Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!

Isaiah 26-27

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! Isaiah 26:19

I return to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 10, Day 2, the focus continues with Isaiah 26-27, primarily on Isaiah 26, where my commentary indicates that while Isaiah 24-25 describe "triumphant prophecies of final victory by the Lord over all tyrants who oppress God’s people in this world[,]" God's people seek encouragement and guidance about how to endure in the present while waiting for God's promised end times judgement of the whole world.  In Isaiah 26, today's focus is on a contrast of the two different futures awaiting the dead - those of the faithful, and those who do not see nor acknowledge/accept God. Isaiah 26:14 and 26:19 represent the two different outcomes. They in 26:14 are described is not seeing God in 26:11. Revelation 21:4 portrays a beautiful picture of the New Heaven and Earth and how all tears will be wiped away:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy indeed of my praise and worship!  You give me - and all faithful - eternity in heaven with You and other believers!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - not by a long shot.  My sin is 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 the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Chapter 45: Pages 633-648

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:19-21

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) with Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 8 "Providence Over Christian Living" - moving to the final chapter - forty-five - "New Bodies, New World, Never-Ending Gladness in God".

Here, Piper places a capstone on the entire book (and the Bible) by describing "five climactic works of providence that grow out of the second coming of Jesus." These works are:

• We will see the Lord in the Greatness of His Glory > 2 Thessalonians 1:10
  
• We will be profoundly changed > 1 John 1:3:2
  
• We will experience everlasting, ever-increasing measures of pleasure > John 17:26, Ephesians 2:6-7
  
• The universe will be set free from bondage > 2 Peter 3:12-13, Romans 8:19-21
  

Finally, Piper states that we should not forget that in all of this - as is the case with everything - (see Colossians 1:16-18) - God will be supreme and central.  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and again I am beyond grateful that You saved me and are saving a place for me in Heaven - which sounds amazing!  I am not deserving of the glorification that awaits me - my sin continues...daily, including worry and other 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 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.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. v20-21

Paul continues to encourage us to focus on the eternal and on rewards in Heaven for those who believe (v1-10), and then he describes how Jesus provides the ministry of reconciliation (v11-20).  We then get to v20-21 where Paul crystallizes for us how we exist solely for God that we can bring glory to Him and in so doing, bring others to Him.

I am SO grateful that God provided His one and only Son so that I be united with God, have forgiveness of sin and eternity in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave me His Son so that I could be reconciled to God, have forgiveness of sin, the Holy Spirit, and eternity in Heaven.  Thakn You Jesus!  What amazing gifts!  I am clearly not deserving - I am selfish and I have many other 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.