And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, “The tribe of the people of Joseph is right.”

Numbers 36

And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, “The tribe of the people of Joseph is right.” Numbers 36:5

I return to my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 36 - based on a petition from the tribe of Joseph, we see the Lord modify commands about how the daughters of Zelophehad are to receive a land inheritance in the Promised Land.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  Numbers 27:1-11 established a statute for Israel to accommodate how female heirs were to participate in their inheritance if the father dies and he has no sons.  Here, in the text today, the tribe of Joseph petitions Moses (and the Lord) with the claim that female heirs that marry into another tribe essentially have a double portion of an inheritance because they participate in both the inheritance from their father as well as from their husband (a son from another tribe) - with the claim that this is not just.  In vv5-9 God hears the cries and petitions of Joseph's tribe, responds, and He is a just God and He modifies his guidance to share that female heirs can only marry within their tribe.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Such circumstances require prayer and wisdom from God and Moses sought such wisdom per v5 where the text shares that "Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD."  We also see obedience on the part of the daughters of Zelophehad in v10.  Compromise is often the right thing to do - particularly when God commands it.  The daughters of Zelophehad lost the privilege to marry outside their tribe but the people of Israel (including the daughters of Zelophehad) gained a sense of unity through shared fairness and provision.   
• 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 leaning on your own understanding but on that of God (see also Proverbs 3:5-6).  Claim the promise that God hears our cries/prayers/petitions, responds, and is always at work for good. Follow the example of Moses who did as God commands.  Trust and abide in Him and He will guide and direct your steps.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Your Word is perfect and blesses in all ways!  Thank You Jesus for giving us Your Word and for saving.  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.

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 8:27-38

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

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 8:27-38, 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?: This passage focuses on Jesus teaching the disciples about His identity.  Jesus continues to reveal who He is about Himself and He wants His disciples to be clear about who He is - this is important because all believers should be clear about who Jesus is.  Jesus is God.  He is Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit - the Triumvirate God.  Although in this passage of scripture explicitly, Jesus reveals through Peter that He is The Christ which in an of itself must be unpacked.  We also understand that Jesus must die on the cross (v31) - Jesus becomes the perfect, spotless lamb of God that takes upon Himself the sin of the world and the resulting punishment - death - as a substitution and atonement for all of humanity's sins throughout redemptive history.  This must happen and as with anything relating to God's plan - it cannot be stopped. Jesus seeks for His disciples and followers to be humble and to follow His example of humility...to be more like Jesus.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People may not like what God is doing - for example Peter does not like that Jesus shares that He must die at the hands of the Jewish elders.  Despite how Peter does not like Jesus' plan to die on the cross, it's not something he should take upon himself to intervene.  We should be as clear minded as possible about our circumstances to discern what God is doing and pray for wisdom about what God wants us to do in our circumstances.  We should not be rash about what we think we should do from an earthly perspective.  We should also not be ashamed about God or our faith - see v38.  We must boldly claim the Gospel.  The world may not want to hear the Gospel but we are commanded to share it.     
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid taking things into our own hands but instead see what God is doing in our circumstances and seek Him in prayer for wisdom and direction.  We should set our minds on the things of God - scripture and prayer - renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). We should be humble (vv34-35).  We should claim God's promise that if we deny ourself, follow Jesus and have faith - we will be saved (v35). We should not be ashamed of our faith nor about sharing the Gospel.  

V38 in particular is convicting - implying that we must be unabashed in our faith and in our efforts to live and proclaim that Christ is King, and that all must repent and belief to be saved.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that saves and whose Good News is perfect and worthy of sharing throughout all corners of the world.  Your Word has allowed me to see You, and to deepen my understanding and love of who You are.  It has molded me into more of Your image - I know there is more to go but I am grateful for my salvation and the work You are doing in me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, that God has prepared for those who love him”[.]

1 Corinthians 2

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, that God has prepared for those who love him”[.] 1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 2:1-9. Here Paul builds on the discussion in chapter 1 where he contrasted God's wisdom vs worldly wisdom.  From the get-go, Paul shares how he came to Corinth a humble vessel seeking to be used by God to deliver the Good News (gospel). While Paul is known to be a gifted (by God) writer, he claims here to be less gifted in speaking (v1).  He sought to empty himself so that he could be filled with the Holy Spirit and its power.  Like any of us serving God, we seek to bring glory to Him and not to ourselves and we seek to make this abundantly clear (v2-5).  Paul continues by sharing that whatever wisdom is imparted - he attributes it to God alone as He alone reveals His wisdom to us (v6-7).  V8 amplifies v7 by describing how God's wisdom existed and was decreed "before the ages" and that if men in power knew this (which they did not by God's choosing) they "would not have crucified the Lord of glory." V9 gives me hope for the many prayer requests I have - 2 Corinthians 1:20. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Wisdom - Your Word - the Holy Spirit, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ for helping me understand Your Word for me.  I am not deserving of the wisdom You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.  The commentary* provide three (3) divisions for the text:

1. The Word of the Cross Separates the Lost and Saved (1:18): the commentary* describes how Paul "sets the table" in v18 by dividing "all of humanity into two camps: the perishing and the saved." The "word of the cross" is explained as core to the gospel as "unimaginable" according earthly standards of wisdom.  "The perishing simply cannot believe the cross is the way of salvation: that seems absurd."  Of course for believers, the cross is not only understood but it is - as the commentary* describes -    "the cross of Christ is the power of God that saves us in three tenses! It delivered us in the past from the penalty of sin (justification). It delivers us in the present from the power of sin (sanctification). It will deliver us in the future from the presence of sin (glorification). Nothing other than Jesus’s death on the cross could save us."
   
2. The Wisdom of the Cross Highlights the Foolishness of Worldly Wisdom (1:19-21): Here the commentary refers us to Isaiah 55:8 and 29:14 as the basis for v19-21 where God's wisdom is described as superior and contrasted to the inferiority of worldly wisdom that is incapable of matching God's wisdom - worldly wisdom in the face of God's wisdom is rendered as foolishness.  The commentary* shares "[n]o matter how smart you think you are, God says, you are a fool to do life without Christ and his cross." It goes on the share: "[p]eople do not save themselves. God does! Humans are not saved by what they know (by a philosophy) but by the one they believe in (a person brutally executed on a cross for the forgiveness of sins). The message of a crucified Savior strips prideful humans of all their genius and intellectual achievements. It drives us to our knees at the foot of a horrible instrument of execution [(Christ's death on the cross)]."
   
3. The Witness to the Cross Is a Hindrance to Some but the Power of God to Others (1:22-25). Here the commentary describes how the text shows how for some - (a) Paul's intended audience: the Jews and Greeks of the day, (b) those who today seek worldly knowledge above God (as an idol) - the cross and the gospel is not accepted.  At the same, those to whom God reveals Himself see the cross and the gospel as divine and offering salvation. The commentary* shares "the cross God outsmarted the wise and overpowered the strong. God’s seemingly foolish and weak thing is wiser and more powerful than anything mere mortals can come up with."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who went to the cross to save those whom You love and call - thank You Jesus for making me one of Your elect and for the salvation You provide.  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 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.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

Proverbs 22:17-24

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. Proverbs 22:17-18

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I to week 8 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 22:17-24.  This morning my focus is on 22:17-21 where there are explicit expectations regarding our knowledge of the Word and God's wisdom (which has been the main focus of Proverbs - see Proverbs 1:7). We are not only to pursue God's wisdom, but we are also to apply this wisdom so that they are ready on our lips, and so that we "know what is right and true, that we may give a true answer to those who sent [us]" (Proverbs 22:21).  This is a recipe for us to demonstrate "fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) and for us to be a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - Jesus - You are an awesome God and You provide for all of my needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Thank You Jesus for everything...thank You for Your Word and Your Wisdom.  It feeds, it sustains, it sanctifies, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  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.

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 8-9

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 8:22-23, 8:29-30, 9:10

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study starts with a few broad questions, including a look at Proverbs 8-9, and it asks "how should we understand the personification of wisdom" in these chapters? Proverbs 8:22-23 indicates that God possessed wisdom and it existed both before creation (as part of Himself) and at the start of creation, before He created anything else.  The implication is that He brought it forth, distributing it as part of creation, manifesting in creation a part of Himself.  Colossians 1 helps further unpack how perhaps Jesus Christ is wisdom when Paul writes:  

[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

Proverbs 8:29-30 and 9:10 continue to explain how we should understand the personification of wisdom by pointing out that wisdom was "beside" God during creation and how fear of the Lord initiates wisdom - we must see God first and foremost and He reveals and creates wisdom in our hearts and minds.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the source of all creation, and You both possess and distribute wisdom - to those who submit and follow You.  Thank You Jesus for giving me wisdom as a means to navigate life - and my prayer is that I use it to please and glorify You as I know that is why exist.  I am not deserving of how You bless 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 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 now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

1 Kings 3-4

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? 1 Kings 3:7-9

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study provides an overview, and points us to the historical context of Proverbs from 1 Kings 3-4 where God gives Solomon wisdom as unmatched by any other - either before or after Solomon.  Key for me to unpack as I explore Proverbs is the inherent conflict (and how to resolve) in Proverbs, which is stated in the study guide as "[the] observations" as recorded from Solomon in Proverbs on "how God has designed the world to work...should not be taken as promises."  The conflict arises when I view this statement with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states that "[a]ll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  If all scripture is God-breathed, how can I not see Proverbs as promises of God?  I will not answer this question today but will unpack this in the coming weeks, perhaps sooner rather than later. For now I start with the historical context for Proverbs.  God appears to Solomon at night in a dream (1 Kings 3:5) and grants him a wish and 1 Kings 6-9 records Solomon's response.  We see in v10-14 how this request pleased the Lord, and ends with an exhortation to Solomon that "if you walk in my ways..[God] will lengthen [Solomon's] days."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are sinless - yet You willingly laid down Your life for me so that I could life - now to the full on earth - and forever in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...like Solomon and any other that walks the earth - I am sinful.  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 energy.  Heal Lisa from 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 Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Chapter 7: Pages 96-105, and Romans 9

For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16, Romans 9:17

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", starting with Section 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the History of Israel" - moving to chapter seven "Remembering the Exodus".  Piper kicks off this chapter by recognizing that "in God's providence, the exodus kicks unleashes centuries of joyful, worshiping responses in the history of Israel that reach all the way through the Old Testament and into the New-even into eternity." David does so in 1 Chronicles 17:16 and Psalm 105:42-43. Piper refers to the Psalm 106 as well as this psalm refers to the exodus as not just a wonder of power but also of grace. Piper then states that "our joy and God's glory are not separable goals of God's providence.  They are woven into one goal." In essence, God's people get the salvation (undeservedly) and God gets the reputation.

Piper continues with the witness of the major prophets - citing Isaiah 63:11-14. Jeremiah also lays claim with witness in Jeremiah 32:20-22. According to Piper, we consistently see throughout scripture God's aim "that his people see [God's] glory and worship with gladness."  Moving on, Piper provides another example in Nehemiah 9:9-11, 1000 years after the exodus. As God makes a name for Himself, Piper points out that He does so with power, wisdom, justice, and mercy. 

As God's dispenses this mercy, as He does with the exodus, He does so by God's self-determining will alone - and not by works (Romans 9:16). In Romans 9, Piper writes, Paul makes it clear that Pharaoh is "raised up as the adversary of Israel" to show His power, justice (for Egypt), and mercy (for Israel). Piper's key point is that Paul's "ultimate argument [in Romans 9] for why it is right for God to act in freedom - having mercy on whomever he wills, and hardening whomever he wills is that the ultimate purpose of showing wrath and power is "in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy."

All of this is to say that, summarizing Piper, is that "we would be justified in saying that the ultimate purpose of God in the exodus is that he be glorified".

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of justice and mercy for me - thank You Jesus.  Both are blessings and I am undeserving of such blessings - I know it is by Your free will alone that I experience such blessings. My sin, too many to mention, 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.

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 8-9, 1-4

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 8:22-23, 2:6

Day 134 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 Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. My commentary* indicates that "[t]he proverbs are short poems, usually in the form of couplets, which set high ethical standards and give practical advice for daily living through the use of comparative, or perhaps antithetical, imagery....[they] place high value on wisdom and sharply contrast good and evil, righteousness and wickedness, justice and injustice."  My commentary* also indicates that although other cultures may have influenced each other with regards to how similar writings/poetry appear during this time in history when Proverbs was written, "...the Hebrew proverbs are distinct in that all wisdom is seen as flowing from the true God, rather than being a mere accumulation of human observation and experience."  

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

Similar to my study of the Psalms, individual Proverbs are categorized into topic areas and this morning my focus includes an introduction to wisdom, the benefits of wisdom, the dangers of rejecting wisdom, and Solomon's personal plea to his sons to seek wisdom.

Similar to my post yesterday, I am highlighting how wisdom comes from God alone.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You alone produce wisdom - worthy of my study and reflection, and my obedience.  Your wisdom has indeed produced blessings in my life and I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry, and I have other sins.  I am grateful for Your forgiveness and mercy and I need it once again today...this morning.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”[d] But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. v16

Building on chapter 1 (see post yesterday), Paul continues to remind us of the source and purpose of wisdom.  He tells us that he has no wisdom apart from the Holy Spirit in him (v2-5) and that God reveals to believers this wisdom (v9-10, 12, 13).  This is of course very humbling and exciting at the same time - that we don't possess wisdom from and for ourselves but from and for God.  If we consider that God is all knowing isn't it amazing that God would even disclose a sliver of this wisdom to us?

See also posts here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has shown my great wisdom and this has helped me through great difficulties and helped me grow closer to You - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am humbled and undeserving.  I worry and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” v27-31

Moving from unity (focus of recent posts), we find Paul addressing division in the church at Corinth.  Paul founded the church in Corinth and spent a considerable amount of time there (see OverviewBible.com and Acts 18), and his first letter to Corinth includes a reprimand of the church over its division, and an encouragement to focus on what matters.  Paul starts by admonishing those who over-emphasize church leaders (v10-17) and wisdom of human beings vs that of God.  We value wisdom but we must recognize the source and purpose of wisdom - it's not about us as we exist to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I deserve with Your wisdom and a heart to grow closer to You - yet I am undeserving of such blessings and often sin (worry, gossip, etc.) and this separates me from You.  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.

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 9

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” v39

The story of Jesus healing a man born blind continues in John 9 with the Pharisees throwing the man out of the temple - as the man dared challenge the Pharisees (v27-34).  Jesus seeks to reassure the man as He finds him later (v35-41) and makes a distinction between physical and spiritual blindness.  We must recognize that we are all spiritually blind without Jesus - it is only through Jesus that we have sight and this sight is developed over the course of a lifetime via our journey with Christ.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

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. Isaiah 42:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me the gift of sight and You daily help me see Truth and give me wisdom and words to say in my role as spiritual leader of my household - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts.  I worry.  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 disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. v34

On the heels of my recent post on arrogance comes a post on wisdom, where wisdom comes from, how to achieve wisdom, and the blessings of possessing wisdom. Here in Luke 18 Jesus predicts His death for a third time yet "[t]he disciples did not understand any of this", as the "meaning was hidden from them".  The MacArthur commentary suggests that perhaps the disciples were too focused "with other ideas about the Messiah".  I can't tell for sure why the disciples did not understand Jesus, but one thing about which I am certain is that wisdom comes from God, and that you cannot possess wisdom outside of God.

See this awesome post from John Piper on wisdom and my other posts on wisdom. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth, Wisdom, Light, Love, etc.  I seek You and all of who You are - You are an awesome God who is so full of love and grace for me - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I worry.  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.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. v15-16

Jesus loves children and their curiosity and dependence on their parents for all things - this is humility...that we don't have wisdom apart from God and we don't have anything good apart from God.

Great references:
Childlike, Not Childish
Blessed Are the ‘Man-Boys’

We should all be child-like in our faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided me with all things - apart from You I have no good thing.  Thank You for how You so richly bless me.  I am undeserving of such love and blessings. I am selfish and 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.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. v3

Jeremiah is often referred to as the weeping prophet for the loneliness he feels as others conspire against him as they feel angry over the message he delivers regarding impending punishment God has in store for the Jewish people.  Yet Jeremiah gains strength through God and continues to delivery truth.

In Jeremiah 29-35 God uses Jeremiah to give the Jewish people hope for a restoration. They will return from exile, God will be there for them, and God will keep His promise to delivery a Savior from David's line (see Jeremiah 33:14-16).

As He communicates this message of hope to both the Jewish people and to us as we read it now, we must focus in on the awesomeness of God's promises and today in particular the promises God makes in chapter 33.

Verse 3 is one of the great promises we should lock away in our heart - we all want wisdom - just as Solomon had wisdom.  God promises a divine wisdom if we just "call to [Him]".   This "unsearchable" wisdom can only be found by God and God in His greatness will tell us unsearchable things - of course the next question becomes how will use such knowledge.  We must glorify Him with all that we do - that is why we exist. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and You have divined unsearchable things to me and I am grateful Lord.  For this and so much more You have been so amazing to me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  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 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. 

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 8

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. v34-35

I've previously discussed v34 as a call to seek God daily through study of His Word and through prayer.  V35 is a promise that is often repeated in scripture with one example being: 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 

Other aspects of this chapter include the value of God's Word:

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. v8

To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. v9

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. v10-11

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. v19

As I sit here, in my own life, I can with 100% certainty attest to the truth of  Proverbs 8.  Yet even as I speak, I know from time to time I don't act with this certainty.  Jesus, please help me grow in my faith, desire for You, and desire to please You.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me - this I know.  I know You are always with me and You have given me life to the full...and so much more!  Thank You Jesus.  Indeed my cup overflows. I am not worth such rich blessings and love.  I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  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.  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.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.

2 Chronicles 19

Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery. v7

Jehoshaphat appoints judges in Judah and is careful to point them to the Lord for their wisdom.

Solomon recognized this:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

We must understand that we are not to go God for wisdom in big decisions but in ALL decisions and for ALL of our life.  This requires transformation of the mind.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

It is this DAILY renewing of the mind that should be our focus as this will serve to help God mold our hearts and minds into His image.

See also this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose wisdom far surpasses my own understanding and it provides for all of my needs and I would be lost without You and Your Word.  Thank You Jesus for loving me despite my sin.  I am not worthy - I worry.  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 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.

Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

2 Samuel 3

Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!” v38-39

After Saul dies, the commander of Saul's army, Abner - initiates a power struggle with David to determine who should rule over both Israel and Judah.  However, ultimately Abner determines that he should not fight the Lord's anointed.

May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” v9-10

David and Abner strike an agreement to peaceably transfer power of Israel from Saul's house (Abner) to David.  Abner then leaves David in peace.

Joab - who was not present to the agreement - feels that Abner is an enemy and he cannot be trusted so he - on his own accord - makes the decision to kill Abner.  David makes his displeasure known.  

For us, a key lesson here is to avoid our impulsive nature and to seek the Lord's guidance - explicitly with regard to significant actions and decisions that will have lasting consequences.  

Contrast this with David's repeated inquiries of the Lord with another one in 2 Samuel 2:

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.

The Lord said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered. v1

My sense is that we should be in a daily relationship with Jesus so that in the little things we know what to do (see also Romans 12:2) and go to Him explicitly with the bigger things.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You are Truth and I am lost without You.  Thank You for your guidance.  I am not worth such love.  I often neglect my relationship with You. 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 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.

We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

1 John 4

We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. v6

There are false prophets among us, there is the world and if we stray from God our own actions deviate from the desires of God.  We make decisions - big and small - every day - and the influences around us are critical.  We must make God first and He must surround us in our daily lives.

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;  

in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life and I know that no one comes to the Father but through You.  Thank You for the many, many ways You bless me.  Yet I often pursue idols - please forgive me!!  I love You and I desperately need You and desire You to reign in my life.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me 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.

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.

Proverbs 27

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. v9

This morning the key theme, is to seek wisdom from God alone.  In my view, inability to be "coachable" is either a sign that you lack confidence or that you are arrogant. I see it in my own son how he demonstrates a willingness to learn but often lacks the confidence that he will be able to.  Alternatively, I see in other people (and in myself from time to time) arrogance - which is resistance to instruction and wisdom when we feel we don't need it.  Of course, hogwash on this last item as we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  

God gives us confidence because we KNOW he loves us despite who we are.  He will meet us exactly where we are...in love.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God also wants us to be humble - we all must acknowledge our need for God and not be proud.

My Prayer; Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me exactly where I am - broken and all.  Thank You Jesus for being my firm foundation who never leaves me nor forsakes me and who never changes.  You will always love me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I am impatient with others and harsh with my thoughts and actions.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my 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 me strength and wisdom.  Give Lisa strength and wisdom.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.