For I have no one like [Timothy], who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:19-30 

For I have no one like [Timothy], who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:20-21

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Philippians 2:19-30 where Paul shares how he seeks to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to the church in Philippi to encourage them and as examples for how our brothers and sisters in Christ are to love, support and encourage one another. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V21: Christ has His own interests, and they include that as many as possible from all nations be saved and that He be glorified - see also Matthew 28:19, Mark 10:45, John 12:28. V24: The Lord is trustworthy.  Indeed, God is faithful and all of His promises will come to pass - 2 Corinthians 1:20. V27: God is merciful.  Indeed not only are believers saved - given what we don't deserve and not given what we do deserve, but His mercies never cease and are new every morning - Lamentations 3:22-23.  V30: God gives all believers work - His work is broadly the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), and He gives us the local church and each of spiritual gifts to be used in service of this work. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V21: People's motives are often impure, even within the church.  Vv19-20, 22, 25-28: God gives us our brothers and sisters in Christ with whom we serve, support and encourage.  What a blessing!    
• 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 selfish ambition and your own interests (Matthew 20:16).  Claim the promise that God is faithful and trustworthy.  Follow the example of Timothy who loved Christ and served the church in the advancement of the gospel.  Love, support, and encourage other believers within the church.  

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, for the mercies You pour out for me daily, for giving me the church and my brothers and sisters in Christ and how they love, support, and encourage me!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me 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.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.  1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 16:5-24 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "If possible, parting words should always be encouraging and uplifting, particularly after having to speak tough truths in love."

Key excerpts from the introduction: "In what was probably the toughest, hardest letter (1 Corinthians) Paul ever had to write to a church, you can almost hear the relief in his voice once the need for tough love is over. This last section is written on a very upbeat note. Paul is anticipating anticipating a visit to these Corinthian Christians, exhorting them to be open and supportive to others who may want to come work alongside them as well as to stand firm in their faith." 

Divisions per the commentary:

1. A Word of Anticipation (16:5-12): "Paul left unstated that it is obvious that one of the main reasons he wants to spend a good deal of time with this church was that he hoped to rebuild bridges and help them to improve their witness for Christ and their unity in the body.  But Paul may have had an even more practical motive. He could find more gainful employment in Corinth than in almost any other city he visited. Tentmakers were in demand there because of the Isthmian Games, which had high attendance, and because of the two harbors there. Bailey points out that tentmakers would also manufacture sails, and small ships would naturally use “the winter” to get their vessels ready for their shipping season (Paul, 486)."
   
2. A Word of Exhortation (16:13-14): "Paul, within one verse in rapid fire, gives some exhortatory words all in the imperative that are in a sense a call to arms....The Corinthians were to always be on their guard and never go to sleep at their theological post, making sure that false teaching did not corrupt the church....We should never ever apologize for standing firm in the faith and standing for truth and being strong, but we must remember that our tone is extremely important. If truth is not offered in love, even the greatest defense of the faith in the world will fall on deaf ears."
3. A Word of Commendation (16:15-18): "Even though people like [Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus] serve mostly behind the scenes, Paul reminds the Corinthians, we should always give honor to whom honor is due."
   
4. A Word of Salutation (16:19-24): "Paul closes a tough letter with words of tenderness, affection, and greetings from the churches in Asia....If possible, even when conversations are tough by their nature, it is always good to end them on a positive note that includes encouragement and exhortation. Paul actually teaches us in this chapter how to end a low conversation on a high note. He thus reminds us of the importance of maintaining personal relationships and friendships." 
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - providing mercies that are new every morning and that never cease.  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.

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 8

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:12-13

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 8.  Based on the ESV footnote from v1, Paul responds "to a question in the Corinthians' letter" to him - see also the same language in 7:1 - where he admonishes those who believe in how eating foods offered to idols somehow offer a benefit.  

v1-2: Paul draws a distinction from knowing something - perhaps facts, and this may serve to "puff" us up and by extension make others feel inferior (when this person whom supposedly knows something does not really know anything as it is God who reveals wisdom and knowledge) - vs love which "builds up" another.  

v3: Paul goes further with this distinction by stating that if we "love God, [we are] known by God."

v4-6: Paul now writes that "therefore" gaining knowledge through the eating of food offered to idols is a fool-hearty pursuit - since idols are not real and only God reveals wisdom and knowledge.  All things come from God and from Him we exist, and though Him all things, including people, exist.

v7-13: Some who do not know the Good News or are new to faith in Jesus Christ are weakened by thoughts and beliefs that might believe that good offered to idols provide some benefit.  Paul is explicit that what we eat is not of concern or care to God.  God does care however when we pursue theology that weakens faith.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives my wisdom and knowledge - it all comes from You.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving because I often get haughty and arrogant and I have other sin - lots of it and 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.

For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Corinthians 2

For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Corinthians 2:6-8

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter twenty-two - Backbone, Blunt, and Beautifully Affirming.  Here, John Piper admires and loves Paul for demonstrating a unique ability to encourage and affirm while also being "blunt and forceful when necessary*."  Piper first describes Paul's ability to encourage and affirm by pointing to 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (despite the challenges described by Piper in the church in Corinth: "conflicts over leaders, church discipline, food offered to pagan idols, the Lord’s Supper, the role of women in worship, the use of spiritual gifts, and more*") and 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8.  Piper then moves to describe Paul's ability to be blunt and forceful in the face of sin, etc by pointing to 1 Corinthians 11:17.  Piper also shares how being blunt and forceful has its limitations, saying how when we rebuke and correct it should be limited - "brief and redemptive*."  For this, Piper reminds us that we should be full of grace and forgiveness.  On this latter count, Piper refers us to 2 Corinthians 2:6-8.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good - that You are SO full of grace and forgiveness for me - I am not deserving of such grace.  My sin is great indeed...and daily.  Please forgive me for my lack of grace and encouragement of others.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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.

[W]e will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows, and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4

[W]e will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows, and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  Ephesians 4:15-16

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter twenty-one - Christ Was All-Sufficient, and Community Was Crucial.  Here, John Piper describes and admires Paul for how he – despite his position in the church – simultaneously poured himself out for others and sought and depended on the community of other believers for refreshment, encouragement, and strength.  The chapter starts with Piper explaining once again how Paul did not lord his authority over others, but instead served them and built them up – as scripture commands. Piper notes the extent to which Paul did this and felt often drained by such service, pointing to: Philippians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 12:15, 10:8, 13:10, Colossians 1:24, 1Thessalonians 2:8, and 2 Timothy 2:10.  Piper also shares how Philippians 4:13 points to Paul’s dependence on Christ for his needs and strength.  Yet this dependence on Christ is not described as rugged independence from others – Piper points to 1 Corinthians 12:18-22 and Ephesians 4:15-16 for descriptions of members of the church as mutually interdependent.   Piper then moves to provide scriptural examples of Paul’s dependence on others – pointing to Romans 1:11-12, 15:24, 1Thessalonians 2:17-20, 2 Corinthians 2:2, and 2 Timothy 1:4.  Piper wraps the chapter by describing Paul and his service to and dependence on others:  he didn’t “consider himself above the ordinary means of grace that all Christians need, including the fellowship of other believers.  Paul bears his authority and power and reputation without pretense, and freely admits his need for the refreshment of Christ that comes through other believers.*”

*John Piper. 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good in how You came to serve and supply us with our needs to that we can serve others.  You also provide others so that we can serve each other.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless. My sin is great and it continues…daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Hebrews 12

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:12-17, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text: 

I. The Charge: Keep Running (12:12-13): The commentary emphasizes how the author of Hebrews uses metaphors of drooping hands, weak knees, and lame feet, etc. to underscore how the Christian life is often one of struggle and we are encouraged to continue to persevere and endure. The author uses language from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 where the analogy of a race is also used. We are warned about obstacles to our faith - the commentary shares: "If you are going to run a race well, you will need a clear path, and to get a clear path, you will need to remove any obstacles. You don’t want to leave any dangerous spots where you could twist an ankle or trip over a rock....We must arrange our lives so that sin’s opportunities to ensnare us are significantly reduced."

II. The Challenge: Live Holy Lives (12:14-17): The commentary highlights v14 where Christians are to live at peace with everyone - not just the community of believers.  This is important particularly during periods of persecution as beliefs in the church are currently under attack - do not respond harshly. We are also reminded to be holy - recognizing that we are not perfect - and to fight sin. To do so, v15 seeks for believers to watch out for one another and to avoid division in the church. Finally, the commentary for the text wraps by pointing to a negative example - in contrast to the positive examples in chapter 11 (the Hall of Faith) - for believers. Esau traded his birthright for a meal (see full story in Genesis 25, 27).  The commentary describes this action as an irreverent and unthinkable action.  Esau then lost his father's blessing to Jacob.  Although Jacob did so deceptively, it was lost nonetheless and Esau is described in the commentary as showing regret but not repentance. We are referred to 2 Corinthians 7:10 where Paul compares Godly to worldly grief and the commentary describes Esau as displaying the latter. 

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me great examples of faithfulness so that I can continue running the race of faith to the finish - through scripture, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and of course in Yourself!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You encourage and save me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

I continue my study of Hebrews, moving to Hebrews 10:19-25 and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews.  The commentary outlines two divisions for this text:

I. Confidence in Christ (10:19-22): Here a key point raised by the commentary is how "Christian[s] hold on not by [their] own tenacity, but by God’s faithfulness. We will persevere until the end because God does not abandon his children." We are referred to John 6:37 and 10:28 as evidence of this claim.

II. Holding On to the Confession (10:23-25): The commentary shares how the text describes that Christian perseverance can only occur through the body - we must avoid isolation as each part of the body needs all of the other parts of the body. V25 includes an admonishment to not neglect this togetherness. We need each other in the church.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good - and I have assurance of my salvation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are saving a place for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Daniel 10:19-25, and my unaided observations of the text. Here, we are encouraged in many ways.  The author of Hebrews builds on the case that Jesus's sacrifice was perfect and abolished the sacrificial system from the Old Testament.  In the process we are cleansed of our sins, including our consciousness - no longer a slave to sin and the ensuing cycle of shame, etc. Instead we are slaves to God (see Romans 6:22)! In light (therefore) of how we are given direct access to God (v19), cleansed of sin (v20) and because we have in Jesus a great high priest (v21), we should draw (and stay) near to God based on confidence knowing that God is faithful to us, so we should be faithful in return (v22-23). We should also remember to build up and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly as we never know when Jesus will return or when we will be called home to Heaven (v24-25). 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your sacrifice was perfect and believers can rest assured that we are cleansed of sin and can live free and boldly to love and serve You.  What a tremendous blessing and You are faithful!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:11-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:1-13, as I move on to what the commentary describes as the third division "Entering with the Word," which looks at Hebrews 4:11-13.  Here, the commentary calls out how the text in v11 reinforces the exhortation to "strive to enter [God's] rest."  Key to this effort is how we encourage one another daily (see Hebrews 3:12); the commentary shares how corporate worship enables this encouragement: "[t]his is one of the things we do every Sunday in corporate worship when we sit under the preaching of the Word of God. This is what we do when we sing together. This is what we do when we pray together. This is what we do when we fellowship together. We gather in corporate worship to encourage one another to be fully satisfied in Christ and in him alone, lest we fail to enter his rest."  The commentary then pivots to how the text in v12-13 highlights the Word of God and the key role it plays to helps us avoid "falling away." It shares that "[s]ince God is the author of Scripture, it is not a dead book. As God lives, Scripture lives....Thus, Scripture, because it is God’s Word, is alive and life giving. The Bible is not a bunch of dead, lifeless words. It is the living Word of God.  It accomplishes everything God wills. As the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, 'so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do' (Isaiah 55:11)....The description of the Bible as a sword that can pierce and divide the soul demonstrates the invasive quality of the Word....it is Scripture that reads us. Scripture untangles the human heart and unearths sin like no other book can. No other book can discern the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. Only God’s Word can do that....In conjunction with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God cuts through the sin and darkness of the human heart to restore spiritual health and vitality for Christ. Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Without the Word, we are as good as dead. God’s Word, however, eradicates the disease of the human heart and breathes life where there is death....Scripture strips us bare before our own eyes and before the eyes of God because it exposes God’s ineffable character. As Calvin famously stated, “It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked on God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself” (Institutes, I.I.2). God gives us the gift of Scripture so that we will not follow the example of Israel’s disobedience." Worship and commune with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and read/study God's Word! 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and Your Word, so that I am armed to not fall away...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. For this morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 3:7-19, moving to what the commentary describes as the second division "Exhorted to Endure," which looks at Hebrews 3:12-19.  The primary takeaway for this division, as the division title indicates, is for believers to encourage and admonish one another as a means to both keep and grow in faith - this is key for believers to avoid falling away from faith (as many of the first generation Jews did when they wandered through the wilderness in search of the Promised Land).  The commentary shares that "[i]mmersing oneself in the community of saints, in the care and watchfulness of the local church, in the preaching of God’s Word, and in the exhortation of fellow believers remedies an evil, unbelieving heart. These things protect us from falling away."  We are referred to Colossians 3:16, where Paul offers the same remedy to "combat evil and unbelieving hearts".  Fellow believers - encourage one another!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God who provides my church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ who are able to exhort, admonish, and encourage me - helping me keep and sharpen my faith.  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.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Isaiah 47-50

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

I continued my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 18 day 4b, which includes a focus on Isaiah 49:14-26 and a review of the entire chapter.  My commentary shares the following divisions for this chapter:

1. Christ unveiled as God's salvation to the ends of the earth (v1-7)
2. God's day of salvation for the exiles (v8-13)
3. Despite all appearances, the exiles will return (v14-21)
4. The Gentiles will aid the redemption of Israel or be destroyed (v22-26)

In particular, the commentary for v14-21, strikes a chord this morning as believers may grow weary not seeing the fruit of their labor in sowing seeds for the Kingdom: "[t]he kingdom of God will always appear underwhelming and somewhat disappointing in this present age compared to the grandeur of the King and the perfection of the promises he has made to us. So pastors, missionaries, evangelists, parents, and Christian laborers of all types will have to battle discouragement constantly when the results are far less than we feel they should be....But don’t be deceived. When we are finally in the heavenly Zion, we will be amazed at the stunning multitude of the redeemed there."  Of course, then a key takeaway is to persist in sharing the Good News and doing the work of Christ...keep running the race and do not grow weary.

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My prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who never leaves or forsakes me and who ALWAYS provides - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how 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 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 then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 14-15

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter eighteen Gospel Unity, which covers Romans 14:1-15:13.  My focus today is v14:13-23, which my commentary refers to under the heading "Love." Here, Paul picks up where he left off (see post yesterday) and focuses again on how we must avoid judgement of one another in the church - unity is important. He uses ceremonially unclean foods again as the example to make his point that "[t]he kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (v14:17).  Service, honor and worship of God (akin to "matters of importance" level 2) from yesterday's commentary are important in God's eyes so there is where we should focus (as well as "matters of importance" level 3). We are to pursue "what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding" (v14:19) and "not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God" (v14:20) - we must not do so for any unessential/inconsequential/debatable matter of faith (level 1).  

My commentary looks at today's verses and emphasizes that, particularly for stronger or more mature believers, are not to flaunt freedom in Christ in front of weaker, less mature believers - we are not to put any "stumbling block" or "hindrance" in the way of a believer (v14:13) as this would not be "walking in love" (v14:15a).  We are warned not to "destroy the one for whom Christ died" (v14:15b). Once again - church unity is important! We are encouraged to follow Paul's lead by looking at his words from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. The commentary goes further on the subject of "flaunting" freedom in Christ with weaker believers by warning us to look at v14:22 and to see that we are not "to broadcast your views on disputable matters, trying to convince people that you are right."  A useful saying is provided: "[i]n essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, but in all things charity."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are an awesome God who loves me and who has saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and mercy.  I am often impatient with younger, weaker believers.  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.

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Genesis 6-9

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:12-16

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, in preparation for leading my Friday morning men's Bible study peer group, I am going to summarize my key takeaways from a review of Genesis 6-9 and the story of "Noah: Hope When the Floodwaters Rise*".

*Title of lesson one from the Max Lucado study.

The overarching theme of the study is one of hope, and how God provides this hope.  Our story starts in Genesis 6 where we see that a relationship with God is a basis for supernatural and eternal hope.  God is very disappointed in what He created with humanity (and humanity's wickedness) and so He set in motion a plan to wipe out all of humanity through a flood - except for one man and his family: Noah.  The first question we must ask ourselves at this point is why did God choose Noah?  Well, scripture tells us that "Noah pleased the Lord" (Genesis 6:8).  It also tells us that "Noah did everything that God commanded him" (Genesis 6:22, 7:5, 7:16).  God chose Noah and his family to be the basis for humanity after the flood because Noah "was a good man, the most innocent man of his time" AND he "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9).  Yet at the same time, we know Noah did not lead a perfect life because at least on one occasion (Genesis 9:20-21) he became drunk and the Bible is clear that this is a sin. We don't know the extent of Noah's sin; for example, whether he was an alcoholic; and we also don't know what OTHER sins Noah had.  We only know that he was "the most innocent man of his time". But it is fair to say that Noah is a great example of how God uses broken and sinful people to accomplish His will.  This should serve to both humble and encourage us.  We can all be used by God in ways that our human minds cannot even begin to fathom - all starting with a relationship with God and a desire to glorify and please Him. 

As the story unfolds, we see that the flood is not just overwhelming in terms of destruction but one can sense that it was overwhelming emotionally.  Scripture tells us "[a]ll that was left was Noah and what was with him in the boat" (Genesis 6:23).  We get this detail so that we can place ourselves in Noah's shoes - so that we can feel his isolation and loneliness.  Noah was probably isolated and lonely as he built the ark - likely mocked by those around him during this time who saw his building activities as foolish and laughable. Even though Noah had his wife and family (and a veritable zoo!) during the flood and its aftermath, the flood itself lasted more than a year (see Genesis 7:11, 8:3-5, 8:6, 8:13-14 for more hints on the timeline)! During this time of a pandemic we can both sympathize and empathize with Noah - this must have been rough!  We know (and scripture tells us) that we are designed to live with others together - supporting and encouraging one another.  Now, how did Noah get through the flood emotionally?  God gave Him hope.  After 150 days of flooding, "God remembered Noah and all the wild and tame animals with him in the boat" (Genesis 8:1).  He made a wind, made the water go down, and rested the ark on top of a mountain so that Noah had perspective and could actually see MORE of the land as the water receded (Genesis 8:2-5) - by giving Noah perspective, this in and of itself is encouraging as often just taking a step back and having perspective provides hope.  Also, after initially releasing a raven that eventually returned because it found no place to land (Genesis 8:6-9), Noah sent out a dove and this time it returned with an olive leaf, and then he sent the dove again, and then it did not return as it likely found a place to land and live on its own (Genesis 8:12).  In between rounds of sending the dove out, we see that Noah gained encouragement by what God was doing as it says "[t]hen Noah knew that the ground was almost dry" (Genesis 8:11). We see God providing hope as well when Noah and his family leave the ark and step onto dry land after the flood waters receded. Noah builds an altar to the Lord (Genesis 8:20), offers sacrifices, and God is pleased (Genesis 8:21-22).  Yet even as Noah and his family left the ark, their future was far from certain and this must have been lurking in their minds.  So God once again offers encouragement and hope as He blesses them and makes a covenant with them (Genesis 9:1-17). 

 Questions for discussion:

1. For those of you who became a believer later in life (and did not grow up in the church), can you share where you placed your hope and how this did not provide supernatural and eternal hope?
   
2. Assuming you agree that obedience to God is key to pleasing Him, are their commands that you find burdensome or harder than others?  Read 1 John 5:3
   
3. Can you share times in your life when you were overwhelmed in your circumstances but God gave you hope?
4. What other stories in the Bible give you hope and why?
5. What verses give you hope and why?
6. How have you used the hope God gave You to give hope to others?
7. Anything else you would like to share about Noah's story or about what we have discussed?

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who both gives me hope and who has given me hope when I have been overwhelmed in my circumstances.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the supernatural and eternal hope that only You provide.  I have sin...daily, including 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 messages for me today and every day.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

2 Kings 17-18

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Day 188 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 this morning we see Israel's (northern kingdom) fall. My commentary* describes "one of the darkest hours of God's chosen nation" and how "[d]espite prophetic warnings, Israel still rejects God, and the end is at hand for the northern tribes. Last-minute desperation will lead to an alliance with Egypt in an effort to stave off Assyria, but the cause is hopeless. After a three-year siege, Samaria will fall and many of the people of Israel will be led captive to Assyria. Their lands and homes will be occupied by settlers sent in from Babylonia and other Eastern countries. These new Samaritans will become a hybrid people and will develop an unusual mixed religion."

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

Detailed thoroughly in today's reading, there are many factors leading to Israel's fall, but in my mind lack of gratitude and humility are key - we must be thankful for all that God has done and that all that we are and have are from Him alone and not of our own doing.  We express our gratitude through daily worship and time with God.

I am struck with how BOTH Judah and Israel were complicit in Israel's fall.  From my reading this morning God "removed them from [H]is presence" (2 Kings 17:18, 23). We should never want this to happen!  Unity, encouragement of one another, and accountability in our faith are also important. 

God desires to get the attention of both kingdoms and so instead of a single kingdom as we see under David and Solomon, we get the divided kingdoms as today's reading refers back to 1 Kings 11 where Israel is "tore away" from Judah:

When he tore Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin. 2 Kings 17:21

Today's reading is also a stark reminder how the church and believers must remain united in love of the Lord.  See also 1 Corinthians 12:12:26.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has done so much for me and who continues to be with me - always!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  I continue to 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.