For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?...But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Chapter 15: Pages 197-207, 1 Corinthians 4:7, and 15:10

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?...But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 4:7, 15:10

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 1 "Setting the Stage" - moving to chapter fifteen "Knowing the Providence of the God Who Is". 

Piper defines the extent of God's providence as "how extensive, or far-reaching, is God's governance or control of created reality?" He then defines the nature of God's providence as how "he influences whatever it is that he governs.  Is his control always exerted in the same way?"  Up front, as he starts this new section, Piper writes that "[w]e depend on [God] for our being and for our knowing-especially our knowing of him.  We are because he is.  We know because he reveals."

In the subsequent chapters of this section Piper digs deeper into the "how" of providence - but for now I rest on how providence unfolds and settle on how according to Piper, scripture alone provides the answers.

I am reminded of Paul's words to Timothy and those of David from Psalms 16:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I KNOW that I am utterly dependent on You for all things, including understanding of Your providence and how it works.  Thank You for the gift of faith and for helping me understand You better - with each passing day I am renewed and know more about You - I also know that You are making me more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such rich blessings.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ his has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me.

2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 36, and Jeremiah 48-49, 22

I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, ‘I will not listen!’ his has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me. Jeremiah 22:21

Day 219 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I return to Jeremiah with additional historical context provided from 2 Kings 24:1-6 and 2 Chronicles 36:8.  My commentary* describes how "Jehoiakim has the audacity to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar. Fortunately for Judah, Nebuchadnezzar does not react with immediate military force, at least not directly. However, he may well be the motivating force behind the attacks against Judah by several of its neighbors over a four-year period of inconclusive war. Jehoiakim is destined to live his last days in wearying conflict." My commentary* also describes how God rises up Judah's neighbors to harass Judah (2 Kings 24:2-4).  Jeremiah then pronounces judgment Judah's enemies, including Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, and Kedar and Hazor.

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

Jeremiah 22 details God's Word regarding Jehoiakim's impending death, while 2 Kings 24:5-6 and 2 Chronicles 36:8 records Jehoiakim's death. God's message to Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 22:21 is convicting for those who have or continue to refuse to heed God's Word during times of peace, prosperity and security. 

We must worship God during both

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Isaiah 24-26, 32, and 35

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Isaiah 26:12

Day 185 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 return to Isaiah's prophecies, this time of the coming Messiah and also of the last days and as my commentary* describes "the ultimate triumph of good over evil". Isaiah describes judgement for the wicked as well as deliverance for believers - praising God throughout.

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

This morning there are many verses that stand out, including:

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1

Referring to Heaven:

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. Isaiah 25:7-8 

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:8-10

Most importantly for me this morning is Isaiah 26:12 where Isaiah worships God and attributes all that he is and all that he has to God - we all must start with fear of God and humility.  We all need a savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided everything for me - thank You Jesus!  You are also my savior - I am completely undeserving of all of this. I sin daily, including being harsh with others.  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 say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”

Hosea 10-14, 2 Kings 14-15 and 2 Chronicles 25-26 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

  

Day 169 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) wraps up my study of Hosea, as Hosea predicts both Israel's captivity and her ultimate deliverance from bondage to Assyria as Israel will repent and God will forgive her. Meanwhile, my commentary* indicates that Judah, "though affected less than Israel, has problems of its own".  Judah's king Amaziah is assassinated (2 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 25) and Uzziah is made king.  Like Amaziah, although Uzziah "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 26), "[t]he high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there".

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

A few highlights from Hosea's closing words from God to Israel:

Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors, the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated[.] Hosea 10:13-14

Ephraim [Israel] boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.” Hosea 12:8

"When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me". Hosea 13:6

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them". Hosea 14:4

Today, I am reminded that we must remain close to God and call upon Him not just in bad times when we feel our needs are more desperate, but that we need God ALL of the time - good and bad times.  God is our Creator and Sustainer, and without Him we have no good things.  

My Prayer: Jesus, You are my All in All, My Everything, everything that I am and everything that I have is from You.  I am blessed that You adopted me into Your family.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry and my sin continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.

Ecclesiastes - Various 

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Ecclesiastes 7:14

Day 148 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 Ecclesiastes; much like my study of the Psalms and Proverbs, my commentary presents the chapters of Ecclesiastes according to topic areas and this morning my focus is Solomon's writings on the emptiness of human wisdom, pleasure, achievement, labor, accumulation, unshared lives, politics, false worship, wealth, materialism, prosperity, defiance, wickedness, injustice, and strength - all are meaningless pursuits outside of God.

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor[.]...Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9,12

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Ecclesiastes 7:14

Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. Ecclesiastes 8:12-13

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has done so much for me - You have blessed me through good times and bad times - You have never left me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus 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 asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” v17-19

Once again, I lean on John Piper to gain a deeper understanding of this passage in Luke where Jesus heals 10 lepers. Jesus rightly asks the question about how the other 9 lepers completely miss the point of Jesus.  The point of course being that it's not about what God has done for us or gives us but instead that Jesus is God and our focus should be on WHO Jesus is not what He has done for us.

Piper uses Romans 8:32 to further illustrate

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.  Romans 8:32

There is also James 1:17:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17

See also posts on [apart from God] "no good thing".

We must take the time to get to know the greatness of God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You have given me many great blessings most importantly You gave me Your One and Only Son Jesus that He would live in my heart and life as my personal Lord and Savior!  Thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  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.

“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Luke 9

“Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” v3-5

Two key takeaways for me with the account of Jesus sending our the twelve (see also Matthew 10, Mark 3): 

1. When Jesus sends out the twelve He wants them to depend solely on Him - otherwise, the Twelve risk seeking fortune and gain for themselves, dependence on self, or dependence on wealthy benefactors.  God wants us to be 100% clear from where our livelihood comes.
2. We are to deliver the message - boldly - and not focus on any outcomes as this will be Jesus' role. 

Our primary job is to love Him and as a result of this to love others - see also Matthew 22:34-40.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with everything - life, family, health, etc. - You have also helped me through dark times and never left or forsaken me - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such a God.  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.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. v15-16

Jesus loves children and their curiosity and dependence on their parents for all things - this is humility...that we don't have wisdom apart from God and we don't have anything good apart from God.

Great references:
Childlike, Not Childish
Blessed Are the ‘Man-Boys’

We should all be child-like in our faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided me with all things - apart from You I have no good thing.  Thank You for how You so richly bless me.  I am undeserving of such love and blessings. I am selfish and 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.

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Matthew 16

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. v17

Jesus asks His disciples who He is and Jesus receives several answers, including a response from Peter that He is the Messiah.  Jesus affirms this as the correct response and points out to Peter and the other disciples that such a response was only possible through God who gives us such wisdom. 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

It's not just faith that is only provided by God - ALL good things are by and through Him.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who provides ALL good things for me and blesses me beyond what I deserve. I worry...and I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus for such sins 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. 

All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

Nahum 3

All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater. v12

Some sources (here and here) indicate that Nineveh was once a thriving and secure city, including the MacArthur Commentary, and 2 Kings 19:36 which indicates Nineveh as the home of at least one king.  Whatever security and comfort any of us experience - it is not where we should place our faith, security and trust.  Apart from God we have no good things, and as we have seen throughout the Bible, including Job, we can just as easily lose everything.  Hurricane Florence is a recent example. 

Help me God place my faith, trust, and security in You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has blessed me.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  I daily miss the mark.  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. 

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

Isaiah 26

Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. v12

In the midst of God's anger - his perfect judgement - we see God's love and how He loves us and provides for us. We should be full of gratitude for all that God does for us as apart from Him we can do and have no good things:

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who provides for ALL of my needs and SO good to 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. 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 have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 1

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. v14

Solomon refers to earthly existence as empty and devoid of meaning - this is true apart from God.

God is in everything and apart from Him we have no good things.

 

 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17

 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

 

My Prayer:  Heavenly Father - You are a great God who has made the Heavens and the Earth and You made me in Your image, and You provided for all of my needs and You are always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am 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 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.