The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 17:10-11

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10-11

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 6: The Reasonableness of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "There is a widespread impression, especially among young people of a certain age, that Jesus is unreasonable, and that Christianity is a religion which constantly makes war on reason. Young men sometimes say, "I do not want to join the church because I want to use my reason." How strange such language when Jesus from first to last pleads for the use of the reason. Christianity is the one religion of the world which demands the continuous and daring exercise of the intellect. Men often think they are using their reason when in fact they are exercising their prejudices or are suffering from paralysis of the brain."
• "If men want to know whether Christianity is reasonable or not, why do they not read the Gospels? They are short and can be read through at least once a week, and yet men go right on refusing to read the Gospels — the one source of all authentic information as to what the Christian religion really is. Many think nothing of reading a novel of four hundred pages who stagger under the task of reading the four Gospels. It is just such persons who like to talk about the unreasonableness of Christianity. Why not be reasonable? Christianity has but one authoritative volume. Why not read it ?"
  
•  "In order to expose the folly of men, Jesus had the habit of asking questions."
• "His attitude from first to last is the attitude of God as pictured by Isaiah. He was always saying, 'Come, now, let us reason together.'" See Isaiah 1:18.
  
•  Jesus saw Old Testament ceremonial law as having "no reason....It was utterly formal and deadening and stupid."
•  Jesus says if you want to understand the Christian life, then work at it. If you desire to know the truth, then live it. This is common sense. How else could one find the truth of a religion if he did not work at it ? If you want to learn to speak Italian, you do not simply think about it, or read about it, but you go to work on it. It requires a deal of work, but no matter. You cannot learn a language without making mistakes, and the only thing to do is to keep on working. Just so is it with the Christian life. Men imagine they can become Christians by thinking about it, or by reading about it, or by hearing a preacher talk about it. How absurd! You can never become a Christian until you are willing to work at it. Are you willing to begin now?"
  

There are many a man who at first scorned (or at least dismissed) Christ and the Gospel, but upon further investigation repented and believed in Him.  Lee Strobel is one such figure, and he is one of countless others. Acts 17 describes the Bereans (not necessarily ardent skeptics) - a group of Jews who heard Paul and Silas share the Gospel on Paul's second missionary journey.  They eagerly studied what Paul and Silas shared to "test" the veracity of the Gospel.  God wants us to do the same and to use our power of reason - to test that our own experience of the Good News is what it says it is. For me, my experience is that the more I read and study God's Word, the more I am convicted all of it is not just reasonable, true, but  truly the Word of God and in the Word contains the power of God.  Read the Gospels and see for yourself!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is not just reasonable, but perfect - and in not just Your words, but in all of Your ways.  Thank You for Your Word and how it's Truth provides Power.  I am not deserving of how You speak to me and reveal Yourself and my sin to me.  I am also not deserving of the inexhaustible grace that You pour out for me.  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. 

But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13

But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:51-52

While I have completed my study of Zechariah and it's time to transition to Malachi (as part of my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book), I pause before moving to Malachi to study Acts 13-14 as preparation for my Sunday school discussion this upcoming Sunday.  Acts 13-14 comprise Paul's first missionary journey, as depicted by this map shows - from Antioch to Cyprus, to southern Asia Minor, and back to Antioch.  In Acts 13:16-41 Paul boldly proclaims the gospel to Jews in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia.  Many followed Paul after he spoke and this led to "almost the whole city gather[ing] to hear the word of the Lord" (v44). This led the Jews to be full of jealousy of Paul (and Barnabas his companion) and "began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him" (v45).  This led Paul and Barnabas to respond boldly in v46-47 that because the Jews rejected the Good News, were turning to the Gentiles who "rejoic[ed] and glorif[ied] the Word of the Lord as many as were appointed to eternal life believed" (v48). The Word then began to spread throughout the region (v49). The Jews incited persecution (v50) and drove Paul and Barnabas out.  But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust from their feet and went to Iconium (v51) and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (v52).  We are encouraged to know God's Word as Paul - notice how Paul confidently drew on his knowledge of the Old Testament and Biblical patriarchs/matriarchs - did and to proclaim the Good News boldly.  While we should strive to be clear and bold in the delivery of the Good News, we are not responsible for people's reaction.  If people reject God's Word, we are to continue to proclaim the Good News boldly.  We are to shake the dust from our feet and to continue sharing the Gospel. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and You are my savior!  Thank You for Your Word, the the Good News that helps me know You better, including what pleases You.  I want to please and glorify You because You are worthy and it's because I exist.  I am undeserving of my salvation and how You speak to me through Your Word.  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.   

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:11-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:1-13, as I move on to what the commentary describes as the third division "Entering with the Word," which looks at Hebrews 4:11-13.  Here, the commentary calls out how the text in v11 reinforces the exhortation to "strive to enter [God's] rest."  Key to this effort is how we encourage one another daily (see Hebrews 3:12); the commentary shares how corporate worship enables this encouragement: "[t]his is one of the things we do every Sunday in corporate worship when we sit under the preaching of the Word of God. This is what we do when we sing together. This is what we do when we pray together. This is what we do when we fellowship together. We gather in corporate worship to encourage one another to be fully satisfied in Christ and in him alone, lest we fail to enter his rest."  The commentary then pivots to how the text in v12-13 highlights the Word of God and the key role it plays to helps us avoid "falling away." It shares that "[s]ince God is the author of Scripture, it is not a dead book. As God lives, Scripture lives....Thus, Scripture, because it is God’s Word, is alive and life giving. The Bible is not a bunch of dead, lifeless words. It is the living Word of God.  It accomplishes everything God wills. As the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, 'so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do' (Isaiah 55:11)....The description of the Bible as a sword that can pierce and divide the soul demonstrates the invasive quality of the Word....it is Scripture that reads us. Scripture untangles the human heart and unearths sin like no other book can. No other book can discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. Only God’s Word can do that....In conjunction with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God cuts through the sin and darkness of the human heart to restore spiritual health and vitality for Christ. Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Scripture strips us bare before our own eyes and before the eyes of God because it exposes God’s ineffable character. As Calvin famously stated, “It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked on God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself” (Institutes, I.I.2). God gives us the gift of Scripture so that we will not follow the example of Israel’s disobedience." Worship and commune with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and read/study God's Word! 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and Your Word, so that I am armed to not fall away...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of 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 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.

He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

Psalm 147

He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. Psalm 147:15-18

I continue a short pause on my study of Isaiah to listen to John Piper's devotional for today that focuses on how God creates dangerous environments in our life - for example, freezing cold weather - to remind us that these environments, and more broadly God Himself, are not to be "toyed" with.  In other words we must prepare ourselves. Piper writes: "[i]t is one more way God says, “Whether hot or cold, high or deep, sharp or blunt, loud or quiet, bright or dark . . . don’t toy with me. I am God. I made all these things. They speak of me, just like the warm summer breezes do, and the gentle rains, and the soft moonlit nights, and the lapping of the lakeside, and lilies of the field and the birds of the air.” I made a statement during a Bible study yesterday morning that might have offended a few people - that we must be very careful to seek God through Bible study and prayer daily and to not do so approaches arrogance because by implication you are saying "I don't need God today."  My view is this dangerous indeed and John Piper reinforces my position on this.   Piper, in another post, provides "ten reasons to read the Bible every day."  We must not toy with God - instead we must live in reverent fear of God that pushes us into His arms to seek His counsel through His Word. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose Word provides all that we need - thank You Jesus for Your Word and the blessings that flow from Your Word.  I am not deserving of these blessings.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

Isaiah 8-9

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Isaiah 8:16-17

I continued my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I reviewed Isaiah 8:11-9:7, looking at the allure of the world. One of key highlights from the text today is Isaiah 8:16-17 where God seeks for us to "bind up" and "seal the teaching among my disciples" and to "wait for the Lord" - this is where we have hope.  When we bind up and seal God's Word and His teaching - we secure it in our hearts and minds so that it may serve as the basis for our peace, encouragement and strength during times of difficulty.  Those faithful who witnesses God's wrath during period's of Israel's unfaithfulness found courage in God's words, specifically in His prophecies in Isaiah that promised that Israel would be restored and that there would be a King who would reign forever. We can do as those faithful did during Isaiah's time. I am encouraged by the many stories of those in the Bible who waited for the Lord - Simeon (Luke 2) is one of those stories.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You bless those who wait, and those who rest in Your promises.  I have seen Your promises come to pass - many upon many - thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of Your love and faithfulness.  My sin of worry and other sins continue.  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.

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.

Genesis 32

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Genesis 32:24-25

Day 287 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 my commentary* gives us a glimpse into the historical interlude (intertestamental) via the Apocrypha.  "Despite their current lack of credibility among a large segment of believers, these disputed writings [Apocrypha] are generally moral in nature and do give insight into some of the history, customs, and religious developments of the Jews during this intertestamental period." This post from DesiringGod.com argues "[w]e can read [the Apocrypha] discerningly yet constructively, critically yet charitably. Doing so will lead one to see the many ways it actually enhances our understanding of the divinely inspired Scriptures."

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

This morning I pause to think about how best to study the Bible - I am led to "wrestle with God" just as Jacob did and as encouraged in this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - I know You love me and You are willing to wrestle with me during good and bad times - as I desire to be sustained by You, encouraged by You, and of course forgiven by You...all of which I know You can do as you have done already.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  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.

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’”

Jeremiah 24, 29, 27-28

Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’” Jeremiah 28:15-16

Day 221 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 my commentary* focuses on the danger of false prophets and Jeremiah's response: "Jeremiah’s chief concern during the early part of Zedekiah’s reign is the number of false prophets who are still saying that all is well, and that Babylonia will be broken instead of Judah. Perhaps because of the persecution he faces as a true prophet of God, Jeremiah unleashes a blistering attack against those who are masquerading as God’s prophets, even among the captives in Babylonia. Jeremiah is forced to write to the people in exile and tell them to settle in for the duration, which will be 70 years."

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

While today's scripture includes some of the most quoted words in the Bible (Jeremiah 29) - and we should all be encouraged by these words - in a broader historical context it is also important to understand (God's Word delivered through Jeremiah) Jeremiah's harsh words for false prophets. In terms of God's Word, we must be able to discern truth. My verses that I highlight today are just two examples from my reading today where (God) Jeremiah harshly rebukes several false prophets. 

We must STUDY the Bible, use trustworthy commentary, and find worthy brothers and sisters in Christ who can sharpen us.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me Your Word and it is You, and it is alive and active in me - thank You Jesus! Yet I know You are not done with me and my sin continues...please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my many sins (gossip, etc.) 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 there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

John 6

["]Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. v64

As we continue in John 6, Jesus walks on water (v16-24), and then teaches those following Him (including "The Twelve", other followers, Jews, etc.) about how He is the Bread of Life (v25-59).  Many of His disciples found the teaching hard (v60) as it seemed to them He was literally telling them to eat His body and drink His blood.  Some of the disciples turned their back and no longer followed Jesus (v66).  

For me, at least a couple of takeaways - we cannot decide what about scripture we like and what we don't like.

See

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.

Jeremiah 35

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me. v19

Having no knowledge of the Rekabites, I did a bit of digging and found they appear elsewhere in the Bible (search Jehonadab, Rekab) and found this commentary on "Discerning Disobedience".  God tells Jeremiah to invite Rekabites to drink wine but does not command them to do so.  The Rekabites decline this invitation, citing law passed on from their descendants as their basis to decline (see v6-11).  The commentary claims that discerning disobedience is the proper response when a prophet commands someone to do something when such a command is not explicitly identified as a command coming directly from God. 

The Bible is full of commands (some references indicate 600 or more) and we know that without God it is impossible to live as God intends for us. That is why He had to send His Son and Jesus had to die on the cross for us. Jesus wants us to focus on at least two commands as all law and the prophets hang on these two commands (Matthew 22:34-40).  

John Piper has at least two posts (here and here) discusses the distinction between moral and ceremonial law in the Bible and the extent to which ceremonial law applies with the covenant believers make with Jesus Christ.

It is sometimes difficult to discern truth - that is why we are to STUDY (not just read) God's Word as we must have both a head and a heart understanding.  Proximity to God, corporate worship at church, and fellowship with other Christians is also important as "iron sharpens iron".  Through these spiritual disciplines and others (prayer, fasting, etc.), we can be transformed by God through the renewing of the mind and better able to live as God intends for us (Romans 12:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who helps me discern truth - thank You Jesus.  I need truth - I need you - desperately.  I am broken and I sin.  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.

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.

Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. v7

David is described as a "man after God's heart" and as someone who would do "everything [God] want[ed] him to do" (Acts 13:22).  I will not say I love the Lord as much as David - but I can say for myself that I love the Lord and I seek to please Him - daily.  Yet this was not always true nor did I always have a desire to go "after" God and read and study His Word.  I am far from perfect but I am confident in testifying to the good work God has done in me.

This is both a process and a promise - and God keeps His promises.  I started reading the Bible with more vigor and it took time - I can't say how long specifically and of course it will be different for each of us.  But we must go "after" it and trust that God will do a good work in You - He will.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:4-6

 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them [the law of the Lord] there is great reward. v11

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You HAVE done MANY good works both in me and through me - thank You Jesus for making me more like You - I do feel filled - but I want more.  Yet I am not worth Your love - I worry.  Please forgive me and help shed me of such sin.  Help me turn from such 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.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Psalms 1

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. v1-2

Over the past 10 years, I have indeed felt the blessings of God as my desire for God, for His Word, and for a deeper relationship with Him have all grown.  For sure there is more work to do, but I am certain that we can count on God's promises for how he will bless us as we draw close to Him.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.  For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. Proverbs 8:33-35

See also post here.

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

  
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed faithful - all of Your promises come true and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love or blessings.  I worry and I am selfish.  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.

Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Joshua 8

Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them. v34-35

Just as God is perfect, the Bible is perfect - as is God (see also John 1).  God wants us to read the whole Bible and KNOW it.  We must not to add to or subtract from it - it becomes important for many reasons, including that it enables us to put on the full armor of God.  Most importantly, when we know the Bible we know God.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, and Your Word is perfect and I am blessed to have Your Word where I can spend time with You, understand more about You and Your will for my life.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such blessings.  I am harsh with my words and thoughts.  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 and cure Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Proverbs 30

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. v5-6

In my view, is important to understand both what God is saying in an absolute sense (head) and what God is saying to you individually (heart).  The other factor is that understanding comes from God alone - we must all recognize this.  

In terms of head vs heart, you want to have both because you don't want to just understand the Bible as words on a page but as the divine word of God - see also John 1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Of course You also want to understand what God is saying to you, into the circumstances of Your life so that You can understand and obey God's will for your life. See also Romans 12:2.

God's Word is indeed flawless:
- Psalm 12 
- Psalm 119 
- Luke 1:37 

We must take the time to study what God is saying and what God is saying to us.  We must also not twist God's words to our own benefit.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed God and You are flawless as is Your Word.  Your Word and Your Son are a tremendous blessing and gift - the greatest gift of all time.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift and blessing.  I am broken and my sin continues - I am harsh and critical of others and not often full of grace.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me point Zach and Dustin to You and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. v20-23

Proverbs 4

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. v20-23

So far, what I have been reading and studying in Proverbs has focused on the blessings that flow from our desire to gain God's wisdom - to get to know Him better and to "be transformed by the renewing of the mind" (Romans 12:2). This morning the focus is on how God's word must be in our heart because "everything you do flows from it".  The question is how do we get the word in our heart?  We start with a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6).  We go to God daily, and meditate on God's words day and night.

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

My Prayer: What a God You are!  You were before and created all things, are in all things and hold all things together.  You protect me, You save me, and You continue to be full of mercy, compassion, patience, etc. for me even though I know I am undeserving!  Thank You Jesus for Your love and the many blessings You pour out for me.  Please forgive me for my lack of grace and patience for others.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

Psalm 119

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. v147-148

Just as Moses was leading the Israelites into the promised land, he passes on a message to them, encouraging them to "[l]ove the Lord the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength":

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Daily study and prayer are critical spiritual disciplines - see posts here. Through these disciplines, we better understand God, His character, and His attributes.  We better know His will for our lives.  We are protected, encouraged, etc.  The more we know about God, the more we will love Him, for He is a great God.

My Prayer: Lord You are without a doubt a great God and without You I would be lost.  Thank You for Your guidance and Your many, many blessings.  I am not worth these blessings and Your love but You provide them anyway - Thank You Jesus.  My worry and stress continues to be a part of my life so please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119

Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. v127-128

God protects us from sin just as He did with Jesus in the wilderness.

Your statutes are wonderful;
    therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
    longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
    as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
    let no sin rule over me. v129-133

Rick Warren reminds us that everyone needs light, both physical and spiritual.  Jesus is that light.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the light of my life...You direct my footsteps, give me understanding, and so much more...thank You for being my God!  I can do no good things without You.  I am desperate for You.  I need You for forgiveness as my worry persists.  Please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

Psalm 119

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. v34

I do want understanding...I don't want to just read the words of the Bible and walk away without understanding - in both an absolute sense (head understanding) and a personal sense (heart understanding; or what is God saying specifically to me).  I want to understand God's character and His attributes.  I want to be in relationship and conversation with God.  Jesus is my personal Lord savior who is worthy of my full devotion and attention. 

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and Your words ARE valuable to me.  I can no good thing apart from You and Your Word.  Yet I often am either lazy in spending time with You, too easily distracted by the patterns of this world, etc.  Thank You for Your Word and for spending time with me, and for being so full of patience and compassion.  I am not worthy of such love.  Forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Satan is as deadly as Cancer
Ephesians 6

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. v12

There is certainly no doubt that evil is real, on the "prowl", powerful, and very deceptive - we must protect ourselves.  The devotion today devotes little focus on how.  Yet the verses before and after verse 12 speak directly to how we can protect ourselves and Romans 12 and other verses get more specific in this regard.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

...

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:13-18

...
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

 ...

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

We MUST be in the word, stay rooted to Him, etc. - see also Deuteronomy 6, John 15.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are my protector, in all things and all circumstances.  Thank You for You protect me daily...I know You are slow to anger and abounding in love...Thank You!  I am not worth such protection and love yet You are full of mercy anyway.  I often fail to be the man You intend for me - I should be sharing the Good News about You all the time yet I don't - please forgive me.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me be more bold.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You!  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Revelation 22

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. v18-19

The Bible is God's word and indeed God Himself - perfect in all ways.  John is relaying the message from Jesus that we must be careful to quote or use the Bible partially, or to add to the Bible.  This message is elsewhere (with study credit to John McArthur*)
- *Deuteronomy 4:2 > Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
- *Deuteronomy 12:32 > See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
- *Proverbs 30:5-6 > Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
- *Jeremiah 26:2 > This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.

See also Luke 1:37, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, James 2:10

We must study the Word and focus on knowing ALL of it...this is God's desire.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your Word is perfect as it reveals Your Character and I love studying Your Word and spending time with You.  You are my God and my guide...my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for being so patient with me and so full of mercy and compassion.  Please forgive me for my laziness in not being the man You intend for me...at work, at home, as a father, etc.  Help me overcome such sloth and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help my desire for You grow and grow.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. v3

As I posted yesterday, Satan is real and at work in us and around us and we need God's protection.  If we go to God in prayer, through study and application in His Word, etc. then we should take great comfort that He promises to protect us.

Solomon also tells us in Proverbs 2:

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding —
indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones. 

  hen you will understand what is right and just

    and fair—every good path.

  For wisdom will enter your heart,

    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

  Discretion will protect you,

    and understanding will guard you. 

  Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse, 

 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,

    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,

  Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God, one who came to save and protect...and You chose me, knowing everything about me, including my sin and brokenness and disobedience.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am quick to anger, slow to listen, etc. among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me take great comfort in Your protection through prayer, study of Your word, etc. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength and comfort.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.