“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Mark 8:27-38

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:34-35

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 8:27-38.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv34-38):

• For the third division, the title is: "You Must Understand and Accept That Jesus Calls You to Die."
• "Jesus lays out the essence of “the normal Christian life,” the basics of discipleship, which sadly in our day looks like “the radical Christian life.” Being Jesus’ disciple requires three essentials."  
• "Deny yourself.  Live as Christ directs.  Treasure and value Jesus more than yourself, your comforts, your aspirations. Put to death the idol of I! Say no to you and yes to Jesus!"
• "Second, take up your cross. Die! Luke 9:23 adds the word “daily” because that is what we must do. This is not normal or natural, but it is necessary to be Christ’s disciple. And it is a slow, painful death.  Finally, follow Me! Are we willing to believe and obey Jesus? It will be radical, not comfortable, because it involves a death to the self-centered life." 
• "Following Jesus involves risking it all—safety, security, satisfaction in this world. But He promises us that it leads to a reward this world can never, ever offer."  
• "Your life is set free to live the normal/radical Christian life when you see death as reward, when you can say with Paul, “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Philippians 1:21)."

Upon some reflection of the text and the commentary today - one can see this as a negative - that we are denying something that we truly want.  Yet the more we understand, know and love Jesus, the more we set our mind on the things of God.  At this point, obedience to God is not a burden (1 John 5:3).  We seek His will because we know God and know that He loves us and blesses us more richly than the world ever will.  John Piper refers to this as Christian Hedonism where God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and blesses richly those who love Him.  You bless beyond anything we could ever imagine.  I am not deserving of how You 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.

Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Haggai 1:3-4

Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?  Haggai 1:3-4

I continue with my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 1:3-4, the second sub-division.  The commentary entitles this subdivision as Choosing Comfort over Obedience Is a Sign of Misplaced Priority. V2 (see yesterday's post) shares God's disappointment in Israel as they share how they no longer seek to rebuild God's temple - rather they are more focused on attending to their daily lives, ignoring the most important commandment which is to love God with all of Your heart, soul and mind. V2 describes God disappointment in an implied manner while God becomes more explicit in his words towards Israel.  God's question here should not be lost on believers (myself included) who do not focus on cultivating and growing in their relationship with Jesus. Once we become one of God's elect, God does not want us to stay "infants" in our faith but instead wants us to grow into who He intends for us - spiritual maturity.

Excerpts from the commentary:

• "Haggai specifically uses a word for paneled that implies “well appointed” or “comfortable.” In other words, they were not only settled in their homes, they had been to their equivalent of Pier One, had acquired all sorts of beautiful accoutrements for their homes, and were living comfortably. While Haggai is not condemning their comfortable living, he is condemning this living at the expense of obedience to God’s commands." We are referred to Malachi 1:6-7 where Israel once again is called out by God for putting themselves above God....skimping on costs regarding sacrifice offered at the altar. 
  
• Believers should go to Luke 9:23 where Jesus challenges them to see how following Him would be costly...at times with our physical bodies (see Voice of the Martyrs).  This is heart condition issue. 
• The commentary quotes David Foster Wallace who shares how all of humanity worships and how worship can consume you and leave you empty.  For believers worship of the One True God Jesus Christ SHOULD consume us but it animates and leaves us fulfilled and satisfied as NOTHING else can - He is the Living Water!
• We are reminded to draw near to God and worship 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 - thank You for Your patience and love as I grow - I often put myself first, my comforts, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

Jude

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

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a review of Jude 11-16, with a focus on a commentary-assisted review of the fourth division per the commentary - v16 - which is titled God Condemns the Ungodly Because of Their Deeds.  The commentary emphasizes how the text describes how our speaking reflects our heart condition: "the tongue is that organ of the body intimately connected to the heart and its desires" (see also James 3). The first word the text uses to describe false teachers is how they are grumblers or complainers.  When people grumble or complain - as the commentary compares to Israel in the wilderness - they are ultimately doing so at God because it is He who is in control.  We should not grumble or complain - see also this resource. The commentary warns us that complaints and grumblings in the church is a corrosive influence: it "is like a cancer and is deadly to an effective ministry and a healthy church life. It leaves them always judgmental and without joy."  The commentary then moves on to how the text describes those who follow their own sinful desires and how this is the source of their negative talk.  The insatiable desires of one focused solely on self runs counter to how we are to deny oneself and focus on satisfying God.  Finally, the commentary highlights how the text describes arrogant false teachers who make bold claims that are not scriptural - we must be careful to not add or subtract from the Word.

Comment and discuss this post.

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

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 3:11-18.  

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: Those who truly belong to God in Christ will live and love after the pattern of Jesus rather than the pattern of the world.

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "In 1:5–3:10 the message was “God is Light.” Now in 3:11–5:12 the message is “God is Love.” And because God is love, Christians are to love one another."
• Christians loving one another is to serve as an example for unbelievers in the world that we are God's children. 

Divisions:

1. Love One Another and Do Not Follow the Example of Cain (3:11-15): Love is not just repeated in this letter from John but of course throughout scripture, as the commentary points to John 13:34, 15:12, 15:17, Romans 12:10, 13:8, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:9, Hebrews 10:24, and 1 Peter 4:8. "John, following Jesus, says we are to love consistently and comprehensively, continually and individually. Play no favorites. Show no biases. Practice no discriminations among your brothers and sisters. After all, we are family!" Cain is provided as a negative example of who Christians are to be as "Cain's actions revealed his true spiritual father, the Devil." See also John 8:44. At the heart of Cain's story is how he, in contrast to his brother Abel, brought a sacrifice to God that was "evil and unacceptable."  We are also urged to avoid responding to how the world hates us by demonstrating hate ourselves.  We are to love and respond accordingly. We should at the same time avoid loving out of any motive that it will earn us anything - we are to love our brothers as a natural response from the overwhelming love (including how God saves!) God has for us that is planted as a seed and Spirit within us.  The core focus of this letter is for us to love our brothers in sisters in Christ and we must be united in our love for another as an example to the world. Avoid hate. 
   
2. Serve One Another and Follow the Example of Jesus (3:16-18): "Real love, God’s love, is shown as well as spoken. It is tangible and not theoretical."  Our love and service to others may mean for some dying - following Christ's example.  While most will not suffer this fate, we are still called to sacrifice and deny ourselves in service of others in the church. "If we really understand the magnitude of what has been done for us and the implications for eternity, we won’t feel obligated to show gratitude; we won’t be merely willing to be thankful; we will joyfully present our lives to God as a living sacrifice in grateful worship." We must not turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters in the church who need help. See also James 2:15-17 as James seeks for us to have both faith and action - but done out of our heart and motivated out of love for Christ and what He has done for us.  
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, YOU are love and You died for me, loving me while I was still hostile to You - thank You Jesus for Your love and sacrifice to me - I am of course not deserving of how You save but You nonetheless saved me and continue to pour out Your love for me.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving because 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.

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory[.]

John 17

 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory[.] John 17:24a

I pause my study of Proverbs and Isaiah to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today focuses on the goal of Christ's love.  John Piper urges us to see the the goal of Christ's love is not for believers to experience the joy of "being loved", which is not a bad thing of course.  Instead God wants us to, in Piper's words, to see that "the goal of love that makes [redemption, propitiation, forgiveness, justification, reconciliation] loving is that we be with him, and see his jaw-dropping glory, and be astounded. In those moments we forget ourselves as we see and savor all that God is for us in him." We must remember that we exist to glorify God!  To do this, we must deny ourselves and serve Christ as He commands us, sharing the gospel, serving and loving others, etc. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and grace for me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of who You love and save me, and how You pour out so many rich blessings for me, including how You never leave or forsake me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus. 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.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Matthew: Redefining God's Family*".

*Title of lesson seven from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day three starts with Max Lucado highlighting how Matthew was not content to simply meet then follow Jesus; he immediately wanted to know more about Jesus so invited Him to spend more time with him at his house. Lucado also points us to the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 where we see another tax collector, shorter in stature so desperate to see and meet Jesus that he climbs a tree to see Him and gives half his belongings to the poor.  Jesus recognizes that Zachhaeus is willing to "lose his life" to have Jesus in his.

...[God] rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Lucado then turns to the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. This man sought "a quick fix" or a "checklist" from Jesus vs a relationship with Him.  He wanted validation that he was doing all the right things - he wanted to be justified.  We must recognize that there is nothing we can do to deserve salvation. None of us deserve it - instead the "wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23). However, God freely provides salvation for those who truly seek it.  We must hunger and thirst for righteousness and be willing to deny ourselves and glorify God.

Comment and discuss this post here.

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

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 16-18, Mark 8-9, Luke 9,17

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24

Day 305 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 move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing on how Jesus prepares ..."his chosen disciples for his death and to strengthen their ministry in carrying on his work. At this point in Jesus’ ministry the apostles are truly convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, but apparently they too have notions of a political Messiah. Realizing that their understanding of his messiah-ship is still very limited, and that their somewhat simplistic faith will be tested, Jesus begins to tell the apostles about his death, as well as the burdens which they themselves will face. Talk of their Leader’s imminent death must surely confuse these men, who have hopes of playing key roles in a wholly different kind of kingdom."*

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

The reading this morning includes the Transfiguration (Matthew 17), as well as teachings on humility. 

Just as Jesus prepares the twelve for their mission, we too must understand the burdens and cost of following Jesus.  Yet John reminds us that obedience to God is not burdensome.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. 1 John 5:1-4 

Paul provides similar words - comparing his comfort and power from his position as a Jewish leader to now following Jesus:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11 

It helps for us to focus on how we are not citizens of this world but instead citizens of Heaven and investing eternally.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave me faith.  You also helped me grow in my humility (more work here...) and see how following You is not burdensome.  Thank You Jesus - for these blessings and so much more.  I am grateful.  I am also not deserving.  I worry, and I have other sin...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. 

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9-14

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

Day 275 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 go back to Zechariah to focus on his last prophecies. My commentary* notes: "[t]he prophecies, in the form of two oracles, are once again highly figurative. They are undoubtedly messianic and give some of the clearest details about the life and death of the Messiah. For example, in contrast to the present kings and their chariots of war, this spiritual King will come gently in peace, riding on a donkey. He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, and he will be pierced at the time of his death. Zechariah addresses a number of themes—past, present, and future—which lead to an apocalyptic view of the great battle between good and evil, the destruction of the wicked, and the salvation of the righteous."

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

Zechariah's prophecies, estimated by my commentary* to be written no later than 460 B.C., foretold of Jesus, arriving with great humility (see also post yesterday).  We must not conform to the patterns of this world but instead be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2).  The patterns of this world do not emphasize or put faith in gentleness or humility but as believers we must deny ourselves and allow Jesus to be seen in us as we exist not to glorify ourselves but to glorify God. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed worthy of glory and worthy of my worship and sacrifice - a living sacrifice. I seek to make much of Your name.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve as I don't deserve anything.  My sin is great but You cleanse me. Thank You Jesus!  But I am not deserving.  I continue to worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 1

“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Haggai 1:9

Day 269 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 my commentary* moves to the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah, as they are described as "prophets of God.  Little is known about Haggai, but it is surmised that he is one of the exiles who remembers the former temple before its destruction. If so, he is probably at least 75 years old. His very young associate, Zechariah, was evidently born in Babylonia into the priestly family of Iddo, his grandfather. It was Haggai and Zechariah, of course, who had initiated the renewal of the work which led to Tattenai’s letter and Darius’ decree. Now, over a four-month period, they will continue to encourage the construction effort. Through Haggai, God tells the people why they have been facing such economic problems. It is because they have set their own selfish interests as the highest priority rather than totally committing themselves to construction of the temple."

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

God makes it clear that He must come first - yet by nature, we are selfish and self-centered, focusing on ourselves more so than God (and certainly not others). 

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

 

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

The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”

2 Samuel 16:15-19:4 

The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33

Day 102 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David's physical battle with Absalom, Absalom's death in battle, and David's mourning over Absalom.

John MacArthur uses David's mourning as an example of David's humility or what he refers to as "power under control". MacArthur writes: 

"You know, at one time, Saul was – Saul was so out of control at one time, according to 1 Samuel 14, Saul was going to kill his own son on a minor issue, just to prove his power. On the other hand, when David’s son rebelled against him, David said he would rather die for Absalom’s sake, 2 Samuel 18:33. That’s the difference. Saul wouldn’t let himself be offended by anybody, even his own son. He’d kill him first. David could be offended by everybody, even his own son, and lose his own life first. That’s the difference. Power under control, the spirit that makes a man bow low before God and think nothing of himself".

We should all be mindful of the power we have in our lives - whether that be at work, in our family, etc. - and be careful of how we exercise our power as it was ours to use towards our own will.  We must temper our power with God's will.  Jesus does the same in the Gethsemane:

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”  Matthew 26:42

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I have ever imagined for my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...by a long shot.  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.

It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

Portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy

It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:19-20

Day 56 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on God's directives to build on Moses' leadership by providing guidance on the selection of a king, the establishment of courts and judges, and for fairness and justice. 

With regards to selection of a king, love of the Lord is first and foremost.  A king should be humble.  As I have posted recently on arrogance, I must remember that we exist to glorify the Lord and that we should live in such a way that others see God in us - this is only possible if we deny ourselves.

We must also not be seduced by the world in looking for a king (v14) - God's anointing of David should be a lesson for us.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has placed many Godly men in my path who have led to me - and helped me grow closer to You.  I am deeply grateful for these men and for You placing these men in my life.  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I sin...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.

So Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis  25-26

So Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:34

Day 11 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Abraham's remarriage and death, followed by a brief update on Ishmael and his descendants.  Day 11 concludes with a focus on Issac and his two sons - Esau and Jacob.

We ALL struggle with sin - see Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:8.  Much of our challenge with sin lies in the desire for quick temporal gain vs patient endurance and denial of self - OR selfishness.  Such is the case with Esau, who exchanges his birthright for a single meal. 

Jesus refers to this as the "wide gate":

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  Matthew 7:13-14

Those who direct you to the wide gate seek to deceive you - there is only one Way (see John 14:6).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE the Way, the Truth, and the Life - thank You for claiming me as Your own and for adopting me into Your family.  I am blessed.  Yet I am undeserving.  My sin 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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Tony Evans: The Power of Jesus' Names - Lord and King

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

In preparation for Sunday school tomorrow morning, I watched session #2 of the above mentioned Tony Evans series (RightNow Media requires login which I have though my church).  The core message is that while believers may accept Jesus as their King, we may not submit to His authority and be obedient to His rule.  

Recognizing Jesus as our King gets us into Heaven but submitting to Jesus' authority and playing by his rules brings Heaven to earth giving us all the benefits of His rule in our life.  We can't expect the benefits of His rule without living by His rules.

Evans uses the analogy of a restaurant buffet where we can pick and choose how we are obedient to Jesus - submitting certain parts of our life to Him but not others.

I have personally experienced what it is like to recognize Jesus as my King without submitting to Him.   Once I began to submit to Jesus, that's when my world changed and I did indeed begin to experience some of the benefits of His rule.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has brought Heaven to earth and I HAVE participated in His reign - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed.  Yet I am undeservring of such love and blessings.  I sin...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.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. v3-4

Consistent with the theme of joy throughout Philippians, Paul believes that it will bring him great joy (v2) if we are to empty ourselves of our selfish desires and instead become more like Christ.  Counter to what the world believes, our humility will not only bring joy to Paul but also to Christ and bring glory to God - which is why exist.

V6-8 articulates Christ's humility as part of God's plan to provide salvation for those who believe.  In particular v6-7 which states:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Through the Holy Spirit, believers have access to the and power and wisdom of God yet once again it is not for our advantage but for God.  Love God and love others.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You did not take advantage of Your time on earth to enrich Yourself but instead died a gruesome death on the cross...so that I could have life...and to the full.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and such a gift.  I sin...I am lazy, selfish, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

John 13

I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. v15-17

During John's account of the Last Supper, Jesus washes the disciples feet and emphasizes the importance of putting others ahead of yourself.  This point is counter-intuitive.  A worldly interpretation would focus on self-needs aren't getting met if we put others above ourselves.  Yet Jesus' words here must be read together with Matthew 22:37:40 regarding the greatest commandments.  If we love God first, then we will see how God takes care of all our needs - He provides.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I love You - You provide for all of my needs.  Than You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such care and 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 love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

John 11

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” v47-48

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (v44), some of those who witnessed this miracle told the Pharisees, and then a meeting was called of the Sanhedrin (v47).  Their chief concern was their own status, position, and power.

We should not be concerned about losing our life - in both figurative and literal senses.  

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it." Luke 17:33

 

Instead we are to deny oneself. 

We are encouraged by Paul who writes about the "surpassing worth of knowing Jesus".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me both eternal life and an abundant life here on earth - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry and I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin to encourage, support and hold them accountable in their walk with Christ.  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.

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

John 1

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” v48

In v29-50, we see Jesus baptized by John (see also accounts in the other Gospels here), and Jesus' calling of the first disciples.  Although at this point in Jesus' ministry there are indications these men had a sense of who Jesus is (see v41, 45, 49), there are other indications later in John and in the other Gospels that demonstrate these men have an incomplete awareness and understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus.  My sense is that this is true today even for most new believers save those who might live in persecuted locations where it is dangerous to follow Jesus.  

Jesus says we must deny ourselves and give up everything as the cost of our faith.

Yet for those believers who have taken the time to allow Jesus into their heart and lives through daily study and prayer, we know there is a surpassing worth of Jesus vs the world.

Part of this surpassing worth of knowing Jesus are the Fruits of the Spirit, and of course eternal life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me life - to the full...in this life and in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry, and I stress, too much...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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 spouse 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 teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Luke 20

The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. v19

Although many of Jesus' words and teachings were not evident to His disciples (see also post here), they WERE becoming more evident to the Jewish leaders whose selfishness and hardened hearts could not be overcome - Jesus had to be turned over to the authorities and crucified.  The law HAD to be fulfilled.  John Piper writes SO eloquently that God's love for His One and Only Son was the only remaining obstacle between God and our salvation - so Jesus HAD to die for us.

From this, I believe a challenge for us as believers exists to avoid the hardened hearts and selfishness that prevent us from being who God intends for us.  We must go to God daily, and serve Him and others.  We must deny ourselves and glorify Him (not ourselves) as this is why exist. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me more than I can ever imagine - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your love - I worry way too much!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

Luke 17

Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. v33

While the focus of v20-37 is Jesus' response to when the Kingdom of God will come (and whether the Kingdom of God is present or future), I am choosing to focus on v33 specifically.   

John Piper does a great job explaining how the Kingdom of God is with us now as a "fulfillment" but is yet to come as a "consummation".  

In v33 I am reminded of my tendency and desire to be "in control" and this conflicts with God's desire to own our heart and life.  He is in control. We need to recognize this and submit to His authority over all and specifically our lives.  Once we surrender our hearts and lives to Him, we can find peace that He will fight for us.

Read Exodus 14 and specifically Exodus 14:14.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who IS in control and that is a glorious thing!  I can do and have no good things without You Jesus and I need You desperately in my life - You have transformed my heart and life and I am blessed by You daily.  I am undeserving of such love and blessings. 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.

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Luke 14

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. v33

Similar to yesterday's post on humility, Jesus speaks on the cost of faith.  First He addresses those who put earthly worries and concerns ahead of Jesus - The Parable of the Great Banquet (v15-24).  In this parable, Jesus warns us to beware of the "excuses" we place in front of our faith - I am guilty of this as much as anyone.  We often explain away or justify why we don't do this or that as Jesus commands us.  I am deeply convicted on this teaching.

Jesus then pivots to the cost of being a disciple (v25-34).  We are to place God first, above our earthly relationships (v25-27), and give up everything (v33).

There is indeed a cost - Jesus refers to this in John 16:33 where He says "[i]n this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world".  

Yet we should be encouraged by Paul's words on the surpassing worth of Jesus:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God and worth it all - the greatest gift of all time!  Thank You Jesus for the many rich blessings You pour out for me.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  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.