But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

 Numbers 13:21-33

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30 

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 13:21-33 - we see the spies appointed by God report back after scouting out the promised land.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God is implied as silent in the text today but we should recall that God referred to the land to be scouted as land God is "giving to the people of Israel" (v1).  God again is omniscient and He knows who occupies the land and that the spies will report back and be concerned about how the people are stronger. Moses - as God's messenger and the leader of the people - directed the spies to be of "good courage" (v20).    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The spies - except Caleb (and Joshua) - fall prey to what many of us do when we are not in fellowship with God where we quickly forget all that God has done for us and able to do.  They fear the people of the Promised Land - rejecting God's guidance to be of "good courage." 
• 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 not seeing how God is with you - always.  Claim the promise that You can never be separated from His love.  Follow the example of Caleb and Joshua to be of good courage.  Trust in God that not only is He with us but He is our strength and refuge.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves, and is our strength.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me nor how You bless.  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 strength, 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 went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Mark 16:14-20

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. Mark 16:20

At the urging of pastors at my church and my wife Lisa, I continue my study of Mark - without assistance of a commentary.  Today, I explore Mark 16:14-20 which primarily focuses on the Great Commission:

Main point: While Jesus forgives temporary unbelief, eternal condemnation awaits those who reject the gospel message.

1. Disciples rebuked for temporary unbelief (v14)
2. Disciples charged to share the gospel to whole creation (v15)
3. Believers of gospel saved, while eternal condemnation awaits unbelievers (v16)
4. Salvation is a miracle (vv17-18)
5. Holy Spirit and miraculous signs will help disciples confirm gospel (vv19-20) 

Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: After appearing to Mary M and Mary (mother of Jesus), Jesus then appears to the "eleven" disciples (everyone except Judas who had yet to be replaced see Acts 1) - v14a. Jesus then rebukes the disciples for their initial unbelief and hardness of heart regarding news of the resurrection as shared by Mary M, Mary, Cleopas, and his traveling companion - v14b.  Jesus charges His disciples to share the gospel globally and to the whole of creation - v16.  Jesus will provide miraculous signs to accompany salvation and those who believe - confirming that salvation is a work of God - vv17-18, 20 (see also Ephesians 2:8-9).  After the resurrection, Jesus ascends into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God - v19 - but He will remain (Holy Spirit) with the disciples as they embark on the mission given to them to share the gospel globally - v20.
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: There will be periods when our faith will be tested and weakened, yet Jesus wants us to maintain faith so as to not fall away.  We can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world - John 16:33.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): While the disciples temporary unbelief and lack of trust in God is sinful, it is forgiven.  Scripture shares that there is unforgivable sin - see Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30. God wants us to believe and to share the gospel globally - all true belief and salvation is accompanied by miraculous signs as believers bear spiritual fruit for abiding in God as directed in John 15:1-10.  We must obey the charge to share the gospel - locally and globally.      

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My Prayer: Father God, what an awesome God You are that You save and work in me to bear fruit - without You I am nothing, certainly not saved.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You work in my heart and life.  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.

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Mark 4:35-41

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40

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 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's fifth (of six) division (v40): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Trials and Difficulties Come for the Benefit of Our Faith."  
• Describing the disciples likely reaction to Jesus's mild rebuke of them for the lack of faith, the commentary shares that "[b]y now they should have a greater comprehension and increased faith in His person. This was a golden teaching moment, but they came up short. In the eye of the storm, rather than trusting Him, the disciples accuse Jesus of forsaking them (v. 38). Unfortunately, this will not be the last time Jesus must point out their lack of faith (7:18; 8:17,21,33; 9:9). Until they see the resurrected Christ and fully understand what He did for them on the cross, they are going to struggle." 
• At the same time, we are encouraged us to grow in our faith as the commentary shares: "[w]e, in contrast, have no excuse. We know Jesus is all-powerful and all-knowing God. We know He has taken care of all our sin. We know He rose from the dead. We know He can be trusted no matter what! Trials and difficulties are divine appointments to strengthen our faith."   

Until we meet Jesus once again upon our death (glorification) or until He returns (second coming), all believers are a work in progress as we strive to grow in in our knowledge and love of Him, and as a result become more like Him (sanctification).  This is a day-by-day progressive process - we may often feel as if this process is too slow but we can be comforted that God is always at work.  Importantly, God is at work in the trials and difficulties of life.  See also Colossians 1:17b where the text shares that Jesus "holds all things together."  We don't know what He is doing (Isaiah 55:8), but we can take comfort that God is in "all things [to] work [them] together for good" (Romans 8:28).  We of course should also know that we will also overcome the world (John 16:33) and see Jesus face to face and at that point our sanctification will be complete!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that I know is at work in me.  Thank You Jesus for working in my life and heart and of course for my salvation.  Please continue because I know I am still a work in progress and there is more sin to shed.  Please forgive me of this sin and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

He trusts in God[.]

Matthew 27:43

He trusts in God[.] Matthew 27:43

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 11: Jesus' Trust in God where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• The author notes that he believes "Jesus' deepest and most fundamental character of Jesus is His trust in God."
• "From [the] first point to the last point the music of his trust was never broken. He is everywhere and always a man of prayer. At the crises of his life we find him praying. At his baptism and the transfiguration, in the garden, on the cross, he is pouring out his soul to God. Before every important action, in the midst of every difficult situation, at the completion of every stage of work, we find him praying. It was a common thing in Palestine for men to pray, but no man had ever prayed like this man, with such simplicity, with such earnestness, with such boundless trust." 
  
• Scripture is replete with stories of broken trust in God - if only for a moment - leading to a lapse of judgement and sin.  Abraham lied that Sarah was his sister, Moses did not fully follow God's instructions, David slept with Bathsheba then conspired to murder her husband, Peter denied Jesus, etc. Common to all of these stories is how we all sin - even the greatest of biblical heroes.  Sin at one level demonstrates how we trust (or value) either in ourselves or in the world vs God. Yet Jesus never failed to appreciate how as the incarnate Son of God, He was fully dependent on God and needed Him for all things.  God held Jesus' life in His hands.  As such He trusted that God's plan for His life (and death) was good and perfect.    
  
• "It is easy, indeed, to say that one trusts in God, but really to do it when justice seems dead and love seems to have vanished, that is difficult indeed....Jesus of Nazareth found in Nature fresh evidences of God's love. Other men noting how the sunshine falls upon the heads of the good and the bad had come to the conclusion that God does not know — God does not care....The rain falls upon the farm of the man who blasphemes and also upon the farm of the man who serves God, not because God is indifferent to the difference in character, but because he is so good that his mercy covers all of his children. Vice triumphs over virtue, dishonesty tramples upon honesty, injustice lords it over justice, hate defies and defeats love. This happens not once but ten thousand times. Some men read the dark and terrible story and give up their faith in God. Jesus looks upon the same scene and gives to it a different interpretation. He sees good men come and offer their services to the world only to be rejected and repulsed. One of them is stoned, another is beaten, another is killed. Their dead bodies are piled up in sickening heaps, but to Jesus this is not evidence of the indifference of God — it is the proof of his long-suffering patience; it is because he is not willing that any should be lost that he keeps on century after century, sending into the world prophets and apostles, heroes and saints, who shall proclaim the message of heaven to bewildered and sinful man."
• "[I]t should never be forgotten that his life on the day of his death was a terrible and heart-breaking failure. Injustice was stronger than justice, unrighteousness was mightier than righteousness, hate was stronger than love. He had tried to induce the world to accept a beautiful truth, but the world spurned him. In the hour of his great defeat he still looked to God saying, "Not my will but thine be done."  
  

Yes...it is true that trusting God in our darkest hours will be the tallest order we face.  None of us can know how we will do in those hours.  This alone should serve as motivation to lean into God to protect us from the temptations to be anxious or to otherwise sin in response.  See Ephesians 6:10-20 for Paul's encouragement that we put on the armor of God to protect ourselves from the schemes of the world.  We can also take encouragement from John 16:33 where Jesus is noted as sharing that we can take heart that despite the trials we face, Jesus overcame the world and so will we.

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who holds my life in Your hands and I know that there will be dark hours - yet at the same time I know You are good and I seek to abide in You so that when these dark hours arrive I will feel Your presence and know that You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You for Your promises that all come to pass.  I am not deserving of how richly You bless.  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.

“Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.

Zephaniah 3:1-8

“Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. Zephaniah 3:8

I continue my study of Zephaniah using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a unassisted review of Zephaniah 3:1-8, which is the text for the second division of the commentary's chapter covering Zephaniah 2:4-3:8.  The commentary further breaks down this second division into eight subdivisions. Turning from chapter 2 where Zephaniah shares God's warning to Judah's sinful neighbors and how He is going to pour out His wrath upon them, chapter 3 begins with a warning for both Judah and her neighbors.  V1 describes how Jerusalem is rebellious and defiled, and v2 describes how she listens to no voice, accepts no correction, does not trust in the Lord, and does not draw near to her God.  These verses alone are quite harsh, and while believers may think they do not describe themselves, to a certain degree this may be correct, but all of us are unclean and in need of a Savior because WE ALL SIN and need a SAVIOR.  Jesus is this Savior!  The message is clear: listen to God (read and study His Word), draw near to Him, pray to God (be in relationship with Him and talk to Him), accept His correction (view difficult circumstances in light of what He is doing to mold You or bring about His plan), and trust in God (have no fear or anxiety).  Vv3-4 describe the corruption of Judah's officials, including her priests.  V5 highlights how God is righteous, just, and faithful.  V6-7 then pivots to how God's anger burns against both Judah and her neighbors.  We are exhorted to live in reverent fear of God as He reigns.  V8 then declares a warning to repent and be ready, for when God pours out His wrath during the last days, His wrath will be terrifying indeed but those who are repent, believe in Him and are ready will be spared. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who lives in my heart and life - protecting me from sin and sinful influences.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide refuge and protect.  My sin does though continue and I know there is more work for You to do.  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.

If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

Ecclesiastes 10

If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. Ecclesiastes 10:1

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is Ecclesiastes 10 and how the takeaway of this text relates to the first division of the commentary: God Has a Design for Everything.  Upon an initial reading of the full text of Ecclesiastes 10 followed by a pause to seek how to outline the text, I see much of the focus on a comparison between wisdom and folly (and fools), particularly vv1-3, v6a, and vv12-15. V4 offers an admonishment on anger (which is a sin).  Vv8-11 is a segue from vv6b-7 where Solomon sees evil in the world and he sees a paradox in this evil where good is perhaps the intention but harm is the outcome.  This leads me to share, building on my post from a couple of days ago about how God is in control and we should view His providence in all circumstances and strive to see how what God is doing is good and that He loves us.  V4 in particular strikes me because of my own desire to control all aspects of my life and not trust in God (and His design and providence).  Anger, in my view is a natural response when things are not going our way - yet we should be careful because our lives should follow God's way.  I think of Exodus 14:13-14, and while its focus is not on anger but instead fear, the application is the same: trust God and be still. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me, whose design is perfect, and who is in all things.  And You never stop loving me - despite my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin 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.     

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

 Psalm 23 and Genesis 22:9-14

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

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.  This time, Sermon Point #5 in particular stands out: Trust That Your Shepherd Will Protect You and Take Away Your Fear.  Fear or anxiety is driven by unbelief in a God that is Your Shepherd, knows Your every need and provides - Jehovah Rohi and Jehovah Jireh. God want us to remain steadfast in our faith.  The text in Psalm 23 and Genesis 22 demonstrate both Jehovah Rohi and Jehovah Jireh, as does text elsewhere. John Piper, in this message, uses Matthew 6 - in particular v32 - to further illustrate how we can battle unbelief by resting in God and His promises. Piper shares: "[f]or example, at the end of verse 32 he says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” That is a spectacular promise. In everything you do at home and at work, put God’s purposes first, and he will provide all you need to live for his glory. Believe that promise, and financial anxiety will evaporate in the warmth of God’s care."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus - Jehovah Rohi and Jehovah Jireh - thank You for how You care and guide me, leading me through good and bad times, protecting me, and providing for all of my needs - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings - no one is.  I continue to sin, every single day...please help me God with my sin, forgive me, and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  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.

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

John 17

As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. John 17:18

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 18.  Here, John Piper highlights missions and how "Christmas is a model for missions. Missions is a mirror of Christmas."  Just as Christ came into the world on Christmas Day to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), we are to go out into the world - to all nations - to proclaim the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20).  The mission field is often very dangerous as there are many places where proclaiming the gospel or starting a church is against the law and persecuted harshly.  Piper shares how Jesus encountered resistance but we are go out just as He did: "Christ came to his own and his own received him not. So you also. They plotted against him. So you. He had no permanent home. So you. They trumped up false charges against him. So you. They whipped and mocked him. So you. He died after three years of ministry. So you."  Piper then shares the greatest danger - to lose faith and trust in God: "[t]he greatest danger a missionary faces is not death but to distrust the mercy of God. If that danger is avoided, then all other dangers lose their sting."  He concludes with hope and encouragement for those facing danger by stating that if believers "Conquer [temptation to distrusting God's mercy] and nothing can harm you for a million ages."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and mercy.  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. 

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 16.  Here, John Piper uses Philippians 2:9-11 to describe God's Most Successful Setback. He starts by stating that "Christmas marked the beginning of God’s most successful setback. He has always delighted to show his power through apparent defeat. He makes tactical retreats in order to win strategic victories."  Piper uses Joseph as the example for the devotion in how Joseph first became a slave then a prisoner.  However, God meant it for good - Genesis 50:20.  We don't understand how God works (Isaiah 55:8), but He is always at work on behalf of those who love God (Romans 8:28). Piper of course uses Jesus in the devotion as he writes: "[Jesus] emptied himself and took the form of a slave. Worse than a slave — a prisoner — and was executed. But like Joseph, he kept his integrity."  This is where Philippians 2:9-11 comes into the devotion as Piper shares that Jesus' way "is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him as it says in Romans 8:17. The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure."  Instead of despair in the face of struggle and setback, we should look to Jesus' work on the cross and other examples such as Joseph for how God means it for good for those who love God. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who has never left or forsaken me and You have seen me through difficult periods - many times.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10

[I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 

For my daily study, I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at what the resurrection means for believers.  John Piper opens the devotion with a provocative challenge - that believers truly examine what the resurrection means as posited in Romans 10:9.  Piper state that Satan believed in the resurrection - not as a heart matter but as an intellectual concept and perhaps as best a historical reality.  But Satan did not believe in the resurrection as a matter of faith, that God died on the cross, rose and defeated death 3 days later, and lives on through the Holy Spirit in those who believe and have faith in Him.  Piper shares: "[t]he resurrection is the promise of God that all who trust Jesus will be the beneficiaries of God’s power to lead us in paths of righteousness and through the valley of death. Therefore, believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead is much more than accepting a fact. It means being confident that God is for you, that he has closed ranks with you, that he is transforming your life, and that he will save you for eternal joy...It means being so confident of God’s power and love that no fear of worldly loss or greed for worldly gain will lure us to disobey his will. That’s the difference between Satan and the saints."  Piper concludes the devotion by pointing us to Deuteronomy 30:6 with the hope that "God [would] circumcise the hearts" of the readers of this devotion to "love the Lord [their] God with all [their] heart and with all [their] soul, that [they] may live." Amen!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - and all of Your promises come true - You are SO faithful!  Thank You for the blessings of my salvation and Your faithfulness.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Revelation 6

Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. Revelation 6:11

As I continue to be in between studies, having wrapped up my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at martyrdom not just as it existed during the first three centuries of the church's existence, but now as well as many continue to suffer this fate today (for more see Voices of the Martyrs ministry).  Piper describes God's role in martyrdom as "a sovereign God who said there is an appointed number of martyrs. They have a special role to play in planting and empowering the church. They have a special role to play in shutting the mouth of Satan, who constantly says that the people of God serve him only because life goes better." Piper refers us to Job 1:9-11 as an example of a man that was entirely in God's hands and protected as Satan incorrectly believed that Job would curse God as he lost his family and wealth.  Job stood firm in the faith - for more of John Piper on job - go here.  Piper wraps his devotion by sharing: "[m]artyrdom is not something accidental. It is not taking God off guard. It is not unexpected. And it is emphatically not a strategic defeat for the cause of Christ. It may look like defeat. But it is part of a plan in heaven that no human strategist would ever conceive or could ever design. And this plan will triumph for all those who endure to the end by faith in God’s all-sufficient grace."  While most of us will not experience martyrdom as some do, we can do as John Piper seeks for us to respond by (1) affirm with all our hearts the absolute sovereignty of God, (2) let your tears flow freely when your calamity comes, and (3) trust in the goodness of God, and let him be your treasure and your joy.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is sovereign and regardless of the trials and suffering I experience I know You exist, never leave or forsake me, and that I am sealed for eternity giving me the confidence to stand firm in my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Hebrews 11

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. Hebrews 11:24-28

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:20-27, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text:

I. The Future-Looking Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (11:20-22): Here the text focuses on the faith of Issac, Jacob and Joseph.  All anticipated and trusted in God's plan that a covenant promise would be fulfilled.  With Joseph for example, the commentary shares - based on Genesis 50:24 - that "[f]or Joseph to look forward to the exodus and to communicate that to his sons is almost as shocking as Abraham saying to Sarah, “We are going to have a child.” Nevertheless, Joseph demonstrated remarkable trust in God’s plan."   

II. Moses’s Faith-Fueled Obedience (11:23-27): Here the text examines the faith of Moses and starts by sharing how Moses had a choice: "comfort and privilege in the house of Egypt or persecution and suffering with the people of Israel. Making the former choice is faithlessness; the latter is faithfulness. Moses chose the latter. Rather than laying claim to stature, he aligned himself with Israel because he trusted the Lord and knew Egypt was not his home. Moses recognized the vanity of Pharaoh’s house and the all-surpassing worth of obedience to God." It then pivots to v26 where the text raises how Moses considered the reproach of Jesus of greater wealth than Egypt.  The commentary posits how Deuteronomy 18:15-22 and 2 Corinthians 1:20 point emphasize how we should view Jesus in light of the promise made by Moses that a prophet from among Israel would rise.  The text wraps by looking at v27-28 and how Moses feared God over Pharaoh and how Moses kept the faith by keeping Passover - and this led to the protection of Israel's first born. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and faithfulness - Your promises all come true and You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[H]e is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

Daniel 6

[H]e is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. Daniel 6:26-27

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 6:19-28 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. The commentary highlights two divisions/applications for v16-24:

• Trust that God Is Able to Deliver You (6:16-24): Here, the commentary emphasizes how Daniel, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago from the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), God protects Daniel from harm in the lion's den and scripture highlights how "Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" (v23b). see also my post yesterday; the commentary also points to Daniel as a "prefiguring of the resurrection of the Lord" as "Daniel was brought out of a den that had been sealed by the official rings of those in power, so was the Lord Jesus Christ raised from a tomb which had been sealed by those officials with their rings of power."  Similarly, the commentary shares how Darius rushes to the lion's den to see if God has delivered Daniel, both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary rush to Jesus's tomb only to find that He has risen.
  
• Recognize God Will Use You to Make His Name Famous among the Nations (6:25-28): After witnessing Daniel's deliverance from the lion's den, Darius responds in praise to God (v25-27) in what the commentary shares is reminiscent of Psalm 2. The commentary also shares how Darius' declaration "accomplishes at least two important purposes: "First, it recognizes the greatness, even the superiority, of Israel’s God over all would-be rivals. And second, it cancels out the irrevocable edict of 6:6-9." The commentary for this chapter wraps by sharing how we should see Jesus in all of scripture, including how Daniel points us to Jesus.  The commentary provides Tim Keller's talk on how Jesus is true and better relative to the Biblical heroes of the Old Testament.
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - protecting me from the sting of sin and death - thank You for providing my salvation.  I am not deserving as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin 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 Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Daniel 1

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. Daniel 1:8

I pause in my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 1 and my unaided observations of this chapter.  Tomorrow, I review the same text and lean on commentary provided the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series for Daniel. Here in Daniel 1, we read about how Babylon, under the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar, sieged Jerusalem and brought back to Babylon "vessels of the house of God" as well as youth of Israel to serve in Nebuchadnezzar's palace.  Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, whom the chief of eunuchs renamed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  They were given the same food and wine that the king ate and drank, but Daniel "resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank" (v8).  He requested vegetables and water and proved to the chief of eunuchs that he would not be any less healthy or strong, so ultimately allowed Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to eat and drink vegetables and water (v16).  The text remarks twice how "God gave" and blessed the young men, first "God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs" (v9), then "God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (v17). From the text this morning, similar to how Joseph in Genesis found himself in difficult circumstances, Daniel and his companions, although they found themselves taken as slaves to serve in Nebuchadnezzar's palace, they held firm in their faith of God and chose to continue in obedience to Him - trusting that He would provide...and of course He did.  We see in v17-20 how God blessed these young men with spiritual gifts that made them stand out among all the other slaves, and how they were "ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom."  Regardless of our circumstances, God wants us to continue in obedience to Him.  He places us in these circumstances for a reason - to glorify Him. 

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

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Hebrews 4

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. Hebrews 4:1-2

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 build on my post yesterday, and lean on commentary for this text.  I start with the commentary's overview of this text "Let Us Enter His Rest," and then move to what the commentary describes as the first division "Entering by Faith," which looks at Hebrews 4:1-2.  The commentary for this text starts by exploring what is meant by God's rest and it shares: "The [promised] land was indicative of God’s promise to Abraham and signified God’s plan to restore creation after the fall corrupted it....It meant enjoying and entering God’s plan of salvation and inhabiting the very place where God set his dwelling....While [the Israelites] may have physically entered the territory of Canaan, they never truly entered into the spiritual rest that the territory typified." The author of Hebrews uses this text to remind the audience of how their ancestors failed to enter God's rest when the entered the promised land, and also to warn them that now that the Good News of Jesus has been preached, they should not fail to believe and trust once again.  The first key point raised by the commentary indicates that "simply hearing the message of the gospel is insufficient for salvation." We are referred to Matthew 13:10-15 (which in turn refers to Isaiah 6). The second key point is that "the only appropriate response to the gospel is faith. Israel heard the promises and warnings of God but did not respond with faith. As a result, they perished in the wilderness." The third key point is that intellectual understanding of the Good News is not enough - you must believe and have faith.  The final key point raised by the commentary for the text this morning is that "the message of salvation was not different for those in the Old Testament....This text, however, demonstrates that the same “good news” preached in the new covenant was also preached in the old covenant. Of course, now that Christ has come and fully revealed the Father (John 14:8-9), new covenant believers have a fuller picture and a greater understanding of how God has acted to save. Nevertheless, old covenant saints were saved by faith in the promises of God just as we are today. Paul makes this clear in Romans 4:1-25 when he argues that Abraham was justified by faith." Pray to God to "spiritually hear His Word, have faith - believe, and lean on all of scripture both the Old and New Testament as the inerrant Word of God.

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

Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

Hebrews 3

Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” Hebrews 3:10-11

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 3:7-19, as I build on my post yesterday, and lean on commentary for this text.  I start with the commentary's overview of this text "Exhort and Encourage for the Sake of Faith," and then move to what the commentary describes as the first division "Learning from a Bad Example," which looks at Hebrews 3:7-11. The commentary highlights the text's first few words that follow "therefore", which sadly I overlooked in my initial reading yesterday.  These words are "as the Holy Spirit says," and the commentary indicates: "[the author of Hebrews] prefaces a quotation of the Psalms with the words, “as the Holy Spirit says.” In doing so, the author dramatically affirms the divine inspiration of Scripture."  The commentary then outlines how the use of these words accomplish two tasks: "[f]irst, it teaches us that God is the author of Scripture. It teaches us, “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21)....When we hear Scripture, read Scripture, study Scripture, or encounter Scripture in any way, we can be confident God is speaking to us.  Second, it affirms the living character of Scripture. The author does not use the past tense. He does not say, “The Holy Spirit said.” He uses the present tense. Every time we open the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaks. Even though the biblical authors recorded these words long ago, they are still living words.  The author of Hebrews explicitly argues this in the next chapter: “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12)."  The commentary then shares how the text uses the word "today" in v7 and how this emphasizes the urgency of believing today, not to put off any decision of faith.  It then moves to share why the author used the story of how the Israelites wandered through the wilderness and lost faith - we are exhorted to remain faithful.  "[The author] wants [readers] to make it to the true land of rest." Of course this true land of rest is through faith in Jesus Christ. The commentary defines rest as "safety, security, and salvation."  The commentary wraps its examination of Hebrews 3:7-11 by indicating the serious and sobering nature of either not believing or losing faith as the Israelites did in the wilderness: "[j]ust as he did with Israel, God will shut out from his rest those who rebel, walk in unfaithfulness, and presume on the grace of God. Like faithless Israel, those who presume on the grace of God will die on the wrong side of the Jordan. We must hold firmly today lest we wake up outside God’s eternal rest." Hold firm in your faith!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - thank You for how You help me remain firm in my faith - by providing Your Word, the Holy Spirit, my church, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.  Thank You Jesus for these blessings.  I am not deserving of such blessings. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God[.]

 Ephesians 6

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God[.] Ephesians 6:16-17

There is a slight delay (excuse) in my plan to resume my study of Isaiah, so today I once again listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today encourages us to take hold of the promises of of God in our fight against unbelief and sin.  Piper makes a profound statement to help us appreciate how it is unbelief that leads to anxiety which then leads to many other sins.  He says: "[u]nbelief in the promises of God is the root of anxiety, which, in turn, is the root of so many other sins."  In my own life, I can say with certainty that as I drew closer to God through more disciplined scripture reading, prayer, etc. I felt - and can now look back on progress - how God was renewing my mind (Romans 12:2) and sanctifying me through a transformed heart and life.  I am new creation - and I can feel the fruits of the Spirit - my hope is that others can as well.  

To help us, Piper provides not just Ephesians 6:16-17, but also the following verses as additional examples of God's promises:

• Isaiah 46:4
• Romans 14:7-9
• Philippians 1:6 
• Hebrews 7:25 
  

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an incredible God - One whose promises ALWAYS come true - I can trust, have faith in, and lean on You, the Word, the Holy Spirit, etc. to never leave or forsake me and be with me as I battle anxiety, unbelief, sin, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me in these ways.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 22:17-24:34

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Proverbs 22:24-25

I continue with my study of Proverbs, specifically in week 8 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 22:17-24:34.  The two questions for this morning focus on how "a bad attitude toward life and people is contagious and deadly (Proverbs 22:25)," and how we are to be skillful in our labors - to exercise to the fullest our spiritual gifts (Proverbs 22:29).  On the former question, as I reflect, I've often grumbled and complained about my circumstances - demonstrating lack of trust in God.  This is certainly a contagious, dangerous and deadly character type to possess as a believer - to grumble and complain. God wants us to see how ALL circumstances are for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).  My study points to Numbers 13:1-14:4 for an example of how grumbling and complaining was contagious among the Israelites and led to lack of trust in the Lord in leading them to possess the promised land. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are working in all circumstances in my life - good and bad - and You never leave or forsake me, and You give me the Holy Spirit to overcome the dark forces of this world and other obstacles - so that I can accomplish Your will in my life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 42

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:11

I paused once more on my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which builds on my post yesterday where the daily devotion focused on how we can battle discouragement.  Today the devotion focuses on how "preaching to self" is a powerful method to fight discouragement and despondency. Piper refers to Martin Lloyd-Jones' book Spiritual Depression and how we are prone to listen to the self-doubting statements that swirl about our heads from the moment we wake in the morning.  Lloyd-Jones encourages us to "talk [preach] to ourselves" vs "listening to ourselves."  Piper writes that: "[t]his is what the psalmist does in Psalm 42. The psalmist preaches to his troubled soul. He scolds himself and argues with himself. And his main argument is future grace: 'Hope in God! Trust in what God will be for you in the future. A day of praise is coming. The presence of the Lord will be all the help you need. And he has promised to be with us forever.'"

We should be encouraged to battle the chatter in our heads - trust in God, believe in Him, fight back, and use scripture and the Holy Spirit!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I know You love me and You are for me and You never leave or forsake me.  You also provide the Holy Spirit, the church, Your Word, and my brothers and sisters in Christ - all as a means for me to grow in my faith to endure and be a light.  Thank You Jesus!  I am encouraged!  Yet I am not deserving of Your grace...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Isaiah 47-50

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

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

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

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

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