For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Mark 9:30-50

For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Mark 9:49-50

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 9:30-50.  Excerpts from the fourth (of four) division (vv42-50):

• For the fourth division, the title is: "Fear of Hell."
• "Our Lord had the strongest possible view of judgment and hell: it is real and it lasts forever. In this context it serves as a warning and a motivation to follow Jesus in devotion and discipleship."  
• "Jesus launches three powerful hyperboles to warn us of sin’s danger to others as well as to ourselves. We know they are hyperboles—not to be taken literally—because the Bible forbids bodily mutilation (Deuteronomy 14:1; 23:1; 1 Kings 18:28; Zechariah 13:6). However, in no way does this diminish or negate the importance of what Jesus is saying. “Things we value supremely, like eyes, hands, and feet—should not stand in the way of eternal life” (Edwards, Mark, 294). Eyes, hands, and feet are all inclusive of what we see, what we do, and where we go. As important as they are, better to lose them than to let them prevent you from entering eternal life and God’s kingdom."  
• Be mindful of sinful influences! "[w]hat our Lord was advocating, therefore, [to quote John Stott], was not a literal physical self-maiming, but a ruthless moral self-denial. Not mutilation but mortification is the path of holiness he taught” (Storms, “Be Killing Sin”)." 
• "Jesus said more about hell than anyone else in the Bible. “Hell” is the New Testament word used for the place of eschatological punishment (Matthew 5:29-30; 10:28; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5)."  
• "Picking up on the word “fire” in v. 48, Jesus affirms that “everyone will be salted with fire.” “Salt” is a preservative. Thus all will be “salted with fire” in a manner consistent with their relationship to Christ. For unbelievers it will be the perpetual fires of final judgment in hell. For the disciple it will be the preserving and refining fires of trials and suffering that mark the road to true greatness. This saying is found only in Mark’s Gospel. It must have held special significance for him and Peter." 
• "Salt is good as long as it can serve its purposes. But if it loses its purifying and preserving value then it is worthless."  
• "Be humble, and avoid stumbling or causing others to stumble. Don’t fuss and fight over positions and status. Be a reflection of the God-given peace you have received from Jesus (Romans 5:1). Pull for your brothers and sisters in Christ, not against them. After all, though we may play different positions, all who follow Jesus as Lord are on the same team."

John Piper refers to fear of God as a preservative against sin.  As long as we stay close to God, we experience His provision and protection.  John 15:1-11 is also instructive.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves.  You also protect and provide refuge.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and how You pour out blessings for me on a daily basis.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and 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 continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

 Malachi 4:1-6

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

I continue my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books. This morning I start a focus on an unassisted review of Malachi 4:1-6.  Here, the message from Malachi builds on God's warning for those who do not fear Him (see post yesterday). V1 describes this ominous warning: "the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." For those who fear God, vv2-3 offers hope and also shares how they will see justice for the wicked.  We can take comfort that God knows all of our deeds, including our sin and the sin of those evildoers and wicked people who do not fear God.  We may feel that we languish in obscurity, faithfully straining to be obedient to God's Word and to fear, love and please Him.  Yet God sees our faithfulness while also seeing wickedness - believers will be rewarded and the evildoers and wicked will suffer in eternal damnation (Hell). V4 reminds us to hold fast to God's Word and for obedience to His Word.  See also Hebrews 12:1-2.  Vv5-6 shares how God will send Elijah before Judgement Day and how there will be an opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord before final judgement is rendered.  Believers hold fast to the faith!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who reigns and sees all - including my sin, my obedience, and the sin of the wicked and those who do not fear You.  You have saved me from eternal destruction and You will deliver justice perfectly.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  I am not deserving of how You save.  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.

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

Zechariah 5:1-4

Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.”Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.” Zechariah 5:1-4

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 5:1-4, which the commentary outlines as the first of three divisions for the text 5:1-6:15 (5:1-4, 5-11, 6:1-15).  Here Zechariah's visions continue as he delivers a message from the Lord about a "curse that goes out over the face of the whole land."  This curse is directed towards those who steal and swear falsely by God's name.  We don't know why only these sins are the scope of God's judgement and we also don't know the details of the curse.  We do know that a specific form of blasphemy (of God's name) is treated very harshly in scripture.  Believers are exhorted to not "mess with fire" here as not being forgiven lends itself to condemnation...eternally.  In general, the broader question at hand is whether we should deliberately, willfully, and consistently commit sin.  Of course we should not.  We are in a daily battle for our souls (see 1 Peter 5:8) and we should remain in Him through daily exercise of spiritual disciplines such as reading and study of God's word, prayer, etc. Such efforts and reverent fear of God serve as a preservative against sin.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who protects from the dark forces of this world - thank You Jesus and for Your Advocate - the Holy Spirit.  I am not deserving of protection nor salvation.  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.     

Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers?

 Zechariah 1:1-6

Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? Zechariah 1:4-6a

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 1:4-6a, which the commentary outlines as the second of three divisions - entitled God’s Repeated Warnings Call Us to Return to Him - for the text vv1-6 (1:1-3, 1:4-6a, 6b).  Here, the commentary emphasizes the repeated warnings God issues to His people to not be like their ancestors (vv2,4-6) who are described in the commentary as Judah and Israel before their exile and captivity in Babylonia and Assyria respectively.  The prophets Isaiah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah all warned God's people to repent and turn from their wicked ways and deeds. One such warning that echoes the warning in Zechariah is provided in Jeremiah 3:12-14.  Unfortunately, God's people did not heed His warnings and call to repent and the commentary describes how Jeremiah "watched with tears in his eyes as his beloved city Jerusalem was destroyed and God’s people were taken away."  Jeremiah's weeping is captured in the book of Lamentations.  The commentary then connects the warnings here in the OT to the gospel and how all of us will die - and we should take the opportunity to save ourselves for eternity by confessing our sins and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - thank You for softening my heart and for making me one of Your elect.  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue 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.

Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.

 Zechariah 1:1-6

Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 1:3

I resume my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 1:1-3, which the commentary outlines as the first of three divisions for the text vv1-6 (1:1-3, 1:4-6a, 6b).  The introduction to this chapter of the commentary shares "[t]he hope of the gospel is that lost people can be found and that distant and wandering believers can come back to the Lord....Jesus calls us to return when we wander far from Him."  The commentary then shares how believers are not immune to straying from God and it points out how believers still struggle with divorce, pornography, racism, lack of tithing, etc.  Zechariah and his family are described in v1 - Berechiah - his father, and Iddo - his grandfather.  These names in Hebrew are defined with Zechariah's name meaning "the Lord Remembers," Berechiah's as "the Lord blesses," and Iddo's as "in time" with the combination of these names describing how the Lord remembers and blesses as His set time.  God gave Zechariah a message to encourage His people who had returned from Babylonian captivity and exile to continue in their efforts to rebuild the temple - yet due to various factors work stopped.  Haggai delivered a similar message. The commentary describes God's people as being complacent and discouraged in their fellowship with God - and God became very angry.  Zechariah exhorts God's people to a "renewed closeness of the Lord," and the commentary outlines three divisions, each of which provide a motivation to return to the Lord.  The first division or motivation provided by the commentary is God’s Righteous Wrath Calls Us to Return to Him.  In v2 Zechariah share how angry God was the people's ancestors and their lack of faithfulness and resulting sin.  We are referred to Psalm 78:10-11 that describes God's people and their spiritual state prior to Babylonian captivity and exile. Zechariah implores God's people to see the God they are spurning - the Lord of hosts - He who reigns over all, creator of Heaven and Earth and all of its inhabitants.  We are reminded that yes God is love, compassion, mercy, etc. but he is just, we are commanded to love Him (most important commandment), and scripture is clear that the "wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23).  As such, when we sin and especially when we spurn God we should be clear that God has every right to be angry.  He may be slow to anger (Nahum 1:3) but a righteous and just God does get angry with us when when we sin. The commentary shares: "[w]hen people deliberately take the path of sin and rebellion, when we determine to distance ourselves from Him, we experience God’s anger, His righteous wrath, just as the Jewish people did in their history. God is angry at sin in my life and in your life. And when we rebel against Him, we place ourselves into His anger zone."  We should be very careful straying from God and a reverent fear of God should drive us into His arms - John Piper refers to "fear as a preservative," helping us understand that God may love us but at the same time He is just and all powerful and can mete out His wrath and judgement just as easily as He can love. 

Comment and discuss this post.

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

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.

 Haggai 1:12

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Haggai 1:12

I resume my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 1:12 reviewing the commentary for the which is the second subdivision (of the first division) which the commentary entitles God’s Word Brings Forth Fear of the Lord.  From the commentary:

• V12 "conveys a couple of ideas about fear, neither of which convey terror, but instead they combine to provide a picture of affection and worship driven by an acute awareness of God’s character."
• It conveys "a sense of submission to the authority of God in response to God's character of God" - His holiness, His awesome power, etc. See also Isaiah 6:5.
• We are encouraged to look elsewhere in scripture where awareness of God drives us to our knees in awe and worship.  See Psalm 51:17 where Nathan confronts David about his infidelity with Bathsheba and David's response is a broken humble spirit seeking God forgiveness.
• V12 also conveys a sense of awe in God's power and might. See also Psalm 61:4.
• "The idea that God is majestic, powerful, and able to save is a key element to rightly understanding who God is and to rightly worshiping Him."
• "As we walk in disobedience, and as we find ourselves confronted with God’s Word, our response should be grounded in a fear of God. Not necessarily an abject terror, but instead affection, worship, and trust, rooted in the person and character of God."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion Jesus - thank You Jesus for my salvation, protection, instruction, guidance and direction, etc.  You are SO good!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out 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 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.

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Ecclesiastes 12:12-14, which covers the fourth division of the commentary chapter titled Politics and Justice Are Meaningless without Jesus - the fourth division specifically is referred to in the commentary as Ecclesiastes Cries Out for a Better King, a Resurrection, and a Final Judgment.  Here, the commentary offers several key takeaways:

• "Our longing for righteous political leaders who set things right is a longing for King Jesus. In His kingdom there is no oppression. There is no inequality. We see this now in seed form in the church—the outpost of the kingdom. Rich and poor, slave and free, sit down together at the table."
• We can defer death with a healthy lifestyle but we cannot escape it and judgement awaits us all - the only option we have is believe in the One who died on the cross - bearing all sin for all of humanity, taking the punishment we all deserve, and giving us the free gift of His grace.  All we need to do is confess and repent our sin, believe, have faith, and surrender our lives to Jesus Christ! He alone will ultimately end oppression and injustice.
  
• "Building a nation on God’s laws will not change America any more than it changed ancient Israel because laws do not change the human heart. Only Jesus can do that."
  

 An earthly life is full of many pursuits (that are meaningless and futile), but for those who believe and trust in God we must remember that our "whole duty" is to "fear God and keep His commandments."

Jesus is the King of Kings - and He saves! Repent, confess, believe, and trust in Him!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and mercies daily that never cease - You guide, care, protect, heal, etc. Thank You Jesus for saving me!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Proverbs 1

 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31

As part of my D-Group's study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book, I continue with an examination of Proverbs 1:1-7 for week 2 - we meet tomorrow night and I wrap my review of week 2 today, focusing on Proverbs 1:7 where it says "fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."  My study defines fear of the Lord as "reverent awe and healthy fear of God's displeasure and discipline."  Believers should all know and understand that we exist to glorify God and we certainly don't do that when we displease and disappoint God.  Once we accept God as our Lord and Savior we set our hearts upon Him and develop a "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matthew 5:6) such that we spend time in Bible study (emphasizing rigor) and prayer daily.  The more we get to know God the more our sanctification process should drive us to please and glorify (vs disappoint and dishonor). A quick examination of "fear of the Lord" in the Bible reveals that this phrase appears 27 times in the Bible, including:

• 2 Chronicles (14:14, 17:10, 19:7, 19:9)
• Job 28:28
• Psalms (19:9, 34:11, 111:10)
• Proverbs (1:7, 1:29, 2:5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:26-27, 15:16, 15:33, 19:23, 22:4, 23:17)
• Isaiah (11:2-3, 33:6)
  
• Acts 9:31
• 2 Corinthians 5:11

Acts 9:31 describes collective or "corporate" fear on the part of the church and how the early church grew as a result of such fear. Walking in the fear of the Lord implies how the church worked together to please God and avoid displeasing Him.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and worthy of praise, honor and glory - and You bless me...greatly, including my salvation - tshe greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such blessings and gift.  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 to me today and every day. 

 

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 21-22, and John 12

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. John 12:42-43

Day 315 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday of Jesus final week of His ministry before His death on the cross. My commentary* devotes a decent amount of effort to posit that the Last Supper takes place on Weds evening, using the Jewish definition of sunset as the beginning of the day as a key element of the argument.  Regardless of where one falls with the timing of the Last Supper we see also Judas Iscariot's betrayal scheme fall into place as well with today's scripture reading.

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

My commentary* also notes once again how most do not fully grasp who Jesus is and what is about to unfold.  We also see how some believed and some did not (John 12) and how scripture (John 12) references Isaiah 6:10) prophecies such disbelief.  In this context it is unremarkable how of the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus but failed to place their faith Him, fearing backlash.

Praise of others is a powerful and potentially intoxicating force - on its face it is not bad but it can be an idol as we see here how fear of man is greater than fear of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and worth of not just my praise, but also my fear - and I know that fear of You serves to help preserve me and keep me from sinning.  I need this preservative.  I am grateful for how You protect me but I am both undeserving and sinful anyway.  Please forgive me for my worry and other sins.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him....The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground....Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him....For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Psalm 126, 128, 129, 132, 147, and 149

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him....The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground....Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him....For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 128:1, 147:6, 10-11, 149:4

Day 274 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 with the 11 psalms my commentary* describes as "praise to God for hearing the people’s prayers in captivity and for being faithful in his promises of restoration". Today, I review Psalm 126, 128, 129, 132, 147, and 149.

Among the praise in today's reading are attributes God seeks in His children. He wants us to be humble - to find strength in Him, and to fear Him as this "preserves" us against a sinful life.  Humbleness and humility are important themes in the Bible as these words appear more than 100 times in the Bible and countless stories and characters honored in the Bible demonstrate these qualities - of course including Jesus Himself.

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

 My Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is You who is all powerful and it is You who has created everything in the heavens and it is You I am to worship and fear.  You have provided during both good and bad times and have never left or forsaken me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  My sin continues and it will every day until You bring me home. Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

Job 22-24

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. Job 23:16

Day 257 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 with my study of Job as Eliphaz once again addresses Job to seek to comfort him, and to help him understand his suffering. In his response to his friend, Job describes his fear of God - all in the context of the suffering he experiences and the lack of control he feels in the face of an Almighty God.  This is not an altogether inappropriate fear of God - John Piper describes an appropriate fear of God one where it serves to "preserve" us or to help us refrain from sin as we fear the consequences of God.  Piper quotes several verses in both the Old and New Testament to show how we are to appropriately fear God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who helps protect me from sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love and protection.  I often fail to serve and glorify You in the workplace and my sin 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.

For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.

Joel 1-3

For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. Joel 3:14-16

  

Day 163 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 with a study of Joel, who prophesies about Judah's spiritual ambivalence and the resulting consequences.  My commentary* describes how "a great disaster befalls Judah" as a famine caused by a swarm of locusts devastates the land.  Joel seizes on the tragedy to warn Judah about another invasion which is to come. My commentary further describes Joel's prophecy on multiple levels: (1) "Joel warns a spiritually ambivalent Judah that anything less than total devotion to the one true God will result in punishment—namely, invasion and destruction by marauding forces from the north." (2) "He further warns that the day of the Lord is coming, when God will bring all mankind to an ultimate accounting for their lives and deeds."

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

I have previously posted on fear of God as a preservative against sin and Joel's prophecy (the entire book of Joel) is a stern warning indeed about how we should repent and remain close to God.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am grateful for Your love.  Yet I am undeserving.  My sin of worry 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.

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

2 Kings 10-12, 2 Chronicles 22-24

 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 2 Kings 12:2-3, 2 Chronicles 24:2

 

Day 162 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 with a study of the divided kingdoms of Judah (tribe of Judah and Benjamin) and Israel (Asher, Dan, Ephraim, Gad, Issachar, Manasseh, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun).  This morning, I focused on the rise of Joash, Judah's first child-king. Following the violent deaths of both the princes of Ahaziah and Ahab (see post yesterday), Ahab's wicked daughter and Ahaziah's mother Athaliah ascends to the throne in Judah, unaware that Jehosheba (Jehoram's daughter) hid Joash, a young son of Ahaziah, saving Joash from the coup and fate that befell others in his family.

In Israel, Jehu destroys Baal worship and God promises to keep Jehu's "descendants...on the throne of Israel until the fourth generation" (2 Kings 10).  However, Jehu ultimately succumbs to sin.

In Judah, Jehoiada - priest and husband of Jehosheba - orchestrates the rise of Joash as king, and Athaliah is deposed and executed.   Jehoiada then leads Judah and Joash in renewing their covenant with God (2 Kings 11-12) (2 Chronicles 23-24).

While Joash does what is right in the eyes of the Lord, traces of paganism remain - this of course is the danger we all face when we allow sin to creep into our lives, including through relationships and other influences we have in our lives.  Both Judah and Israel pay dearly for how they allow sin to creep into their lives.

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

It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

Psalm 76, 82, 84, 90, 92, 112, and 115 

It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. Psalm 76:7-10

Day 116 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I start a new group: "Psalms About Righteousness and Wickedness" where David cries out to the Lord regarding the apparent inequity of the wicked who seem to escape judgment and punishment while the righteous suffer.

Today's psalms focus on how God's wrath against evil is to be feared, a warning to those wicked who claim to be gods yet will nevertheless die, the superiority of the house of God over dwellings of the wicked, the importance of remembering life's brevity, how only the righteous will truly flourish, how benefits accrue to a righteous person, and how idolaters have no source of trust as do believers.

Fear of the Lord strikes me this morning as the key theme of today's psalms.  I have previously posted John Piper's view on how fear of the Lord should serve as a preservative in my battle with temptation and sin - essentially that fear over God's wrath and anger over my sin should stop me in my tracks over sin. While this may be a sobering thought to many we should view it as a measure of God's love as well - God only disciplines those He loves.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:4-6

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God who I KNOW loves me.  I know You despise sin and sin separates me from You, and their are eternal consequences to sin.  I am undeserving of Your forgiveness, grace, compassion, and most importantly for Your gift of salvation.  My sin of gossip, worry, etc. 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.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me....As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord....The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever....Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 13, 17, 23, 26, 28, and 31 

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me....As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness....Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever....My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord....The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever....Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.  Psalm 13:5-6, 17:15, 23:6, 26:12, 28:8-9, 31:23-24

Day 108 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue with "Psalms of the Troubled Soul".

The psalms from my reading this morning reflect David's prayers for salvation and rescue from enemies, praise of God as the Good Shepherd, for redemption of the righteous and punishment for the wicked, and relief from pursuers and slanderers. What is apparent from these psalms is that while David does have moments of despair, worry, etc. - he does not remain in these moments.  With exception to Psalm 23 where the entire psalm is focused on praise, the other psalms move from cries to the Lord to praise and rest in the Lord and His faithfulness to rescue, comfort, and heal His children.  God is faithful - we can and SHOULD rest in His arms.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is always there to lift me up, comfort, heal, encourage, protect, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  You are MORE than enough - You are my all and all.  Yet I am undeserving of such a God.  I sin...daily, including worry, harshness with others, gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.