kingdom in a comprehensive sense. It notes the kingdom’s sowing (v26), growing (vv27-28), and harvesting (v29). From beginning to end, the sovereignty of Christ and the power of the Word stand forth in absolute authority." 
• "The man is not important; the seed is the focus. The man is passive because the power for the seed to sprout and grow is not in him. The coming of the kingdom of God is not contingent or dependent on human activity. The seed of the gospel prospers and grows of itself. Once it is sown, a process is set in motion that cannot and will not be stopped, even though its growth is a total mystery to us. See also James 1:21."
• RE: the harvest, "[w]ho would have imagined that starting with only a group of 12 men, Christianity would grow to where it is today? But it won’t stop there. It will continue to grow until every people group on the planet is found in the kingdom. God will ensure this growth."  

Many may feel, myself included at times, that the seeds of God are not growing at all, whether this is our own faith or journey with God, or how God may not be responding to long-standing prayers such as for salvation for loved ones. Yet God is always at work, and as this commentary emphasizes, while God's plans and designs remain a mystery (see also Isaiah 55:8), we can rest in God's promises - of which there are many (see 2 Corinthians 1:20).  Among the many promises of God where we can rest is Romans 8:28 which shares that "for those who love God all things work together for good." This is a great promise indeed!  This post from DesiringGod.com looks at how farming is used in scripture (among other analogies) and how we are encouraged to have a "long view" on our own sanctification.    

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion for me as You never stop working for me and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor how You bless in so many ways.  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. 

And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

Mark 2:1-12

And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. Mark 2:3-4

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 2:1-5, which is the text for the first (of three) division of vv1-12 per the commentary.  Excerpts from the introduction to this chapter of the commentary as well as for the first division vv1-5:

• "All of us at some point in our lives will be forced to consider two critical questions: Can I be forgiven of my sins? Who can forgive me of my sins? That we must face such questions should not surprise us. Sin is our greatest problem. It is our greatest enemy and separates us from God. It renders us spiritually dead, and if left unforgiven, results in eternal death in a place called hell."
• "Who can forgive me? God can—the God who is revealed in the person of Jesus. This Jesus is the Son of God (1:1), the Son of Man (2:10), and the Holy One of God (1:24) who has come to take away the sins of the world. He is the only One who can deliver me from the penalty of sin, providing for my justification. He is the only One who can deliver me from the power of sin, ensuring my sanctification. And He is the only One who can deliver me from the presence of sin, promising my future glorification."
• Although those interested in Jesus sought more miracles, Jesus came back to Capernaum to preach. 
• "Jesus saw [the] faith [of the paralytic and his friends], probably referring to all five men, but at the very least encompassing the four friends. In either case our Lord clearly was impressed, and He honored their faith by pouring out mercy on the paralyzed man."
• Jesus forgave the man even though this is not what he sought. "Seeing the man’s whole situation, Jesus lovingly looked past his surface need and met his deeper need; He looked past the man’s immediate need and met his real need! Based on who He is and what He would accomplish on the cross, Jesus extended to a paralyzed sinner God’s full and complete pardon of sin. He may have needed healing, but even more he—like all of us—needed to experience the forgiveness of sins made possible by Jesus."  

We pray for much in our faith journey.  For many of our prayers, we assume they are unanswered.  However, God hears all of our prayers. We must also understand that God has a plan and this plan is perfect - we cannot fathom the depth and breadth of God's thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8).  While we pray for many things and don't understand the depth and breadth of God's plan - we do know that salvation is core to His plan as Jesus came to seek and save the lost - Luke 19:10. We are all lost without Jesus -  eternally damned.  Yet Jesus saves and He met not only the greatest need of the paralytic but the greatest need for all of humanity across all of redemptive history. Come to Jesus and be saved!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that saves - meeting my greatest need.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time. 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 the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it....A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.

Ecclesiastes 7-11

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it....A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Ecclesiastes 7:12, 10:2

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is a commentary assisted review of Ecclesiastes chapters 7-11 and the commentary's first division for these chapters - God Has a Design for Everything. 

Before jumping into how the commentary discusses its first division, I'm starting with the main idea and the introduction for the commentary chapter.

Title of this chapter of the commentary (which looks at Ecclesiastes chapters 7-11): Wisdom in a Meaningless World.

Main idea: Wisdom does not always work out immediately in this cursed world, but because of the gospel, wisdom does work out ultimately.

Excerpts from the introduction to this chapter of the commentary:

• "Solomon...is teetering on the edge of unbelief because of the mess he sees in the world. He observes that living by God’s wisdom does not always work out. The faithful often suffer and the wicked often prosper. This situation is futile! Therefore, Solomon takes on the role of a skeptic in order to observe the world and ask the question, Is there meaning in this cursed world? His experiment causes him to conclude that everything is meaningless."
• "In Ecclesiastes 7–11 [Solomon] observes the unjust nature of things, and he concludes again that everything is absurd. However, instead of this driving him away from God, it actually drives him to God in faith."

Excerpts from the commentary's first division God Has a Design for Everything:

• "God has a design for everything in creation, and the wisdom literature calls living according to that design “wisdom.”  God made the world to work a certain way, and you should live your life in that way—you should walk in wisdom (i.e., walk in the right way; Eccl 10:2)—because it will preserve your life. Ecclesiastes 7:12 states that “wisdom is protection . . . and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.” Living against God’s design is foolishness because it threatens your life, whereas living according to it is wisdom because it leads to an abundant life."
• "[W]hile Solomon observes these wise principles, he also talks much about the limit of man’s knowledge. Ecclesiastes 11:5 says, “Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you don’t know the work of God who makes everything.” Man’s observations are limited to life lived “under the sun” in this cursed world, and even that is too much because we do not know the path the wind will take (11:5; cf. 8:17). Since our observation is limited, we cannot figure everything out. One of the main reasons we cannot figure everything out in this cursed world is because things do not always work out the way they are supposed to work out (8:14-17). Living by wisdom does not always make life go smoothly. Why? What is going on? Why is there suffering? Why do these wisdom principles not work? The problem is that humanity has departed from God’s design. The Bible calls this departure “sin,” and sin leads to brokenness and meaninglessness."
  

God's design and wisdom is perfect! Lean into and surrender your life to Jesus and follow 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 for me - saving me while still a sinner.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to 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.

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

Ecclesiastes 10

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. Ecclesiastes 10:5-11

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is an unassisted reading of Ecclesiastes 10 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the second division of the commentary for chapters 7-11: Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness. While the text primarily focuses on a comparison of wisdom vs folly, vv5-11 describe what Solomon refers to as an evil. The text in these verses describe people performing work - a good thing - yet they suffer bad outcomes.  This is often frustrating (v5 describes Solomon's frustration) for believers and non-believers alike as people try to understand why bad things happen to good people.  However, we must all understand that we are all sinful since the fall - none of us should be considered good or righteous.  See this post from a few days ago.  Sin persists because of the Fall - see also this post.  Once again, we must see God's hand in all circumstances and be thankful for what we do have - and for believers we have our salvation which cannot be taken from us!  See also 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

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

As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

Ecclesiastes 11

As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. Ecclesiastes 11:5

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 11 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the first division of the commentary: God Has a Design for Everything.  Building on posts for the past few days (yesterday, day before, day before that), the text focuses on the futility of understanding God's ways, sharing in vv1-6 how many may observe creation and study science but a full understanding of God's ways (who has providence over all matters, including creation) is not achievable by any earthly mind. V5 is explicit on this. V6 emphasizes how provision in our lives is from God and while we may plan, it is only God's where one will find 100% certainty with things coming to pass.  Vv7-10, the concluding words for the chapter, points us to the futility of life without God (broad theme of entire book), and how we should remain humble and at peace knowing God is in control and that He loves and saves.

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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 - providing for all of my days and of course saving me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it follows me every day.  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. 

If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

Ecclesiastes 10

If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. Ecclesiastes 10:1

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 10 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the first division of the commentary: God Has a Design for Everything.  Upon an initial reading of the full text of Ecclesiastes 10 followed by a pause to seek how to outline the text, I see much of the focus on a comparison between wisdom and folly (and fools), particularly vv1-3, v6a, and vv12-15. V4 offers an admonishment on anger (which is a sin).  Vv8-11 is a segue from vv6b-7 where Solomon sees evil in the world and he sees a paradox in this evil where good is perhaps the intention but harm is the outcome.  This leads me to share, building on my post from a couple of days ago about how God is in control and we should view His providence in all circumstances and strive to see how what God is doing is good and that He loves us.  V4 in particular strikes me because of my own desire to control all aspects of my life and not trust in God (and His design and providence).  Anger, in my view is a natural response when things are not going our way - yet we should be careful because our lives should follow God's way.  I think of Exodus 14:13-14, and while its focus is not on anger but instead fear, the application is the same: trust God and be still. 

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

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.

Ecclesiastes 8

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 8 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the first division of the commentary: God Has a Design for Everything. The header in the Bible for vv14-17 is Man Cannot Know God’s Ways, as this text describes how Solomon, reflected back on his life and saw vanity (meaninglessness) everywhere, including in the pursuits of both righteous and evil people.  He saw the hand of God and what He had done and tried to understand God's design and ways but fell short in a full understanding.  Isaiah 55:8 also shares how God's ways and thoughts are not the same as those of humanity.  We can take comfort in knowing that we may not know what He is doing in any given circumstance, we should know that God's ways, designs and everything about Him is perfect, and that He loves, cares, and most importantly saves.

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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 saved me while still an enemy to You and You never leave or forsake me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You loved 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.

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this....Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?

Ecclesiastes 7:1-13

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this....Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? Ecclesiastes 7:10, 13

I resume my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  This morning, I start an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 7-11 which is a significant amount of text to cover in one day.  However, by leveraging the commentary outline, which breaks down these chapters not with divisions and associated verses, but simply with divisions that point to text throughout chapters 7-11, I will tackle these chapters in more manageable chunks.  Here are the divisions:

1. God Has a Design for Everything. 
2. Sin Leads to Brokenness and Meaninglessness. 
3. The Gospel Is the Answer to Our Brokenness and Meaninglessness. 
4. The Gospel Allows Us to Recover and Pursue God’s Wise Design.

My focus today is Ecclesiastes 7:1-13.  Here, there are two verses in my reading that emphasize how we should see God's design in all of life's circumstances (and even be thankful per 1 Thessalonians 5:18). V10 is a command that says that in the midst challenges/trials/suffering we may be currently experiencing, we should not look back at better days we had but instead we should see how God is working within these challenges/trials/suffering.  It is a reminder that God is sovereign over all the details in Heaven and on Earth, including our lives.  V13, similarly, describes how God's designs and plans cannot be stopped - His purpose will not be thwarted - see Job 42:2.

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

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 3

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 3:10-15, which is the second division of Ecclesiastes 3 per the commentary.  A few key excerpts from the commentary to unpack v11:

•  "God is the One in charge of these times and appointed activities. And it sets up what follows. The overarching point seems to be that God has appointed or ordained all of these things as part of His bigger, hidden plan." 
  
• "The limit of man’s knowledge is a major theme in Ecclesiastes, and the purpose of exposing that reality is to drive us to faith in God."
• "We perceive and long for better things than this cursed misery, but we cannot see the full picture, and we must lean on God. We are trapped between time and eternity, and we must trust that God uses the details to work out a grander plan."
• "You were made for the Divine and for His purpose, so there should be no surprise that you get frustrated when you turn away from Him. That is the frustration Solomon has been exposing throughout the book. God wants you to be dissatisfied until you come to fellowship with Him."

To help unpack vv12-13, the commentary shares: "[a]gain the question must be asked, Who pleases God? The answer is that none of us do because we have all sinned, but Jesus Christ is the well-pleasing Son who never sinned but took God’s wrath against our sins on the cross, so that by means of faith we might become pleasing and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore, only those who believe the gospel can rightly enjoy God’s blessings as God intended instead of turning the blessings into idols."

On the question of how God's plans are perfect - vv14-15 - the commentary concludes with encouraging words how believers should see the perfection of His plan, which included Jesus dying on the cross for all of humanity's sins, as hope for sinners not just in this world but in the world to come - Heaven.  Believe in 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 for me - thank You for giving me hope in this world so that I don't feel futility but instead feel and see purpose...which is to bring glory to You.  I am not deserving of how You save me and give me hope.  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.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 3

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 3:10-15, which is the second division of Ecclesiastes 3 per the commentary.  Building on Solomon's words so far in Ecclesiastes on how all aspects of life are meaningless and futile without God, Solomon specifically looks at how time is meaningless in chapter 3.  Vv1-9 looks at the cycle of life, and how since the Fall we experience a fallen world of sin, pain, anguish, etc., how we are born and die, how there is joy and suffering, and everything in between, as God provides an appointed time and purpose for everything as He is in control. Vv10-15 describes how God's plans are perfect, and although in this life we may not understand God's ways (see also Isaiah 55:8), we know ultimately that God defeats both sin and death, and that He is saving a place for believers in Heaven and believers should have confidence and peace knowing these things.  When we get to Heaven and meet Jesus face to face we will have full understanding of His plans.  Time is meaningless and futile - but God has a plan and it is glorious indeed...and perfect...we should understand in the futility that God loves us, saves us, never leaves or forsakes us, and provides mercies that are new every morning and never cease (Lamentations 3:22-23)...and more!

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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 - revealing Yourself and speaking to me, lighting my path - thank You Jesus!  Without You I would be lost and damned.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as You as their Lord and Savior.  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.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever....So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

Psalm 23 and Genesis 22:9-14

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever....So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." Psalm 23:6, Genesis 22:14

I continue my pause of my study of Jude to use Tony Evan's The Power of God's Names sermon outline series - maintaining focusing on Message Four: Jehovah Rohi and Jehovah Jireh.  Today I begin to unpack the sermon notes.  First, we level set on the names of God: 

• Jehovah Rohi: The Lord is my Shepherd; while many places in the Bible point us to attributes of a shepherd and how is our Shepherd, few are as explicit as Psalm 23 in describing how God is our Shepherd.
  
• Jehovah Jireh: God provides. God provides not just physical needs, but also emotional and spiritual needs.  Also, when we look at both names of God together we must acknowledge that there may be periods of our lives when God is caring for us, leading us through something, and providing something that we may not be able to see, perhaps not even during our natural live.  Issac needed to survive, because Jacob and Judah follow him, and ultimately - many generations later, Jesus follows this line (see genealogy in Matthew 1).  Abraham was not able to see this far into the future, nor are we.  But Abraham was able to have faith that God would provide for all of his needs and be faithful to fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham that from his line would be a great people.  Abraham is not the only one from scripture who was able to rest in how God provides - Joseph, Daniel, etc.   We should understand Isaiah 55:8 where it says God's thoughts and ways are not like ours.  
  

Although we are not able to think, see and do as God can, we can rest in how God cares for us as our Shepherd.

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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!  I am not deserving of how You are my Shepherd and how You provide for all of my needs.  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 neighborhood and the world.  Help me understand, apply, and be obedient to Your word for me today and every day.   

I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Isaiah 44-46

I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things. Isaiah 45:5-7

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I start Lesson 17, which examines Isaiah chapters 44-46.  My focus for today is Day 1, which looks at Isaiah 44:24-45:25. Isaiah prophecies in Isaiah 39:5-7 how Judah will fall and be taken captive by Babylon, and here in Isaiah 45 (starting in v1) we see how God uses King Cyrus of Persia to sack Babylon and free Judah from exile.  This is yet another example of how God uses people outside of the faith as part of His plans. God reigns over all - in v7 we also see how God works in evil and calamity.  We should never question that God is in all things - see also Colossians 1:15-17.  We should also see how God works in all things for good - see Romans 8:28 - for many circumstances in our lives we may never know the good that is being worked out but we CAN rest assured that it is good and God does love us.  We will have trouble (John 16:33), but God has overcome and in so doing gives us eternal life.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and how You work is amazing - You are in all the details of my life and all the details of all lives - You hold all things together and I know You love me and give me eternal life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  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.

...[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.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

Romans 11

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” Romans 11:33-34

 

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter fifteen From Theology to Doxology, which covers Romans 11.  My focus today is Romans 11:33-36, which my commentary refers to under the heading God Deserves the Glory Forever. As Paul questions the mystery of the grafting in of the natural branches initially cutoff from the root (Jesus), Paul realizes that while he does not understand everything about how God works, he does know that God is good and his ways, although not always known, are good and perfect - worthy of glory and worship. My commentary points out that Paul, just as he has done through Romans, references the Old Testament - first in v11:34 (Isaiah 40:13) then in v11:35 (Job 41:11). We are reminded that God is self-sufficient, that nothing can thwart God's plans, and that we should never question God's judgements and ways - again they are perfect: "He acts in his own wisdom and is obligate to no one."  The commentary indicates that Paul seeks to warn Roman Christians to avoid such questioning of God. 

 

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and mercy and Your ways are perfect!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving of the grace and mercy You pour out for me.  I have questioned Your ways and judgement...and I have other sins of 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 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.

I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.

Micah 1-2
 

I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. The  One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head. Micah 2:12-13

  

Day 175 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the prophecies of Micah, as my commentary* indicates that God uses Micah to deliver a message of judgement against covetousness, greed, and a desire for false prophets. Micah's prophecies outline how Samaria's [Israel's] "plague [has] spread to Judah" (Micah 1:9).  Just as God promises punishment for those who have fallen away, deliverance and restoration is promised for those who are faithful.  

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

I am reminded of how God is perfect - including His perfect justice.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have disciplined me because You love me - thank You Jesus.  Your blessings for me are more than I deserve.  I worry and I have other sin, including impatience and anger.  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.

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

Leviticus 10

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. v1-2

When God gives clear instructions, we are literally "playing with fire" when we willfully disregard the details of God's instructions.

Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. Deuteronomy 4:1-2

See also post here and here.  

God's design, His plans, His ways, all aspects and attributes of God are perfect - don't mess with them! 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - everything about You and all that You do reveal Your perfection and glory - there are NO Gods other than You.  You are the one true God - the Messiah!  And You came to save me!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such effort.  I fall down in my responsibilities.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin 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.  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.