For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:1-13, and my initial unaided observations of this text.  Once again, just as it did in Hebrews 3, the text in Hebrews 4 starts with "therefore," connecting this chapter with the previous, and in Hebrews 4 the text starts with a warning to fear God and fear falling away so that we can "enter His rest." The text describes how the first generation Israelites did not enter His rest by saying in v2: "[f]or good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened."  The implication is that we should be, as Hebrews 3 emphasizes, and per my post yesterday, in fellowship and community with other believers - let us exhort and encourage one another daily. God's rest is defined in Hebrews 4 in v9-10 as the rest God had on the seventh day of creation, after laying the foundation of the earth: "[s] then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."  The implication here is that believers can rest from a focus on faith based on works and instead receive rest through faith alone in Jesus Christ.  The word "today" is mentioned twice, implying urgency for us to follow the warnings of the author to not fall away.  The text wraps by sharing why believers should fear God - it is because He is all knowing - and all of us will have to account for our lives upon final judgement, either upon death or when Jesus returns a second (final) time.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - You give me rest and peace of mind like no other - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing, nor of any the blessings You pour out for me, including my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

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

Hebrews 3

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

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

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God who provides my church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ who are able to exhort, admonish, and encourage me - helping me keep and sharpen my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 22:17-24:34

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6

I continue with my study of Proverbs, and today I to week 8 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 22:17-24:34.  After an initial reading of Proverbs 22:17-29 yesterday, this morning I read Proverbs 23 and I dug into the first two questions for this week - one which looks at how wisdom deepens trust in the Lord (Proverbs 22:19), and the other looks at how we can discern Godly friendship. For the latter, my study refers me to Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 19:4,6; 22:11,24-25; 27:6,9,17. Proverbs 27:6 pricks my heart this morning as it took several readings and commentary to more fully understand. Friendly wounds sharpen me - God puts such people in my life to mold me into more of His image.  We should not only seek out such people, but we should keep them close so that they can sharpen us (and hopefully we can sharpen them) in our journey.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I am grateful for how You sanctify and mold me into Your image - it is often painful but I am grateful for this molding process.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love me in such a way.  My sin is great and it continues.  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 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 the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

 Romans 16

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.”  So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. 1 Chronicles 12:18

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved to chapter twenty Christian Friendship, which covers Romans 16.  My focus today is once again v16:1-16, which my commentary covers from another perspective and refers to these verses under the heading How Christian Friendship Is Established. My commentary from today echoes my post from yesterday where I shared how a shared passion for Christ is the strongest bond one can have one another - it is how Christian friendship is established. The commentary states: "[b]ecause Spirit-filled Christians share a common salvation and a shared passion for Christ and his kingdom, people who may have otherwise never spent time together can become great friends.  They can share life together on mission, even though they may come from radically different backgrounds....Jesus, the friend of sinners, creates remarkable spiritual friendships.  The gospel not only changes one's personal identity; it also establishes a new community."

For men, I am reminded how David had his mighty men (see post here) during a time of trial when he was on the run from Saul, who was seeking to kill him.  

Our brothers in Christ serve many roles as I posted yesterday, but today I highlight how they come to our side during a time of need. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided me with amazing brothers and sisters in Christ, and in particular, might men, who come to my side during times of need.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I am often selfish and too often think of myself. 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 put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.

Nehemiah 7, 11-12

 I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. Nehemiah 7:2

Day 282 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 book of Nehemiah where Nehemiah devises a plan to populate, maintain, and defend Jerusalem following rebuilding of the temple walls by the exiles who returned. Today's reading focuses primarily on the names of families and tribes and where they settle, either in the city or in their ancestral property.  Yet we get another glimpse into Nehemiah's character as a man of God by looking at those who he surrounds himself.   

Hananiah placed in a position of trust due to his fear of God.  We need to surround ourselves by believers who fear God as fear of God drives obedience and a desire to please Him.  Our own faith is strengthened by the faith of those who surround us as "iron sharpens iron".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who has helped surround me with great men of faith who strengthen and encourage me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings - my sin continues.  I fail to see You first among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.

  2 Kings 2, 4, 6, 8 

As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you. 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6

Day 157 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 Elisha the prophet as Elijah goes up into Heaven. 

A couple of things strike me today:

(a) we need others who will encourage and call us to be who God intends us to be - Elijah took Elisha under his wing and Elisha became Elijah's protege.  The two became inseparable - in 2 Kings 2 Elisha refuses to leave Elijah's side and on three occasions remarks "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you". Elijah is being called to Jericho and other places prior to calling him home to Heaven, but Elisha will not leave Elijah's side. This relationship leaves a mark and prior to Elijah being called home to Heaven, Elisha asks Elijah to "inherit a double portion of [Elijah's] spirit". Elijah responds to Elisha that this can happen based on certain conditions that ultimately do come to pass.  Elisha goes on to perform miracles described in my commentary* that are "similar in nature... [not just to Elijah but also to] those performed by the Messiah to come".

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

(b) a review of Elijah's life based on this post from DesiringGod.com indicates that Elijah had an "effective prayer life" and God used him during a period of great spiritual crisis among the Jewish people to rise him up from obscurity to confront apostasy.  The post refers to Elijah as a mega-prophet but encourages us to have confidence that we can live with faith as Elijah does - he is just as ordinary as we are.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has placed men in my life that have called me up and encouraged me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and 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.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Various Proverbs

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22

Day 136 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 Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. This morning my focus includes proverbs that provide advice and rebuke, describe the value of advisers, discipline, lawkeeping, and repentance, contrast a life of righteousness vs wickedness, contrast integrity vs perversion, and describe appropriate consequences for righteousness vs wickedness.

I have often posted about the value and power of unity and togetherness. I am co-leading a study from AuthenticManhood.com called "33 The Series: A Man and His Design" (available through RightNowMedia.org) and straight away we encounter a strong recommendation to team up with other Godly men.  We will not lead the life God intends for us without the company of other believers who will encourage, challenge, and at times rebuke us.  John Piper of course has thoughts on this topic - I thought this morning he would ; )

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided other great men in my life to strengthen and protect me in my walk with You.  I am grateful for such love but undeserving.  My sin continues...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 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. 

These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised[.]

2 Samuel 8:2-14, 12:18-31, 23:8-39, 1 Chronicles 18:2-13, and 11:10-47

These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised[.] 1 Chronicles 11:10

Day 99 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on the death of David and Bathsheba's illegitimate child, David's reaction, and how God, despite David's sin, maintained favor as towards David - twice it is mentioned that "[t]he Lord gave David victory wherever he went" (2 Samuel 8:6, 14). 

Today's reading also includes focus on David's mighty men or warriors who, "...together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised..." (1 Chronicles 11:10).

I have previously posted on why and how believing men need other believing men to walk alongside them in their journey with Christ, particularly in light of my post yesterday, where I discussed our internal and external enemies regarding sin.

I am grateful how God has provided other men in my life to encourage and strengthen me in my journey.

Today, I am convicted how I should strengthen other men as others have strengthened me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided MANY great Christian men in my life who have walked alongside me - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving of how You bless me.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me 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.

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

1 Samuel 21-22:5, Psalms 56, 34, 142 and 1 Chronicles 12:8-18 

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.”  So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. 1 Chronicles 12:18

Day 90 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David on the run from Saul - he needs refuge, provision, confidence, etc. - and the Lord provides.  David leans on the Lord (as Psalms 56 and 142 record) and praises Him (Psalm 34) for how God hears and responds to his cries.  Of note here is how, consistent with my post yesterday how Jonathan loved David as himself and provided great assistance to David, we see David's mighty men coming to his assistance.

God of course provides these other men and the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty.  At first, David is leery of the men seeking to join him (1 Chronicles 12:17) but once the Spirit came on Amasai, David sees this as a God-inspired movement and David welcomes these men.

Again as I posted yesterday, we need these other brothers and sisters in Christ, and in particular, believing men need other believing men.  We can recognize these other men by seeing how fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22) manifest themselves in their lives.  We can also see how other men see our heart condition (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and how they discern a shared hunger and thirst for righteousness (see Matthew 5:6, and Acts 2:44).

My Prayer: Jesus, You are indeed an awesome God who loves me and who has provided many mighty men and warriors who have strengthened me in my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am grateful but not deserving.  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 be a mighty man and warrior for others and other men.  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.

...he loved him as he loved himself.

1 Samuel 18-20 and Psalm 59

...he loved him as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 18:1, 3, and 20:17

Day 89 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David's continued rise to prominence within Israel, and correspondingly, Saul's growing jealousy and anger towards David - and Saul seeks to kill David.  In the midst of this, Jonathan and David enjoy a flourishing friendship and this friendship is my focus today.

First, God commands us to love others (see Matthew 22:34-40 and John 13:34-35).  Next, we all NEED brothers and sisters in Christ, and in particular men need other men.  It is through unity with others - particularly other believers - where we draw strength.  That is why

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Acts 18

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. v26

God wants us to STUDY scriptures and to understand what He wants to say to us from both a head (more absolute) and a heart perspective (His personal message to us). This applies of course to what we understand and the understanding of others.  This is the sharpening process that God intends for us. We are intended to be in fellowship with other believers for this and many other believers.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves and who has given me both scriptures and others in my life and resources to better help me understand Your messages for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I sin daily - please help me Lord.  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.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. v42

I am struck this morning how the believers were devoted to "apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer", in particular to fellowship - with other believers.  I do have this but at times not enough - I think many of us find ourselves feeling this way.  

John Piper also encourages us to look at Hebrews 3:12-13 as a DAILY practice.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

Lord Jesus - please help me with my fellowship both in terms of giving and in receiving.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me people in my life to encourage and to be encouraged by - thank You Jesus for this fellowship.  I am not deserving of such fellowship.  I worry, I gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcomes 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.

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Luke 8

He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.” v21

We are called to love God before anything else (see Exodus 20, Matthew 22:34-40).  We are called to read and study the Bible, to pray, to serve, etc. We need each other - brothers and sisters in Christ - to do this...to support, encourage, and hold each accountable in our efforts - because it is difficult.

Therefore, while we might have earthly family - it those who help us in our walk who are most important - regardless of whether they are blood family or not.

Those who help us put God's word into practice - who help us walk the walk - are out mothers, brothers, etc. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with brothers and sisters in Christ who support me, encourage me, pray with me and for me, and hold me accountable.  Iron does indeed sharpen iron.  Thank You for providing me with such "iron" and people in my life.  I am blessed.  Yet I am undeserving.  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 for 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.

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.

Mark 4

Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown. v20

I desire to bear fruit - to be good soil - and desiringGod.com indicates that with respect to the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8), there is only one good soil where faith takes root, and that for faith to take root - we must be authentic and real in our faith.  For others to see us as real we must bear fruit (see Matthew 7:15-20, see New Testament references here).

While a fruit-bearing faith requires many sources of nutrients, relationships are key - check this out.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who died for me; I know that You are always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith 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.

Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 16

Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. v12

The Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign - failing to acknowledge that Jesus is God and once again (see also post here).  They claim to be righteous but of course practice faith through ceremonial law and criticize Jesus and the disciples for their lack of faith.  

Jesus warns us of the influence Pharisees and Sadducees in our lives - just as yeast causes bread to rise - the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees can take rise and grow in our lives. 

We must be careful of who we keep company with - the influence of others is powerful.

See also post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who protects me and provides me with Godly influences of my family and friends - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such love and blessings because I am quick to anger...among my many sins.  Please forgive me Jesus for such sins 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 heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please 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 whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. v50

As Jesus finished challenging the Pharisees who asked Him for a sign - testing Him - Jesus is informed that His brothers (as named in Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3) and mother are outside waiting to speak with Him.  Jesus once again reminds us of how biological ties are not our priority (God is) and that these ties may not always be what is best for us - yes we are to honor our father and mother per the Ten Commandments, but today's verse, as well as Matthew 10:21-22, indicate that our faith in God is most important and that we should be careful how biological ties get in the way or hinder our faith.  

The formation of the early church in Acts (v42-47 in particular) reinforces Jesus statement today.   

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:44

Such fellowship, also "unpacked" by John Piper as the kind of fellowship that Jesus believes we should have in support of our faith. 

See additional references or salutations to "brothers and sisters" in Christ by Paul and James.n

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You provide both a biological family that supports my faith as well as brothers and sisters in Christ - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. v17

I have benefitted greatly from the fellowship of others, including other believers and specifically other men in the church.  God designed us to live together with others - from the very beginning.  

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

See also posts here.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You formed the heavens and the earth and everything that inhabits them - You speak things into existence.  You created me and while I am broken You still love me and You chose to die for me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worthy of such a gift.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! v1

God wants us to live in fellowship with others - it starts with the 2nd greatest commandment:


And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39

We are to bring others to Him...to be a light.

For us to bring others to Him and to be a light, believers must be in unity to support, pray for, and encourage one another.

Genesis 2:18 
Acts 2:42-47 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You created all of us to share life together, believers and non believes alike so that we can support, encourage, and pray for one another and so that we can bring others to You.  Thank You Jesus for my immediate family, and my brothers and sisters in Christ and for the church.  I am blessed.  Yet I am not worth such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

1 Chronicles 21

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. v1

Ever since The Fall, sin has been part of the world.  Even the greatest among us fall prey to Satan.  

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Our personal relationship with Jesus, The Word, the Holy Spirit, and our fellow believers all offer strong support for us to protect ourselves against sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is always with us and who protects us from sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I worry - far too much!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to 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.

These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised— this is the list of David’s mighty warriors[.]

1 Chronicles 11

These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the Lord had promised— this is the list of David’s mighty warriors[.] v10-11

This commentary provides a useful summary of 1 and 2 Chronicles as "an executive summary of God’s covenant with David, and how things played out afterward".

We first learn of David's Mighty Warriors in 2 Samuel 23.  Here in 1 Chronicles we get added details about the importance of these men as these men gave David and his kingship "strong support".

We all need such strong support - men specifically need this from other men.

I have gained much through Men's Fraternity (later versions of this study found here as 33 The Series).

See also post here and here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an awesome God who has perfectly modeled manhood for me so that I can live as You intend for me.  Thank You that You provide also Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and other men who can provide strong support for me.  I am not worthy of such love and support.  I often fail to live up to being who You intend for me.  I worry and I often fail to serve when the opportunities arise.  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 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.