But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

Malachi 4:1-6

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

I continue 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. This morning I continue with Malachi 4:1-6, focusing on an unassisted review of 4:2, the commentary's second division for the text.  At any given time, all of us, including believers, have anxiety and stress.  Of course, sometimes, we have overwhelming anxiety and stress.  Here in Malachi, God's people were robbing God of both worship and of tithing - both commanded by God (although again the New Testament, while it no longer commands tithing, a lack of tithing reflects a heart condition where there is greater love of money and wealth over God and we are commanded to love God above all else). In light of rampant sin and wickedness that they saw as going unpunished by God, Israel saw worship and tithing as vain because they did not see God's justice - unnecessary worry!  Believers of today may feel this way also - that God is not there or not working - of course this can be worrying.  But God IS there and He is ALWAYS working in all things and for those who love and fear Him.  Malachi 4:2 is an awesome promise of peace that we can experience now and for eternity. Take time to know God (read and study the Bible as the Word is God - see John 1:1-3).  He is like no other and He saves!  See also this post from June 2023 where I leverage John Piper's Solid Joys devotion that highlights the faith of Abraham.  Of anyone who had a right to question whether God was there or working it was Abraham - yet Abraham, while of course not perfect, held firm to his faith and clung to the promise God made with Him. Cling to the promises of God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is always working and always with us.  We can rest knowing this and that You keep all of Your promises.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of my salvation and for such peace.  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. 

[T]hose who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”

Zephaniah 3:9-20

[T]hose who are left in Israel; they shall do no injustice and speak no lies, nor shall there be found in their mouth a deceitful tongue. For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” Zephaniah 3:13

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zephaniah 3:13, which is the text for the fourth division for the commentary's chapter on 3:9-20 (six divisions in total).

• Once again, as Judah's story of restoration continues to unfold, we see God in all of His glory and attributes turn from anger and wrath towards love and grace - which is of course the core theme of the gospel.  We all sin and need a savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior and He willingly died on the cross - taking God's wrath for our sin upon Himself - so that we could be free of the sting of sin and death.
• The text starts by referring to a remnant - God will keep His promise made to Abraham by saving the faithful few (narrow door).
• The faithful few experience incredible blessings; among them include obedience to God - righteousness - rest and peace.
  

Excerpts from the commentary relating to 3:13:

• "[God's]...promise underlines what we ought to know but so often miss. So much of our stress and turmoil is a result of sin. As sin is eradicated from our lives, we find ourselves able to rest in the peace of God. God’s presence, His holiness, His righteousness, brings us peace." See also Isaiah 53:5.
  
• Christ's "wounds from the crucifixion are the gateway to our peace."  This is imputed righteousness. See also 2 Corinthians 5:21.
  
• Freedom from fear in the text is also referenced in Psalm 23:1-5.
• "That God would love us so much that He would go to the lengths He did in order to secure our redemption, and then would go on to secure the restoration of all things, allowing us to lie down in peace with no fear of danger, speaks to His infinite grace and mercy. However, all of this becomes even more meaningful when you realize that God had to satisfy His own justice in order to extend grace, which means that God Himself would suffer, through His Son, in order that He might accomplish this grand work of redemption among His people and the rest of His creation."
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You took God's wrath upon Yourself - that needed to be paid for the sin of humanity - so that I could be saved.  Thank You Jesus!  And you give me rest and freedom from hear.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor these 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 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.

...Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 5

...Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:9-10

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 eight - From Rabid Ethnic Arrogance to Herald of Deepest Reconciliation.  Here, John Piper describes and provides a scriptural basis for how Paul becomes an example of Jesus's efforts to reconcile all of humanity to Him through death on the cross.  Piper first shares how he was not unlike Paul in how he was hostile to others - in Paul's case to early followers of Jesus, and in Piper's case to African Americans. Yet in one moment on the road to Damascus, Paul's conversion led to share how all of the status and recognition he had gained as a leading Pharisee was "rubbish" in comparison to Christ (Philippians 3:7-8). Paul recognized that Christ's death on the cross reconciled all to God, regardless of race, ethnicity, etc. - see also Ephesians 2:13-18.  Piper then goes on to refer us to Colossians 3:11 and 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 where unity and peace among all is described and how reaching all removes any barriers as we are to adapt to where others are to save them. Piper continues to unpack Paul's efforts to bring about peace as believers become a new creation - see 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24, 2:15 - where we ALL are in God's image with believers becoming more like Him.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me brothers and sisters in Christ who share a love of You and how this creates between us a unity and peace where we are able to remove racial and ethnic barriers.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You do this for me and with those whom I share a love of You.  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.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.”

Isaiah 47-50

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!  Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” Isaiah 48:17-19

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 18 day 2, which focuses on Isaiah 48. My commentary offers the following divisions for this chapter:

1. The sovereign God predicts and works history to win His stubborn people (v1-8)
2. The patient God refines His people for His glory and our benefit (v9-11)
3. The eternal God will bring Cyrus to achieve His purpose (v12-16)
4. The loving God will send another to redeem His people (v16-22)

All believers can identify to some degree as "obstinate" (v4) in one or more areas of their life, but we have a God that is full of grace and compassion for us - saving us DESPITE what we do and who are. God's words to us in v17-19 are all the more special as we recognize how once we became believers we see the truth in these verses. I see four blessings and promises of God as a result of faith and trust in God: (a) God leads us, (b) He gives us peace, (c) many descendants, and (d) He never leaves or forsakes us

Comment and discuss this post.

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

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started my review of chapter six The Blessings of Justification By Faith, which covers Romans 5:1-11.  My focus today is Romans 5:1 which discusses how, through justification by faith, we have peace with God. All believers should want peace with God - peace implies many things, including how we are not "at war" with God in that we are not in rebellion or willingly disobeying His commands.  We are not slandering Him, nor worshiping other gods.  Instead, we are reconciled to God, and happy and joyous with His reign over our lives - there is nothing agitating us to not be in relationship with God. We seek and exist to glorify Him - and this suits us just fine.  Peace implies contentedness and fulfillment. 

My commentary indicates that with v1-11, Paul shifts from argumentation in the previous chapters to adoration. "The overall tone is celebratory, triumphant, and jubilant." We are to enjoy and rejoice in God! In terms of being at peace with God my commentary reminds me that with Christ, our sin kept us enemies of God. We are to be encouraged as well by a peace of mind regardless of our circumstances - as God is always with us. We cannot have this "peace of God" if we don't have "peace with God."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me peace and what a blessing this is!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing and the MANY blessings You pour out for me.  My sin, of many flavors, 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 we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 1-6:12

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

Day 357 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 morning I started reading the book of Hebrews. My commentary* notes about the authorship of the letter: "[o]ne indication that the writing may have occurred after Paul’s death is a reference to the release of Timothy. Neither in the historical record nor in any of Paul’s letters is there any indication that Timothy was ever imprisoned. It is quite possible that, if Timothy had traveled to Rome to be with Paul, as Paul had urged him to do, Timothy himself might have been imprisoned at that time or shortly thereafter....With Paul’s authorship left in doubt, it is not clear who the writer might have been. Some believe him to be Luke, while others believe the writer may have been Paul’s colleague Barnabas, or perhaps Apollos. Whoever it was, the letter reveals that the author is personally acquainted with those to whom he is writing and is familiar with the persecution which they are enduring.

Regarding the intent of the letter, my commentary* indicates "[o]bviously having that suffering in mind, and with an awareness that many of the Jewish Christians are being urged to return to Judaism, the writer sets forth a tremendous defense of the Christian faith, drawing forcefully from a Jewish context in urging continued faith in Jesus as the Christ. Moving logically and systematically from one argument to another, the writer shows the superiority of Christ over all that is held to be important to the Jewish religion—prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua, the Levitical priesthood, the covenant, and the sacrifices. Midway through his letter the writer makes a particularly profound argument based upon the character of a high priest named Melchizedek, to whom Abraham had given an offering. Anticipating that some of his readers might miss the point of his argument concerning Christ’s superiority, the writer pauses parenthetically to tell his readers that they need to be more mature in their spiritual understanding. Finally, the writer lists a group of faithful people of God as examples of steadfastness and endurance. He exhorts his readers to imitate the faithful lives of these men and women."

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

Hebrews provides us with a number of great verses upon which we can all draw great power, peace, encouragement, etc. Christ is defined as our High Priest (a Great One) and someone who experienced what we experience and so much more...He can empathize with us and He defeated both sin and death for us...giving us life to the full now and eternally.

Discuss and comment on this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a the Great High Priest and You bless us in ways that are both great and unimaginable in terms of the bounds with which You love us.  I am undeserving of such love.  I sin daily, 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.

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 1-3

Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:16-19

Day 216 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 pause in my study of Jeremiah to look at Habakkuk, whom my commentary* refers to as a "contemporar[y]" of Jeremiah. Although the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates that "as with many of the Minor Prophets, nothing is known about [Habakkuk] except that which can be inferred from the book". MacArthur agrees with LaGard Smith that Habakkuk was a contemporary of Jeremiah and further describes how Habakkuk "prophesied during the final days of the Assyrian Empire and the beginning of Babylonia's" rise.

LaGard Smith* writes that "Habakkuk, poses the profound theological question which must nag at anyone who is seriously listening to the prophets. It may even be a question which the various prophets themselves have considered. Certainly Habakkuk is concerned about it. The question is this: How can a righteous and holy God use a wicked nation like Babylonia to bring punishment against God’s own people, rebellious and sinful though they may be? Are not the ruthless Babylonians and the other oppressors of Judah merely acting on their own in great arrogance and with no thought whatever of achieving any divine purpose? How then can God permit these unrighteous nations to succeed in their evil oppressions? And the question stretches beyond even the present conflicts to other related issues. How can God permit the wicked to prosper, often at the expense of the righteous? How can a righteous God permit evil to exist at all?"

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

On the latter question, we know that sin exists because of Adam and Eve's sin in the very beginning - what is referred to as The Fall (Genesis 3).  LaGard Smith* writes that God addresses the "central question" by responding to Habakkuk that "evil, wherever it is found, always bears within it the seeds of its own destruction. Judah’s sins have condemned it to inevitable destruction. The particular agency by which that destruction comes is of no consequence."  LaGard Smith* summarizes a key point for this morning: "[o]nly in righteousness is there life; sin always brings death".

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Believers concerned about justice can have peace and take comfort that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) and also have peace and take comfort in knowing that God's justice is perfect. 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who comforts me and gives me peace - during good and bad times.  Thank You Jesus!  I know You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I sin...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.

All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

Micah 3-5 

All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Micah 4:5

  

Day 176 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the prophecies of Micah, as his second discourse* rebukes Israel's leaders and their false prophets and delivers a judgement against Assyria who will soon overrun Israel. Micah's message also includes powerful prophecies of the coming Messiah:

All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Micah 4:5

I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion     from that day and forever.  Micah 4:6-7

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace[.] Micah 3:2-5

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

I am grateful for the peace that only God can provide and praying that our world can experience this peace as well.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides peace - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such peace as my anxiety, stress, and worry are often painful - thank You for Your peace but please forgive me for my sin here!  Help me trust in You more and more every day, turn from my sin towards You and 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.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Psalm 127

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Day 144 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of Solomon's contributions to scripture.  Solomon authored both Psalm 72 and Psalm 127 and this latter psalm is my focus today.  With this psalm, the focus is praise for God as the Giver of all things.  John Piper provides this great video and encourages parents to rest in God as the Builder, Watchman, and Protector of our family, and he further point us to Matthew 11:28-30 as parents often need the rest that only He can provide.

I am grateful for Psalm 127 and for John Piper's encouragement based on this psalm - I needed this today.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am so thankful for how You build, watch over and protect me as a father and husband.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for the blessings of marriage and fatherhood You provide.  I often fall down in these roles.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sins in these areas.  Help me overcome and turn from my sins 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. 

When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.

Psalm 75, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, and 100 

When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Psalm 98:3

Day 119 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue today with the group: "Psalms of Joy and Praise".

Today's psalms focus on praise to the great Judge of the earth, for God's majesty and holiness, for God's discipline of man and nations, rejoicing because of God's righteousness and justice, for the salvation of the Lord, for exaltation of the God who is holy and just, and for joy of being children of a loving and faithful God.

God judges with righteousness and equity (Psalm 98:9).  He does so because He is in control (Psalm 75:3, 93:1), knows everything about us (Psalm 94:11, nothing is hidden), and He loves us (He disciplines those He loves). This should give us peace - that the God who is sovereign loves us now and will never stop loving us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed perfect in all of Your ways, including perfect in righteousness and justice.  I know You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You still love me and You even died for me.  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry, etc. and I have other sin.  Thank You for Your great compassion and mercy but I seek Your forgiveness.  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 you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.

2 Samuel 14:25-16 and Psalm 3  

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Psalm 3:3-4

Day 101 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 Absalom's growing rebellion against David, as David leaves Jerusalem in exile, fearing for his life.  Psalm 3 captures David's state and his cries to the Lord.

One of my greatest sins right now is pride and arrogance - most prominently in the workplace.  There are days at work that are frantic and this aggravates and exposes my sin - unfortunately.  I seek to grow closer to the Lord so that in these frantic moments I have the peace of God that only He can provide.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me a job - I know there are many who are struggling right now but I have a job and I can provide for my family!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving though because my sin is heavy - pride and arrogance.  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.

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 16-17

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Day 88 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 anointing as king, his initial service to Saul to play the lyre to comfort Saul with his torment from evil spirits, and David's victory over Goliath (including Israel's subsequent victory over the Philistines in the battle that followed).

We know that as believers we will face trouble and difficulties - see John 16:33 - but even if the world throws the "kitchen sink" at us, we have the Lord.  We should pray that we have the peace of mind and confidence that David felt that day - that we know that we have a supernatural strength that comes when the Spirit of the Lord enters our life (see also 1 Samuel 16:13).  This is the 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Judges 8-9

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Day 77 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 Gideon's final victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian, and the remaining Midianite soldiers in battle.  Upon Gideon's death, we see Abimelek, Gideon's son - who was wicked in the eyes of the Lord (starting with killing all of his brothers except one) as he led the Israelites to prostitute themselves to the Baals.

Abimelek lost his way - he did not choose the path of righteousness as his father did.  Parents, myself included, worry and grieve over lost children.  I pray near daily (I should pray incessantly) for my kids and too often act out of worry which is not prudent.

I am comforted by John Piper's words on this topic.  Piper advises us to "hand over our souls and the souls of our children to the sovereign goodness and wisdom of God and forsake anxiety....We must build our present lives on the gospel and not on parenting successes and not be undone by parenting failures."  Piper wants us to "weave together" the following scriptures:

Romans 9:2-3: I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race...[.]

Romans 10:1: Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I also take comfort in 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who wants me to cast all of my cares to You.  I KNOW You care for me, and You hear my prayers and cries.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love and the gift of salvation.  My sin continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. v6

As Paul continues to unpack how the Holy Spirit provides freedom, he shares with us another nugget - this time how the Spirit gives us life and peace.  This is particularly comforting because at any given point in our lives we worry about this or that and Paul wants us to be free of these earthly worries - Jesus of course says the same thing in Matthew 6.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the abundance and peace You provide - I am blessed...far more than I deserve.  I worry...too much.  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.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Mark 8

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. v35-38

Certainly before I became a believer and for a significant period even after I became a believer it was important for me to be in control - for me to dictate as many of the circumstances and events of my life.  The more I could control the more I had life - particularly because I believed I knew what was right for me...and others.  Yet over time, I am blessed because of it, Jesus took over my heart and life and I began to give my life over to Him and for His service and glory.  Amazingly, the more I LOST control, the more at peace and content as because God gave me peace He promises.

Also of note in today's verses include Jesus' warning about being ashamed over Jesus.  I often feel worry about expressing my faith publicly and this is what Jesus is warning us about.  There must be NO QUESTION about whom we serve and why.

Jesus is Lord and He is freedom and life, etc.  There is no other way.

 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

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

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” v32-33

The past several days of my study appear to be drawing a broad theme - that we as believers must have faith and express that faith through prayer and other means.  In this passage in Matthew 14, Jesus walks on water as does Peter, yet Peter's faith weakens as he grows afraid. Jesus does not want us to be afraid (see v27, additional verses here) and He wants us to cast our cares on Him through prayer, etc.  If we have Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) we will have peace and not be afraid.

On prayer, Piper writes that "God acts when we pray" and that "God can do more in five seconds than we can do in five years".

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are a good, good Father and my God - the One True God who saved me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I do get afraid.  Please forgive me Jesus for such sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? declares the Lord. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

Jeremiah 18

Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does? declares the Lord. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. v5

Regardless of how we come down on the question of free will, we can agree that we are unable to blunt God's designs and plans - God is in control.  

We must look at our circumstances as a glimpse into His plans. 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. v8-9

As I posted yesterday, God offers us an invitation to be in relationship with Him and we should treat this invitation with urgency.  As well, we are offered this invitation in the context of great promises.

He will have mercy on us (v7).

God will make us flourish (for His glory) (v10-11, 13).

God will give us joy and peace (see also fruits of the Spirit) (v12).

One additional promise that I picked up this morning is how God will lead us.  We often want to go our own ways and we foolishly call this freedom.  Yet we have freedom in Christ.  

I am thankful that I (most of the time) allow God to direct my steps.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who promises so much more than what we can get from the world - which is full of lies.  Thank You God for Your promises which I know are ALWAYS true as You are faithful.  I am not worth such love.  I am too easily distracted by the world.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give 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 a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.....But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. v8-10 [excerpt]

Isaiah 35

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way.....But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. v8-10 [excerpt]

As Isaiah continues with His vision for God's judgement on Israel, he once again talks about God's grace for those who believe - the redeemed.  We will have trouble - indeed - but God wants us to "take heart" (John 16:33) and take comfort in knowing the path we have chosen will bring us peace and comfort.  

Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God because You provide Jesus - the way, the truth and the life!  Thank You for sending Your Son! I am not worthy of such love because I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
 

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.

Isaiah 32

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. v18

I often feel restless - my thoughts wander to chaos and worry.  I know God does not want me, or any of His children to worry or feel restless.  He wants us to have peace - that is why He sent His Son Jesus...so that we could have freedom from the sting of sin and death and the peace that is promised as a fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Psalm 131:2

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

 

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord, You are so very good to me...providing rest in a chaotic world.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry too often when I should be at peace.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.