“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”....‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Revelation 6-7

“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”....‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:3...16-17

Session #5 of  David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 6-7, as the intensity of the last days unfolds for both unbelievers who are damned and believers who are saved.  Broadly speaking, Platt indicates that we must approach this book with proper humility; there are a variety of interpretations and disagreements over Revelation, but this should never drive us towards division or despair.  We can all agree, regardless of our interpretation, that God always wins!

Key Reminders:

• Concerning the church...in essentials, we must have unity (we believe these central truths...)
• In non-essentials, such as with practical views on alcohol, schooling, interpretations of other aspects of Bible that remain mystery such as Revelation, we can have freedoms - avoid division 

 Regarding Revelation

• The arrangement of the book seems cyclical, not chronological (not meant to be read as day-to-day sequence of events); think cycles and spirals
• Visions gradually build towards climactic consummation
• Timing involves the last days - only point where something definitive is available - beginning of last days started when Jesus rose from the grave as His kingdom has come and continues to unfold (in between first and second coming)
• Theme is gospel of Jesus Christ; all visions given to us to primarily to encourage, exhort and compel us to believe and hold fast; rise up and be faithful and to patiently endure

Four Gospel Truths

• God is ultimately sovereign over evil; all permissions and power given (or allowed) under authority of God; Satan can do nothing apart from divine permission; suffering is always used to fulfill divine purposes
• Men and women are morally responsible for evil; men and women are decidedly sinful and dangerously self-destructive; sinfulness of man comes full circle; men and women deserve death
• God will judge men and women who turn from Him and live for this world; scope of His judgement will be cosmic; breadth of His judgement will be universal (and terrifying!) (6:12-17); duration of His judgement will be eternal
• God will save men and women who trust in Him and live for another world (chapter 7); Christians are secure on earth in the midst of tribulation; God plans the persecution of His people; God promises protection for His people; God has you sealed for eternity! God empowers perseverance for His people; Christians will stand in Heaven at the end of tribulation; They will shout God's victory; They will soak in God's glory; they will be satisfied by God's goodness and soothed by God's mercy (7:14-17)

 Practical Takeaways

• Non Christians should repent of sin with urgency and believe; Christians should stop toying with sin today!
• Proclaim the gospel with urgency!
• Humbly cry out for God's justice amidst persecution! 
• Confidently cry out for God's mercy amidst suffering!
• Build your life and family on that which lasts forever!
• Spend and sacrifice your resources on that which brings eternal reward!
• Remember that this world is not our home!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, who has saved a placed for myself and all believers in Heaven...for eternity!  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving of such 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.

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Luke 16

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. v14-15

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager of course is about money and Jesus warns us not to idolize or "serve" money (v13).  We are encouraged to be good stewards of the blessings God places in our hands.  John Piper encourages us to see how Jesus encourages us to do good with our money for the purposes of God's glory.

We must, just as the shrewd manager did, turn from our ways of waste (of our time, treasure, and talents).  See also John Piper: Calling All Clay Pots.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You are SO full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace.  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.

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Mark 15

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. v42-43

Jesus is brought before Pilate, beaten, mocked, and crucified.  He is then buried.  The Saturday before Easter is a critical day - and the folks at desiringGod.com give me new insight into the faith of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.  This same day is chronicled in Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 19.  It's important to reference all versions to capture critical details.

While all versions indicate Joseph provided the tomb where Jesus was buried and assisted in the burial, it is only in John where we learn that Nicodemus "brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds" as burial spices.  This is the same Nicodemus - a Pharisee - who visited Jesus in the night to learn from Him.

This commentary from desiringGod.com illuminates for us the bold obedience of Joseph and Nicodemus as courageous, cheerless, and costly, and we are to see such obedience as "not wasted".  I suspect both were focused on eternal rewards not so much on earthly gain.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has carried me through many periods of darkness and discouragement...I seek to be obedient to You but I need You desperately to strengthen my faith.  Apart from You I cannot have faith and can do and have no good things.  Thank You Jesus for the rich blessings You pour out for me.  I am not worthy.  I worry...far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome such sin and turn from it 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. 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Matthew 24

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. v35

As part of a broader warning about the end of times and false prophets, Jesus warns us of the temporal nature of the things of this world.  Jesus even warns us that some of us will "turn away from the faith and hate [other believers]" (v10).   He also encourages us that if we "stand firm to the end" we will be saved (v13).  

In a world that swirls with chaos, suffering, sin, etc., we must trust and have faith in a God that never changes as He is our rock and firm foundation.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and love NEVER changes - I can trust in You as my rock and firm foundation.  I love You.  Yet I am undeserving of Your 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.

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

Zephaniah 1

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. v7

Over the past few days, I've posted about the need for reverent fear of the Lord.  Here, we once again learn of an impending punishment for Judah. Although Judah obeyed God under King Josiah, they did not under Josiah's sons.  Punishment awaits not just Judah and the surrounding nations (see v3), but "all mankind on the face of the earth".  Such a punishment equates to the end of times and this message from Zephaniah is once again a warning that God's patience is not unlimited and that there will be an end and at that time all will be judged according to what they have done (Revelation 22:12)

We must act with a sense of urgency during the time we have here on earth.

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 1:22-23

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3

 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8

 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God....creator and author of all things and merciful Heavenly Father.  You have been SO patient with me...thank You Jesus.  I know I am not worth such love and patience because I often fail to dispense such patience, grace and mercy to others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn 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.  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, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Amos 9

I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,”

says the Lord your God. v15

The last verse in the book of Amos reveals the hope of Christ - that God rescues us from the sting of sin and death.  While we may not be promised a life of worldly happiness, we are promised joy and peace (Galatians 5:22) in this world and eternity in Heaven with God.  We should be focused on how we are citizens of Heaven and be thankful and content with the life God gives us in this world as it is only temporary while we will have eternity in Heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. Philippians 2:14-15

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God who is full of mercy and compassion for me, even though I grumble and complain and I fail to obey.  Thank You for such mercies and compassion but please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure 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, the church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

Proverbs 18

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. v9

I've previously posted on being lazy, and this brings to mind how we are to live not for the selfish pleasures of today and for ourselves but for the glory of God and for the eternal.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

We should be examining our idle time to determine how we can rather be in action doing something for the glory of God.  Yes, we can rest and have fun in our lives but we should also challenge ourselves here. 

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

See also posts on eternal focus, etc. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You are so full of grace, compassion, mercy, patience, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am lazy and often focus on my selfish desires...please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help focus on serving and glorifying You vs myself!  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and to have them love and accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalm 149

For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. v4

Humility is very important - we must not allow our plans, our desires, our selfishness, or our ambition to be what people see in us.  We must deny ourselves and allow Jesus to be seen in us - others must see in us the Light that is Jesus Christ.

Also key to this verse is that we race for crown that is not of this world - we should strive for glory and victory for Jesus.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Jesus, please help me be humble so that I can run the race You set before me and run it to win the crown that lasts forever. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, patience, etc. for me, even though I am not deserving. Thank You Jesus for Your love and great mercy.  I often fail to love others as You do.   Please forgive me and help me overcome my lack of trust and faith.  Help me overcome my unbelief!  Help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.

Psalm 144

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them?  They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. v3-4

The creator of the universe, who holds all things together (Colossians 1:16-18), does not need humans.  Yet He loves us, and does more than think of us; He died for our sins and saves us from the sting of sin and death.  And He protects, provides, guides, etc. We must focus on how we exist BECAUSE of and FOR Him.  We must also think about how we must focus on the eternal - that He is eternal, and we live for riches in Heaven, not here on earth.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

We must live with the end in mind.  See also post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides, protects, teaches, loves, etc.  All of this for people like me who are undeserving!  Thank You Jesus...for all that You do and all that You are.  I know You always with me.  Thank You.  Please forgive me for my stress and worry.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Psalm 119

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. v160

In world where standards - moral, ethical, educational, etc. - keep shifting or eroding,  God stands alone as the source of truth that never changes.  He is eternal and everything about Him is eternal, including His character and His attributes.

Luke 1:37 says: "For no word from God will ever fail".

Earlier in this Psalm it says: 
 

Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. v90

 

James 1:17 says God "does not change like shifting shadows."

 

While our circumstances constantly change, a strong faith and trust in God will prevent us from being shaken.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

 

Of course, when we better understand God and become more like Him (Romans 12:2), our ability to stand firm in our faith SHOULD grow.  

 

See also biblical references to "not shaken". 

 

My Prayer: Lord, You are truth and light in world of darkness...without You I would be lost.  Thank You for being my light, my God, my Lord and Savior.  I am not worth Your love because I continue to worry far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever.

Psalm 92

Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever. v6-7

I am often distracted by the things of this world.  Much of that distraction is how I view others...envy, jealousy, impatience, anger, etc.  I am also often distracted by my own judgement of others' sin.  Yet I allow all of these distractions to take my eye off Jesus.  The world and all of its wickedness will go away - but Jesus will not.  I must fix my eyes on Jesus and continue to run the race set before me.

But you, Lord, are forever exalted. v8

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

My Prayer: Lord, You are forever, and You are my rock - never changing like the shifting shadows.  You never lie and You always keep Your promises.  We can rest in You because You provide refuge and shelter from the storms of life.  You are worthy of my praise and worship.  Thank You Jesus for how You bless me daily.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am too easily distracted by the world and I take my eyes off Jesus and the race You set before me.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. v12

Moses' words, as divined by God, highlight how our life here on earth is fleeting, and that we should respect God's sovereignty and power because He holds our lives in His hands.  We are then encouraged to live with the end in mind.

One of the implications of numbering our days is that we have a plan.  If our days have numbers than we are focused on completing something, something that God intends for us.  For Moses it was leading the Israelites to the promised land.  From Deuteronomy 34, we know that Moses left everything "on the table":

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12

I desire to live a life like Moses - one where the days are numbered - one where we live with a plan to finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7), living with the end in mind and living out the life that God intends for us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God, worthy of my praise and worship...and so much more.  You are the beginning, the end, the Creator, and the One who holds all things together.  Thank You for being my God and for adopting me as Your son.  I am not worthy of such love as You have poured out and continue to pour out for me.  I am harsh with my thoughts and actions towards others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and turn towards others.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity!

Psalm 89

Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all humanity! v47

Life is indeed fleeting...and every day is a gift from God.  We must recognize that we are entirely dependent on God alone (Matthew 5:3, Psalm 16) and serve as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) - keeping in mind that our life here is temporary and that our citizenship is in Heaven (for eternity) (Philippians 3).  

Lord, help me serve You during my time on earth and focus on running the race to Heaven towards completion - focusing on the eternal crown of life in Heaven with You.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere...perfect in all attributes.  I am not worthy of such a God...such a God that knows everything about me including my sin.  I lack patience and I am harsh with my thoughts and actions...especially with regard to my family...how sinful!  Thank You for Your grace and mercy but please forgive me Jesus for my lack of grace towards others.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

Psalm 58

Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” v11

Just as David cries out for justice and is comforted in knowing that God is just, we too should feel comforted and at peace that all will be made perfect in the end.  Our focus should not be in worry, envy, jealously, anger, etc. at this world but instead on God Himself, the author of life and of our faith.  He is just. For believers there is hope in this justice in that we are spared...and that we will live eternity in Heaven with God our Father.

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”  Revelation 21:6-8

My Prayer: Lord, You are both just and merciful...and full of love, power, knowledge, wisdom, etc.  You ARE my all in all.  Apart from You I can nothing and certainly no good thing.  I must abide in You for my sustenance.  Thank You for the blessing of every day.  I need You desperately in my life because I am broken.  I continue to worry and act out of this worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

Psalm 39

Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. v5

We are reminded this morning that God is in control, that our earthly security is a mere phantom, that every new day is a gift of grace from God (and we are not deserving of such a gift) and that we must live life with the end in mind.

David expands and clarifies this further:

Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. v6 

In light of God's dominion over our life, Peter admonishes us to live a life of reverent fear:

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.  1 Peter 1:17

Living today with intention will provide us with hope for a secure future in Heaven: 

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”

The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.   

Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. 

 All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Micah 4:1-5

My Prayer: Lord, You are our hope....our only hope.  We live on earth as foreigners assaulted from all sides...but You protect us and You rescue us...and through faith in You we receive not just forgiveness from sins but eternity in heaven - our true home.  What a great God You are!  Thank You for such gifts Jesus but I am not worth (Matthew 5:3) such a God and I am completely dependent on You.  Forgive me for my many sins of impatience, anger, etc.  Help me overcome and turn from such sins towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. v7

There are times where I place my trust in things or people or my own abilities, etc.  No doubt this is sinful...particularly in light of what I have recently posted here.  Additionally, John warns us here about placing our trust in "the world":

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17-19

There is also Jesus' warning:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

On the subject of humans plans vs desires and plans of God, click here and here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are - without a doubt, apart from You I can do nothing...yet I know there have been times when I trust in matters of the world more so than so and I know this is sinful - please forgive me Jesus!  Thank You for Your grace, mercy, compassion, patience, etc. but please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love and trust You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. v11

When I think of the path of life, I think about how it may not be as planned but it is all for my good and God's glory.

[The people] are the shoot I have planted,

the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.  Isaiah 60:21

 

The path of life is towards the eternal and that is where I should focus.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. v8

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12:1-2

I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6

My Prayer: Lord, You are way, the truth, and the life. Apart from You I am nothing.  Yet I often think about my abilities as though they are my own hand for my glory.  You have been so patient and graceful to me...thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not worth such a God because I think of myself too often and my glory.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation.  Please help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Psalm 11

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. v7

There are days when it is difficult to keep going, and to keep going along the path set for us by God - to avoid sin and to glorify Him.  I know there are many times when I want go my own path, to divert from the path God has set in front of me, because I may believe that my path is better and I don't trust that God's path is the way.  Yet in Psalms 11:7 David provides the encouragement I need to focus on the eternal as a means to persevere while here on earth.

See also Acts 20, 1 Corinthians 9, and 2 Timothy 4, Hebrews 12 - click here for details.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalms 119:105

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You provide a path for me...and it is a perfect path.  You have never led me astray - every path You have provided has been a blessing to me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I am easily distracted...even today and desire to go my own path with various frustrations.  Forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and side effects of cancer.  Please heal her from the removal of the chemo port today and praise God for this milestone!  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. v15-17

John is warning us about how the world will not only not satisfy (will also pass away) but it will not traps us in sin.  Instead we must focus on what God who is and always will be the source of all, the beginning and the end...eternal, and eternally satisfying.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and I know You love me, knowing everything about me, including my sin, even before it happens.  You came for me, suffering and dying on the cross so that I would not be slave to my sins and so that I would have eternal life with You in Heaven.  How great You are!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the greatest gift of all time.  I am not worth such a gift...I allow my words to include bad language, gossip, harshness, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me focus on just You on and NOT the world or anything in it.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help her so that side effects of radiation are not harsh and so that the side effects of chemo go away quickly and completely.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with uswould they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with uswould they be made perfect. v39-40

In yesterday's post, I wrote about how we should understand how we are foreigners and strangers on earth but citzens of earth.  This morning I read about how heroes of the Bible from Abraham on all lived by faith, focusing not on their time on earth but on Heaven and on God's promise.  We should all focus and rest on God's promise.

My Prayer: God You are a great God who has reserved a place in Heaven for all who believe in You, including me...broken and all.  What a great God You are Jesus that You would suffer and die and do so much for me.  I am broken and in desperate need of You.  Please forgive me for me selfishness and my laziness.  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.   Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Help me focus on Heaven and eternal rewards...not on my time here on earth.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.