Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

 John 19:1-11

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:11

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 19:1-11, where we see Pilate flogging Jesus, showing the beaten Jesus to the Jews, once again questioning Jesus, and then asking the Jews what he is to do with Jesus.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus willingly submits to His flogging, and the shame (and pain) of Pilates' soldiers striking Him and putting on Him a crown of thorns - vv1-3.  Pilate further shames Jesus by making putting Him on display (to the Jews) wearing a purple robe (typically reserved by earthly royalty) - vv4-5.  Although Jesus is not guilty in Pilates' eyes, the Jews do see Him as guilty of blasphemy - vv6-7.  Jesus at first does not answer Pilate's question  - v9 - but in vv10-11 Jesus responds to Pilate's arrogant claim of authority by sharing that authority is given from the Father, and that He sees the Jews as guilty of a greater sin for delivering Him over to Pilate.       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Jews should have known better by seeing Jesus as the Promised Messiah but their arrogance, pride, etc. blinded them to the gospel message and they would not repent so they stand guilty and condemned.  Pilate is guilty of a lesser sin and perhaps on par with Peter who out of fear did not question the crowd that arrested Jesus.  Yet Peter of course has repented of His sin (including His denial of Jesus) and Jesus restores Him (see John 21:15-19). 
• 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 twisting scripture as the Jewish elders did to focus on your own view of God's Word.  Claim the promise that Jesus is King of Kings and has authority and providence over all.  Follow the example of Jesus who willingly submitted to a brutal, shameful, beating and ultimate crucifixion - so that others would have life to the full now and for eternity.  Pick up your cross, deny oneself and follow Jesus.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that willingly submitted to a gruesome and painful torture and death - so that I could have freedom from sin and death.  Thank You Jesus - the greatest gift of all time!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?”

Mark 11:27-33

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Mark 11:27-28

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 11:27-33.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv27-28):

• The title of this chapter for the commentary is "Three Reasons People Are Not Willing 
   to Follow Jesus" and the main idea is: "People refuse to trust Jesus not because He is not worthy but because of the hardness of their own hearts."
• "Jesus has just cleansed and cursed the temple for its corruptions and abuse (Mark 11:12-25). In response, the religious leaders were “looking for a way to destroy Him” (11:18). You would think Jesus would avoid the public eye, but He does nothing of the sort! He returns to Jerusalem and the temple with courage, looking for a fight—not a physical confrontation, but a spiritual one that will place His claims and identity front and center."  
• Mark 11:27–12:44 records five temple controversies in Jerusalem that parallel five earlier controversies in Galilee (cf. 2:1–3:6). In both cases His opponents are the religious leaders. Now that He is in Jerusalem, the stakes are much higher and the intensity of the conflict much stronger. Things are moving to an inevitable climax: the cross."  
• "In this first of five temple controversies, we will see some common reasons people are not willing to come and follow Jesus."  
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "They Do Not Want to Submit to His Authority."
• "Jesus “came again to Jerusalem.” At some point the religious authorities show up—the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, who exercised both political and religious authority in Israel. It consisted of 71 men led by the acting high priest. Their power was enormous. They were super sensitive to anything that could threaten their authority, and Jesus was clearly a threat." 
• The Sanhedrin questioned Jesus' authority and sought to undermine Him with His followers. "The question of authority is important. We all have a source of authority in our lives, someone or something that guides us and drives us, something that rules. For most of us, like the Sanhedrin, it is ourselves. We are not really interested in surrendering that rule to anyone else."

All of humanity seeks value, worth and significance.  Yet the world offers significance that is not lasting.  Jesus offers significance and worth that is eternal.  Philippians 3:8.  He must increase but I must decrease - John 3:30.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of grace and mercy - thank You Jesus for loving me while I was still an enemy and hostile to You.  I am not deserving of how You save and pour out mercies daily that never cease.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and 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 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. 

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:18-22

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” Mark 2:21-22

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 2:21-22, which is the text for the second (of two) divisions per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary:

• "The pertinent question isn’t why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast, but why the Pharisees didn’t feast and celebrate the presence of the Messiah! Here Jesus informs us that He came to make things new and not perpetuate the old. With the coming of the Messiah, Judaism must give way to Christianity—and rightly so, for in Jesus the Hebrew faith finds its fulfillment and completion."
• "In the first parable, attempting to unite the gospel of Jesus and the old religion of Judaism—exemplified by the Pharisees’ ritualistic fasting—is as foolish as trying to patch an old, worn-out garment with a new, unshrunk piece of cloth....With the coming of Jesus, everything is new. The old was not bad, but it is no longer usable. It has been replaced by something better. To continue to try to prop it up and give it a new face is useless. It is futile." 
• "When the real thing has arrived, we do not continue to worship the shadow (Hebrews 10:1)."
•  "[Jesus] is not an attachment, addition, or appendage to the status quo. He cannot be integrated into or contained by preexisting structures—even Judaism, the Torah, and the synagogue. The question is not whether the Pharisees will add Jesus’ teachings to their list of traditions and rituals—like sewing a new patch on an old garment—but whether they will forsake the shadow of the old covenant and embrace the reality of the new covenant."
• "Nor is it a question whether disciples will incorporate Jesus in their old way of life—like refilling an old container—but whether they will become entirely new receptacles for the expanding fermentation of Jesus and the gospel in their lives."
• "Jesus fulfilled the prophecies, types, and demands of the Law of Moses. The Law was ended at Calvary when the perfect sacrifice was once [for all] offered for the sins of the world (Hebrews 8–10). When you trust Jesus Christ, you become part of a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and there are always new experiences of grace and glory."   

Upon salvation, as believers become a new creation, we must consider how old habits and ways must die - there may even be people in our lives where distance may be needed as we seek to design life pleasing to God.  We should be willing to examine all aspects of our lives to assess whether an old habit or way of doing things is truly God pleasing.  Daily reading and study of God's Word is core to how we do this as scripture reveals sin to us.  Gospel centered relationships and fellowship with other believers also are key as "iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17.  As I posted yesterday, humility is key as well because "He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God worthy of my worship and devotion - You saved me and You continue to do a work in me, and are full of mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worthy as my sin continues - my old ways.  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.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

 Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 1:14-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Here the text shares/describes:

• that John the Baptist is arrested
• that Jesus went into Galilee, sharing the Gospel - "repent and believe"
• how Jesus calls the first disciples: brothers Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and brothers James and John  

Jesus' preparation for His ministry includes going to temple and learning God's word (see Luke 2:41-52), His baptism, His time in the wilderness (experiencing the temptations humanity faces), and of course His experience growing up with faithful families (Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah) who modeled faith for Him.  Jesus knew that His ministry was a fulfillment of prophecy so part of the Good News is to remind the Jews that He is the One promised in Old Testament scripture.  This point reinforces my post from a couple of days ago that we must understand how all of scripture points to Jesus.  Core to the Good News is humility and repentance - we all sin and need salvation or forgiveness of sins (not just an annual offering at the altar but a one time sacrifice of our life devoted to God and submitting to Him). Of course we should be struck by how both of the sets of brothers immediately (see both v18 and v20) left the safety of their fishing business and followed Him, not knowing what that truly meant.  If we read our Bible and are faithful, we will see the sanctification process unfold as Jesus makes us more like Him - the renewing of the mind per Romans 12:2.  As our thoughts become more like Jesus, we can see His will for our lives and His desires for our lives and dropping everything for Him becomes easier as we first and foremost seek to please Him vs ourselves. See also 1 John 5:3 where John shares how obedience to God is not burdensome.  Repent, believe, submit to Him, and watch God work in your heart and life!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that not only forgives sins, but You also save, provide the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and the church to equip us to become more like You because that is our desire.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving...my sin continues every day - anger, 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 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.         

 

...God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

 Psalm 23 and Genesis 22:9-14

...God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Genesis 22:1

I continue my pause of my study of Jude to use Tony Evan's The Power of God's Names sermon outline series - maintaining focusing on Message Four: Jehovah Rohi and Jehovah Jireh.  Today, I continue to focus on those sermon notes that stand out to me - specifically looking at Sermon Point #1: To Understand Your Shepherd, Jehovah Rohi, You Must Realize That You Are Like A Sheep.  In describing sheep, the sermon notes share that "sheep...are dumb, defenseless, dirty, and dependent."  This last attribute is key - before we truly accept Jesus, we must all get to a place where we say we need Him...desperately.  As a litmus test, when God calls us, we must be prepared to answer Him right away.  As two examples, Abraham did not hesitate when God called him in Genesis 22:1 and 11.  There are of course many other Biblical examples where God called someone and they responded "here I am, ready to submit and serve You God," including Isaiah 6:8, where Isaiah cries out in response to God: “Here I am! Send me.”  We should respond because we want to submit and obey, again, because we should recognize that we are completely dependent on God, desperate for Him, and that because God is Our Shepherd, He cares for us and only wants good things for us (although how we define "good" is according to God's definition not our own).  On the other hand, there are many scriptural examples where God called someone and they failed to willingly submit to God.  Ananias and Sapphira come to mind - see this message from John Piper here. Other examples include Jonah and Judas (the apostle).  Take John Piper's recommendation and be more like Barnabas and not Ananias!  See also John 15:5 as another example where Jesus shares how "apart from me you can do nothing."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my great Shepherd and my great Provider!  Thank You Jesus for being this for me because I desperately need it - I know that apart from You I can do nothing.  I am undeserving for how You do this for me 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 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.

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Leviticus 19-20

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." John 14:23

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter seventeen - Holiness and Love - covering Leviticus 19-20, looking specifically at the fifth and final theme for the chapter - Our Holiness Requires Living by Distinctions.  Here, the commentary looks at ways in which God seeks for us to be unique and set apart from the world. We are referred to the many passages in Leviticus that contrast acceptable versus unacceptable sacrifices, clean versus unclean food, and ways of life and behaviors that are designed to express our holiness - see also my post yesterday as an example of the latter.  The commentary highlights several scriptural examples in Leviticus 19-20 that reinforce how we are to be set apart (and holy).

First, the commentary looks at how we are to see the distinction between sacred and secular. Leviticus 19:19 is used to point out how God used "mixing of fabrics in the priestly garments and the mixing of spices in tabernacle incense" in the tabernacle, but did not allow similar mixing in secular life (see also Deuteronomy 22:9-11).  The commentary points out God allowed mixing in the tabernacle because it was special.  We must see how "[s]ome things are special and holy...so we treat [them] with respect", including God's Word and worship. Although the ceremonial laws do not apply with the New Covenant with Jesus, the sacred nature of of certain aspects of our journey with Christ still apply such as the Bible, and worship.

Second, the commentary points out a distinction between marriage and singleness, including "the sanctity of marriage." God paid special attention to this here in Leviticus 19-20 as the Israelites were about to enter the promised land that was surrounded by sexual behavior God did not want for the Israel.  He sought for the Israelites to be set apart, and He still has this desire today.  

Third, and finally, the commentary points out how our holiness "is defined by the distinction between falsehood and truth.  Looking at Leviticus 19:23-31 and v26-31, God sought for the Israelites to praise the One True God and to avoid the falsehood of "pagan religions" common at the time, particularly in Canaan and the neighboring lands.  

We are encouraged to explore a book entitled My Heart-Christ's Home, where Robert Munger provides a great analogy of a house to demonstrate how God seeks for believers to surrender all aspects of our lives over to Jesus.  See a short summary of this book here. This is how we are to become set apart as God sought for the Israelites (and all believers).

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who and who has come to live in the house of my heart and I am so thrilled that You have - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You have entered my life.  My sin continues...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.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 

 

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter sixteen Living in View of God's Mercy, which covers Romans 12:1-16.  My focus today is Romans 12:1-2, which my commentary refers to under the heading Offer Yourself to God. On the heels of Paul's closing marks in Romans 11, where Paul marvels at the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, as well as His judgements and ways, Paul then pushes us to - therefore (v12:1) - be a living sacrifice - to serve and love God out of an outpouring of gratitude for what He has done for us and continues to do for us as He provide for all of our needs - physical, emotional, and spiritual.   We are also cautioned to avoid conformity to the world, but instead to seek Him and how nearness to God can help us avoid this by directing our thoughts and desires to be more in line with Him. 

My commentary describes how Romans 12 moves from the "indicatives (the grammar of certainty and actuality)" of the gospel to the "imperatives (the grammar of commands)." We are to "rejoice in the glorious indicatives of the gospel!  The facts of the gospel have caused us to soar in worship throughout Romans, and now they give the proper basis for practical obedience.  God's grace should not make us lazy or passive but passionate and devoted to God, and this passion is 'rooted in faith and energized by the power of the Holy Spirit.' We are to see how Romans 12:1 echoes words expressed by Paul in Romans 6:13 and 6:19. The commentary describes how Paul highlights 'living sacrifice' as a form of dedication - the use of the word "sacrifice" along with "temple," and "priesthood," is used "without the actual physical apparatus associated with them...sacrifice is metaphorically applied to Christian service."  We are encouraged not only to offer our bodies to God (v12:1), but also our mind (v12:2).  We must avoid how worldly influences lead to a "polluted mind...[and] life." If we are able to orient our bodies and minds to God through scripture, worship, prayer, service, etc. then "we will be able to recognize and appreciate what honors God, and we can then set ourselves to obey his will."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - what an awesome God You are that You offer the Holy Spirit to advocate for me and to assist me...with all things.  Thank You Jesus for the Holy Spirit and for how You never leave or forsake me and how You have molded me...it has not always been easy but that is not what You promise.  I am blessed by all that You have done and what You continue to do.  Yet I am not deserving.  My sin of worry, etc. 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.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.

1 Corinthians 9, 2 Corinthians 11, and Romans 7

 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 2 Corinthians 11:30-31

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish both the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*" and the study itself as Paul is the last chapter of the study.

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five focuses on Paul an unlikely hero, as a deeply sinful person whom God transformed into deeply faithful servant of Jesus that was relentless in his missionary journeys to share both his testimony and the Gospel.  He did not seek fame or glory, was often beaten and thrown in jail.  He was always on the road, serving and preaching the Word. We are encouraged where ever we are in our own service to the church to keep going - to allow God to work through us.  We are also encouraged to support and serve others in their missionary journey - believing that God sees something in all of us that we don't see - a heart to serve Jesus.  This is the element of heroism that Lucado describes - a heroism that relies on Jesus not on the individual abilities of any one person or group of people.  It is how people allow Jesus to work in their lives, to allow Jesus to be the hero of their story.  We must remember that we exist to glorify God.

Discuss and comment on this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and have seen Your heroics in many lives as You use ordinary people for extraordinary service.  It is only through You that we are able to see the heart and life change You make. Thank You Jesus for what You have done in my life - to save me and to use me and to build me up in the process.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I am lazy, 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 Your 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 met today and every day.

For no word from God will ever fail.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

 For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Joseph: Shaky Limbs and Unanswered Questions*".

*Title of lesson six from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day five starts with Max Lucado describing the story of Simeon to whom the Holy Spirit revealed that "he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah" (Luke 2:26). Prompted to go to the temple, Simeon found the baby Jesus and he rejoiced.  Lucado describes how scripture does not indicate how long Simeon waited for this day and he "reminds us to 'wait forwardly'. Patiently vigilant. But not so patient that we lose our vigilance.  Nor so vigilant that we lose our patience." We are encouraged to both be patient and vigilant in our prayer.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:30-31

Lucado then moves to discuss what details scripture provides us about Jesus' upbringing.  He tells of Jesus' separation from his parents in Luke 2:41-52 and how Jesus was sinless so his teaching where His parents found Him in the temple was perfect as people were amazed at His words. Jesus sought the temple and we are urged to pursue God and the Word in the same way.  

Lucado wants us to understand how God can transform and renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and, just as He did with Joseph, use even common and regular people for supernatural purposes (for God's glory!).  Joseph had many questions but his faith enabled him to "lean not on [his] own understanding" but on God.  We all have doubts and questions but what IS known about God and how He loves us is clear and that His Word is flawless.

Discuss and comment on this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, believers can count on You - when You make a promise like You did to Simeon and to Joseph, we may still have questions but we can count on You.  You tell us that You will never leave or forsake us...and You have so many other great promises!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the many promises You make to me and how You bless me.  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. 

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:25

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Joseph: Shaky Limbs and Unanswered Questions*".

*Title of lesson six from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day two starts with Max Lucado sharing how Joseph led a just life (Matthew 1:19) and how if he was faithful to the law, he should have followed Deuteronomy 22:13-21 if there was a dispute regarding Mary's faithfulness.  Lucado speculates how Joseph must have struggled with how to preserve his reputation vs follow God.  We know that God reassures Joseph (see my post yesterday).  Joseph did as the Lord commanded and was willing to submit to Him.  Lucado points to how Joseph saw the circumstances as a "good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). Lucado then turns to Joseph's humility and how he did not even speak in the Bible yet God used him in supernatural ways as the earthly father to our Lord and Savior - Lucado points to Matthew 16:25 as encouragement for those willing to submit to God. We are then encouraged to read scripture where it is likely people doubted Jesus' authority and power based on his origins and humble upbringing as the son of a lowly carpenter. See Matthew 13:53-56, Mark 6:1-3, Luke 4:16-22, and John 6:41-21.  God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and supernatural.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:8-9

Discuss and comment on this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing in all ways - I have seen how You have used the ordinary to do extraordinary things - in my life and in the lives of others.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve. Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not deserving - I am often harsh with others 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 Your 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.

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Revelation 14-19:5

 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Revelation 16:15

Day 364 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with Revelation as I reach the final days of my chronological study of the Bible. This morning's reading focuses primarily on God's wrath of those who refused to repent of their sins to follow Him.  These people allowed themselves to be carried away by their temptations, desires and their sins with no regard to the everlasting consequences, which John now describes in detail as God's wrath is poured out.

This morning's reading includes a description of Satan as a thief who pounces on those who are not prepared or ready.  We must all be ready and submit to God.

See also John 10:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, and 2 Peter 3:10.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has sealed me for eternity and saved a place for me in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen....All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6-8

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen....All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:8-9,15

Day 324 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 focusing on the martyrdom of Stephen, the first follower of Jesus to die in defense of his faith. My commentary* notes: "[t]his Stephen had been one of the seven men chosen to resolve the problems which arose with regard to distribution of assistance to the Greek widows. He is a man known for his faith and his ability to do great wonders through the Holy Spirit. But it is his boldness and wisdom that finally prompt his adversaries to bring him before the Sanhedrin on a charge of blasphemy. Stephen’s defense is a classic review of the history of God’s dealing with the Jewish people, and a reminder to the Sanhedrin that leaders such as themselves have always rejected and persecuted God’s prophets and teachers. When he accuses them of murdering the Son of God, they angrily condemn him to death by stoning. Stephen’s dying words echo down through time as the prayer of other martyrs and all believers as well."

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

This morning, on the heels of my post yesterday where the Apostles prayed for boldness...we see God giving Stephen incredible boldness! I am reminded of how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways to bring glory to Him.  Check out this awesome post on DesiringGod.com, and I once again refer people to Tony Merida's book Ordinary that emphasizes how Christians can do ordinary things with God-sized intentions to allow God to accomplish extraordinary, supernatural results.  The post from DesiringGod.com highlights 1 Corinthians:

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who has done incredible things in and through my life - I am grateful for how You have given me boldness at times and I have seen the extraordinary results.  Thank You Jesus!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  I don't ask for boldness enough and I don't submit to You enough.  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. 

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Matthew 21-23, Mark 11-12, Luke 20-21

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44, Luke 21:1-4

Day 313 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 focusing on the final week of Jesus' life and ministry, and in particular Tuesday morning of that week.  My commentary* notes the opposition from both the Pharisees and Sadducees and Jesus' response.

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

The Pharisees and Sadducees looked for ways to trap Jesus by questioning Him to see if He might commit some form of blasphemy against God but Jesus responded confidently to all of the questions with Truth and scripture indicates that at one point no one "dared to ask Jesus any more questions" (Matthew 22:46, Mark 12:34, Luke 20:40).  Jesus then pivots to the hypocrisy of those questioning Jesus, encouraging us to focus on what is important (Most important commandment), to place Jesus first (humility), and to have faith by surrendering our lives to Jesus, using the poor widower's giving as an example.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave everything to save me, knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such love and such a gift.  I worry, and I often fail to fully surrender to You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38

Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. Matthew 1:17

Day 290 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* moves further into the New Testament - focusing this morning on genealogies of Jesus found in the books of Matthew and Luke.

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

Matthew provides an account of the line from Abraham, while Luke provides an account from the line all the way back to Adam. My commentary* makes note of how sinful people are used in the line of Jesus, including both Rahab and Manasseh, reinforcing how

But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”

1 Kings 20-22 and 2 Chronicles 18 

But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.” 1 Kings 22:14

Day 155 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 Ahab and Jezebel, whom my commentary* describe as "[t]wo of the most wicked people who ever lived".  Elijah, Jehoshaphat, and another prophet Micaiah also play roles in today's study.

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

Several themes stand out this morning, including how God works to get our attention (and how we should be aware of how God works in these ways), and how we must respond to God's calls as God wants us to submit to Him and demonstrate obedience.

God delivers Ben-Hadad's armies into Ahab's hands but Ahab (and his wife Jezebel) does not see God at work and he continues in his disobedience.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has taught me, encouraged me, protected me, etc.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus but again I am not deserving.  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.

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Tony Evans: The Power of Jesus' Names - Lord and King

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

In preparation for Sunday school tomorrow morning, I watched session #2 of the above mentioned Tony Evans series (RightNow Media requires login which I have though my church).  The core message is that while believers may accept Jesus as their King, we may not submit to His authority and be obedient to His rule.  

Recognizing Jesus as our King gets us into Heaven but submitting to Jesus' authority and playing by his rules brings Heaven to earth giving us all the benefits of His rule in our life.  We can't expect the benefits of His rule without living by His rules.

Evans uses the analogy of a restaurant buffet where we can pick and choose how we are obedient to Jesus - submitting certain parts of our life to Him but not others.

I have personally experienced what it is like to recognize Jesus as my King without submitting to Him.   Once I began to submit to Jesus, that's when my world changed and I did indeed begin to experience some of the benefits of His rule.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has brought Heaven to earth and I HAVE participated in His reign - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed.  Yet I am undeservring of such love and 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.

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

Luke 17

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. v33

While the focus of v20-37 is Jesus' response to when the Kingdom of God will come (and whether the Kingdom of God is present or future), I am choosing to focus on v33 specifically.   

John Piper does a great job explaining how the Kingdom of God is with us now as a "fulfillment" but is yet to come as a "consummation".  

In v33 I am reminded of my tendency and desire to be "in control" and this conflicts with God's desire to own our heart and life.  He is in control. We need to recognize this and submit to His authority over all and specifically our lives.  Once we surrender our hearts and lives to Him, we can find peace that He will fight for us.

Read Exodus 14 and specifically Exodus 14:14.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who IS in control and that is a glorious thing!  I can do and have no good things without You Jesus and I need You desperately in my life - You have transformed my heart and life and I am blessed by You daily.  I am undeserving of such love and blessings. 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.

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 3

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” v20

When we submit to Jesus and live for Him, there will be others, perhaps even family and friends, who will question what we are doing, that is why Jesus wants us to make Him our priority - see post from a few days ago.

As we continue in this chapter in Mark, we see how Jesus himself describes family:

Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” v34-35

It's most important to do God's will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God who loves me as You do.  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.

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Matthew 26

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” v25

All of us at one point or another in our lives, choose this world over Jesus then we often turn around and deny it...just like Judas does here, like Peter will further on in this chapter, etc.  Whatever pushes us to choose Jesus over this world, whether it be greed, fear, etc. we MUST all acknowledge our sin, ask for Jesus to come into our lives, submit to Him, surrender our live over to Him, and devote our lives as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) to glorify Him for that is why we exist.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God as You willingly laid down Your life for me so that I could have freedom from the sting of sin and death...You never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish...among my many 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.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." v13-14

Jesus promises life and life to the full (abundant - KJV, etc.) for those who believe and follow Him (John 10:10).  Believers will demonstrate fruits of the Spirit as well (Galatians 5:22-23) - including
"love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control".

However, there are no such promises of an easy life.  In John 16:33, Jesus tell us that we WILL have trouble. This is to be expected because when we submit our lives to Jesus, we DENY ourselves and put God and others first.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me life to the full - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen - 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.