For [the manslayer] must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.

Numbers 35:9-34

For [the manslayer] must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. Numbers 35:28

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 35:9-34 - God spoke to Moses and gave him commands to pass on to the people to create cities of refuge for those who kill without intent.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God looks at the heart - at one's intent (v11).  See also 1 Samuel 13:14 and 16:7 where the LORD speaks to Samuel when he is searching among Jesse's sons to anoint a new king to replace Solomon.  God exhorts Samuel to examine David's heart.  Our heart condition matters.  Our heart condition works both ways, including sins of omission - we may not have had intent but we sin nonetheless - as this is our sinful nature since the Fall (Genesis 3).  Paul describes this spiritual struggle in Romans 7:15-20.  For the manslayer who has safety in a city of refuge, note how the manslayer must remain within the boundaries of the city of refuge - v28.  This seems to be an encouragement to abide in God, to remain in fellowship with Him because He is our refuge - see also Psalm 9:9-10, 46:1, 91:1–2.  God is also fair - as He allows for deliberate judgement, including witness corroboration (vv12, 30).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We are inclined to judge and seek vengeance on our own terms - yet God alone is the judge and we can rest in how all will be held accountable for their life and deeds. God knows this hence he created cities of refuge.  
• 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 judgement and vengeance - this is for God.  Claim and rest in the promise that on Judgement Day all will be held accountable for their lives and deeds and nothing is hidden.  Follow the example of Paul who recognized his internal spiritual struggle to do good, and sought to remain in Him for Him to live in His heart.  Abide in Him and seek God as your refuge. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who saves and who is my refuge during times of trouble.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of who You save and protect.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin.  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.

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.

John 9:13-41

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 9:13-41, as we see the astonishing back and forth between the healed blind man and the Pharisees (including with the man's parents), and then between Jesus and the healed blind man.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V14 shares that Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath.  Jesus reenters in v35-41 and His first interaction is with the healed blind man and on this interaction, the healed blind man believes in Jesus (vv35-38).  Jesus then shares how his mission is to heal (both physically and spiritually) and to judge those who do not believe in Him (referred to as those who see who may become blind) - v39.  Jesus' interaction with the Pharisees at this point is one of judgement as He shares how the Pharisees guilt remains despite their claim that "[they] see" (vv40-41). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We see the Pharisees struggling to understand how this healing occurred and who performed this miracle.  Some of the Pharisees view Jesus' healing of /the blind man as a sinful act (v16) based on their interpretation of God's command to rest (see Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11) on the Sabbath.  They were divided on the question of whether Jesus was sinful or not - vv16-17.  The healed blind man refers to Jesus as a prophet and upon hearing this the Pharisees did not believe the miracle occurred at all.  They then seek to find his parents who confirm that their son was born blind (vv20-21) and that he can now see.  They have no explanation for how this occurred and because they feared the Pharisees they deflected further questioning and referred the Pharisees to their son who should speak for himself (as he is of age) - vv21-23.  In v24, the Pharisees rightly give glory to God for the man's healing (v24) but in the same sentence once again refer to Jesus as a sinner.  The blind man comes to Jesus' defense - questioning whether He is a sinner and standing on his testimony that he was once blind but can now see (now famous due to the hymn Amazing Grace).  Upon further questioning from the Pharisees, the man is so inspired by what Jesus has done for him, that he then teaches - authoritatively no less (vv30-33) those listening to him, including the Pharisees.  The Pharisees of course are not pleased at all that a former blind beggar dare "lecture" them and they "cast" him out (v34).        
• 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 using an inaccurate understanding of God's Word to judge and accuse others of sin - we are not to judge and our understanding of God's Word must be as accurate as possible (this side of Heaven).  Claim the promise that Jesus gives us the ability to see Him for who He really is - Lord and Savior.  Follow the example of the healed blind man to feel compelled to speak truth to others (including power) based on what we have experienced with our own lives.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that saves and gave me the ability to see - to see that You are my Lord and Savior!  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for revealing Yourself to me and softening my heart so that I know that I am utterly dependent on You.  I am undeserving 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.

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.

John 8:12-8:20

You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. John 8:15-16

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 8:12-8:20, where Jesus continues to teach in the temple in Jerusalem after the Feast of Booths, and he is once again challenged by the Pharisees.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is the light of the world - v12.  Light allows one to find what they are looking for, and in contrast without light (darkness), we are limited in our ability to find what we seek, and we are trapped. Light is also hope.  When challenged by the Pharisees (that His testimony is false), Jesus issues His own challenge to them by sharing that He was sent by the Father so both He and the Father bear witness to Him (vv17-18), and by standards set in the Old Testament (see Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, and Numbers 35:30), Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus also challenges the Pharisees that they judge by the flesh and He does not judge by Himself, but with the Father and their judgement is true (of course because they are all knowing).  We also know that from scripture elsewhere that Jesus judges the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  In v20 Jesus responds to the Pharisees - who ask Him where His Father is (v19) - by challenging them about their lack of knowledge of both Him and the Father - which is quite damning (literally) because if they truly knew the law they would see Him as the Promised Messiah. Once again, we see how nothing can stop God's plan because even though He is in the temple and the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees sought to arrest and kill Jesus, they were unsuccessful because "his hour had not yet come" (v20). 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The Pharisees do what people often do, they judge without taking the time to understand - this is in contrast to Nicodemus (who was one of them) - see also John 7:50-51.  
• 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 judging - this is God's role - seek to understand one's heart condition.  Claim the promise that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow Nicodemus' example to get to know God - go to God daily in study and prayer.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  You are the light of the world and Your Word is lamp to my feet - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and for the light You provide. 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 as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

John 7:53-8:11

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." John 8:7

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:53-8:11, which is text that many New Testament scholars argue should not be in the Bible as it was added later after John's original writing.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. My observations do not account for whether this text should be in the Bible or not - on this question please see this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: While others went to their own house (7:53), Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives for the evening (8:1). Once again early in the morning He goes to the temple to teach the people - proclaiming the Word of God is a priority for all believers.  The scribes and the Pharisees put God to the test (sin) - seeking for Him to condemn an adulterous woman and to stone her to death (the judgement/sentence per Deuteronomy 22:22 Leviticus 20:10) - and Jesus responds by turning the tables exposing the scribes and the Pharisees as equally sinful, as we know from scripture elsewhere that since the Fall (Genesis 3), all humanity is sinful and in need of a savior (Old Testament, New Testament). After Jesus challenges the scribes and the Pharisees (v9), He is alone with the adulterous woman and forgives her, saves her from eternal condemnation, and commands her to "sin no more" (v11).  Know we know that because she is still human of course she will still sin but what Jesus has done is freed her from her sin and given her the power to defeat sin in her life, including her sin of adultery. This path of freedom is not linear progression - as there will be setbacks and dips in this process of sanctification.  But we should go back to John 7:37-39 where Jesus shares that "[w]hoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’"  Once God enters our heart and life and we continue to abide in Him (John 15:1-17) through daily study of God's Word and prayer, He will renew our mind and make us more like Him.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The scribes and the Pharisees bring an adulterous woman to Him to test Him (8:3-6) - we know that it is a sin to put God to the test (see also Deuteronomy 6:16, Matthew 4:7).  The sin here is that the scribes and the Pharisees sought to manipulate Jesus so that they could expose Him as a fraud - of course He is not a fraud and their efforts exposed them as frauds for their lack of faith and incomplete knowledge of God based on Old Testament prophecies of Jesus.  After Jesus challenges the scribes and the Pharisees and exposes their hypocrisy and own sin, "they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones" (v9). We are also reminded that all sin and need a savior. 
• 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 putting God to the test and judging/condemning others, claim the promise that Jesus forgives and saves just as He did for the adulterous woman.  Follow Jesus' example to show mercy to those who doubt and for others and their sin.  Love God and love others, including forgiving others as God forgives us.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for how You loved me while still hostile and an enemy to 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.

For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.

John 4:39-42

For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown. John 4:44

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 4:43-45 using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: After spending time in Samaria, Jesus moves on to the north to Galilee (see this map).  He does not go into his hometown of Nazareth because His message is rejected as they don't see Him as the Promised Messiah nor worthy of hearing what He has to say - The text shares how Jesus "had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown" (v44). See also Matthew 13:54–58; Mark 6:1–6, Luke 4:14-30.  God does not soften the heart of those in His hometown but instead allows their hearts to remain hardened to His message. This is clearly a mystery in the Bible - at least for me....for now.     
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People near and dear to us are often the most difficult with whom to share the gospel - because they perhaps think they know us already and there is not anything about us.  The Galileans, on the other hand welcomed Jesus as the text shares how they saw what He had done in Jerusalem as they were present.  The text is silent about whether they believed or not - only that they welcomed Him.  Perhaps they were interested more in His miracles then His teaching - perhaps both - the text is not clear.      
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid judging another.  The Bible wants us to love and to have mercy.  God alone is judge.  Claim the promise that if you seek Jesus with all of your heart, soul, and mind you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  Follow the Galilean example to welcome Jesus. Obey God by showing mercy to others that doubt (Jude 22-23). 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who is full of mercy and love for me - 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 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.  

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

John 3:1-21

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. John 3:21

I continue my study of John, reviewing John 3:1-21 using the Sword Bible Study Method, where I started yesterday at vv1-15, and today my focus is vv16-21.   

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Nicodemus continues his evening discussion with Jesus, with Jesus building on v15 where He shares that "whoever believes in him may have eternal life."  Next we have the very oft-quoted v16 (and v17 which really should be read and spoken together with v16) that is the core gospel message: (1) God loved us SO MUCH that He gave His only Son Jesus to save the world for a full life now reborn through Christ, and for eternity with Jesus in Heaven with all the saints (other believers); (2) we should be be clear that the gospel is a HOPEFUL message, not one of judgment - yes, all will be judged, but this is NOT WHY Jesus came to earth as the Incarnate Son of God.  The gospel is a SAVING message, not one of CONDEMNATION.  Yes, there will be condemnation but that is because they are rejecting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  God knows why people reject Him....it is because people don't want to come to terms that everyone is a sinner and that accepting Jesus means you have to confess sin and turn to Him as Your Lord and Savior.      
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: Fear and shame grip people into holding onto their sin as a secret - vv19-20.  In contrast, believers are no longer slaves to their sin, and as we bear fruit from our faith, believers become a light onto others where we reflect the light of Jesus as we become image-bearers and ambassadors of God - v21.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Scripture is clear that believers should not judge those who don't believe - it is NOT our role to judge.  Jude 22-23 is instructive here - we are to show mercy not judge. Claim your free gift of salvation - confess sin, repent and believe!             

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the greatest gift of all time....I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 4:1-5.  Here, Paul builds on 1 Corinthians 3 where he is admonishing the church in Corinth for their divisions and conflict based on a "cult of personality." He, and Apollos and Cephas (Peter), are the subjects of such "cult of personality," but Paul moves on from discussing how he or any of the other church preachers/leaders should not be worshiped and put on a pedestal (instead Christ alone (the Creator) should be worshiped).  Now, building on the final verses of chapter 3 (where the leaders are fellow laborers for Christ) he continues discussing his role in the affirmative indicating that the church leaders/preachers should be regarded as "servants of Christ" and "stewards of the mysteries of God" (v1). The hope is that they are faithful stewards (v2).  Yet Paul is not worried about being judged, sharing that God alone is the judge (v4), and that when Christ returns all things unknown will be known and all will be judged according to their heart and what they have done (v5).  All of the petty conflict within Corinth is put into perspective and how it is deemed unimportant quarrels - we should all focus on Jesus and His mission, understanding that God expects this of us and ultimately we will be judged on how we did He expects of us. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and love for me - providing mercies that are new every morning and providing for all of my needs - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love grace 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.

Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob.

Genesis  36 

Esau took his wives and sons and daughters and all the members of his household, as well as his livestock and all his other animals and all the goods he had acquired in Canaan, and moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob. Genesis 36:6

Day 16 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 the descendants of Esau, the Edomites.

The story of Jacob and Esau is one of tension and my commentary* indicates the Edomites "will become constant enemies of Jacob’s descendants, the Israelites, and their opposition to God’s chosen people will be so bitter over the years that Edom will become a symbol of unbelief and hostility to God. In the last days they will be singled out as a special object of God’s punishment".

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

Examples of tensions between Jacob's line and the Edomites are found in the Bible, including:

• Edom denies Israel passage during their exodus from Egypt (Numbers 20)
• Saul orders Doeg the Edomite to strike down Ahimelek and the Priests of Nob for providing harbor and provision for David (1 Samuel 21-22)

  Prophecies against Edom include:

• Ezekiel 35
• Obadiah 1 
• Malachi 1 

The tension between Jacob and Esau is much like the tension we experience in our lives - there are those in the world that hate us and our God.  We may be tempted to feel hate and to seek our own justice against those who act out of their hate for us.  But God is clear - we are to turn the other cheek, love, and seek to gain the favor of our enemies so that we might be able to bring them into the family of God.  It is not for us to judge - God alone is Judge.  See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who loves, despite how I might have felt about You - You came to save me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love, mercy and grace.  I harbor ill feelings towards others - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin - help me love!  Help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.

James 4

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. v11

With James being referred to as the "bossiest book of the Bible", it is not surprising that James packs his letter with many commands charging us with "do's" and "don'ts".  Here, we have James charging us to avoid slandering others.  Of course, we are to love and forgive others as God loves and forgives us, so this clearly includes judging and slandering others.

James is not the only one to charge us with avoiding judgement, slander, and gossip - check here for other books with a similar message.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and forgives me - and there is no one else who can do what You do for me - You alone are God and I am grateful for what You have done and continue to do for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  I slander and I gossip - 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.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. v12-13

Our lives are filled by moments when we make judgements and our judgements precede our actions.  We must first be transformed by the renewing of our mind so that we can limit those judgements which prevent mercy.  Believers are all granted mercy and forgiveness by Christ and He tells us to love and forgive others as the Lord loves and forgives us (John 13:34, Colossians 3:13).  

James references "the law that gives freedom" and I am reminded of John Piper's awesome post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who forgives me...You are SO full of mercy and compassion for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such love.  I too often judge without mercy.  Please forgive me Jesus!  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 he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village.

Luke 9

And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village. v52-56

There will always be those who spurn the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The Bible is replete with such people.  We must keep in mind that as I posted a few days ago, faith is a gift from God, so God allows or it is by His plan that some choose not to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  We are not to judge these people - this is God's role - but instead to love these people and in some circumstances to move on in "our mission".  God wants us to be the messenger and we can leave the rest to Him.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am grateful that You put others in my life to share the Good News with me - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love.  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, energy and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Matthew 7

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. v6

Jesus focuses our attention to judgement...that we are to avoid judging others. First of all, that is not our role - God alone is judge.  Second, we are to love (John 13:34), forgive (Ephesians 4:32), and be graceful to others as God is to us.  In verse 6, Jesus turns our attention to how we should treat others who spurn our words of truth.  MacArthur claims Jesus' statements here do not contradict his previous statements (Matthew 5:39, Luke 6:29) on how we should treat our enemies. John Piper's thoughts on this are consistent - that no one is beyond our prayers. 

Everyone is worthy of Jesus' grace.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome and incredible God - I know You love me, You died for me, and You are so full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I continue to miss the mark - 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.

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[.]

Habakkuk 2

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright—but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[.] v4

We often see wickedness all around us and we question how God can allow wickedness to exist - yet we must recognize that sin exists in the world since the beginning from The Fall. 

Habakkuk questions how Judah can get away with such wickedness. 

God responds to Habakkuk's (chapter 1) plea for justice by handing over Judah to the Chaldeans (Babylonians).  God also reassures us that our focus should be on ourselves (do not judge) and that God sees all sin (nothing is hidden) and sin does not go unpunished.  See also my recent post on Nahum 1.

Help me God live a righteous life by faith.

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

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

Joel 3

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. v2

God punished Judah for turning away from Him (see chapter 1-2) as an example of how we all face consequences for our sin.  While we are held accountable for our actions, it is not our role to judge others in their own sin.  Judah's neighbors were certainly not innocent - see v2-3,5 - but it is God's role to judge others.

Do not judge.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2

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Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13

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Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

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

...[F]or my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56

...[F]or my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. v7

We are commanded to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ - see Matthew 28 and the Great Commission.  Yet I know for myself that I often make judgements of who would be good candidates to receive this Good News.  This is NOT what Jesus asks of us as Jesus is for everyone.  

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

Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.

Psalm 58

Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth. v11

We often concern ourselves with how others should be judged for their wrongs and in so doing we sin.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5

We should rest in knowing that God knows everything and that nothing is hidden from Him.  We can also rest in knowing that God's justice is perfect.

Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.  Revelation 22:11-12

It is not our role to play judge. On the other hand, we are to love others as God loves us (John 13:34). 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who knows all yet loves all.  You know everything about me including my sin, yet You still came to earth to die on a cross for me so that I would be free from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  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.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. v22-23

Jude wants us to stand firm in our faith in the face of those who corrupt the church.  As we do this, we must be careful not to judge or be harsh.  Instead we are to be merciful.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:1-5

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:9

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a merciful God, full of love, patience, compassion, kindness, etc. for me even though often I am not for others.  Thank You Jesus for such love but 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 do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself strength and wisdom.  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.  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.