Peace be with you....Peace be with you....And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

 John 20:19-23

Peace be with you....Peace be with you....And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19,20,22

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 20:19-23, where Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God seeks to bring peace of mind (vv19, 21) to the disciples, first that it is truly Him, so He shows them (v20) the wounds to His hands and side (which was pierced) as He hung on the cross.  Peace of mind was important as well because of persecution of the those identified to be followers of Jesus - if Jesus could be put to death so could anyone associated with Him.  Jesus gives us peace - even in the darkest moments.  He is Light (see also John 1:4, 8:12). Jesus sought to give this peace of mind certainly through His physical presence, but also through the Holy Spirit which He gave to the disciples by breathing on them (v22). Jesus then shares that forgiveness can be given or withheld in v23 although multiple reads of this verse give me pause to discern whether the "it" being withheld is forgiveness or the Holy Spirit from v22. See also this John Piper message for more on this verse. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Following Jesus does have a cost as persecution comes in many forms.  The disciples face imprisonment, physical harm, and even death - as such they locked the doors (v19).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid fear and worry as this will cascade into other sins.  Claim the promise that Jesus provides us the Holy Spirit and we can never be separated from His love.  Follow the example of those who followed Jesus at great cost - pick up your cross daily and follow Him.  Trust Him as He is the Good Shepherd who loves, cares, and saves.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  I am not deserving of how You save and provide peace - and I know that I can never be separated from Your love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and 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.

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.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy[.]

Jude

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy[.] Jude 24

Today, I come back to conclude my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of Jude 24-25, the final verses of Jude, typically used as a doxology - my focus is v24 as the commentary shares two divisions from this one verse:

Excerpts from the introduction to the commentary emphasize how Jude 24-25 should greatly encourage us and give us peace as we read how God keeps us from stumbling and how He presents us as blameless before Him.  This gives us security in knowing that He will keep us sealed for Him to the end when we shall meet Jesus face to face. The commentary shares the doctrine of eternal security: "[a]ll true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end.  Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." We are referred to John 10:27-30 and Romans 8:38-39.  Additional references on this doctrine include: Ephesians 1:13-14, Hebrews 7:25, 13:5, 1 John 2:19, and 5:13.

1. Believers Are Secure in the Power of God: As our Great Shepherd (Jehovah Rohi) and Protector, Jesus is able to protect and seal us for eternity.  He is the Creator and holds all things in His hands. See Colossians 1:17 and Hebrews 12:5-13 (God disciplines us to help us endure and persevere).
   
2. Believers Are Secure in the Promise of God: The commentary shares: "[w]e will not simply stand faultless; we will stand faultless before the presence of the glory of God. Because of his promise to bring our salvation to completion, we will see his glory. We will know his glory. We will enjoy his glory forever. This will be our joy. Jude says in his presence, as we see and experience his glory, there will be great, exceeding joy. There will be a celebration with rejoicing and exulting."
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for securing my salvation for eternity...I have great peace knowing how no one or nothing can take me away from You.  Thank You.  I am not deserving of such a blessing. 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.

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1b-2

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of Jude 1-2.  Per the commentary:

Main idea: "Because of the mercy, peace, and love of God shown through Jesus Christ, Christians can rejoice in their status as the Lord’s servants."

Excerpts from the introduction (for the entirety of the book):

• Jude writes "a word of encouragement about “the salvation we share,” [and] is redirected by the Holy Spirit to bring a word of warning, calling all believers “to contend for the faith”".
• "[Jude] will expose the false teachers for who they are, and he will prescribe a plan of attack that allows us to take the fight to these spiritual terrorists. However, he lays the foundation for the battle both at the beginning and at the end of the letter with a word about our security: we are safe in Christ (vv. 1,24)."
  

Divisions for Jude 1-2:

1. Know Who You Are in Christ (1): Jude, like many from Jesus' family, did not believe in Him during Jesus' earthly ministry years; however, the "resurrection changed everything" for Jude. In v1 Jude describes himself first as a "servant of Jesus Christ." We are referred to 1 Corinthians 6:20 where believers are "bought with a price." We are owned and belong to Christ. Also in v1 we are called, and "[h]ere the word means the effectual calling of God that opens the heart to freely respond to the gospel.  In Scripture there are two types of calling. There is a general call (see Matthew 11:28-30), and there is an effectual call (see Romans 8:30).  There is a mysterious wonder in this truth that the sovereign God effectually brings persons to salvation in perfect harmony with their freewill response to the gospel...This is the only place in the Bible where this phrase “loved by God the Father” appears. There is a sense in which God loves all persons indiscriminately as his creatures (John 3:16), but there is also a sense in which God especially loves his children. It is comparable to the difference between the love I have for my friends and that which I have for my wife and sons....Kept: by his work on earth, Jesus obtained my salvation. By his work in heaven, Jesus maintains my salvation. God is preserving fallen angels and apostates for judgment (vv. 6,13). God is preserving you and me for glory!"
   
2. Know What You Have from Christ (2): "[Mercy] is a characteristic of God that moves him to seek a relationship with persons who have no right to be in relationship with him. The word speaks of compassion, loving kindness. It is gracious, undeserved, and unmerited; yet it is not blind, dumb, or ignorant. It is something in God that moves him to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves and we do not deserve....God saw us beaten by Satan and left for dead by sin; and he went into action and sent his Son, binding our wounds, healing our souls, and making us his own!...God is the Lord of peace. Jesus is the Mediator of peace. We are the heirs of peace....Jude prays that his readers would see...love from God as ever real and ever increasing toward them....In John 17:23 we are told, amazingly, that as the Father has loved the Son so he has also loved us. In Romans 8:31-39 we are informed that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus. And in 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul reminds us that because love is at the center of who our God is, it will never fail, never end! Jude knows the power of this love, and he wants his readers to know it as well....Because we are his, we have internal security in our hearts, external security in the world, and eternal security in heaven."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who showers me with mercy, peace, and love - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1b-2

With my study of 1,2,3 John coming to a close, today I start a study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of Jude 1-2 which is covered by the first chapter of my commentary (that I will lean on tomorrow). Jude, a brother of James writes to believers to encourage them, wishing them to experience the mercy, peace and love of God.  He is directing these blessings to believers.  Jude seeks not just that they experience these blessings of faith, but that they experience a "multiplication" or as the dictionary defines this word, a "spreading" or a greater amount of these blessings.  Jude wants these believers to have more of these blessings.  If we truly believe in God we should experience an overwhelming abundance of mercy (see Lamentations 3:22-23), peace (see Philippians 4:7), and love (see Ephesians 3:18).  God intends for believers to act in such a way that others see something supernatural in our lives so that others may be drawn to God through us.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE mercy, peace and love and bless me and all believers with these blessings - thank You Jesus.  My cup overflows...I am certainly not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus 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 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 write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:13-21, focusing specifically on the main idea for the entirety of the text, the commentary's introduction/overview for this text, and the first division.

Per the commentary for this text:

Title: Five Truths God Wants Every Child of God to Know 

Main idea: "Christians can rest in the truths that we belong to the God who answers prayer, that we have spiritual victory, and that Christ is the true and only source of eternal life."

Excerpts from the introduction: John's letter of 1 John focuses on how he seeks believers - his "little children" as he lovingly refers to them - to be reassured of key fundamental truths of our faith, including:

• we can know God (2:3,13,14, 4:7)
  
• we can know we are in God (2:5)
  
• we can know that it is the last hour (2:18)
• we can know the truth (2:21, 3:19)
• we can know that Jesus is righteous (2:29)
• we can know that we will be like Jesus (3:2)
• we can know that Jesus came to take away sins (3:5)
• we can know that Jesus is sinless (3:5)
• we can know we have passed out of death into life (3:14)
• we can know no murderer has eternal life (3:15)
• we can know love (3:16, 4:16)
• we can know God abides in us (3:24, 4:13)
• we can know the Spirit of God (4:2)
• we can know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception (4:6)
• we can know that we love God's children (5:2)
• we can know we have eternal life (5:13)
• we can know God answers prayer (5:15)
• we can know we will not practice sin (5:18)
• we can know we belong to God (5:19)
• we can know that the Son of God has come (5:20)
• we can know that the Son of God has given us understanding (5:20)
• we can know Him who is true (5:20)

In his concluding words from this letter, John zeros in on what "in particular, that God wants every child of His to know?"

Divisions:

1. We Can Know That We Have Eternal Life (5:13): Believers understand that while our faith gives us confidence and belief in eternal life, we all may have our doubts, particularly in certain trying circumstances.  John seeks for us to have an additional dose of assurance in this. "Feelings come and go, and feelings can be deceiving. My confidence is in the Son of God; no one else is worth believing." We are referred to John 10:28-29.
   
2. We Can Know That God Answers Prayer (5:14-17): 
3. We Can Know Victory over Sin (5:18): 
4. We Can Know That We Belong to God (5:19):
5. We Can Know What Is True (5:20-21):

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for snatching me from the fire, saving me for life now and for eternity.  Your amazing grace is the greatest gift of all time - thank You Jesus!  I am of course not deserving of such grace or gift as 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.  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 strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

Isaiah 25

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. Isaiah 25:3

Today, I pause once again my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, where today John Piper seeks to encourage those who may be feeling as though their work in service to God may be in vain - for whatever the reason.  Piper uses Isaiah 25:3 where Isaiah prophecies final days (Revelation 21) where we see the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem - where all of God's people are with God forever in perfect harmony.  Believers should all know that this victory over sin and death is already won - through Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection - but these final days represent the fullness of this victory.  We should have confidence that this victory is already won and that we will be with God as Isaiah prophecies because God keeps His promises (see post yesterday). John Piper concludes the devotion by encouragement for those feeling as though they are working in vain: "[n]ot one life spent in the cause of world evangelization is spent in vain. Not one prayer or one dollar or one sermon or one letter of encouragement or one little light shining in some dark place — nothing in the cause of this advancing kingdom is in vain."  Press on - continue running the race with endurance!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Yes - You have already defeated sin and death and we can be confident of our salvation and being with You in Heaven for eternity.  What a glorious thing this will be!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

Luke 2

And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:12-14

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians and my study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus (as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church) has come to an end. So, during the Advent season, it is appropriate that I lean on DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 6 where John Piper unpacks Luke 2:12-14 and how God gives peace to those with whom He is pleased.  Piper first starts by referring us to Hebrews 11:6 where the author writes how "without faith it is impossible to please [God]."  By implication peace is only available to believers, those who have faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Piper is more pointed as he shares that "Christmas does not bring peace to all."  He amplifies this point by referring to John 3:19 and Luke 2:34-35 where some love the darkness (and stay there), and how Jesus was opposed when born. Piper then provides John 1:11-12 and 14:27 where only those who believe and faith become children of God and how peace is given supernaturally only to those who believe and have faith.  Paul expands on this in Philippians 4:6-7 where he writes how believers who pray earnestly have a peace that "surpasses all understanding." Piper concludes by sharing that "the key that unlocks the treasure chest of God’s peace is faith in the promises of God," and he refers us to Romans 15:13 where Paul prays for this kind of faith.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me and who gives me a peace that surpasses understanding...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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

I maintain my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning, on week 4-day 6, the focus is once again Titus 2:11-13, scripture memorization for this text, and I am assisted by a DesiringGod.com Look at the Book (Lab) for this text (including v14). In this lab, John Piper unpacks the text by describing the structure of how two actions below produce both negative and positive effects and how ultimately, the waiting for our blessed hope works through these negative and positive effects. 

1. The grace of God appears...training us to renounce (negative)...and to live...(positive)
2. God gave Himself...to redeem us from (negative)....and to purify for himself a people (positive)
   

After describing the two actions above that have both a negative and positive effect or result, Piper explores how the remaining text in the middle - the waiting for our blessed hope - correlates with the other text (the two actions).  He suggests that the essence of God's grace appearing and Christ's self-giving trains in us how we are to renounce and live what Paul seeks, and how it redeems us from all lawlessness, and purifies us to become zealous for good works.  ALL of this is done by producing in us a joyful and confident hope of glory that frees us from being slave to sin and to the world...we are free to love God as He intends and to serve Him out of the overflowing love we have for Him (see snapshot of John Piper's lab notes below).  See also Philippians 4:7.

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who appeared to me to save me, and you love me, train me and equip me to endure challenges and live with Christian freedom.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love 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.