Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Malachi 3:6-10a

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:10a

I return to my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books.  While yesterday my study included a commentary assisted overview of the book of Malachi and an unassisted review of Malachi 3:6-10a, today my study is a commentary-assisted review of Malachi 3:6-10a.  This commentary for this text is includes the following excerpts:

1. Main idea and introduction to the text: "God’s commitment to His covenant trumps Israel’s rebellious history, holding out repentance to Israel and lavishing blessing on both Israel and the nations. Even though the people have fluctuated in their affections and devotion to God, He has not changed, which, as we will see, is the very foundation of His promise of restoration."
2. Division #1 - Malachi 3:6: The text begins with God's promise of mercy for Israel based on a promise He made to Jacob in Genesis 32:28.  God keeps His promises. The commentary shares: "Most of the time, when the Israelites are referred to as the children of Jacob, it’s a rebuke for their disobedience. It’s a reference to the name of their forefather before the divine blessing was bestowed. Yet, even though they were faithless, God would remain faithful to them, as He was to their father, Jacob. Their rebellion has led them far from God, but restoration is still possible if they desire change."  We are are challenged today with the same promise - repent and return to God and He will return to You (see v7).   
   
3. Division #2 - Malachi 3:7-10a: True repentance and reconciliation with God focuses on humility, where the commentary shares how Israel was challenging God by asking God how to return to Him, thinking they were already living as God intended.  God disputes this and offers a sharp rebuke - the commentary calls the dialogue here not one of "clarification" but one of "disputation."  We should not be so arrogant to argue with God believing His judgement is wrong.  Instead we should seek clarification about why and how we can live as He desires us to. We exist to glorify God.  God's rebuke focused on how the Israelites were not tithing to God - v8 - calling them robbers.  Our possessions come from God and belong to Him.  We should give back to God what is His in obedience to His commands - see also 2 Corinthians 8-9.  In response to those who claim that we are no longer under the law but under grace, the commentary shares that "grace never expects less;it always demands more...We should not give to God because we are under obligation to tithe, we should give because He has already given us the inexpressible gift of His Son Jesus Christ."  See also Luke 18-19. "Malachi is not necessarily calling out those who have been faithfully giving, asking them to give more; Malachi is calling out those who gave nothing. He is calling out those who haphazardly gave. He is calling out those who are giving without worshiping. God doesn’t need your money. He wants your heart. He wants you to understand that a closed hand is unable to receive a blessing. With a generous, open hand, you are opening yourself up to receive God’s blessings. With a rebellious, closed hand, you are hindering your ability to receive God’s blessings."

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Father God Jesus for Your grace and mercy and how You keep Your promises despite how I often fall down.  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. 

I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD....Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.

 Haggai 2:15-19

I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD....Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you. Haggai 2:17, 19

I continue my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 2:15-19, which the commentary outlines as the second division (entitled The People Were to Consider Where They Had Come From and Be Encouraged by What God Had Called Them To) for Haggai 2:10-23, the next set of verses covered by a new chapter in the commentary.  Here, the commentary emphasizes how God calls people to repentance.  God makes our sin clear to us, while at the same time, He makes His grace clear to us.  A sister in Christ pointed out to me Psalm 51:16-17 yesterday which is very appropriate for my study this morning on how God calls us to repentance.  In this Psalm, David cries out to God seeking reconciliation after Nathan confronts David about his sin of adultery and murder.  Vv16-17 describe David's "broken and contrite heart," which God "does not despise." The amazing nature of God's grace then becomes clear to us in this state - we see the free offer of Jesus, and it becomes all the more amazing when we recognize how it was accomplished - by Jesus' willingness to die on the cross for us.  Israel was disobedient for sure as they turned away from God, but God softened their heart and they returned to Him.  In return, they are blessed.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who made clear my sin to me, softening my heart and making me one of Your elect - thank You Jesus for saving me!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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.  

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

I push on with my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  This morning my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 1:4-8.  Here, Paul, knowing he will ultimately focus much of this book to admonish the church in Corinth, starts the letter by reminding the church in Corinth who they are, as he encourages them to remain obedient and faithful.  This reminder serves all churches well - regardless of the health and vitality of the church.  Paul emphasizes how this letter greets not just the church in Corinth but "all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v2).  We must remind ourselves how we (1) we're given grace, (2) were enriched by the teaching by Paul and others, (3) are not lacking anything. In light of this we are remain obedient and faithful. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know I am blessed, having been given grace, being enriched and sanctified by You, and having provided all things - thank You for these blessings Lord I am not deserving of such love.  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. 

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power[.]

 2 Thessalonians 1

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power[.] 2 Thessalonians 1:11

 

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at how faith fulfills good resolve.  John Piper first starts by unpacking what Paul means in the text by sharing: "we defeat sin and we do righteousness by faith, that is, by being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Christ in the next five minutes, five months, five decades, and into eternity."  Piper then provides three examples of how this may play out in the lives of believers:

• "If we set [our] heart to give sacrificially and generously the power of God to fulfill this resolve will come to you as you trust his future grace in the promise" of scripture, including Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:6, 8
• "If you set [our] heart to renounce pornography, the power of God to fulfill this resolve will come to you as you trust his future grace in the promise" of scripture, including Matthew 5:8, 29 
• "[I]f you set your heart to speak out for Christ when the opportunity comes, the power of God to fulfill this resolve will come to you as you trust his future grace in the promise" of scripture, including Matthew 10:19.  

Piper wraps the devotion by encouraging us to lean into God in faith, and see how God "increase[s] our daily faith in the precious promises of God — promises of his inexhaustible, blood-bought, Christ-exalting future grace."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and I have seen the hand of Your grace in my life and I believe in the promises of future grace because all the promises of God are yes in Him!  Thank You Jesus for the gift of faith.  You are a great God and 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.  Please 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.

[B]y the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15

[B]y the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at grace - which John Piper describes as not just "leniency when we have sinned[, but also] the enabling gift and power of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon." Piper leans on 1 Corinthians 15:10 and continues by sharing that efforts to be obedient to God are through God - not of our own effort - and Paul highlights that God does this through grace. We are referred as well to 1 Peter 4:11 where Peter writes that God supplies the strength to serve - through His grace. We are given yet another text in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 where God works to equip us "according to the grace of our God." Piper wraps the devotion by sharing that "[t]he obedience that gives God pleasure is produced by the power of God’s grace through faith. The same dynamic is at work at every stage of the Christian life. The power of God’s grace that saves through faith (Ephesians 2:8) is the same power of God’s grace that sanctifies through faith."

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

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper urges us to look closely at God's grace for us.  He starts by stating that "[g]race is not only God’s disposition to do good for us when we don’t deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us."  Piper uses not only 1 Corinthians 15:10 as text to emphasize his message today, but he uses Philippians 2:12-13 where Paul is more explicit how "God...works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."  Piper wraps the devotion by exhorting us to also see how grace is past and future, and that our proper response to past grace is thankfulness, and faith in response promised grace in the future.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your grace is amazing indeed - both past and future!  Thank You for the grace You have already poured out for me and also for the faith You give me for the promised future grace - You are faithful!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings 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 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 by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 6

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Today I complete my study of Ephesians via my participation in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. For this morning, I move to a more detailed examination of Ephesians 6:21-24.  These verses focus on Paul's closing remarks to the church in Ephesus in this prison epistle.  Paul tells the Ephesians that he is sending Tychicus to them so that they "may know how he [is] and what [he is] doing"...and so that "Tychicus may encourage [their] hearts" (v21-22). He then sends final greetings in v23-24.   

To assist my learning this morning, I watched the following videos from DesiringGod.com:

What Do the Lives of Teachers Tell Us?

In this video, John Piper observes four key reasons why Paul provides the details he does in his closing remarks to the church in Ephesus:

1. he shares details of how he is doing and what he is doing (i.e. in v20 Paul remarks how he is in "chains" or prison) so that the church can appropriately pray
2. he shares details of what he is doing because teachers not only use words to teach but also teach by enabling others to see how they live, thereby providing a model to imitate; see also 1 Corinthians 4:11-17
3. he shares details because he wants the readers to not lose heart as Paul is suffering for their glory and their sake; see also Ephesians 3:13 and Colossians 1:24
4. Christ gives us teachers to equip and they do so not just with words but by actions and through face-to-face interactions and fellowship; Tychicus is sent in person on behalf of Paul as an encouragement; see also Ephesians 4:11-12
   

A Closing Cry for Peace and Love - through the cross we not only have peace and with God but also with each other.  Love is the means through which we have peace with God and with others. Both peace and love are WITH faith - to show that love and peace flow FROM faith (1 Timothy 1:5). 

Grace from Start to Finish - grace WITH ALL who love Christ with a love that it is incorruptible based on an imperishable source (lasts forever). See also Romans 11:4-6 and Ephesians 1:4-6.  Grace produced faith and then this produced all the fruits of the Spirit, including love and peace.  God gives us grace and this grace via faith produces more (future) grace (infinitely and forever); see also James 4:4-10 and 1 Peter 5:5-7.

Incredible messages from God this morning!  Thank You Jesus!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - thank You for the grace You have already given me and thank You in anticipation of the grace I know You will give out to me in the future.  I am not deserving of this of course.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.]

Ephesians 2

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.] Ephesians 2:4-5

I pause my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series, to study Ephesians for 3 days per week as I participate in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. This morning, my focus is Ephesians 2, my initial observations, and scripture memorization of v4-5. As I unpack the letter (and further my understanding of it) Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates "[i]t is likely that the gospel was first brought to Ephesus by Priscilla and Aquila, an exceptionally gifted couple (see Acts 18:26) who were left there by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18, 19)."  Additional commentary from MacArthur reinforces what Chuck Swindoll indicates, that "Paul spent the first three chapters of the letter discussing God’s creation of a holy community by His gift of grace in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ", and how "Paul divided his letter to the Ephesians into two clear segments; applying the truths of the first makes possible the actions and lifestyle of the second."  In Ephesians 2, there are two divisions: (1) how believers' salvation brings about new life in Christ (v1-10), and (2) how Christ removed all obstacles (including circumcision, works, obedience to the ceremonial law, etc.) to faith for all nations vs just Israel, and how both Gentiles and Israel are one in the eyes of God (v11-22).  Core to this chapter is v4-5, and we should meditate on these verses, be humbled by them, and rejoice in the truth of the grace we have in Christ!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who has poured out Your life so that I could be a new creation and have new life in You!  Thank You Jesus!  How humbling - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of course - my sin is great and it continues...daily, including pursuit of comfort.  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]o that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2

...[S]o that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

This morning I attended my Disciple (D) Group that grew out of my church's Men's Wake Up Call gatherings. Our focus over the next six weeks is Ephesians. This morning we discussed Ephesians 1, and of course, not by accident this was also covered by Pastor Dave during MS/HS gathering this past Sunday (which I attend with Dustin).  I am getting a review of Ephesians from multiple angles as I reviewed it again today by listening to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion for today, which looks at Ephesians 2:7 and where John Piper uses Luke 12:35-37 to explain why this passage of scripture shows the coming Messiah as a servant vs how we expect to see God during end times which is as a conquering king: "[b]ecause the very heart of [God's] glory is the fullness of grace that overflows in kindness to needy people. This is why Ephesians 2:7 says he aims “in the coming ages [to] show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  Believers of course recognize how Jesus served during His ministry on earthy but Piper wants us to understand that "[t]here is no other god like this. He never relinquishes the role of inexhaustible benefactor of his ever-dependent, happy people."  Once again be encouraged by how great our God is and that He loves us and is SO full of grace for us!

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My Prayer: Lord Je sus, You are an awesome God who is rich in grace and kindness towards me - inexhaustibly so!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

As I continue my vacation in Maine, I maintain a pause on my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs, and tonight and throughout my vacation I will use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotionals - today's focuses on how God's grace should be recognized not only as an undeserved act in the past but also a form of power in the future.  In the devotional John Piper seeks for us to fully appreciate how grace is a form of power.  He unpacks 2 Thessalonians 1:12: "[t]he power that actually works in our lives to make Christ-exalting obedience possible is an exertion of the grace of God."  He uses 1 Corinthians 15:10 to underscore his point, then states again: "[s]o, grace is an active, present, transformative, obedience-enabling power." He describes this past and future grace as a cascading waterfall that keeps flowing.  For the grace we have already experienced, we should be thankful.  For the grace we are to experience (as power), we should trust.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace for me as an eternal cascading waterfall - thank You Jesus!  I can trust in Your grace - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and grace.  My sin is daily - anger, impatience, etc. 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.

...[B]ecause he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 51-53

...[B]ecause he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12

I continued my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - and on Day 5c of Lesson 19, I complete my review of Isaiah 53 with a reference to a number of  a number of verses that describe the manner of Jesus death - that He died in humility, with two criminals - one on either side of Him. He was willing to be beaten, mocked, "numbered with transgressors," and ultimately crucified - although He did nothing wrong.  He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins - that we could have life...in abundance now and for eternity with Him.  Amazing grace!  We must model such humility, and we are to reflect on how Jesus died and THAT He did...even though He did nothing wrong and lived a spotless life. 

Scripture references include: Daniel 9:26, 1 Peter 2:2, Luke 22:37. 

Comment and discuss this post. 

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

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 8:2-11:19

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 6:20-21

I resumed my D-Group's study of Revelation using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide.  While this week, the study looks at Revelation 8:2-11:19, for today my focus is the prayers of the saints (8:2-5), the role of the seven trumpets throughout these chapters, and how God is full of grace and how this is often not viewed as a opportunity to repent and be saved.  This latter focus is where my key takeaway is today.  

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 6:13-21

While a third of mankind is struck down, it is utterly stunning that the rest of mankind - two-thirds of mankind - did not repent and turn to God.  They certainly had an opportunity because the text is written in such a way that repentance is offered but not taken.  Unfortunately, this is the case with many non-believers, they experience tremendous grace in their lives, yet they fail to see the hand of God with this grace.  You see we don't get what we deserve (death - see Romans 6:23) but we do get what we don't deserve (grace - 1 Corinthians 15:10).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You grace is amazing indeed - and it is imprinted throughout my life....every day.  Thank You Jesus!  I am clearly not deserving of such grace...my sin is great and it is daily.  Worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You and help me love You with all of my heart soul and mind.  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 by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

This evening, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on the start of a new year, and the topic grace - both past grace and future grace. Paul acknowledges (and Piper highlights) that "[g]race is not only God’s disposition to do good for us when we don’t deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us."  Paul (and Piper) also refers us to Philippians 2:13 for scripture that illustrates how God works in and for us. In hindsight, I see the fruits of His grace in my life and I am thankful.  I also know that God is faithful for all the promises He makes and I can be confident of future grace. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord, Your grace is amazing and it is sufficient for all of my needs - amazing indeed!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace.  I sin...daily...primarily 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.

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:12-21

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved on to chapter seven Christ's Triumph Over Sin and Death, which covers Romans 5:12-21.  My focus today is Romans 5:20-21 which my commentary refers to as The Conclusion: Christ Has Overcome!  In v20-21 we see Paul referencing v13 where he says "for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given." Indeed during Adam's time and before Moses the law had yet to be given in terms of the Ten Commandments and the various other moral and ceremonials laws passed on from God to Moses. Yet in Garden, God was clear by giving this command to Adam (Genesis 2:16-17): "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” So we have law at least to this extent at this point as well God's commands for offerings (i.e. tithe) in Genesis 4, as we see the word "sin" for the first time in scripture. In Genesis 4, we also see Cain's murder of Abel and God's disappointment and punishment, so we see law in action here as well.  Regardless Paul is accurate that even before the law existed in its more formal time via the giving of the law through Moses, law DID exist.  And Paul is accurate again when he says that WHEN the law was given through Moses, sin and "trespass" increased in direct relation to the law....more laws, more sin.  Finally, Paul is accurate when he says that God's grace "abounded all the more" when sin increased as when Christ died for our sins, there is certainly more sin to wash away and be forgiven through the grace granted to us when we confess our sins and believe in Jesus.  This latter point is important for us to recognize as we SHOULD feel more sinful than Adam to the extent that more sin exists for us and God wipes all of this sin away and so much more through grace - not through anything we do making us deserving of such grace.

My commentary points us that Paul was perhaps addressing Jews by "jumping from Adam to Jesus" and skipping over Israel and its history and saying that "the law" did not help the Jews because it only magnified sin, it certainly did not increase obedience - only Jesus does this! Further with Adam "sin rules us....but [i]n Christ grace reigns over us." We are encouraged to fully appreciate the extent of our sin as we "are more sinful than you ever dared believe.  To forget this leads to license and permissiveness--to what we might call liberalism." Similarly, we are encouraged to fully appreciate how we "are more accepted in Christ than you ever dared hope."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your grace abounds in measures I cannot fathom nor will I ever fathom in this life - thank You Jesus for the grace You have already poured out for me and will continue to pour out for me!  I am completely undeserving.  I sin daily with worry, anger, and other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please provide wisdom and energy to Lisa and myself.  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.

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,both to the wise and to the foolish.

Romans 1:8-15

 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,both to the wise and to the foolish. Romans 1:14

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved on with a review of Romans 1:8-15.  My initial reading sees an emphasis on Paul's love for the Romans and he is deeply encouraged by their faith and how he longs to be with his fellow believers in Rome. He shares how he is torn between his love and desire to be with the Romans and how he feels a sense of "obligation" or duty to preach among the Greeks and non-Greeks who he refers to as "barbarians" (v14). 

My commentary notes that Paul has not yet been to Rome, so he is "exposing his heart" for the gospel, his mission, and the Romans, and in so doing "he is building rapport" as this is deeply encouraging for his readers.  My commentary contains three key sections for today:

• communion with God (1:8-10); he is described as thankful, and that only humble people show gratitude; we are encouraged to "pepper thanksgiving to God into our everyday conversations with one another"; Paul's passion is on display, including "people-centered passion" where he prays for the Romans and the church; we are encouraged to pray for believers and the church globally as these prayers "really matter; Paul desperately wants to get to Rome but as a busy missionary he has been unable to - yet he submits to God's will
  
• concerns for the church (1:11-13); Paul explains why he is eager to go to Rome as he "wants to bless the church through his gifts of leadership and teaching"; we are encouraged to see how Paul wants to be an encouragement and to be encouraged (v12) and all of us need each other
  
• commitment to preach the gospel to everyone (1:14-15); here we see how Paul sought to reach everyone not just a single people group; we are urged as well to focus on both non-believers and believers as "[w]e need a better understanding of various doctrines, we need to apply them to our lives, and we need to be reminded of our fundamental identity as well as as the hope that is ours in Christ"

In v14-15, RC Sproul in this post highlights a distinction of duty vs delight in our service to God. John Piper highlights how we owe grace to others as God freely gave it to us. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who freely redeemed me from my sin, giving me life to the full and for eternity - thank You Jesus!  Without a doubt I am undeserving.  My sin of worry, and other sins, 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.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 Chapter 13: Pages 166-179

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 2 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence", moving to Section 3 "The Ultimate Goal of Providence in the Design and Enactment of the New Covenant" - moving to chapter thirteen "The Entrance of Sin into Creation and the Glory of the Gospel".

Piper starts with a discussion of how God planned "the suffering and his Son before creation", and how this demonstrates how God plans to permit sin. This traces all the way back to the Fall. Piper provides Ephesians 1:11 and Genesis 20:6 as examples of how God plans to permit sin or not. Another glaring example is from Genesis 50:20 where Joseph confronts his brothers and is overcome with joy instead of feelings of revenge as he states that "God meant [their sin] for good" implying that "God has another intention in the act of [sin]." Piper states, "God's purpose in permitting sin was to give his people the pleasure of seeing and savoring the glory of his grace in the inexpressible suffering and triumphs of his Son." Piper then points out how consequently, we must see how "it was not only justice, but also mercy, that moved God to appoint suffering as the consequence of sin."  Hence, if we are to have grace, we must also have judgement and suffering. 

Piper uses 2 Corinthians 4:4 to highlight the "greatest good of the good news is the glory of Christ...in becoming the all sufficient foundation for the forgiveness of sins-the most worthy person suffering the worst sufferings for the least deserving".  We should then see "two more wonders" in (1) people who enjoy treasuring the glory of Christ (Matthew 10:37), and (2) enjoy being transformed into Christ's glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18)."

Finally, Piper wraps up the chapter by summarizing how the "providence of God in sending his Son a suffering substitute for sinners accomplishes everything necessary to bring his people into his presence with everlasting, soul-satisfying praise of the glory of his grace."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is full of knowledge, wisdom, power, and mercy and You chose me and adopted me in Your family - completely out of grace!  Thank You Jesus!  I know I am undeserving.  I have much sin in my life.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.

Chapter 9: Pages 121-132, Judges 6-7, and 1 Samuel 12

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 1 Samuel 12:20-22

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 eight "The Time of the Judges and Days of Monarchy". Here Piper indicates that during the period of Judges when Israel had no king (end of Joshua's generation), we see "the unstoppable power of sin....Israel spiral[s] down into anarchy during [this] time...and [e]veryone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6, 21:25)." Piper uses Judges 2:16-19 as a key scriptural example of the spiral.

Yet Piper does use one example from this period to show God's "patience and mercy" - Gideon. In Judges 7:2-3, God makes it clear that it is Him who deserves the glory of any victory over the Midianites. Piper points to pride and arrogance and the need for self-exaltation (vs that of God exaltation) as a key issue for Israel at the time. Piper than points out how God's "ultimate goal in the period of the judges...[was] to point Israel beyond their anarchy and pride to the hope of humble, happy worship under the omnipotent, redeeming hand of God." 

Piper then moves beyond the period of the judges to the period of monarchy starting under Saul, David, and then subsequent kings, to describe how God's plan all along was that Israel be led by a king first of course an earthly one, then via the Messiah as the "final and eternal king-the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14, 19:16)." Piper describes the strangeness here as "the actual movement to install the first king was an act of rebellion against God, even though God had already prophesied that Israel would have a king....and further describes this strangeness by adding that God had even "warned that having a king would be trouble for Israel."  He uses multiple scriptural examples to illustrate the "God-ordained roots of the reign of man" by looking at Deuteronomy 17:14-20 and 1 Samuel 2:10. 1 Samuel 8:11-18 is used as an example to show how not all of the kings are going to be "as circumspect as Deuteronomy required." Piper uses Samuel's farewell speech in 1 Samuel 12 to continue reverence and love of the Lord in spite of an earthly king because if Israel does not turn away from the Lord, He "will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake."

This kingship "through sin" is then discussed by Piper to "show God's grace....and how every blessing that comes from this kingship is undeserved...is grace."  Piper then describes three great blessings that come from this kingship, including (1) David and the Psalms - and the overarching them of the Psalms is God's praise, (2) Solomon's building of the temple - and the temple exists for God's name - see 2 Chronicles 6, (3) the final kingship of Jesus the Messiah. Piper's description makes it clear that there is no disconnect between the reign of man and the reign of Christ - it is all part of God's plan and providence. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is so full of grace for me - time and time again, I sin, yet You forgive me, restore me, and even bless me.  I am so undeserving!  My sin continues...as it did with Israel, it does for me.  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 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 have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion".... Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden....“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.

Romans 9-11

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion"....  Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden....“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day. Romans 9:15, 18, 11:7

Day 341 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this evening the focus is chapters 9-11 of Paul's letter to the believers in Rome. Paul expresses anguish over the Jewish nation and their general hardening towards Christ. Paul makes it clear, just as he does in Ephesians 2:8-9 that faith is a gift by indicating that God can have mercy on anyone, not just Jews but also the gentiles (quoting Exodus 33:19).

I don't know why God gave me faith but I am grateful that God gave me faith.  For those who don't believe pray to God that He will give You faith.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who gave me faith and a growing desire for You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin continues, including 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.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

 2 Samuel 2-5, 1 Kings 2:11, and 1 Chronicles 3:4, 29:26, 27 and 12:23-40

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 2 Samuel 5:4-5

Day 94 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David's ascension to the throne over all of Israel, including resolution of civil war.  Conflict and internal strife is inevitable, of course this is true also within the church. Check out this great post from DesiringGod.com where we are encouraged to tackle conflict head-on as conflict becomes an opportunity for grace.  The post provides examples of how Old Testament prophets, Peter, Paul and others tackled conflict head-on, resulting in God's glory on display and an advancing gospel.  It goes on to talk about how Jesus did not back down from heading into Jerusalem, ultimately going to the cross. The post includes a scriptural example from 2 Timothy where Paul writes Timothy about how to deal with false teachers and other opponents of the faith where differences manifest themselves:

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

I, for one, am greatly convicted by this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has been gentle with me even though I know I am quite undeserving.  Thank You Jesus.  But again, I am not deserving.  My sin continues, including being harsh with others in conflict.  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 I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.

Genesis 18-19

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him. Genesis 18:19

Day 7 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the back half of the story when angels who visit Abraham and Sarah and deliver once again the message of their coming child and as well the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (including Lot's escape).

As the angels visiting Abraham and Sarah leave, the Lord delivers this very convicting message about the role of fathers - Genesis 18:19. My day yesterday included the sin of rage of a father over his son - and I have asked both God and my son for forgiveness and both are full of grace.  My own dysfunction is echoed further in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction when in Genesis 19 a conflict ensues at Lot's house about men storming his door to have sex with the angels visiting him.  Lot seeks to spare the angels but strangely enough offers his own daughters as an alternative.  God...in all of His grace spares Lot and his daughters - but not Lot's wife who disobeys God strict command to not turn back - she is turned into a pillar of salt.  Lot and his daughters are spared but they don't focus on God's grace and instead turn to their own powers in an effort to extend their line. 

DesiringGod.com has this great post about family dysfunction and how God redeems it all.

I am grateful indeed how God uses it all and seek to turn to Him - I want to become more like Him every day.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who uses all of my dysfunction and sin for Your glory...and You are so full of grace and mercy.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for my rage and help me overcome and turn from my impatience and rage 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.