You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.

Numbers 5:1-4

You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell. Numbers 5:3

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:1-4, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions that unclean people are to be put outside the camp so as to not defile them in the midst of where God dwells.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: While much of the Old Testament focuses on external cleanliness, this interview with John Piper clarifies that we should be careful not to make the mistake assuming that "in the Old Testament impurity was only external, while in the New Testament impurity is internal."  God cares about your heart - see Hosea 6:6,1 Samuel 15:22, and more directly when Samuel seeks a new king among Jesse's family and seeks someone with a righteous heart directed toward God - see 1 Samuel 16:7.  God has always been more concerned with an upright heart vs external action.  God also cares about those who, according to Old Testament law, are unclean.  One of the intents of ceremonial law was to set apart Israel from other nations.  Yet with the doing away of ceremonial law with the New Covenant based on Jesus' shed blood, we should no longer see any distinction between those deemed clean and unclean as all are unclean and only clean through confession and forgiveness in Christ. See Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: With the New Covenant, being set apart is through salvation and regeneration.  This means the church should not be shunning anyone based on any external appearances, etc.  God wants us to share the gospel with everyone. 
• 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 focus on external behavior.  Claim the promise that Jesus cleans both the heart and ultimately and for eternity our physical body. Follow the example of those in scripture (e.g. David per 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) who had a heart for God.  Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30).

Comment and discuss this post

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

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.

Mark 12:41-44

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. Mark 12:41-42

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 12:41-44.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of two) division (vv41-42):

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The Poor Woman Who Gave All She Had" and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv41-44) is "[b]iblical giving is a voluntary act flowing from a thankful heart, which involves giving of one’s self and all that one has." 
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Jesus Sees What We Give." 
• "The preceding paragraph mentioned widows as the object of religious exploitation (v. 40). The simple piety of this “poor widow” stands in stark contrast to the self-centered ambition of the scribes. She also must be contrasted with the rich young ruler (10:17-31) who loved his money more than he loved God. In this lady we find a marvelous example of one who “love[s] the Lord [her] God with all [her] heart, with all [her] soul, with all [her] mind, and with all [her] strength” (12:30)."  
• Hurtado's commentary on Mark highlights how the poor widow exemplified Mark 10:31 where the text shares how the last will be first. 
• "Our Lord always has an eye for the individual. He hears the cry of the blind beggar Bartimaeus when no one else does (10:46-52). Now He sees the generous and sacrificial gift of a poor widow when no one else sees a thing. No doubt she came alone, quietly hoping no one would notice her. Being poor and a widow and a woman, she was the least of the least in the cultural context of the day."  
• We are reminded of Samuel's search for a king that found David and that God focuses where man often does not - on the heart - see also 1 Samuel 16:7.

Believers should be grateful that God softens our hearts to be saved (Ezekiel 36:26), and our focus should then turn to how through spiritual disciplines such as daily study of God's Word and prayer transforms our heart and mind to be more like Him.  This is how we can love and give as the poor widow did. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and mercy...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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. 

“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Mark 7:1-23

 “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:20-23

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 7:1-23.  Excerpts from the third (of  three) division (vv14-23):

• The title for the third division is: "Legalists Are Confused Concerning the Source of Defilement, Resulting in a Lack of True Understanding."
• "The most deadly contamination is not what I touch. The most deadly contamination is what is in my heart." 
• "When His disciples ask the meaning of this parable, Jesus once again (cf. 6:52; 8:17-18) chides them for their lack of understanding. This is one of the most critically important spiritual lessons in the whole Word of God. Jesus explains that corruption is not external but internal. Impurity is not a matter of the stomach but of the heart. Defilement is not what goes in but what comes out." 
• "The basic problem of fallen humanity is not what we do but who we are! Real filth, impurity, and defilement are inside and unseen, but eventually they will show themselves, as verses 21-23 make clear." 
• "Inevitably, sin’s root will produce sin’s fruit. And it is an ugly, destructive crop to behold. Jesus provides a selective list of sin’s fruit." 
• "There are basically only two approaches to religion, each of which can be summed up in a single word: do or done. The world says the problem is out there, and the solution is to answer the question, What can I do? The Bible says the problem is inside of us, and the answer is what Christ has done! You see, in legalism we think better of ourselves than Jesus does. But in salvation we think the same of ourselves as Jesus does: we are hopeless, helpless sinners in desperate need of a Savior." 
• We are referred to 1 Samuel 16:7 where Samuel is seeking God's anointed king to replace Saul who has lost favor in God's eyes.  In David, God seeks and finds a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

I have seen first hand how God has entered my heart and changed me from the inside out - into more of His own image.  What an incredible blessing it is to be saved and one of God's elect.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  God also gave me a desire to know and pursue Him.  Thank You Jesus!  An answer to prayer indeed!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, thank You for giving me a desire to know and pursue You, and thank You for the blessing of growing in my heart and transforming me into more of Your image.  I am not deserving of any of this!  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  I also know there is more work to do and that You are not done with this transforming work.  Please keep going and use me - fully.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  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. 

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

Mark 7:1-23

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. Mark 7:21-23

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 7:1-23, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God cares about our heart condition not about what we do that we think pleases God - our motives and our heart condition towards God matter most.  The Pharisees were more concerned about washing of hands and external cleansing - but this did not matter to God as much as love of Him and others.  It is our heart that requires cleansing and only Jesus can forgive us and cleanse us from the stain of sin.       
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The Pharisees were more worried about being right about tradition than they were about pleasing God.  God does not seek empty rituals that are devoid of any love of God.  The Pharisees are not alone in what they do as we often do the same thing.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): People often chase things to do thinking they are pleasing God - instead we should understand that we cannot earn God's love or His favor.  Nobody can do this - we should all understand that we all sin, we all need a Savior, Jesus is that Savior and that God saves not because of anything we do but because He is full of grace and compassion.  This should drive us into the arms of Jesus for us to know, love and surrender to Him such that the Holy Spirit does a work in us to make us more like Him....and this will be Him doing the work!

Comment and discuss this post.

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

Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.

 Haggai 2:10-14

Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the LORD, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. Haggai 2:14

I continue my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 2:10-14, which the commentary outlines as the first division for Haggai 2:10-23, the next set of verses covered by a new chapter in the commentary. Excerpts from the commentary:

• God wants the people to understand the depth of their sin.  "First, their sin has caused them to become spiritually dead and defiled. Second, because they are dead and defiled, no amount of activity on their part would profit them until they had repented of their sin....God illustrates for them a central truth that is found throughout Scripture: our sin has separated us from God and has caused us to be spiritually dead."
• We are referred to Revelation 3:1-6 where it shares how those who are spiritually dead will not experience eternity with Jesus in Heaven and this includes those in the church who are lukewarm to God or feeling as if their good works are sufficient.  V14 reminds us that no amount of good works are sufficient until we truly repent. See also 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Matthew 23:27. 
• Repentance and our heart condition are key.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace. Thank You Jesus for Your love and amazing grace.  I am not deserving of the love You pour out for me nor for my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

 Haggai 1:14-15

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.  Haggai 1:14-15

I continue my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 1:14-15, which the commentary outlines these verses as both the the third and final subdivision of 1:13-15.  The commentary title for this subdivision: The Lord Stirs the Spirits of the Leaders and the People to Encourage Them and Equip Them to Obey.  Here we get a glimpse of how God works as he "stirred up the spirit" of the governor, the high priest, and the remnant of the people.  If we surrender to God, God is not only with us (v13), but He is in us and directing our thoughts and ways.  Romans 12:2 is instructive here for how we are called to "be transformed by the renewing of our mind" and how we "may discern what is the will of God." It is then God who brings about our obedience to Him - see also Romans 1:5. Excerpts from the commentary for this subdivision:

• Here the commentary focuses on leadership - the governor and the high priest - and how the influence of leadership works among the people.  God equips, enables and works through leadership - even though all leadership is prone to sin as we all are.  God places earthly authorities in our lives - see also Romans 13:1. Leaders should recognize their role and surrender their own hearts to God...and the people will follow - see also 1 Corinthians 11:1. 
  
• Heart condition is key and it is the Lord that works in our hearts. Leadership should recognize that heart condition is what drives change and action. 
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has placed Godly leaders in my life to direct me to You - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of You stirred up the spirits and hearts of people who lead me who in turn lead me to You. Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of these blessings nor my salvation or any other blessings You pour out for me daily.  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.

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

Jude

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. Jude 16

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 a commentary-assisted review of the fourth division per the commentary - v16 - which is titled God Condemns the Ungodly Because of Their Deeds.  The commentary emphasizes how the text describes how our speaking reflects our heart condition: "the tongue is that organ of the body intimately connected to the heart and its desires" (see also James 3). The first word the text uses to describe false teachers is how they are grumblers or complainers.  When people grumble or complain - as the commentary compares to Israel in the wilderness - they are ultimately doing so at God because it is He who is in control.  We should not grumble or complain - see also this resource. The commentary warns us that complaints and grumblings in the church is a corrosive influence: it "is like a cancer and is deadly to an effective ministry and a healthy church life. It leaves them always judgmental and without joy."  The commentary then moves on to how the text describes those who follow their own sinful desires and how this is the source of their negative talk.  The insatiable desires of one focused solely on self runs counter to how we are to deny oneself and focus on satisfying God.  Finally, the commentary highlights how the text describes arrogant false teachers who make bold claims that are not scriptural - we must be careful to not add or subtract from the Word.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gives me Your Word and faithful brothers and sisters who sharpen me in my hope to grow in understanding and obedience to the Lord.  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.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice....Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

 Psalm 51

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice....Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:8, 12

As this is the last day of my vacation, a pause of my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs ends today as after today I will resume one or the other - for today, I listened to DesiringGod.com's daily devotion, which focuses on sexual sin and how David sought not to address the symptoms of this sin (in his case adultery) but the root of this sin.  John Piper describes David's heart condition as a lack of "fullness of joy and gladness in Christ...God does not have the supreme place in [his] feelings and thoughts that he should." The antidote for this is closeness to God - in terms of spiritual disciplines of study of God's Word, prayer, worship, etc. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who never leaves or forsakes me - thank You Jesus.  You are my all in all!  I am not deserving of such a God...my sin is daily 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. 

And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

 Isaiah 36-39

And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. 2 Chronicles 32:31

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I complete  Lesson 14, looking at Day 5, which looks specifically at Isaiah 39 as this chapter also marks a transition to Isaiah chapters 40-66 which are more forward looking vs judgement of Israel's sin. In Isaiah 39, we see a picture of Hezekiah's pride in showing all of the treasures of his storehouses to a visiting envoy from Babylon.  We are encouraged to review 2 Chronicles 32:27-31 where God uses the visit from Babylon to search his heart.  Isaiah questions Hezekiah's motivation and then delivers a stern message to Hezekiah about coming punishment to Judah and Hezekiah shrugs it off as the punishment will not directly impact him but his descendants - a staggering response of selfishness.  My commentary points to several applications:

1.  Focus on the only true hero of the Bible - Jesus Christ
2.  See how God uses circumstances to search the hidden motives of the heart.
3.  Notice how susceptible the human heart is to pride.
4. We should be warned (and avoid) about Hezekiah’s lack of a multi-generational vision, not caring about what would happen to his great-great-great grandchildren.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - thank You for giving me faith and for my salvation!  I am not deserving!  I know there is more I can do to pass on my faith to my sons and I am often prideful!  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.

Leviticus 21-22

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone. Matthew 5:19-20

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - wrapping up chapter nineteen - Holiness and Leadership - covering Leviticus 21-22, looking specifically at the fifth and final theme for the chapter - God Calls Us to Know Him Through His New Covenant in Christ.  Here, the commentary summarizes the key takeaways from Leviticus 21-22.  It starts by stating that "God's commands about [the] worship practices and priests [as described in these books] are helpful since they symbolize the way God relates to His people.  On the other hand, the old covenant sacrificial system and priesthood have been superseded by the new covenant in Jesus....However, the book of Leviticus is valuable because it is doubtful we will understand much of what the New Testament says about Jesus unless we know and understand Leviticus." We are encouraged to review how Jesus fulfills the laws in Leviticus 21-22. 

• Jesus is our high priest: see Hebrews 7 and 1 Timothy 2:5
• Jesus is our perfect sacrifice: see Hebrews 9:26
• We worship through Jesus; how we worship matters; we are to be right with God so we must ask Him for forgiveness of sin before we worship: see Hebrews 10:29 and 13:15 
• Jesus defines holiness - it not elitism as practiced by the Sadducees and Pharisees, but humble submission (including death on the cross!); it is also not externalism and a focus on ritual/ceremonial law, but on heart transformation: see Luke 18:9, John 7:49, Luke 12:48, Matthew 5:19-22, 27-28    

Comment and discuss this post here.

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

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord....The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart....A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart.

Various Proverbs 

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord....The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart....A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 16:2, 17:3, 21:2

Day 137 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. This morning my focus includes proverbs that examine sincere motivation (motive and the heart, false worship, and duplicity), concern for others (love and faithfulness, love, hatred, and compassion, kindness and mercy, and overstaying a welcome), and concern for self (pride and humility, selfishness, jealousy, envy, and greed). 

All of today's themes are important and it is of course challenging to find one for close examination but today I am going to zero in on the importance of one's heart condition.  Regardless of your faith or not, everyone generally wants to be a "good" person and with today's current political climate there is emphasis on tolerance, love, etc. Yet my view (coming from scripture), is that we are all sinful and we have been since The Fall.  The only way for us to truly transform ourselves into someone who loves and is genuinely good (or better) is through heart transformation and this is only achieved through Jesus Christ. 

God knows our heart and with His help (as we draw near to Him) He transforms our heart and life. 

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Proverbs 16:2 

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. Proverbs 17:3 

A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. Proverbs 21:2

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

The hope is that as we are transformed into more of God's image, then we will demonstrate "fruits of the Spirit" that can help us truly be better people and hopefully achieve the unity and harmony so desperately needed.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23

I am of the opinion that what we face today is a "Jesus" problem in the sense that we don't have enough faith in Him to do what ONLY He can do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has SO generously attended to my heart and transformed my heart and life and I am grateful for the many resulting blessings.  I also know I am undeserving - my sin continues.  Please forgive me for my sin 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.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. v18

Building on John's words from yesterday's post where we are encouraged to "remain in Him" to bear fruit, John knows that fruit is represented by actions - and James refers to this as well with James 1:22-25.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

And of course, our heart condition underlies all that we do.


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You never leave or forsake me...and You provide the Holy Spirit and Your Word - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving of how You love me.  I worry, I gossip, and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

Mark 7

What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. v20-22

In Mark 7, once again we see the Pharisees and the teachers of the law try and trap Jesus in blasphemy so that they can conspire to arrest or kill Him.  Yet Jesus sees right through them and attacks their heart condition which is the core of their issue - He IS fulfillment of the law and Old Testament prophecy - He is the One they should be welcoming based on the words of their own prophets, including Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc. 

Our heart condition is truly where we should focus - not on external circumstances or external behaviors but on loving God and loving others. 

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are truly a great God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords and my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for the many, many ways You bless me - too many ways to list or talk about!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  My heart is not where it needs to be - 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 out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.

Matthew 15

For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them. v19-20

Once again, the Pharisees question Jesus about breaking with Old Testament law regarding washing of hands before eating.  MacArthur indicates that such hand washing was an "extrabiblical law" that only existed in oral form.  Regardless of the extent to which such rituals were part of the law or not, Jesus goes right to the core in His response by challenging the Pharisees and their "external" faith based on deeds and Old Testament ceremonial law.  He focuses on what comes out of our mouth from our heart - as our heart condition is most important.

What can we do to cleanse and guard our heart?

Practical suggestions:
The Battle for Your Mind
Seven Ways to Pray for Your Heart

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You have transformed my heart and life to be more like You - I know You are still at work in my heart and life but I have experienced miracles in my life already - thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worth such love and blessing.  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. 

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Matthew 12

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. v34

Jesus continues to heal the sick and drive out demons from those possessed.  Yet the Pharisees, concerned about their status and power (and not the glory of God), challenged Jesus' power and authority to perform such miracles.  Jesus knows their thoughts (v25) and challenges their motives by tossing their reasoning on its head.  

I am reminded of how even believers judge other believers and even the church itself out of selfish motives.  I've been guilty of this myself.  We should be mindful of our motives when we act and say things.

We should check out heart condition. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life to be more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I daily miss the mark - for example, 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.

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. v28

Once again, as I posted yesterday, our heart is the source of sin in our lives and we are all born to sin (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and must be born again.  

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45

The importance of heart condition applies in all areas of our lives, highlighted as well with our generosity.

God gives us a "new heart".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have given me a new heart and new life - thank You Jesus for the greatest gift of all time.  I am not worth such a gift.  I love You.  I need You.  I daily miss the mark. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Matthew 5

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. v22

The Ten Commandments includes “[y]ou shall not murder" (v13).  Jesus takes this a step further by forcing us to examine our heart - as everything flows from the heart (Proverbs 4:23).  Anger or hate in our heart is murder as well.  It's not just what we do, it's how we do it and our heart condition when we do it.

As God is, we must be slow to anger and abounding in love. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO full of patience and compassion with us and slow to anger and abounding in love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such grace and mercy.  I am quick to anger, and often harsh with my words and actions.  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.

Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.

Hosea 1

Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord. v2

I am grateful for Pastor Marty’s sermon series on Hosea as I am much better equipped to understand this book and the many messages contained in this book.  First and foremost, as Pastor Marty has said in part one of this series, Hosea’s marriage to Gomer is one of God’s amazing grace.  Just as Gomer needed grace and mercy, we all need grace and mercy as we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

To help us fall prey to sin and temptation, Pastor Marty also encourages us to guard our hearts.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who saves and does so out of love and mercy for all.  You give all of us many, many second chances and opportunities to repent and surrender to You.  I thank You for doing this for me and I grateful that You adopted me as Your own.  I am not worthy of such love.  I often fail to be a light and I neglect to share the gospel.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  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.

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Proverbs 27

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. v19

We are all made in God's image but it is sanctification process for God to mold our hearts and lives into what He designs for us.  We must be willing participants of this process.

Both Noah and Moses submitted to God's will.  Saul (Paul) ultimately submitted to God's will for His life.

Everyone has their own path to God - their own story but we must become as David does - men after God's heart.

We should ask God for a greater desire for him - a hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Such a prayer will be answered by God because our faith is both from Him and through Him. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has developed a greater desire for You and a stronger faith - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a gift.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith 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.

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

 Proverbs 13

Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. v3

It's more than just what we say - it is what is in our hearts.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who protects 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.