Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

 Numbers 1:1-19

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. Numbers 1:17-19

I've completed my study of John and start a study of Numbers, as I alternate between Old and New Testament studies.  In the text today, God organizes the people of Israel according to tribes, taking a census, and establishing leaders among the tribes as they set off from Mt Sinai into the wilderness with the promised land as their destination.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God takes a census, as He organizes the men of Israel to lead the people to the promised land.  Leaders (to assist Moses and Aaron) are named as God sets apart specific people for the roles they will play in the journey He sets before them.  Similar to Israel, all of us (speaking to believers) are on a journey heading to the promised land, and this is Heaven.  This is where our citizenship and allegiance lies and it is the home God gives us.  Earth is temporary and it and us will fade away as God's kingdom in Heaven is permanent. God puts people over us to lead us on this journey and we must faithfully follow God and the leaders He appoints over us.  This organization and unity is key if we are to function as God intends.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Each of us as believers is set apart for a specific role, whether we are a leader or not we have a function.  No one is left out nor is anyone less worthy.  See also 1 Corinthians 12 where the text describes how the church is organized of members with different spiritual gifts and how they all work together - even when one is weaker than the other. Moses, Aaron, the tribal leaders, and all of Israel has a role on our collective journey to the promised land. The leaders did as the Lord commanded (v19) so we must do as well. 
• 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 focusing on self on your journey to the promised land (Heaven) but instead seek God's will and be humble to follow those set above you to lead you. Claim the promise that God is saving a place for us in Heaven - our home.  Follow the example of those who followed leaders set above the people in Israel in the Sinai wilderness - be humble and and follow according to the role God gives you.  As we go on our journey support, encourage, pray for, and be unified with other believers.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for the leaders who faithfully serve our church and me as they lead me in my journey to the promised land.  I am not deserving of how You save and provide leaders to guide and serve me.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me understand, 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. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 15.  Here, John Piper unpacks how Christmas of course stirs up feelings of joy and family, etc. Yet during the Christmas season, many have lost loved ones and John Piper briefly shares a few words of how he and an older member of his church have experienced loss.  My own father died in December 1998 and my niece Marit passed just after Thanksgiving last year.  These are all painful things indeed.  John Piper does not want us to escape this pain as we may perhaps reflect on this during Christmas - Piper shares: "[m]any of you will feel your loss this Christmas more pointedly than before. Don’t block it out. Let it come. Feel it. What is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death? But oh, do not be bitter. It is tragically self-destructive to be bitter." Piper then refers us to John 10:10 where Jesus shares how He provides abundant life - and of course this is an eternally abundant life.  We are encouraged to focus here and how regardless of what we may experience in this life - our ultimate home is in Heaven with Jesus.  This in turn gives us hope to endure what we may experience now as we know that what we are experiencing is temporary until we are at home with Jesus. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is full of grace and compassion for us, providing life - abundantly - now and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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 as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:11-19, and my unaided observations of the text.  Continuing with text referred to as the "hall of faith," Sarah is provided as an example who had faith in the promise God gave her that she would conceive, despite her age (v11).  V12 describes how the Abrahamic Covenant, first given in Genesis 12 but more specifically given once again in Genesis 15 is referred to here in Hebrews 11, and it is described as fulfilled.  The text then pivots to how faith drives us to allegiance to our eternal home - Heaven - where our true citizenship lies.  V13-16 describes the faithful from the Old Testament as being "strangers and exiles on the earth" and as having faith in new land where God is leading them - that this land is better and there is no desire to return to the old country.  V17-19 then describes how Abraham believed in the promise of God once more when asked to sacrifice his only son Issac - an amazing verse where the author of Hebrews describes Abraham as believing that "God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back" (v19).  Believers, do not go back to your former country but instead look forward to the home and city God has prepared for us!  It will be amazing!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus - You are good and You are saving a place for me in Heaven and it will be amazing...thank You Jesus for my salvation!  I am not deserving of such a God and for such a blessing...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my 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.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Hebrews 4

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which focuses on how, for believers, death is gain.  Here, John Piper provides five reasons from scripture that support his claim:

1. Our spirits will be made perfect (Hebrews 12:22-23)
   
2. We will be relieved of the pain of this world (Luke 16:24-25)
   
3. We will be given profound rest in our souls (Revelation 6:9-11)
   
4. We will experience a deep at-homeness (2 Corinthians 5:8)
   
5. We will be with Christ (Philippians 1:21-23)

I have a niece - Marit, who is going to be 15 years old in a few days - and she is dying of brain of cancer. My wife and I pray constantly for a miracle of healing - we don't want Marit to die, nor do we want her to suffer or be in pain.  I struggle with this and in my struggle I selfishly believed that my words could bring Marit comfort as I talked to her on the phone a few days ago (not knowing whether it would be the last time I talked to her).  Since then, upon reflection, I sense that Marit is better served by us simply spending time with her, and it will be through these final moments where the Holy Spirit will be working to comfort her.  If we are at peace about where Marit is going, the Holy Spirit will do the rest - to comfort Marit in ways that we, through actions or words, cannot. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who comforts like no other - thank You for the peace and comfort You provide by giving us a glimpse of Heaven and telling us that You are saving us a place in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me.  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 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 as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

Pausing again from my deep-dive study of Isaiah, today I listened to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which focuses on the extent to which God is proud of us. John Piper uses Hebrews 11 as the text to examine this question. The author of Hebrews (11:8-21) describes the faith of Abraham, Sarah, Issac and Jacob and Piper zeroes in on v16 where he unpacks how these faithful "died in faith", and "not having received the things promised" (v13) and how it is that "God is not ashamed to to be called their God" (v16). Core to Piper reasoning is the "before" where these faithful "desired a better country" - heaven.  We of course are not citizens, nor should our allegiance be to this earthly life, but to heaven which is our home. The more we truly believe this and long for the day when we ultimately will be at home and with Jesus (after meeting Him face to face). 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves and who is saving a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessed gift - the greatest gift of all time.  Please forgive me for my sin, help me overcome it, 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 udnerstand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Revelation 4-8

Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:15-17

Day 362 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with Revelation as I reach the final days of my chronological study of the Bible. In Revelation 4-8 we get a detailed description of God's throne in all of its glory including the multitude of those praising and singing songs of worship to God.  We also see a portrait of evil.  We see a scroll with seven seals that only Jesus can open.  We see how God is in control of and over everything including sin and death. Destruction of the wicked begins during these times. Yet we also see how the faithful, including those martyred, are sealed and protected. We are left with this amazing portrait of what awaits all of us during the end times.

Life on earth is temporary...and at times very difficult.  Yet Jesus came to give us life to the full (and not according to any earthly definition) now and for eternity with Him.  We should all long for this.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: You are an amazing God who loves me and who has saved a place for me in Heaven!  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.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 10:19-13

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

Day 359 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 - today I wrap up my study of the book of Hebrews. These closing chapters of Hebrews include encouragements and exhortations to maintain our faith and holy living, including practical ways to demonstrate our faith (i.e. hospitality).  These chapters also include the "Hall of Faith" (Hebrews 11), those in the Old Testament under the First Covenant who by faith were obedient but did not (immediately) receive what was promised. Like those in the "Hall of Faith" we too are asked to live by faith and to focus on things eternal because our home is not of this earth but in Heaven.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the creator of the universe and everything in it and You created Heaven and reserved a place for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift...the greatest gift of all time.  I sin...daily; including placing my own comfort and convenience ahead of 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.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21-22:5

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Session #12 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 21-22:5.  The title of the session is The Consummation of the Kingdom.

We live in between two worlds:

• pilgrims on a journey in this country today.
• citizens of a kingdom in a country to come.

 We live between two times:

• the birth of Christ; kingdom of God has come and is a present reality.
• the return of Christ; the king of God is coming and His kingdom is our future.

We live for one purpose for the glory of God...meaning it is glorified when God's kingdom is consummated; people who are ruled and a place where the King has dominion, and purpose for the King and His kingdom.  Revelation is the culmination of the Bible - all of history pointing to this point.

• Creation: Genesis 1-2 | people (His blessing), fellowship (perfect), purpose (God's glory multiplied to all peoples)
• The Fall: Genesis 3-11 | disrupted fellowship (place), God's glory marred
• Patriarchs: Genesis 12-50 | place and promised fellowship
• Exodus and Conquest: Exodus - 1 Samuel 8 God and His place | tabernacle (place)
• United Monarchy: 1 Samuel 9 - 1 Kings 11; 1 Chronicles - 2 Chronicles 9: God with His people | temple (place)
• Divided Monarchy: 1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles 10 - Esther - God with His people | exile (place)
• Jesus: Matthew - John - God among His people | incarnation (place)
• Present: Acts - Jude - God IN His people | body (place)
• New Creation: Revelation - God's final blessing and judgement

We give our lives to this kingdom - the climax of this story. Revelation 21:6 - "It is done".

It will be the end in two ways:

• inexpressible joy; Heaven exemplifies God's eternal blessing for conquerors who have turned from this world to Christ.
• irreversible justice; Hell exemplifies God's eternal judgement for cowards who have turned from Christ to this world.

We're going to dwell forever in the in-most place with the Holy God of the universe! Revelation 21:3

Death will be replaced by life!  Revelation 21:4

No more sin.  No more sorrow.  No more sickness.  No more separation. Tree of life - exists as blessing - no longer as curse Revelation 22:2-3

We will see His face! Revelation 22:4 We will reign with Him bodily resurrected - all creation will be restored. Every nation, people, tribe, and tongue living, loving, working, and worshiping together. Unified songs: worthy is the lamb! Glory to our God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God indeed and it gives me great peace and excitement to KNOW that You have already defeated death and that I will reign with You forever in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus for reserving a place for me.  I am not deserving.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Romans 8

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. v18-19

Paul reminds us that our earthly life may be filled with challenges, including suffering - yet God promises a Heaven where we will have no such challenges - the Perfect City as John Piper describes it.

John describes Heaven in Revelation 21: 

God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

DesiringGod.com gives us a great post on how we can strive for Heaven as we experience the struggles in this life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who created Heaven and Earth and everything else in the universe.  You provided Heaven as our eternal resting place and You are saving a place for us - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift.  I worry.  I know I should not but I do.  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. 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 foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

1 Chronicles 29

We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. v15

As a follow up to yesterday's post, David continues to remain humble and he demonstrates this further by stating what all believers should recognize - that we exist solely to glorify God and we should not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2).  We are foreigners, we should be mindful of our host (God), and live with eternity in mind (considering Heaven is our Home).

Also, apart from God we have no good things.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn from 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.