Rejoice and be glad[.]

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad[.] Matthew 5:12

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 19: The Gladness of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "Jesus says that he is a bridegroom. He seized upon a word that is the symbol of human joy. If ever a man is happy in this world, it is on his wedding day. Jesus says that he lives in an atmosphere of wedding joy, and so also do his disciples."
• "He told the men who criticized him that his life was different from the life of John the Baptist and also from the life of the Pharisees. You cannot mix the two kinds of piety, the two forms of life will not mingle. Let me give you an illustration or two, he said: 'A man does not put a new patch on an old garment, because the new patch will tear out and the rent will be still worse. Neither can you put my form of life on to the old form of piety, the two will not hold together, the strength that is in my form of life will simply tear the old form of life to pieces. Or, to give you another illustration, men do not put new wine into old wine skins, for there is too much life and movement and sparkle in new wine for the old skins. If you attempt to put the new wine into the old skins, the old skins will burst and the wine will be lost. So do not think that you can put the new life which I live and which I want all my followers to live into old forms of pharisaic piety, for this cannot be done. I am living a new kind of life, and I want a new kind of man, a new spirit, a new form of religion.'"
• "It would seem, then, that Jesus was a man abounding in joy. Gladness was one of the notes of his character. Listen to him as he teaches, and again and again you catch the notes of happiness. He was all the time saying, "Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God" — and what was it in the little child that attracted him? One thing which attracted him was the child's sunny heart. What would we do in this world without the children laughing away the cares and sighs?"
• "Or listen again to what he says about worry. He defines it as one of the deadliest of all sins. We are not to worry about the present, about the necessities of existence, about to-morrow, about what we ought to do or say in the great crises which lie ahead of us. It is not right, he says; it is contrary to the law of God.  Listen to him again as he says to the great crowds, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." A glum-faced prophet could never speak so. He was glad even to the end. Even in the upper chamber, with death only a few hours away, he goes right on speaking of the joy that is bubbling up in his own heart and he prays that the same joy may abound in the hearts of those that love him. He tells his disciples that all of his teaching has been granted unto them because of his desire that his joy might remain in them and that their joy might be full. There was no shadow on his face that night in the upper chamber. The cross is near, but it casts no shadow."
• "The very finest apples, you know, in the earlier stages of their growth are sour and green. It is not until the sun has done his perfect work that they are golden and luscious. Just so it is with souls in the earlier stages of development — they are often green and sour, crabbed, and full of acid. But if they will only subject themselves to the shining of the sun, the great joyous, exuberant, laughing sun, all the juices of their nature will grow sweet and mellow, and they will find themselves at last in the kingdom of peace and joy."
• "It is the tragedy of this world that there are so many people in it who find it impossible to rejoice. What is the matter with you that you are not happier than you are ? Certainly there is something wrong! What a pity it is to live in a world like this and not enjoy living! It is amazing that any one should live in a universe so glorious, and not feel like shouting! If you are lachrymose and drooping it is because there is something wrong. You are not well in body or in mind, or it may be you are sick in both. You have not yet learned the high art of living, you have not yet come to Jesus. Why not come and sit at his feet? Why not take his yoke upon you and learn of him, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light."

For believers, salvation alone is worthy of living joyfully every day.  Yet for many believers this may not be enough.  If this is you, I would encourage you to press on in your faith and lean into Jesus.  One of the great promises in scripture is Matthew 5:6 where early in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus shares: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."  Another word for satisfaction is contentment - and when one becomes content there is joy.  Joy in God. As believers mature and come to know God more intimately, it becomes abundantly clear that God is treasure enough - above anything else the world can offer.  John Piper refers to this as Christian Hedonism - "God is most glorified in us, or Christ is most magnified in us, when we are most satisfied him."

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My Prayer: Father God, You are so great that You provide Your Son and so much more so that we can enjoy all the rich blessings of faith.  Thank You for my salvation, for the mercies that You provide every morning that never cease, for Your Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, etc. 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.  

"I came to cast fire on the earth[.]"

Luke 12:49

"I came to cast fire on the earth[.]" Luke 12:49

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 18: The Enthusiasm of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "In the speech of to-day, enthusiasm is a noble word. It is fervor of mind, ardency of spirit, exaltation of soul. It is passion, heat, fire. Though the word is absent, the thing itself is present. Jesus bums with fervent heat. His very words are sparks which kindle conflagrations."
• "When a boy he visited Jerusalem with his parents, and slipping one day into the Temple to hear the 229 scholars discussing the great problems of religion, he lost himself. He forgot what day of the week it was, and what hour of the day it was. His father and mother and brothers and sisters and friends all passed completely from his mind. He plunged headlong into the discussion of the doctors, gave himself up completely to the subject of the hour, allowed himself to be swept along on the tide of thought and discussion, until all at once his mother's face appeared at the door and he was reminded of the place he had left vacant in the caravan which had started toward Galilee. In this temple experience we see a nature sensitive and impressionable, capable of being heated to high temperatures."
• "Jesus is so full of feeling after the experience which came to him in his baptism that he cannot linger near the homes of men, but must at once rush away into infrequent and dessert places where he can meditate upon the strange thing that has happened to him, and ponder the steps which he must next take. From this time on we have a man before us who is being driven. Even when a boy he used a word which expressed the intensity of his feeling, " Do you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" He never ceased to use that word 'must.'"
• "He felt that his life would be short and so he kept saying, "I must work the works of Him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work." How intense his life was we can see in what is told us of his habit of praying. He was always praying. He arose early in the morning in order to find more time to pray, he stayed up late at night in order to increase the hours in which he might speak to God."
• "Men were astounded by the magnitude of his labors. Sometimes he did not take time to eat. Even when he went away for a season of relaxation he gave himself up to the crowds which pursued him. His words have in them an energy which burns. Again and again we catch expressions in which we can feel his great heart beating:"I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel," "O woman, great is thy faith!" "I thank thee, O Father!" "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often!" All these are out of the throat of an enthusiast, a man surcharged with feeling. At the distance of nineteen hundred years from the day on which they were spoken our heart leaps when we listen to them. The rains of the centuries have not put out their fire."
• "He stirred men up wherever he went. They crowded him off the land upon the water. They pushed him off the plain up the hillside. They crowded the houses in which he tarried, they pressed round him as he walked through the streets. Again and again the excitement rose to fever heat, and Jesus slipped away and hid himself. Near the close of his career the crowds went wild in their tumultuous joy, shouting, singing, casting their clothing in the dust that the animal which Jesus rode might have a carpet for its hoofs like unto that furnished for triumphal processions of kings. No man can set a crowd blazing unless his own soul is ablaze."
• "A still finer evidence of this is found in the character of the men whom Jesus attracted to him as his intimate friends. The apostles were all men of fire. Do not believe the pictures when they paint the twelve as limp and pallid men. They were full-blooded, virile, mighty men, full of fire and passion, drawn to Jesus because in him they saw a man who satisfied them.  Peter had a seething soul, his words roll out of him like molten lava. John and James were called Sons of Thunder. The disciple whom Jesus loved was so passionate that he wanted to burn up a whole town which had insulted his Master....They loved Jesus with such an intensity of devotion, such a passionate self-abandon, that they were ready at any moment to lay down their lives for him. No man can win and hold the ardent devotion of strong men unless he has a soul which is hot. Jesus from first to last was surrounded by enthusiasts because he himself was enthusiastic."
•  "If you ask for the cause of this enthusiasm, you will find that it has three roots.  Put these three things together — a sensitive and inflammable nature, a clear and glorious vision, and a fiery and indomitable purpose —and you have the ingredients which go to produce the divine flame which is known as enthusiasm."
• "Higher than all enthusiasms is the fire that burns in souls in love with God. To know Him, to serve Him, to glorify Him, this is the highest ambition of which the soul is capable, and the soul when possessed with this ambition burns with a fire that cannot be quenched. This was the enthusiasm of Jesus." 

Believers of course are called to share in and demonstrate this enthusiasm.  In response to those seeking to trap Him with the question what is the most important commandment (see Matthew 22:34-40), Jesus answers: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment."  For believers who have earnestly taken the time to get to know God, this is the natural response to who Jesus is and what He has done for us.  Peter's response on his arrest after Pentecost (Acts 4:20) demonstrates such enthusiasm when in his defense he states: "we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."  It is this enthusiasm that should motivate us to do what He seeks for us to do - with one example being the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and whose enthusiasm I now have inside inside of me via the Holy Spirit.  Thank You God for giving me an intense desire to love, please and find joy and satisfaction in You above all else.  I am not deserving of how You do this.  My desire for You is sometimes weak and this of course breaks the most important commandment.  So I know there is more work for You to do in me and through me.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the the first division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the first division as 11:7-10 with the division entitled Enjoy Life as God Intended.  The commentary highlights how Solomon shares that life is fleeting (see James 4:14) and that in light of this we should enjoy life, including all of the ups and downs of life.  At the same time, we are encouraged to live as God intends and according to His design as God warns us that if we don't harsh judgement awaits.  See also this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is the source of glorious and inexpressible joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this joy that You freely give to Your children.  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.

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 and 5:10-6:12

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 6:10-12, which covers the third part of the second division of the commentary chapter titled Money Is Meaningless without Jesus - this second division specifically is referred to in the commentary as Antidotes to Satisfaction in Money, with the third (and last) part referred to as Jesus.  The commentary for this text asserts that these last few verses of chapter 6 "are a reflection on the early chapters of Genesis and the fall of mankind (Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 317–18). It repeatedly references Adam and even the naming of things (6:10; cf. Gen 2:19). It is known what man is, and Ecclesiastes has consistently said that man is “dust” (3:20). The words Adam and dust are semantically linked because man was made from the dust and is heading back to the dust due to the fact that in Eden he tried to contend with God, who is stronger than man! Who knows what is good for Adam (6:12)? This phrase calls us back to the time before the fall when everything was pronounced good. Now, however, fallen Adam’s days pass like a shadow. Only God can tell what will happen after we pass off the scene." The commentary than uses the 3 Circles tool to further describe the text today: "[t]he first circle shows that God has a design for everything in His world. God intends the material gifts He gives us to be used in certain ways that will cause us to flourish. Thus, he has a design for sex, food, relationships, work, and yes, money. These things are not “good” or “bad” in and of themselves. They can be used in good and godly ways that benefit us or in evil and sinful ways that harm us....The second circle shows that our departure from God’s design, which the Bible calls “sin,” inevitably leads us into brokenness because we are not using things as God designed them to be used....When we do not use money as God designed—for provision, contentment, and generosity—then we become broken. Thus, love of money, hoarding, and failure to be content causes all of the harm we have seen in Ecclesiastes 5–6. It makes us miserable, lonely, insecure, and distrustful....The final circle shows that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, taking on Himself all of our sin and brokenness so that He could secure forgiveness, freedom, and a new start for us (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are called to recognize that we are broken, to repent of our sin and brokenness, and to trust in Jesus. When we do, He then makes us new creations who are filled with the Spirit and now have the ability to recover and pursue God’s original design for our lives."  Surrender to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to find a satisfaction, peace and joy (and most importantly salvation) that cannot be found in the world.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God (the One and Only True God) who provides for all of my needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual.  You also saved 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.

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 and 5:10-6:12

Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. Ecclesiastes 6:10

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 6:10-12, which covers the third part of second division of the commentary chapter titled Money Is Meaningless without Jesus - this second division specifically is referred to in the commentary as Antidotes to Satisfaction in Money, with the third (and last) part referred to as Jesus. Solomon concludes chapter 6, in vv10-12, with one statement and two rhetorical questions.  In v10a, Solomon describes how God is in control as our current circumstances are not just known but named, implying they are part of a script that God is playing out.  In v10b, He  describes how humanity is known, implying how we are all broken and sinful in how we chase money, wealth and other pursuits that become idols.  Finally, in v10c, he states how humanity "is not able to dispute with one stronger than he."  God of course is stronger than humanity and in control of everything - He has a plan and it cannot be stopped.  Believers can take great hope from this because we know ultimately that our salvation is sealed and the victory over sin and death is assured as it was already accomplished by Jesus' death on the cross.  Blessed assurance indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, saved me and gives me assurance that my salvation is sealed - You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You for the comfort in knowing that I am saved, sealed, and the victory over sin and death is already won.  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.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 and 5:10-6:12

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:9, which covers the second part of second division of the commentary chapter titled Money Is Meaningless without Jesus - this second division specifically is referred to in the commentary as Antidotes to Satisfaction in Money, with the first second part referred to as Contentment and Joy in What God Has Given You. The commentary shares how "what you have, where you are in life, and the ability to enjoy those things are all from God. It is not just what you have that is a gift from God; the ability to enjoy it is also a gift. To be able rightly and fully to enjoy the things of this world is a gift of God’s grace (Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 315). God gives this ability so that you do not remember the misery of this cursed world because time flies when you are having fun. The key factor to all of this is God. One can only enjoy material blessings as rightly intended and designed in dependence on God." The commentary for 6:1-2 describes how God can withhold joy of one's wealth and possessions as a means to draw someone to Himself.  The commentary shares: "He gives some the inability to enjoy what they have because in His goodness He will not give you something that drives you away from Him. He knows there is no such thing as happiness apart from Him." The commentary then shares how regardless of whether we are rich or poor we all face the same predicament - often desiring more than what we have...and this is futile and ungodly. God wants us to focus entirely on satisfaction in Him and to bring Him glory.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me joy and satisfaction in You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such rich blessings and for my salvation.  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. 

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 and 5:10-6:12

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:9, which covers the second part of second division of the commentary chapter titled Money Is Meaningless without Jesus - this second division specifically is referred to in the commentary as Antidotes to Satisfaction in Money, with the first second part referred to as Contentment and Joy in What God Has Given You.  Here, as the commentary titles describe, the text today emphasizes how, while God gives us money and possessions to enjoy, we are not to lust over more money or possessions such that they become idols.  V5:18 shares that it is "good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot."  V19 shares similarly: "[e]veryone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God." V20 is interesting and worthy of reflection because even after few reads it is less clear: "[f]or he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart."  Clearly, Solomon is connecting v20 to v18-19; how he is occupied with joy in his heart is less clear.  My sense is that he is making this connection to describe how God gives humanity money and possessions to enjoy, much like he gives us the natural world to enjoy, and this joy that God gives us is consuming. Then, starting in chapter 6:1-2, Solomon describes an evil where a man is given by God wealth and possessions but then God does not give him the power to enjoy them and they are enjoyed by a stranger.  The meaning of this is not clear after reading one or two times.  Perhaps this stranger stole them, and Solomon is describing how things of this world are fleeting and we should not too much hope in them because of circumstances such as theft, etc. Continuing in vv3-6, Solomon describes how one can have much money, possessions, and children, and also live a long life, yet "his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial."  This proves the futility of life focused on money and possessions - we should enjoy them but focus on finding satisfaction in God first and foremost and see how all things are from Him (see James 1:14-17). The text for today ends with a gem from Solomon who shares how what we have and can see with our own eyes should be sufficient for our satisfaction vs what we cannot see but lust after. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who provides all that I need for my joy and satisfaction.  I am not deserving of how You bless me, most importantly for my salvation.  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 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 I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, which is the first division of Ecclesiastes 2 per the commentary.  The commentary describes this division with the title: Pleasure Is Meaningless.  It continues by sharing how Solomon in chapter 1 finds no meaning in his life (apart from God - see also Ecclesiastes 12) but then says to himself that he should "lighten up" and pursue pleasure perhaps as a way to distract himself from an empty existence to leads to pain and disappointment. Right way in 2:1 Solomon points out how pleasure as vanity - he then goes into details about what he pursued (see also post yesterday).  As the commentary for this text winds down it shares: "Solomon concludes his search for pleasure by saying he denied himself nothing (2:10)....It led to nothing but brokenness. Incidentally, much of what he detailed is a violation of the kingly laws in Deuteronomy 17 and ultimately cost Solomon’s son the kingdom....Solomon lovingly warns us that indulging in whatever feels good is dangerous. You may get all you ever wanted, but you will not want it when you get it. It will not satisfy. God loves you, and He knows indulging under the sun leads to brokenness. Pleasure is not bad, but because of the fall, it cannot be our final guide. It cannot be ultimate. Pleasure is a good thing that if turned into a god thing becomes an enslaving thing."  Turn to God - the Living Water that truly satisfies!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You truly satisfy!  You are the Living Water whose mercies are new every morning and that never cease - thank You Jesus for these blessings and of course for my salvation - 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. 
 

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, which is the first division of Ecclesiastes 2 per the commentary.  Building on my posts to date on Ecclesiastes, where the key theme has been how apart from God we have no fulfillment, meaning or purpose, and in the end, most importantly, we are eternally damned without God.  Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 is an incredible set of verses authored (of course divinely-inspired) by someone who had access to every conceivable pleasure and did not deny himself any of these pleasures. Solomon writes how he found such pursuits vanity (v1) - including laughter (v2), houses (v4), wine (v3-4), gardens/parks (v5), pools (v6), slaves (v7), herds and flocks (v7), silver and gold (v8), singers (v8), and concubines (v8).  Solomon also shares how he retained wisdom and "became great and surpassed all who were before [him] in Jerusalem" (v9) - he had it all (v10). Yet this did not produce the fulfillment he thought it would produce.  On the other hand, for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we have a joy and peace that some may never know nor understand.  Please seek God!  God please use me to bring others to You!

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

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 John 1

 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 1 John 1:4

This morning, I am embark on a study of 1,2,3 John with the assistance of the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on 1 John 1:1-4.  John writes about the Word of Life, embodied in the Son Jesus Christ, who came as flesh in blood to save humanity from its sin and to give those who believe in Him eternal life.  As John describes the Good News of Jesus Christ, he ascribes attributes:

• from the beginning (v1); it was always the plan that Jesus who be the incarnate Son of God, to die on the cross for all of humanity's sin, and to rise again after 3 days
• it was real and evident (v1-2); heard and seen by many, including himself; John walked with Jesus and touched Him
• Jesus was from and with the Father (v2)
• it unites those who believe into a body of believers for fellowship, encouragement and strengthening (v3)

John writes to believers about the Good News so that his joy may be complete - echoing similar sentiments that he and Peter spoke to the Jewish elders, scribes, and rulers in Acts 4:20 that "[they] cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."  It is out of an outpouring of love of God to share the glory and Good News of Jesus Christ. Our joy is only complete when we share this joy with others - it cannot be contained.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has done much - paying the ultimate price - for me, completely out of grace and love for me.  Not because I am deserving because I am not - 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. 

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account....Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

 Matthew 5 and Luke 10

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account....Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Matthew 5:11, Luke 10:20

This morning, I pause my study of 1 Corinthians to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how Jesus "revealed a secret that protects our happiness from the threat of suffering and the threat of success." This secret follows in Matthew 5:12 is that "[g]reat is your reward in heaven." John Piper highlights both Matthew 5:11-12 and Luke 10:20 to show us how Jesus protects our joy and happiness.  In Luke 10:17, Piper expands his review of the text to share how Jesus warned the disciples not to be tempted to "put their joy in ministry success."  Piper summarizes the text and its application by sharing how we must focus on the "greater reward in heaven" as the anchor of our happiness and joy. "[T]hus [Jesus] freed us from the tyranny of worldly pain and pleasure — worldly suffering and worldly success."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me protection of my joy and happiness through my salvation.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such love, compassion, grace, and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.  

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the peoples praise you, O God...let all the peoples praise you!

 Psalm 67

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the peoples praise you, O God...let all the peoples praise you! Psalm 67:3, 5

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at why God demands we praise Him.  John Piper opens today's devotion by quoting C.S. Lewis, who writes that people "delight to praise what [they] enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation."  John Piper goes further: "[t]here is the answer — the solution to the apparent egomania of God in demanding us to praise him! It is a demand for our greatest happiness." The ultimate end for Piper's reasoning is that God - if in Piper's words "loves us enough to make our joy full," He must advocate for Himself as this is the "the ultimately loving act" for us.  God loves us, is for us, seeks our joy, and our love and joy is complete in the praise of Him! Piper closes the devotion by referring us to Ephesians 1:12, 14 where Paul shares how God "preserves for us and offers to us the only thing in all the world that can satisfy our longings."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gives Himself to us for our praise and joy in You.  Thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time....I am not deserving of such a gift and the blessings that follow.  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 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.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

 John 15

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at how God is "unshakably happy."  John Piper opens the devotion today by stating that "God is absolutely sovereign", referring us to Psalm 115:3.  He then describes how God is "not frustrated," as He "rejoices in all his works when he contemplates them as colors of the magnificent mosaic of redemptive history."  Piper further describe God's happiness by sharing how the foundation of such happiness is based in "the delight he has in himself." We are referred to Matthew 3:17 as an example of this foundation.  God is also pleased in creation - which Piper indicate "reflect his glory."  We are referred to Psalm 19:1 and 104:31 where this plays out. Finally, God delights in the praise of His people, as Piper points to Psalm 150:2 and 147:10-11. Piper concludes today's devotion by emphasizing that the praise of God by His people is not only a delight of God, but also "the apex of our joy....[as our p]raise is the consummation of the joy we have in seeing and savoring the greatness of God."  Experience the joy of a happy God!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God in whom there is fullness of joy!  Thank You Jesus for giving me life...to the full!  I am not deserving of such joy.  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.

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5

More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:11

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter twenty-six - Apostle of the Happy God and the Hard Life of Spreading   Joy.  Here, John Piper loves and admires Paul for his joy in Christ and consequently his love of others such that "his aim was their joy*" in Christ. First, Piper shares how it is an uncommon combination of traits for Paul to posses a great intellect, be logically rigorous, careful and cerebral in thought - yet deeply happy and joy...in all circumstances.  Of course God is the source of this happiness and joy.  Piper describes how God is happy, pointing to Jesus's parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:22-24) and how the Master "welcomes his servants home*" into the joy of your master (Matthew 25:21).  He further describes that "Paul knew that a gloomy God could not be the source, let alone the center, of all-satisfying good news. No. If Jesus came into the world with “good news of great joy,” as the angels said (Luke 2:10), then God is not a gloomy God, but a God of overflowing joy.*"  This joy is the result of how joy originates in God through His Son Jesus.  Piper then moves to share how the focus of Paul's ministry was to bring others into this same joy, referring us to Philippians 1:23-26.  Piper makes a point of saying that "Paul is not ashamed to sum up his ministry goal as 'for your joy.'*"  He makes this point because he sees that joy is the "essence*" of what Christians are to pursue, explaining that "Christianity is a divine project of replacing inferior joys in inferior objects with superior joys in God himself. That is why Christ came to die. He died to remove every barrier (like God’s wrath and our sin) between us and God so that we could say with Paul, “We . .  . rejoice in God” (Romans 5:11).*"  Piper closes the chapter by answering why 1 Corinthians 13:13 does not explicitly mention joy as key - Piper shares that it does not have to because "[l]ove is the overflow of joy in God that seeks to meet the needs of others, especially the need of eternal joy.*"

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me, and a God who gives me great joy in You - the One True God.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings and joy.  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.

[I]t is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1

[I]t is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter six - Magnifying Christ through a Satisfying Death.  Here, John Piper shares how a deeper study of Paul's letters - starting with Philippians - addressed an unresolved tension when he was younger.  This unresolved tension afflicts all believers at some point - that we want to be happy, and at the same time we want to glorify God (with the latter being of course the reason why we exist). Piper saw these options as at odds with each other - if I pursued one it compromised the other.  Piper then describes how, as he started seminary, a reading of Philippians 1:20-21 unlocked the secret which helped him resolve this tension - and this is what what led him to Christian Hedonism. This text by Paul reads that Christ is honored regardless of whether we live or die....because in death we gain.  How we gain is then described in verses 22-23 where Paul shares how in death we then are unified with God in Heaven which is course incredible!  Piper shares how Paul explains that "[d]eath gives him a closer experience of Christ.*"  Piper then describes how this resolved the tension for him: "you cannot glorify God in your heart if your heart does not find God more satisfying than everything else.*"  Additional scripture references provided include Philippians 3:8, Psalm 37:4, 32:11, and Philippians 3:1 where we are commanded to be glad and rejoice in the Lord. Piper wraps the devotion by pointing to Psalm 16:11.

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You give me joy, nor how You bless me in innumerable ways...thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving.  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.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

I paused once again this morning from my studies of Proverbs and Isaiah to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional - which today focuses on encouraging us to avoid "[d]evoting a life to material comforts and security and thrills," but instead pursuing what John Piper calls Christian Hedonism. Piper introduces us to Christian hedonism as "the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."  Piper further unpacks it a series of resources on DesiringGod.com, including this article. He points out that believers delight in God is not at odds with our joy - they are not opposed to each other.  Instead Piper writes that "obeying God is the only route to final and lasting happiness." We are encouraged to not be satisfied "too easily."  Piper concludes this article on how he wants believers to be Christian Hedonists by writing that "we [should] bend all our effort, by the Holy Spirit, to persuade people [of course including ourselves]

• that they can be happier in giving than receiving (Acts 20:35);
• that they should count everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus their Lord (Philippians 3:8);
• that the aim of all of Jesus’s commandments is that their joy be full (John 15:11);
• that if they delight themselves in the Lord he will give them the desire of their heart (Psalm 37:4);
• that there is great gain in godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6);
• and that the joy of the Lord is their strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are worthy of glory and my ceaseless pursuit that my life demonstrate Your glory.  I am beyond grateful this morning of how You have saved me and blessed my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings 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. 

Enter into the joy of your master...These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Matthew 25 and John 15

Enter into the joy of your master...These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. Matthew 25:23 and John 15:11

I pause on my studies of both Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen to today's Solid Joys daily devotion on DesiringGod.com.  John Piper offers that God is happy God.   He starts by citing 1 Timothy 1:11 which refers to God as blessed, and Piper writes that "[i]t was inconceivable to the apostle Paul that God could be denied infinite joy and still be all-glorious. To be infinitely glorious was to be infinitely happy."  He also refers to Jonathan Edwards who stated "[p]art of God’s fullness which he communicates is his happiness. This happiness consists in enjoying and rejoicing in himself; so does also the creature’s happiness."  Piper then describes how the gospel is inherently happy: "[n]o one would want to spend eternity with a gloomy, unhappy God."  He then uses both Matthew 25:23 and John 15:11 to further bolster this claim that God is a happy God.  Before we depart from this topic, it should be understood that God does indeed seek for us to be joyful and we must appreciate how this is a supernatural joy - not an earthly joy delivered through idol worship or love of the world.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of joy, and as a believer, You allow me to experience this supernatural joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues, including how often I seek my comfort first - over You.  This is sinful.  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.

In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

 2 Corinthians 7

In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 2 Corinthians 7:4d

I paused this morning on both of my studies in Isaiah and Revelation to listen to the Solid Joys daily devotional on DesiringGod.com.  Piper reflects on Paul's joy here, and seeks to better understand how "unbelievably durable his joy was when things weren’t going well."  He asks: "[w]here did this come from?"  He then goes on to answer his own question as to the sources of this joy:

1. Teachings of Jesus: Luke 6:22-23
2. From the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22, 1 Thessalonians 1:6
   
3. From belonging to the kingdom of God: Romans 14:17
4. Through faith, believing God: Romans 15:13, Philippians 1:25
5. Seeing and knowing Jesus as Lord: Philippians 4:4
6. From fellow believers that help us: 2 Corinthians 1:24
   
7. From the sanctifying effects of tribulations: Romans 5:3-4
   

I love this verse - 2 Corinthians 7:4d - I am going to use when people ask me how I am doing!  I am overflowing with joy!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You give me great joy - regardless of my circumstances - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such joy.  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 whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to experience an "outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our church and ourselves that fills us with indomitable joy and frees us, and empowers us, to love those around us in ways so authentic that they are won to Christ[.]" Piper writes how God's Word (authored by the Holy Spirit) and the promises contained in them are to be claimed and captured in our hearts as the basis for this joy and hope. We know that God is with us...until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  We also know that although in this life we will experience challenges, we can take heart because God overcame the world (John 16:33), and our experience in this life is not the end because God give us eternal life (John 3:16).  These are, of course, just a few of the many, many promises God gives in Scriptures so "we might have hope." One more that I have claimed and keep in my heart is how believers are "filled" through a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has filled me with hope, joy, and encouragement.   I am blessed indeed with how You have given me Scriptures that are the basis for my hope - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin of worry and other sins are 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.

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. [T]hey...love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

Matthew 23

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. [T]hey...love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. Matthew 23:5-7

This morning, I focus on John Piper's Solid Joys devotional, where Piper seeks for us to first see the irony of the scribes and the Pharisees as described by Matthew as the proud gain their sufficiency from others or self. Believers should know of course how such pursuits in sufficiency outside of God only result in emptiness.  Piper writes about how "[w]e are in the image of God. And what makes us “like” God is not our self-sufficiency. We are shadows and echoes. So, there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self [or from others]."  He refers us to John 5:44 and John 4:14 where Jesus contrasts the emptiness of glory from others with the satisfying fullness of Himself. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and You satisfy with a fullness that only exists in You - and You freely give of Yourself for those willing to deny oneself and surrender to You as Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings of fullness.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.