Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled[.]

Hebrews 12:12-17

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled[.] Hebrews 12:14-15

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 12:12-17 - the author, based on how he exhorts believers to see discipline as training from God, and good, issues a call to action for believers to press on with the mission to share the gospel and to support other believers in their journey so that they not "shrink back."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv12-13: God seeks for us to grow, and this often includes painful periods of discipline as God is using our circumstances to prune and shape us into who He seeks for us to serve His purpose. V14: God knows that believers must be a light if His Great Commission is to gather and sustain any momentum. V15-16: Unity in the church is critical as one "defiled" person may defile many - therefore He wants us to support and encourage other believers.      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: My previous post highlighted text where discipline is sometimes viewed as painful - temporarily.  While this may be true it also inevitably makes us stronger and resilient as our spiritual muscles tear, heal, and grow back stronger - this is vv12-13.  While persecution and other interpersonal clashes may cause us to lash out to others in response, v14 encourages us to "strive for peace with everyone," because if we don't demonstrate being a light (holy and set apart), we risk apostasy and eternal damnation.  Vv15-17 concludes with the author seeking for believers to encourage and support other believers such that we avoid a "root of bitterness" among us that again may lead to disunity in the church and apostasy of believers. The example of Esau is used as he "despised" his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34), allowing this "root of bitterness" to drag Esau away from holiness.  
• 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 discouragement and a root of bitterness to fester and drag you away from God and into sin.  Claim the promise that God disciplines those He loves and see your circumstances through what God is causing or allowing in your life for good and His glory.  Encourage and support other believers to press on with the Great Commission.  

Comment and discuss this post

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

Jesus, [is] the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus, [is] the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 11:16

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 12:1-2 - the author builds on the previous chapter by encouraging believers to endure with faith until the end, just as Jesus did.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is seen as not just God but as a coach for those running the race of faith to the end.  This is not a sprint but an endurance race and we know we will experience tribulation as God tells us that we will (John 16:33) but he also tells us that we will overcome because He has overcome.  This encouragement comes on the heels of the encouragement from the previous chapter where the author of Hebrews shares that believers have a better promise - an eternal one - than the one from those mentioned in the "Hall of Faith."  We can endure because of the greater promise of Jesus and the inheritance we will share with Him. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Believers are "surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" - v1 - implies that God wants the light of our faith and love of God to cut through the cloud so that people can clearly see who the light is and be drawn to the light - which is of course Jesus!  V1 also describes how we do this - by enduring whatever is thrown at us and by focusing on Jesus - His Word, the Holy Spirit, church, spiritual disciplines, etc.    
• 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 the weight of sin which clings so closely and weighs us down as we endure with faith.  Claim the promise that God is saving a place for us in Heaven. Follow the examples of the many explicitly and otherwise mentioned in the "Hall of Faith" from Hebrews 11 who labored for a promise they did not see and did so in faith that they would receive the promise.  Focus on Jesus by making Him the most important relationship in your life - He will help you endure to the end!

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves You, who provides a better promise that allows us to endure until the end where our reward will be that God is saving a place for us in Heaven!  How awesome - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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.

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

 Proverbs 11:25, Galatians 6:2, 6:10, Matthew 25:35-40, and 1 John 3:17-18

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25 

I pause my study of Numbers to focus on text that will be discussed Friday morning with my men's small group.  This text is focused on two sets of five texts that will be used to derive Godly wisdom for a personal situation faced by one of my brothers in Christ. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God does want us to be a light like He is - He seeks for us to bless and do good so that others can see Jesus in us.  We are encouraged especially in Galatians 6:10 to do good "to those who are of the household of faith."  God seeks for us to build up the church as unity and strength of the church is important - this is amplified in 1 John 3:17-18 as John exhorts us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  God does not like when we see someone in great need - He wants us to attend to the needs who need it the most - the "least of these" (Matthew 25:35-40).      
• What do we learn from the text about people?:  My brother in Christ is struggling with a situation where He is not sure whether to give outside his family or to give within his family.  Both are good and this is indeed a struggle worthy of giving to God to seek His wisdom!
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid NOT being a light.  We should also avoid NOT abiding in God and His Word which is the source of all truth and wisdom.  We should claim the promise (2 Timothy 3:16-17) that all scripture is "is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  We should follow the example of Jesus who gave everything that believers could have life to the full now and for eternity. Do good and be a light.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus for saving me and for also giving me Your Word that I might fellowship with You.  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 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.

I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.

Numbers 10:11-35 and 11:1-15

I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. Numbers 10:10

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, where we first see Israel be led by God to leave Sinai in Numbers 10:11-35, and 11:1-15, we see Moses' struggle in dealing with Israel's weeping and complaining.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God does not like complaints - He sees this as directed towards Him and as a result, He is angered - see v11:1.  Who are we, that we complain that what God has done is not perfect?  He does not make mistakes.  We should not view ourselves as somehow deserving - of anything.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  If anything we all deserve death (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, Romans 6:23). God is patient and He does give second (and third - but His patience is not unlimited) chances.  In the text today, Israel does get Moses to intercede and pray to God on their behalf and God responds favorably by showing mercy - v11:2.  Yet it did not take long for the people to once again start complaining - v11:10.  And once again, God was angered.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Not only does God does not like it when we complain but other people don't like to hear complaints from others - it becomes whining.  See Yet even adults whine and complain as we see in the text today.  Moses' reaction in vv11:11-15.  For believers, we should understand that such complaining is a reflection of our heart towards God and how He has not provided (when in the text today he has with manna).  See also Exodus 16:7-8 and Philippians 2:14.  If we have struggles we know that we can go to God as Moses did and we should pray that God help us see how He is at work in our lives, so that others can see us as a light and not as whiners. See also 1 Thessalonians 5:18.    
• 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 grumbling and complaining.  Claim the promise that God is at work in all details of our lives - Romans 8:28. Follow the example of Moses to go to God when we feel our burden is too much to carry - see also Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22.  Be thankful in all circumstances. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for Your patience and mercy!  I know Your mercies never cease and are new every morning.  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.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 John 20:30-31

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 20:30-31, where John closes this chapter by sharing his heart that people read his letter and believe.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Building on my post yesterday, God wants to save as many as possible, so He reveals Himself through Creation (general revelation) and specifically in His Word, through the Holy Spirit, and through others (church, other believers, etc.) - this is referred to as special revelation.  John, as Christ's ambassador, was given a mission to share the gospel through His books (including 1-3 John, Revelation) and the general theme is to save through faith in Christ. Salvation gives us life both now to the full (John 10:10), and for eternity. Read the Bible and encounter God. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: All people seek purpose, but often seek purpose in earthly pursuits as these become idols in place of God.  Believers are tasked with sharing the gospel and by demonstrating God in them through love of others.  God's Word plays a key role in this mission, and God also commands us to love others and to be a light so that others are drawn to Him as a contrast to the darkness of this world (without God). Be a light to others.     
• 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 seeking purpose above God - we exist to bring glory to Him.  Claim the promise that Jesus gives us life now and for eternity.  Follow the example of John to share the gospel and by being a light to others.  Read the Bible, know and love God and in response love others to be a light.    

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus for Your Word so that I can know You, love You and love others.  I am 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 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 could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

Mark 6:1-6

And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. Mark 6:5-6

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 6:1-6, 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 could have done more mighty works in Nazareth - we must remember that God is all powerful.  We must also remember that God came to seek and save the lost and this salvation requires faith.  Although some are saved others reject belief in Jesus.  See also Matthew 10:14, Acts 13:51, Mark 6:11 and Luke 9:5. God both hardens and softens the hearts as He wills.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: There will be people we encounter whose heart is hardened towards God.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to seek and save the lost as Jesus did and to proclaim the Gospel - but to remember that it is Jesus alone that hardens and softens hearts and saves.  Our role is to be messengers and to be light demonstrating the Gospel.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves me and who saves!  Thank You Father God for softening my heart and saving me!  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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. 

And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

Mark 5:1-20

And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Mark 5:6-8

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 5:1-20, 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 is full of compassion, as He seeks to heal all of our affliction - spiritual, emotional, and physical.  He engaged with the man with the unclean spirit to heal Him.  Ultimately, God seeks to save us spiritually.  God is all powerful and has providence over all matters including Satan and sin - He was able to heal the man that others could not even subdue.
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People often fail to understand who Jesus is - and in this instance they saw what He was able to do and perhaps marveled at what He was able to do but other than the cleansed man, no one else recognized Jesus for who He is as the herdsmen and people from the region sought for Jesus to depart.  They cared perhaps more about the lost pigs than they did the life of the cleansed man.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We can claim the promise the Jesus heals both inside and out - physical ailments will ultimately be healed if not in this life but when we get to Heaven - see also Revelation 21:4.  We should follow the example of the cleansed man told by Jesus to tell his friends how much the Lord has done for us and how he had mercy on [him] (vv19-20). 

Every believer has a story of how God cleansed us from the inside out and we should be prepared to share with everyone we know what God has done for us.  See also 1 Peter 3:15.  We are to be a light.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that has healed me from the inside out and produced fruit - not through anything I did but because of everything You did starting with loving me and saving me while I was an enemy and hostile to You. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 4:35-41

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's sixth (of six) division (v41): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "The Identity of Jesus Is an Issue We All Must Settle." 
• "The text says they were “terrified.” The fear of the disciples at what Jesus has done and who He might be exceeds the fear they had over the storm. The presence of God is far more frightening than the most destructive forces of nature. One can take your life. The other can claim your soul....Despite their recent experiences with Jesus as He taught and performed miracles, they still aren’t sure just who He is." 
• From the conclusion of this chapter of the commentary looking at the entirety of vv35-41, the commentary shares: "The parallels between Jesus stilling the storm and the story of Jonah should not surprise us. Jesus called Himself the true Jonah in Matthew 12:40. He is the true Jonah who was consumed by the stormy sea of God’s wrath as He hung on the cross. He endured the storm so that we could find peace and be saved. Jesus calmed the only storm that could truly drown us: God’s wrath and judgment. He went down in the storm only to emerge three days later as the One who stilled the just and righteous wrath of God against sinners." 

All of us, believers or not must make a decision for Christ or not and if we choose wisely then we are saved.  If not, we will experience eternal damnation.  Unbelievers may not acknowledge it, but they are slaves to sin and worshiping some other god then the One True God.  Believers are encouraged to be merciful to those who doubt, as we seek to save others from the fire (Jude 22-23).  We must also remember that we are not doing doing the saving, so we must pray for Jesus to soften hearts to save and to be a light so that unbelievers can see and experience Jesus through us. 

Comment and discuss this post.

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

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

 Mark 1:21-28

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” Mark 1:27

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 1:21-28, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Here's what we see in the text:

• At the start of His ministry, with his first four disciples - Simon, Andrew, James, and John - Jesus "immediately" went to the synagogue in Capernaum on the Sabbath and "was teaching."  The word immediately implies urgency similar to how Simon, Andrew, James, and John felt called to immediately follow Jesus.  Believers should act with urgency based on Jesus' call to serve.   
• Those in the synagogue were "astonished" at Jesus' teaching.  He taught with "authority" unlike anything they had seen - of course Jesus is the Incarnate Son sent by God, so this is no surprise!
• Even the unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the "Holy One of God."
• Jesus' rebuke of the unclean spirit is one of His first miracles 
• Witnesses were all amazed and they began to wonder who Jesus is.  Jesus' "fame" spread throughout the regions surrounding Galilee.     

The question in my mind is whether we as believers, if we are truly being the hands and feet of Jesus, are acting in such way for people to see Jesus in us - mercy, service, love, etc.  People should be attracted to us in a similar way to those in Capernaum who were all amazed at Jesus - we are NOT Jesus but we should be LIKE Jesus and becoming more like Him every day as this is sanctification in action.  If not, this is an opportunity for us as believers to examine whether we are truly abiding in Him and for us to desperately call out to God for us to help us abide in Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are amazing and You are the One True God who saves, who transforms hearts and lives, and molds them into more of Your image. Thank You Father God for saving me and transforming my heart and life - I am not deserving as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.   

On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.

Zechariah 9:14-17

On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. Zechariah 9:16

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 9:14-17, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions for the text 9:1-9:17 (9:1-8, 9-13, 14-17).  This final division in chapter 9, which of course includes the prophecy of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem on a donkey, describes the implications of Jesus' arrival.  The commentary shares how this division provides four images of how God's glory is revealed through Jesus:

• vv14-15: God fights for His people and He gains total victory for them; "[a]s a result of the victory the Lord will win for them, the armies of God’s people will “consume and conquer” their enemies and become drunk on their blood—a gruesome image, but one that nonetheless graphically describes total victory for the people of Israel."
• v16: God's people are protected and saved as a shepherd protects and saves his sheep from harm
• v16: God's people are jewels in a crown, radiant not just to Him but to others that are drawn by His attributes shining through them
• v17: God brings "physical health and well[-]being" to His people 

All of us experience anxiety and fear, and for believers, it is comforting to know that we have a Savior who sits at the right hand of God, has already interceded on our behalf, and continues to do so through provision of an inexhaustible fountain of grace that flows to us on a daily basis.   See also the story of the Israelites in Exodus 14 and how they were trapped and panicked upon seeing the chasing Egyptian army bear down on them - Moses shares how God fights for His people and how we are to silent and trust Him - see Exodus 14:14. Praise God that we can walk in fellowship with Him!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for already securing victory over sin and death and how You protect and continue to intercede on my behalf.  What a great God You are!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings and grace You continue to pour out on me daily.  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 grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Therefore love truth and peace. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

Zechariah 7:1-3 and 8:18-23

Therefore love truth and peace. "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.' Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" Zechariah 8:19b-23

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 7:1-3 and 8:18-23, which the commentary outlines as the first of five divisions for the text 7:1-8:23 (7:1-3/8:18-23, 7:4-7, 7:8-10, 7:11-14, 8:1-17).  In an effort to better understand the first division, I reviewed the entirety of 7:1-8:23 and here one can see in chapter 7 God's people seeking answers on how to approach ceremonial law (specifically fasting), and how God, while He does care about external behavior, He is most concerned about our heart condition and that we focus on the most important commandments that we love Him first then love others - see also Psalm 50:8; Hosea 6:6; Psalm 51:16; Psalm 40:6–8; Isaiah 1:11–31; Jeremiah 7:21–23; Hebrews 10:4–10.  When you turn to chapter 8, you see a prophecy of a peaceful and prosperous Israel.  Of note in 8:18-23 is v23 where God's people draw others to Him because others see God in them.  For believers, we should be a light and draw others to Him. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and loved me first, while I was still hostile and an enemy of You.  Thank You Jesus!  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You and others as You love me.  Help me be a light to others.  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 those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Zechariah 6:1-15

“And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.” Zechariah 6:15

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 6:1-15, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions for the text 5:1-6:15 (5:1-4, 5-11, 6:1-15).  Here Zechariah's visions from the Lord continue as he has a vision of four chariots coming out from mountains of bronze, and these chariots are being led by four horses of different colors - all traveling to the four winds of heaven.  Their purpose was to patrol the earth - suggesting protection for Israel and God's people.  God's Spirit is at rest in the north country.  As the vision continues, the Lord calls for specific exiles - Heldai (mentioned once in scripture - 1 Chronicles 27:15, during the period when Solomon is charged to build the first temple), Tobijah (also mentioned once in scripture - 1 Chronicles 17:8 during the reign of Jehoshaphat when the Book of the Law was taken throughout the land for instruction of the people), and Jedaiah (who is mentioned not just in 1 Chronicles, but also in Ezra and Nehemiah - which focus on the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem by God's people who have returned from exile) to return from exile to make a crown and set it upon Joshua (same Joshua from Haggai and earlier chapters in Zechariah).  Joshua is once again anointed as special in his role to lead the temple reconstruction effort and God's people - although once again we should be reminded that he was not a particularly extraordinary man but used by God nonetheless.  Joshua will sit on the throne.  God's hand in the reconstruction effort will be undeniable - see v15.  Believers do not deny that God exists, is real and reigns over all, and that He sent His Son sent to seek and save the lost, and that His Son Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all humanity so that we can have forgiveness of sins now and eternal life. Yet many doubted and denied God during the time of the temple reconstruction and many still do.  Similar to when the temple reconstruction took place, believers are to be a light such that it is undeniable that God exists and reigns, etc. We exist to glorify God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me hope in my daily battle with sin.  Thank You Jesus!  Amazing grace indeed!  I am not deserving of such hope.  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.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, where our focus will be 1 John 1:5-10 and DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John.  This morning I return to part 1 of the video for 1 John 1:5-10, entitled Fake Christians Walk in Darkness as this video digs into vv5-6. As I watch this video for a second time, I listen intently on John Piper's core question he seeks to answer in this video, which is: if we have sin what is walking in light?

First Piper defines light and points to John 1:4 where it says "[i]n him was life, and the life was the light of men."  Piper describes this verse by sharing that people were originally walking in darkness then God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to be light and life. We are then directed to John 8:12, 12:36, 1:14, and 1 John 2:8-11 to see how this works:

1. If we follow Jesus, we will have the light of life.
2. If you believe in the light, you become the light (note this is a journey or a process known as sanctification)
3. We see God's glory in Jesus and this is light, and shine this light and it manifests itself as love

We should be aware of where we are in this journey of shining this light and ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to point out when we are not being this light.  Light exposes sin, and the Holy Spirit, the Word, and our brothers and sisters in Christ all serve to shine light on our sin so that we can better battle this sin.  Another DesiringGod.com resource that is helpful for us in our understanding of this text is this John Piper sermon where v5 is defined as the foundation upon which vv6-10 build.  The commentary of 1, 2, 3 John from The Christ-Centered Exposition Series outlines two divisions for vv5-10 with the first division covering v5 and summarized as "the world must know what God says about Himself."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word and thank You for being the Light so that I don't walk in darkness.  I am not deserving of how You give me light and life.  My sin continues...daily.  Please do 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.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

In preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, I continue with 1 John 1, yesterday using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John which examines 1 John 1:5-10. This morning I step back to look at 1 John as a whole, using commentaries to look at key themes, including history and background of this book.  Excerpts from the introduction of the commentary to 1, 2, 3 John from The Christ-Centered Exposition Series:

• "Obviously sin is not a popular subject in our day. People will go to great lengths to hide it, rationalize it, or deny it. But we must understand that when they deny their sin they call God a liar. They challenge His Word and question His character. They say sin is not serious and Jesus did not need to die."
• "First John 1:5 is the basis for 1:6–2:2 and the foundation for 1:6–3:10, the first half of John’s letter. First John 1:5–3:10 emphasizes the truth that God is light. The second half of the letter, 3:11–5:12, emphasizes the truth that God is love."
• "To think correctly about Jesus, you must think correctly about sin. When you see sin for what it is you will immediately see your need—the world’s need—for Jesus as your advocate (2:1) and your “atoning sacrifice” (2:2 NIV). You will also avoid the error of calling God a liar."

Excerpts from the MacArthur Bible Commentary for 1 John:

• "John and James, his older brother (Acts 12: 2), were known as “the sons of Zebedee” (Matt. 10: 2– 4), whom Jesus gave the name “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3: 17). John was one of the three most intimate associates of Jesus (along with Peter and James— cf. Matt. 17: 1; 26: 37), being an eyewitness to and participant in Jesus’ earthly ministry (1: 1– 4). In addition to the three epistles, John also authored the Fourth Gospel, in which he identified himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” and as the one who reclined on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper (John 13: 23; 19: 26; 20: 2; 21: 7, 20). He also wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1: 1)."
• "Most likely, John composed this work in the latter part of the first century. Church tradition consistently identifies John, in his advanced age, as living and actively writing during this time at Ephesus in Asia Minor."
• "Furthermore, the heresy John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of Gnosticism which was in its early stages during the latter third of the first century when John was actively writing. Since no mention is made of the persecution under Domitian, which began about A.D. 95, it may have been written before that began. In light of such factors, a reasonable date for 1 John is c. A.D. 90– 95. It was likely written from Ephesus to the churches of Asia Minor over which John exercised apostolic leadership."
• "Although he was greatly advanced in age when he penned this epistle, John was still actively ministering to churches. He was the sole remaining apostolic survivor who had intimate, eyewitness association with Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension."
• "As the last remaining apostle, John’s testimony was highly authoritative among the churches. Many eagerly sought to hear the one who had firsthand experience with the Lord Jesus."
• "After the Pauline battle for freedom from the law, Gnosticism was the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries....some asserted that Jesus’ physical body was not real but only seemed to be physical (known as Docetism from a Greek word that means “to appear”)....another form of this heresy which John may have attacked was led by a man named Cerinthus, who contended that the Christ’s spirit descended on the human Jesus at his baptism, but left him just before his crucifixion.  Such heretical views destroy not only the true humanity of Jesus, but also the Atonement, for Jesus must not only have been truly God, but also the truly human (and physically real) man who actually suffered and died on the cross in order to be the acceptable substitutionary sacrifice for sin (cf. Heb. 2: 14– 17). The biblical view of Jesus affirms His complete humanity as well as His full deity. The gnostic idea that matter was evil and only spirit was good led to the idea that either the body should be treated harshly, a form of asceticism (e.g., Col. 2: 21– 23), or sin committed in the body had no connection or effect on one’s spirit. This led some, especially John’s opponents, to conclude that sin committed in the physical body did not matter; absolute indulgence in immorality was permissible; one could deny sin even existed (1: 8– 10) and disregard God’s law (3: 4)."
• "A lack of love for fellow believers characterizes false teachers, especially as they react against anyone rejecting their new way of thinking (3: 10– 18). They separated their deceived followers from the fellowship of those who remained faithful to apostolic teaching, leading John to reply that such separation outwardly manifested that those who followed false teachers lacked genuine salvation (2: 19)."
• "Since the heresy was so acutely dangerous and the time period was so critical for the church in danger of being overwhelmed by false teaching, John gently, lovingly, but with unquestionable apostolic authority, sent this letter to churches in his sphere of influence to stem this spreading plague of false doctrine."

 Looking specifically at 1 John 1:1-10, the commentary for this text from the The Christ-Centered Exposition Series shares six divisions (including one division proposed by the commentary that continues through 1 John 2:2:

1 John 1:1-4

1. Have a passion to know this life (vv1-2)
2. Have a passion to share this life (v3)
3. Have a passion to enjoy this life (in a Godly manner) (v4)

1 John 1:5-10

1. The world must know what God says about Himself (v5)
2. The world must know what God says about sin (v6-10)
   
3. The world must know what God says about Jesus (2:1-2)
   

Believers, we must be a light in this world of darkness!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are light, love and truth...You are also love and my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the amazing grace You already poured out for me and the grace You continue to pour out for me in inexhaustible supply. 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.

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.... Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might[.]

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.... Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might[.] Ecclesiastes 9:8, 10a

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, which the commentary outlines as the second division for chapter 9.  Here, Solomon's message is that given all of us face death at some point or another (see vv1-6), we should enjoy the life given to us by God (v7,9).  We are told to be white or holy and to be anointed with oil or consecrated to God (v8). We are also told to do everything with might (v10) - similar to Paul's writing the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 10:31 that we should, in "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."  Yes, we all die, which makes everything we do before we die matter and believers exist to glorify God - so yes per yesterday's post we must number our days, and be a light for others to see (Matthew 5:14-16) so that others are drawn to God's Kingdom and made one of His elect.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives live now to the full and for eternity - You bless in ways that are too many to describe as my cup overflows.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and all the amazing grace and mercies You pour out for me.  I am not deserving.  My sin is overwhelming and it continues...every day.  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.     

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

1 John 4

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of 1 John 4:7-12. In this text, John continues a focus on love which began in 1 John 2.  We are commanded to love one another (v7) - see also post here from last week on this same topic. Love is described as being from God (v7) and an attribute of God (v8) - v8 also shares how it is a litmus test of whether one truly follows and abides in Christ (vv7,8, 11).  We also have the ultimate example and demonstration of love in v9.  V10 reminds us that the love God has for us - and demonstrated through His death on the cross - is not deserved (see Romans 5:10) and He loved us first, before we loved Him.  V11 shares how we are also to follow His example to love others as He loves us - see also John 13:34. The text today concludes with John sharing how no one has ever seen God (v12); and this text is connected in some way to the following text where John shares that IF we do love one another God is in us and His love is perfected in us (sanctification).  For me the connection of these two statements separated by a semi colon is that John is sharing that while we have not seen God, God is seen in us if we truly follow Him, love Him, and then love others.  We will be a light to others drawing others to God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for my sins - even through You did not deserve such a death.  Thank You for loving me first and for loving me while still an enemy of You.  My salvation is not deserved as my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 1:5-2:2

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 1:9, 2:1

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 a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 1:5-2:2. 

Per the commentary main idea for the text: "Jesus is our atonement and our advocate who reconciles us to God and sends us out to share the gospel message with the world."

Excerpts from the introduction to the commentary:

• Sin is humanity's most fundamental problem
• John seeks to underscore this fundamental reality and to avoid challenging God as a liar by claiming we have no sin
• Believers must think correctly about sin
• "When you see sin for what it is you will immediately see your need—the world’s need—for Jesus as your advocate (2:1) and your “atoning sacrifice” (2:2 NIV). You will also avoid the error of calling God a liar."
  

Divisions:

1. The World Must Know What God Says about Himself (1:5): "Having met this Savior in repentance and faith, we have a divine assignment that involves the proclamation of a specific gospel with a universal scope (2:2). This message is for the whole world."  All believers must play a role in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  We are encouraged to both be a light so that others can see the True Light that is Jesus Christ.  The commentary points us back to scripture where there are numerous references to God as Light, including how the word light appears more than 275 times in scripture, including Psalm 27:1, 36:9, Isaiah 60:1, 3, 19-20, Micah 7:8, John 1:9, 8:12, 12:36, 46. For us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, Christ we must understand the nature of Jesus and John seeks for us to understand how Jesus is the Light (Holy/Life) and how He is Truth.
2. The World Must Know What God Says about Sin (1:6-10): The world wants to define sin on its terms but John knows this is dangerous and instead encourages (warns) us to see sin as God sees it - as leading to eternal damnation. We are warned not to lie about our own sin. This includes lies to ourselves and to others. We are referred to Proverbs 28:13 and to confess our own sin...continually. "It should be noted that the apostle John does not deny our need to be seen as sinless. He simply notes that we cannot find it in ourselves. We need an advocate. We need an atonement. We need another."  We should be careful not to lie to ourselves and others because we will soon lie about God and this is dangerous indeed! 
   
3. The World Must Know What God Says about Jesus (2:1-2): "John has made it clear that in this life we cannot be sinless (but note again the future promise of 3:2!), but he does believe we can sin less because we are now in intimate fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ (1:3)." Jesus is our Advocate because He is our Atonement.  See also Revelation 5:9.
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good...that You continually intercede and advocate for me on behalf of the Father to forgive my sins...and for so much more!  I am not deserving of how You bless!  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and 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.

Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:23-33 and 11:1

Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:32-33

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on with a review of 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Glorify God by doing whatever you can to serve others and bring them to salvation."

Key excerpts from the introduction:

• "In the process of dealing with this situation, Paul will put forward seven principles to help us navigate difficult issues the Bible does not directly address."
• "In motive and action the glory of God must be preeminent for the believer. Bringing him glory is essential to the mission of the church. His glory should be our one ambition."
  

Major divisions:

1. I Will Always Pursue What Is Helpful and Builds Up (10:23): Referring back to 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 9:21, the commentary underscores core misunderstandings of the Corinthians (and many believers of today), and how freedom from ceremonial law and freedom from works as being the only means to please God should not be used to distort God's intent which is to bring glory to God in all that we do through a heart fully committed to God and through our efforts to save others.  For example, we may be free to use a smart phone but if an unbeliever has struggles with pornography, perhaps we should encourage him/her to avoid use of a smart phone that enables ease of access to such sin...and similarly, we should avoid any behavior in this person's presence that encourages intense use of a smart phone. The commentary quotes Curtis Vaughn's commentary by sharing that '[Christian] liberty should be limited by consideration for the well-being of others.'  
   
2. I Will Always Pursue What Is Good for Others (10:24): "Christians are never to act in ways that harm and hurt others. Rather, we are to help them grow in Christlike-ness and build them up in their faith."
   
3. I Will Always Pursue What Is in the Best Interest of Another’s Conscience (10:25-29): "The meat you eat is a part of God’s good creation and God’s provision for your nourishment. Eat it. Enjoy it! No need to ask any questions about it....However—and this is a big however—“if someone says to you, ‘This is food from a sacrifice,’ do not eat it, out of consideration of the one who told you, and for the sake of [their] conscience....we cannot send mixed signals and foster confusion for unbelievers and believers alike....For the sake of evangelizing the lost and edifying a fellow believer, no uncertain sound should be trumpeted. The gospel is at stake, and your witness is on the line.  The spiritual well-being of others takes precedence. On this occasion, a vegetarian meal will be just fine." 
   
4. I Will Always Pursue a Thankful Heart (10:29-30): "We should be thankful for God’s gracious provisions of drink and nourishment. It all belongs to him and comes from him. We know that. Why make an issue of something when there is no issue and draw criticism over “something for which [we] give thanks?” Doing so would be foolish, silly, and unprofitable for everyone. We must each choose to pursue a thankful heart and place no unnecessary stumbling blocks before anyone."
   
5. I Will Always Pursue the Glory of God in All Things (10:31): "First Corinthians 10:31 is a verse every Christian should memorize. It has been one of my life verses. I believe Paul intended it to be a foundational pillar in our lives that offers direction 24/7. It is comprehensive and all-encompassing in nature....glorifying God means we love him, trust him, are thankful to him, obey him, enjoy him, and take pleasure in him." 
   
6. I Will Always Pursue What Is Best for the Salvation of Others (10:32-33): "Others may be offended when we share the gospel, but they should never be offended by how we live out the gospel. Their souls and eternal destinies matter more than any right, privilege, or desire you or I may have....We must consistently prize the spiritual welfare of others above any personal preferences we have....The eternal destinies of men, women, and children hang in the balance."
   
7. I Will Always Pursue the Principles of WWPD and WWJD (11:1): What would Paul and Jesus Do.  "We all need role models, examples we can follow and imitate. For the Christian the ultimate example is Christ. To glorify God by being like Jesus should be our consuming passion that helps fuel our ambition. But we need flesh-and-blood role models, too. Paul knew he could provide that for the Corinthians. But who is providing that for you? Are you providing that for anyone else?....To live like Jesus, you must know Jesus. To live like Jesus, you must love Jesus. So, let me ask a question we all must answer. If others were to follow your example and imitate you, would they in some real and genuine sense be imitating Jesus? Or, to put it another way, can your children follow in your footsteps and in the process be walking in the footsteps of Jesus?"
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is SO good to me by providing both Yourself, Your Word, the church, the Holy Spirit, and so many brothers and sisters in Christ that I have examples and help to become more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Titus 2

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Titus 2:7-8

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning I read Titus 2, assisted by the Christ Centered Exposition Series commentary for 1-2 Timothy and Titus, and focus on vv1-8. Per the commentary:

• The main idea: The gospel calls those within the church to pursue God’s assignment of godliness, whether young or old, male or female.
  
• Excerpts from the introduction: The church is being shaped by secular culture more than by sacred Scripture. Never has the church needed more desperately to hear the words of Titus 2:1-8. This is a text that makes God’s plan, God’s assignments, God’s roles for men and women in the church plain and clear. In this passage of Scripture, Paul outlined God’s expectations for each of the four major groups in the church in terms of gender and age. He defined godly living that is “consistent with sound doctrine.” Though the word itself does not appear, the driving concept in these verses can be summed up in one important word: discipleship. Older men need to disciple younger men, and older women need to disciple younger women.
  

Divisions:

1. Pursue God’s Assignment as an Older Man (2:1-2): Paul seeks for Titus to lead the men away from their focus on the words of men (see Titus 1) to the Word of God. He encourages a different path for the older men of the church, including teaching the Word of God, being level headed and making sound Godly judgements in use of God-given time and talents, being reverent of God in all speech and behavior - not vulgar or inappropriate, being sensible/self-controlled and not letting passions rule them, being sound in his faith, loving, and patient. 
   
2. Pursue God’s Assignment as an Older Woman (2:3): Be reverent of God, truthful, not slanderous, level headed (not enslaved to alcohol), and be a teacher.
   
3. Pursue God’s Assignment as a Younger Woman (2:4-5): Love your husband, love your children, be self-controlled, be pure, be a homemaker, be good, and be subject to your husband (yielding to Godly leadership and direction).
   
4. Pursue God’s Assignment as a Younger Man (2:6-8): Seek older men to pour into you and to serve as a model for Godly living. "Paul recognizes the need younger men have for godly mentoring, and so he instructs them in a pattern of discipleship that would promote godly character, conviction, and commitment." Younger men are also to be level headed/self controlled (guarding heart), a good example, sound in doctrine, and sound in speech.
   

In all these verses, believers, regardless of their role/assignment, are to serve as an example for others and to be above reproach - all towards an aim of saving others for Christ.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus for giving me Godly men who serve as examples for my own journey with Christ.  I am not deserving of such love and 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.

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?

Hebrews 13

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, and Isaiah 51:12

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 13:1-6, and my unaided observations of the text. As the concluding chapter of Hebrews - where the primary focus of the book overall is to encourage Jewish believers, familiar with the Old Testament and the heroes of the faith as described in chapter 11 (aka the "hall of faith") - the author of Hebrews pivots to encourage readers with practical ways to lead a Godly life, one pleasing to Christ.  We are encouraged to: 

• love our brothers and sisters in Christ (v1)
• show hospitality to strangers (v2) 
• support and encourage the persecuted (v3)
• hold up marriage as honorable and that it be "undefiled by sexual immoral[ity] and adulter[y]" (v4)
• avoid love of money and envy (v5)

The text for today concludes (v6) by exhorting readers to heed words similarly spoken in Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, and Isaiah 51:12.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God full of amazing grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of Your amazing grace and compassion.  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.