Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Jude

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. Jude 11

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a review of Jude 11-16, with a focus on an unassisted review of the first division per the commentary - v11.  Here Jude warns us of the fate that befalls the false teachers discussed in the previous verses of Jude including v4 where Jude calls them out for how they "pervert[ed] the grace of our God into sensuality and den[ied]" the authority and sovereignty of Jesus Christ.  Jude further describes their sin by comparing them first to Cain whose offering to God failed to reflect a heart of faith and he killed his brother out of jealousy (see Genesis 4).  Second, Jude compared the false teachers to Balaam who sought reward from Balak, the king of Moab who was seeking a curse upon Israel as the Israelites were moving towards the promised land (see also here) - ultimately it was the Moabites themselves and their idol worship that drew Israel into sin.  Finally, Jude compares the false teachers of his day to Korah and the rebellion he led in the wilderness where Korah "usurp[ed] the authority of God and of those whom He has chosen to be leaders of His people." There are many contemporary equivalents to false teachers who pervert the gospel for their own gain and we must both carefully discern truth for ourselves and seek out churches and other influences that focus on Truth.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me Your Word, the church, wise counsel, and other resources/influences to help me discern and obey Truth.  Thank You Jesus!  I am blessed by the Truth.  Yet I am undeserving of the love and blessing that comes with the Truth.  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.

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

2 John 1

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. 2 John 1:3

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

Main idea: "Followers of Jesus must walk in His commands as they love the truth of His teaching."

Excerpts from the Introduction:

• "Truth and love are the twin rails on which Christianity runs. They bring authenticity and balance to our Christian confession and conduct. Yet both are endangered species, especially in a post-modern twenty-first-century world where relativism and sentimentalism reign."
• "The apostle John was so concerned about Truth that he penned an entire letter to address the problem. We call it 2 John." 
• "John is short and to the point in this letter, and provides several words of encouragement and instruction for those who care for truth and love."
• "Second John’s major point appears to be that we must walk in the commands of Christ as we love the truth of His teaching." 
  

Divisions:

1. We Must Love the Truth (1-3): Believers have a shared love of the gospel. "[W]e must have a consuming passion for this truth, truth that is bathed in love." Christ is the origin of love and truth, and truth has "companions" - grace, mercy and peace - that flow from Truth. "Grace is God doing for us what we do not deserve (unmerited favor and divine kindness). Mercy is God not doing to us what we do deserve (God’s compassion, pity, and tenderness). Peace is personal wholeness and well-being in all aspects of life....“[t]o maintain a healthy and growing community the church must exhibit a fidelity to the truth that knows no compromise, and they must love one another in a way that knows no boundaries."
   
2. We Must Live the Truth (4-6). 
3. We Must Look for the Truth (7-11).
4. We Must Long for the Truth (12-13).
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth and Love and from You flows grace, mercy and peace - all blessings that are incredible and impossible for me to fully appreciate until I meet You face to face in Heaven.  Thank You for these blessings.  I am not not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:20-21

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:13-21, focusing specifically on a review of the main idea for the entirety of the text, the commentary's introduction/overview for this text, and the second division - which is "We Can Know What Is True (1 John 5:20-21)."  The commentary shares that "[b]ecause of our union with Christ, we understand the truth of the gospel, we are safe from the claws of the evil one, we know the Father, and we abide 'in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ.'" The commentary then highlights v21 and how we are warned by John about idols - we are referred to Ephesians 5:5, and Colossians 3:5.  The warning about idols is important because it is so easy to create idols for ourselves.  On this point, the commentary shares: "man's nature....is a perpetual factory of idols (per John Calvin)."  Tim Keller wrote on this subject: "'The ultimate reason for any sin is that something besides Christ is functioning as an alternative ‘righteousness’ or source of confidence—and is thus an ‘idol,’ a pseudo-savior, which creates inordinate desires” (Preaching the Gospel in a Post-Modern World)." The commentary on this text concludes by pointing us to John 4:14 where Jesus tells a Samaritan woman at the well that Jesus offers a living water where those who drink of it will never thirst again, and this living water in believers will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  Avoid idols and drink of the living water!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me Yourself as I know You offer a living water where I will never thirst again and this living water will well up in me as eternal life - thank You Jesus!  Help me see You as truth and not turn towards idols I make for myself.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  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.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.]

1 Peter 3

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God[.] 1 Peter 3:18

Today, I pause my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today - courtesy of John Piper - provides "a summary of the gospel to help [us] understand it and enjoy it and share it!"  Piper outlines the gospel as follows, with included scripture references:

1. God created us for his glory - see also Isaiah 43:6-7.
2. Therefore, every human should live for God's glory; we must love God, trust Him, be thankful to Him, obey Him, and treasure Him above all things - see also 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 22:37, Romans 4:20, Psalm 50:23, Matthew 5:16, Philippians 3:8, and Matthew 10:37.
3. Nevertheless we have all sinned; [n]one of us has loved or trusted or thanked or obeyed or treasured God as we ought. - see also Romans 3:23, Romans 1:21-23.
4. Therefore we all deserve eternal punishment - see also Romans 6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Matthew 25:46.
5. Yet, in his great mercy, God sent his only Son Jesus Christ into the world to provide for sinners the way of eternal life - see also John 3:16, Galatians 3:13, 1 Peter 3:18.
6. Therefore eternal life is a free gift to all who will trust in Christ as Lord and Savior and supreme Treasure of their lives - see also Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:8.

As Holy Week and Easter approaches next, believers should all be mindful of the Good News Jesus brings, write these words on our heart (Hebrews 8:10) so that we can be constantly present to this Truth.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the gospel, the Good News, and how it saves and gives me life to the full now in SO many ways that it is indescribable!  I am not deserving of my salvation and the blessings of being a child of God.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sin today and every day - I know I fall short.  Help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

 1 John 2

 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on an unassisted review of 1 John 2:18-27.  In the text for today, John focuses on end times, how it is approaching, and how we are to avoid false teachers/Christs and those who deny Jesus is the Christ.

Believers must hold fast to faith and to the knowledge imparted to us through the gospel (v20).  John's warning is urgent that we be reminded of the truth (v21) that it stands in contrast to the lies spread by false teachers and the prince of this world (Satan), and that this truth protects us in our efforts to hold fast.  The word "abide" appears 10 times in this chapter, and 5 times in the text for today - hence John considers that the truth abide in us as critical in our walk.  

I am reminded of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 how God's Word is to abide in us.  John 15:1-11 also shares how Jesus is the True Vine and how we are branches and to remain in Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who promises to give me life to the full now and forever in Heaven - and You are faithful as Your promises all find a yes in You.  Thank You Jesus for life and salvation and Your faithfulness....rich blessings that indescribable and I am undeserving.  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.

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”

Romans 3

 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” Romans 3:3-4

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on truth, an appropriate response to truth, and how truth serves believers. Piper starts by stating: "Not to care about truth is not to care about God. To love God passionately is to love truth passionately. Being God-centered in life means being truth-driven in ministry. What is not true is not of God." Piper then lays out four applications for truth:

1. We see how God is truth - Romans 3:3-4, John 14:6, John 15:26 
2. Not loving the truth is eternally ruinous - 2 Thessalonians 2:10
3. Christian living is based on knowledge of the truth - 1 Corinthians 6:15-16
   
4.  The body of Christ is built with truth in love - Colossians 1:28
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth and I am grateful that You give Yourself to me, including the Holy Spirit and Your Word - thank You Jesus!  Thank You for the many blessings that You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings. I worry, am easily distracted, etc.  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 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.

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.

1 Timothy 1

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. v8

Paul starts out writing Timothy about the need to prevent the spread of false teaching.  Doctrinal truth is critical and we should avoid false teachers and teachings for many reasons - which of course starts with a desire to SEEK truth (or a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" - see also Matthew 5:6).  We can practically gain a better understanding of truth through both our own study as well as study with and through others as "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17).  

John Piper provides great insights into how the search for truth and fellowship/unity are both important - see this post.  Unity can only be gained through truth.  Piper calls this "purity for the sake of unity".

On the other hand, which is also what Piper indicates, false teaching creates division.

If we have truth in our heart, we should expect to see fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) - I believe it is useful to ask those around us if fruit is present in our lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am grateful for the fruit You have produced in my life.  I know You are not done but I DO know that fruit is present - thank You Jesus!  Thank You for giving me a desire for You, faith, and truth.  Yet I am not deserving of such blessings.  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 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.

A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.

Galatians 5

A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. v9

Paul continues to warn the Galatians of false teaching and idols.  Just as Jesus uses parables, Paul uses the leavening power of yeast as an analogy to warn us of the negative influence of allowing even the slightest of false teaching and idols into our lives. The MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates scripture's use of this analogy elsewhere including Matthew 16:6, 12,  Mark 8:15, and 1 Corinthians 5:6.

While we are "in" this world we must remind ourselves that we are not to be "of" this world and not to "conform" to the patterns of this world (see also Romans 12:2). We must remain connected with those who strengthen our ties to Christ as the One and Only True God and Gospel.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I am so grateful for the protection You provide through Your Word, the Holy Spirit, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Thank You Jesus for helping me build a strong foundation - On You!  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving of the many blessings You pour out for me.  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.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”[d] But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. v16

Building on chapter 1 (see post yesterday), Paul continues to remind us of the source and purpose of wisdom.  He tells us that he has no wisdom apart from the Holy Spirit in him (v2-5) and that God reveals to believers this wisdom (v9-10, 12, 13).  This is of course very humbling and exciting at the same time - that we don't possess wisdom from and for ourselves but from and for God.  If we consider that God is all knowing isn't it amazing that God would even disclose a sliver of this wisdom to us?

See also posts here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has shown my great wisdom and this has helped me through great difficulties and helped me grow closer to You - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am humbled and undeserving.  I worry and my sin is great.  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.

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 9

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” v39

The story of Jesus healing a man born blind continues in John 9 with the Pharisees throwing the man out of the temple - as the man dared challenge the Pharisees (v27-34).  Jesus seeks to reassure the man as He finds him later (v35-41) and makes a distinction between physical and spiritual blindness.  We must recognize that we are all spiritually blind without Jesus - it is only through Jesus that we have sight and this sight is developed over the course of a lifetime via our journey with Christ.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Isaiah 42:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me the gift of sight and You daily help me see Truth and give me wisdom and words to say in my role as spiritual leader of my household - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You 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.

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, You will not serve the king of Babylon,for they are prophesying lies to you. I have not sent them, declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.

Jeremiah 27

Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, You will not serve the king of Babylon,for they are prophesying lies to you. I have not sent them, declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name. v14-15

The world is full of lies - planted by great deceiver - Satan. We must be aware of this.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Satan made his presence known throughout the Bible.  We are warned repeatedly about false prophets.  We must surround ourselves with Truth by reading the Bible, understanding what it says (in both an absolute and a personal sense), by worshiping corporately on Sunday at church, by participating in Bible studies, and by surrounding ourselves with others so that "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17).

Submit to God and the Word, (Romans 12:2).

Live and breath the word (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 11:18-20)

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

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God who has given me Your Son and Your Word - Truth - so that I may have a path to righteousness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am in desperate need of Your cleansing and Your Word.  I am unclean - I miss the mark daily. I worry WAY too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.

Jeremiah 11

But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause. v20

Jeremiah serves as God's messenger to the Israelites - warning them of coming punishment.  Yet the Israelites plot against Jeremiah.  This reminds me of the townspeople's reaction to Jesus driving demons from pigs (and restores two men) - see Matthew 8 - "they pleaded with Jesus to leave their region".  When confronted with truth, including truth about my own sin, do I repent or do I run?  Just like the townspeople and Jesus, the Israelites plot against Jeremiah.

We all need brothers and sisters in Christ to call out sin in our lives and to be with us to support and pray for us in our time of need. We need the Nathans, Jeremiahs, etc. in our lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides me with brothers and sisters in Christ who support and pray for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please 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.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. v4-5

God created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27) and God is working in us to transform our hearts, minds and lives (Romans 12:2).  If we surrender to Him and ask Him to show us the way, He will lead us...He will show us the way as He IS the way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

For us to follow Jesus, we must first acknowledge our own shortcomings - that we are insufficient...that we need God.  We must demonstrate humility.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

I need to daily remember that I would be lost without Jesus...that my way or the world's way leads to eternal damnation. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the ONLY way for You are THE way, the truth and the life.  I WOULD be lost without You.  Thank You for guiding me and leading me.  I am both filled and blessed.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Psalm 119

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. v160

In world where standards - moral, ethical, educational, etc. - keep shifting or eroding,  God stands alone as the source of truth that never changes.  He is eternal and everything about Him is eternal, including His character and His attributes.

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

Earlier in this Psalm it says: 
 

Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. v90

 

James 1:17 says God "does not change like shifting shadows."

 

While our circumstances constantly change, a strong faith and trust in God will prevent us from being shaken.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

 

Of course, when we better understand God and become more like Him (Romans 12:2), our ability to stand firm in our faith SHOULD grow.  

 

See also biblical references to "not shaken". 

 

My Prayer: Lord, You are truth and light in world of darkness...without You I would be lost.  Thank You for being my light, my God, my Lord and Savior.  I am not worth Your love because I continue to worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

Psalm 111

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. v10

Much of this Psalm focuses on praise and worship of God with simple one-liners that emphasize different attributes of God as an example of how God is great.  All true of course!  But the last verse gets me the most and is my focus this morning. 

We must fear the Lord...the Lord is all powerful, all knowing, and all seeing.  He created all things, is in all things and He holds all things together - He is in control (see here).  If we start with these premises, then we have no choice but to fall down and know that Jesus is God, Lord of Lord, King of Kings and Name Above All Names.  We must love Jesus with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength as our number one priority.  Only then will we begin to achieve some level of wisdom and understanding.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of Lords and I need You desperately in my life.  I am nothing without You.  You must be the priority in my life...yet I know there are many times where my focus is elsewhere.  Please forgive me and help me turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Thank You for your grace and compassion throughout my life - please continue to extend this grace and compassion today.  Help me grow in my faith and help me be the father, son, husband and man You intend for me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Psalm 69

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. v5

God knows everything - He is omniscient.  Knowledge and wisdom comes from the Lord and we are to lean on Him (not ourselves) for our understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  He reveals deep and hidden things he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:21-22

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  Proverbs 2:6

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Luke 8:17

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God - all truth, knowledge, wisdom and understanding comes from and flows through You.  I know apart from You I can do no good thing.  I know that when I stay near to You and abide in You that You will bless and You have - I am rich as You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings in my life.  Yet I continue to sin as we all do and I am desperate need of cleansing...today and every day.  Forgive me for my lack of grace, impatience, etc. for others.  Forgive me for my pride and arrogance.  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Psalm 36

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. v9

God promises, not just here but throughout the Bible, that He is life, and that we need to be aware of the lies of this world that promise life through things, jobs, health, people, etc.  

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

In John 10:10, Jesus warns of Satan's influences for He is the Prince of This World and seeks to entice us with an earthly focus and with concerns of this world.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I have experienced the abundance and fullness of life You promise.  Thank You Jesus!  But I am not worth such blessings, mercies, etc.  I continue to worry and focus on this world.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin! Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. v8

As I reflect on my 50th birthday today and read this verse, I am thankful for the greatest gift of all time - Jesus Christ.  Without a doubt, Jesus is the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  At the same time, I have experienced what David writes in verses 9-10:


Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle.  V9-10

 Arrogance is self-worship and this is dangerous - just ask Saul when Samuel tells him that God has rejected him as King:

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:23

I have been, more so than today, arrogant....and thankfully God has humbled me...and I know there is more humbling needed because none of us are where God needs us to be.

Help me have a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and recognize that "apart from You I have no good thing" (Psalm 16:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and patience for me...despite my arrogance...and despite my anger and impatience for others.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such patience, love, grace, compassion, etc.  My anger continues to burn as I lose my patience too easily.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me...please!  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. v21

Peter is warning believers about false prophecy and teachings.  Wise human teachers lean not on their own understanding (see also Proverbs 3:5-6) but instead submit fully to God and allow God to speak through them.  Jesus said it to the Disciples in Luke 21:15.  God told this to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 4.

We must understand truth both from a head and a heart perspective - see also my post yesterday.   When we understand truth, we will be better armed to discern false teachers and teachings.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God so full of patience for me...even though I am not so patient with others.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace but please forgive me for lack of patience for others...among my many sins.  Help me turn from my sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie,

Titus 1

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life,which God, who does not lie...v1-2

In his greeting to Titus, Paul refers to God and writes that God does not lie...in contrast to every human being who has lied at one point or another in their life.  I am reminded of one of my favorite verses:

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

My Prayer: Lord what an awesome God You are...You make promises that You always keep and I can always count on what You say to be Truth...the only Truth that exists under the heavens and the earth.  I am thankful for You and Your Word.  You provide this to me - Thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such a gift!  I am selfish and I have harsh thoughts in my head.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me rely soley on You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.