[H]e said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Mark 3:1-6

[H]e said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Mark 3:3-5

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 3:3-5, which is the text for the second (of three) division per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary for the first division:

• "There will be no retreat in His message and no backing down in His actions. With the courage of His convictions, He will press forward, obedient to the will of God regardless of the consequences. Note the example He provides for us."
• "The ravages of the curse are reversed as a foretaste of life in the kingdom when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4)."
• "Jesus actually fulfills the intent and heart of the Mosaic law. He will make this clear when He answers a scribe who asked, 'Which command is the most important of all?' (Mark 12:29-31)."
• "In this act of mercy, Jesus loves His Father by expressing God’s character and compassion toward this man, who is undoubtedly one of God’s precious creatures. Likewise, He loves this man through His kind, healing touch. The Pharisees knew nothing of this love and thus were far from fulfilling the law of Moses."
• "Sometimes in life and ministry we must confront and provoke others. It is neither easy nor fun. However, sometimes it is necessary, especially when the right thing is not being said or done. Here Jesus raises the right question given the situation of the man and the foolish regulations of the Pharisees[.]"
• "It is both shocking and sad to think that the Pharisees could not correctly respond. Their silence condemns them, and it reveals a tragic flaw in their theology concerning the nature of our God—a God of grace and mercy, love and compassion."
• "Pride is dangerously deceitful, and it, unlike any other sin, provoked our Lord to righteous anger. It was right for Him to feel that way with the Pharisees, and it is right for Him to feel that way today, for pride still deceives us all."    

As the commentary shares, standing firm in Truth while doing good or being obedient in any of God's commands, sometimes requires great courage.  In this particular case, God seeks for us to demonstrate compassion and do good.  On other occasions, God wants us to share His position on matters such as marriage, abortion, etc.  For some this requires incredible courage in the face of physical danger - the ministry that comes to mind is Voice of the Martyrs that focuses on supporting those in parts of the world means imprisonment, harsh punishments, or even death for those that share the gospel or otherwise practice their faith publicly.  See also Matthew 7:24-27 where Jesus encourages us to have faith with a strong foundation, one that does not shake or fall.  We must remain in Him for Him to remain in us - see John 15:4-11.    

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion for me - even when I don't have compassion on others.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor the grace and mercies that You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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. 

... [F]or the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

... [F]or the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #48: To Gain His Joy and Ours.  In today's devotion, Piper gets to it right away: "[t]he path that leads to joy is a hard road. It’s hard for us, and it was hard for Jesus. It cost him his life. It may cost us ours." We are then referred to Hebrews 12:2 where the author of the text shares that Jesus willingly endured the agony of His death on the cross because He was focused on the joy Heaven.  Piper continues by describing "the joy set before Him" as joy on many levels, including "reunion with His Father," "triumph over sin," "divine rights restored," and "being surrounded with praise by all the people for whom He died" - see also Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 1:3, 12:2, and Luke 15:7.  Piper than makes clear that this joy is not just for Him but for all of those who believe in Him - see also John 15:11.  Yet this joy for believers comes at a cost as Piper returns to how the devotion began - our path to joy will be hard.  Piper points us to John 16:33, Matthew 10:24-25, and Luke 21:16-17.  At the same time, the devotion does offer us great encouragement by referring us to how "our hope of joy empowers us to suffer with him."  See Matthew 5:11-12.  This hard path for Christ was the only way that we could have the Good News that Jesus Christ died for us, rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and for those who believe in Him they shall have eternal life - see John 3:16.  Piper ends the devotion by pointing us to Romans 8:18 and Psalm 30:5 where the text describes the "glory that is to be revealed to us," and the "joy [that] comes with the morning." Rejoice for the joy set before us!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God that willingly went to the cross so that I could have life with You via the Holy Spirit and for eternity with You in Heaven!  Thank You God - the greatest gift of all time.  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 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.

[He] died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

1 Thessalonians 5:10, Philippians 1:21, 23, and 2 Corinthians 5:8

[He] died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #40: So That We Would Be with Him Immediately After Death.  The devotion opens by making it clear that "[t]he Bible does not view our bodies as bad."  We are referred to 1 Corinthians 6:13 where Paul is clear when he writes the Lord is "for our body."  Extending his reasoning in the devotion, Piper shares that "death is an enemy," and that "we lose something precious" when we die.  At the same time, we should be clear that when we die, we gain eternity in Heaven with Christ. This is of course incredibly hopeful, building on yesterday's devotion which focused on how Christ gives us freedom over the fear of death. The devotion directs us to Philippians 1:21, 23 where the text describes the tension Paul felt between living for Christ in an earthly body vs living eternally with Christ in Heaven.  We are also directed to 2 Corinthians 5 where Paul shares how early believers looked forward to Heaven, being with Christ, and feeling more "at home."  The devotion concludes, pointing us to 1 Thessalonians 5:10 and stating that "[t]his is one of the great reasons Christ suffered" - that a believer's death brings one home to Christ.  For sake of clarity in summarizing this devotion, I omitted the devotion's discussion and references to the "in-between" state where believers who pass and are buried are merely "asleep" awaiting bodily resurrection - for more on John Piper's views on this topic, go here.  Rejoice in how Christ bring us home after death!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is full of grace and compassion for us - thank You Jesus! Thank You for saving a place for me in Heaven.  I am not deserving of how You save and bless.  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.

"On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.["]

Zechariah 12:10-13, 13:1

"On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.["] Zechariah 13:1

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 a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 12:10-13:1, which the commentary outlines as the third of three divisions for the text 12:1-13:1 (12:1, 12:2-9, 12:10-13:1).  Here, once again, the commentary clarifies how the text is a depiction of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon, foreshadowing Christ's second coming during the final days. It also shares how "Israel looks at Christ, [and] the people will realize something that had previously eluded them: their guilt in rejecting Him and their need for His forgiveness. Suddenly, the hearts of God’s people that have been hardened against Jesus, not just for decades, but for centuries and even millennia, will be softened. The rest of verse 10 as well as verse 11 describe the mourning and grief the nation will experience as they look upon Christ. The mourning is compared to that over the death of an only child or a firstborn."  Any reading that depicts prophecy of the second coming of Jesus Christ reminds me of my need to be ready since we don't know the day or hour of Christ's return (see Matthew 24:36) - we must be ready (see Matthew 24:44).  Being ready implies living our days like they are our last (see Psalm 90:12) - not letting up in our race towards Heaven (see Hebrews 12:1).  Such urgency also implies how we are to "snatch others from the fire" (see Jude 23).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace and mercy that never ceases.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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.     

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven[.]

Ecclesiastes 3

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven[.] Ecclesiastes 3:1

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 3:1-9, which is the first division of Ecclesiastes 3 per the commentary.  The commentary broadly describes the futility of time in the sense that there is a cycle of life that we cannot predict, control, or step.  We are born, we die, there are good things that happen to us, and there are bad things that happen to us - we live in a fallen world so there will be pain and anguish.  Referencing vv5-6 the commentary discusses how this describes how relationships in our lives ebb and flow and people, outside of marriage and perhaps your most immediate family, come and go in our lives.  All of the activities described in vv2-9 have a role in our fallen world - this is the human experience. The commentary shares: "[t]he point of the poem is the inevitable sameness and monotony of life under the sun. We all go through these actions of birth, life, work, love, and then death. Nothing really changes for humanity. Meaninglessness in life and death in the end pervade our experience in this cursed world. Here today and gone tomorrow. This is just the way it is....The poem reveals the great absurdity of life because each activity cancels the other out. There are 14 pluses and 14 minuses, and that adds up to zero (Begg, “Eternity on My Mind”)! Every birth ends in death, every planted crop is pulled up, every building is eventually condemned, every celebration gives way to a funeral, and every peace gives way to another war. Nothing is gained."  The commentary for this division ends with the same conclusion we all should draw - that apart from a daily, personal and lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ we will suffer a frustrating and meaningless existence. 

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 for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love, grace and compassion.  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 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 everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven[.]

Ecclesiastes 3

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven[.] Ecclesiastes 3:1

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 3:1-9, which is the first division of Ecclesiastes 3 per the commentary.  So far in Ecclesiastes, Solomon shares how life is meaningless and futile without God, including pursuits such as wisdom/knowledge, work, wealth, and consumerism.  In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon describes how time is meaningless and futile, how God is sovereign over "everything" (v1), and that "there is a season for everything."  The text this morning calls to mind Colossians 1:15-20, and John Piper's book Providence.  As John Piper puts it, humanity does not have "ultimate or decisive" self-determination.  This means that only God puts it in our heart to repent and believe in Him, or not of course.  At the same time, Piper also shares that even though we do not have this ultimate or decisive self-determination, we do have a free will and this freedom is described as the choices and behaviors (apart from election as only God does this) that comprise our days.  Let us not fall prey to the futility of time and chase things that provide only temporary pleasure (see also Ecclesiastes 2) - instead believers should recognize that we should focus on things eternal (see also 2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

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 for me.  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You for my salvation.  I am not deserving.  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 energy.  Please continues 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.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven[.]

 Matthew 5

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven[.] Matthew 5:11-12a

Today, I pause both on my study of 1 Corinthians and on my study of 2 Thessalonians that is week 3 of my men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus is the Solid Joys daily devotional on DesiringGod.com which is entitled "Rejoicing in Pain."  Sin and difficulties of all kinds entered the world in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command to not eat fruit from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17).  A reading of the Bible, a review of the daily news, and reflections on our own lives confirm John 16:33 where Jesus tells his disciples that "[i]n the world you will have tribulation." In this same verse Jesus says "take heart; I have overcome the world," and it is here where John Piper focuses in this devotion - that we should have hope in our difficulties.  To be clear, Piper not only wants us to have hope, but he wants us to follow Jesus's command from today's verses to rejoice and be glad in light of these difficulties.  Piper shares two ways to rejoice in suffering: (1) "fixing our minds firmly on the greatness of the reward that will come to us in the resurrection. The effect of this kind of focus is to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming[.]" (see also Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). This suffering then becomes tolerable which in turn makes love possible (see also Luke 6:35, 4:14) as Piper describes that "[c]onfidence in this promised reward cuts the cord of worldliness and frees us for the costs of love." (2) find joy in the "effects of suffering on our assurance of hope...[as] suffering itself works to deepens that hope." We are referred to Romans 5:3-4 as Piper shares that "Paul’s joy is not merely rooted in his great reward, but in the effect of suffering which solidifies the hope of that reward. Affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces a sense that our faith is real and genuine, and that strengthens our hope that we will indeed gain Christ."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good as I know You will never leave or forsake me in any circumstances, particularly the difficult ones.  Thank You Jesus for working in all things at all times. I am not deserving of how You work in my life.  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.            

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church[.]

 Colossians 1

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church[.] Colossians 1:24

Today, I pause both on my study of 1 Corinthians and on my study of 2 Thessalonians that is week 2 of my men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus is the Solid Joys daily devotional on DesiringGod.com which is entitled "Christ's Suffering in Us."  Here, John Piper starts by looking at Christ's sacrifice on the cross, which is of course a perfect sacrifice as Christ led a sinless life.  Piper shares that "[i]t pays in full for all the sins of all his people."  He then shares that this sacrifice "is lacking in nothing - except one thing, a personal presentation by Christ himself to the nations of the world."  This "personal presentation" is to be done by God's people through the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  Piper then connects this "personal presentation" to the highlighted text for today - Colossians 1:24.  Paul is "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." The devotion calls out Paul's statement as "amazing": "[h]e says that it is his own sufferings that fill up Christ’s afflictions. This means, then, that Paul exhibits the sufferings of Christ by suffering himself for those he is trying to win to Christ. In his sufferings they are to see Christ’s sufferings." Piper concludes the devotion with the application for God's believers: "God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people." Of course "intentional" afflictions are a hard pill to swallow for many but not so much for believers that see God's providence in all matters, including the details, and how God is working in all these details for good (Romans 8:28). 

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.  You died on the cross giving me the greatest gift the world will ever know - of all time - my salvation.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.       

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

 2 Thessalonians 2

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I continue my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church - today I start with week 2 which looks at 2 Thessalonians 2 and the memory verse remains Titus 2:11-12. Here, Paul builds on his discussion of the second coming of Christ to describe how Satan plays a role now and during the second coming.  Paul seeks to encourage the Thessalonians by sharing glimpses of end times so that they will know it when it does come and not be frightening - as it will be frightening indeed for those who have spurned Christ.  In vv1-2 Paul warns the church of false teachers who claim that the second coming has already arrived.  Paul then shares in vv3-9 in more details how God is restraining Satan now but during the second coming, Satan will no longer be restrained as Christ prepares for battle when Satan will be destroyed forever. Vv10-12 serves as a strong warning for those who do not repent of their sins and surrender to Christ as their Lord and Savior.  In vv13-16 Paul offers tremendous encouragement to believers to stand firm waiting for the second coming.  Believers take heart and be encouraged!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good God who comforts and encourages me in this life by sharing Your plan for the ultimate defeat of sin-forever.  Thank You for Your Word for giving me confidence about what awaits and for power and protection now to battle against sin.  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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.

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

2 Thessalonians 1

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, I my focus is 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12, assisted by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series volume for 1-2 Thessalonians unpack the text. 

For this text, the commentary's: 

• Title: When God Balances the Books 
  
• Main idea:  "When Jesus is revealed from heaven, He will bring relief to those who love Him and retribution to those who reject Him."
• Introduction (excerpts): God's people [almost certainly true of Thessalonians] often struggle to understand "the pain, affliction, and suffering that is often associated with following Christ. God’s people have always desired to know “how long” until God would bring an end to such injustice, to right all wrongs, and to judge those who harm His followers."  We are referred to Habakkuk 1:2-3 and Psalm 13:1-4 for scriptural examples where God's people demonstrate this struggle.  Luke 12:2-8 is also provided as it shares how "God is not offended by such questions. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that He told us to ask them."
  

Divisions provided by the commentary:

1. The Hopeful Future of Those Who Are Faithful (1:6-7, 10-12): "One of the most difficult things to do when walking through painful times is to keep the proper perspective. A loss of perspective is almost always followed by a loss of purpose. When our mind becomes fixed on what we don’t like about our circumstances, we will invariably fail to consider what God may be doing in our circumstances."  Believers are encouraged to draw near to God and remain near to God through spiritual disciplines and faith - we are referred to Isaiah 46:9-10 as the commentary provides this text for us to maintain a Godly perspective on our circumstances - to look towards the eternal for hope, rest, and rewards. Paul is seeking to do this for the Thessalonians as they face persecutions and affliction.  The commentary also points to the text and how it seeks for us to maintain a Godly perspective in our prayer lives.  God knows all of our needs and He provides - such prayers for temporal circumstances are "not sinful." However, "Jesus expects that our prayers will be focused on much more significant matters like glorifying His Name, expanding His kingdom, and accomplishing His will (Matthew 6:9-13, 32-33). We must learn to view the temporary things through the lenses of God’s eternal plans." The commentary also shares how Paul pivots from an encouragement that comes from having a Godly eternal perspective on our daily lives to a reminder in v11 that as we wait for Christ's second coming, there is more work to do, and that we focus on God's glory in all that we do.
   
2. The Fateful Future of Those Who Do Evil (1:6, 8-9): Here of course, we are reminded of the harsh punishment that awaits those who deny God and who are the source of persecution and affliction.  Believers should not worry about justice - God's justice is perfect.
   

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 for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such 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 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.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:2

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Yesterday my focus was an unassisted (no commentary) study of 2 Thessalonians 1.  Today, I read this text once again, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series volume for 1-2 Thessalonians for assistance to unpack the text. The commentary broadly breaks down the text as:

1. Good News about God’s Church < 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5
   
2. When God Balances the Books < 2 Thessalonians 1:6-12

To align with the schedule below, where yesterday was Week 1/Day 1, today my focus will be Good News about God’s Church < 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5.

The commentary's main idea for the text: "[w]hen a church is grounded in its faith it will be fruitful in its work." The commentary's introduction for the text further develops on this thought by sharing, in light of Paul's first letter where he acknowledged the Thessalonians for welcoming the gospel as an infant church, Paul is now boasting (v4) about them in this second letter as he is encouraged and thankful (v3) for their growth and steadfast faithfulness (in the face of persecution and affliction - v4) - again this is a church he, Silas, and Timothy started.  The commentary then unpacks today's text (2 Thessalonians 1:1-5) in four divisions:

1. A Faith That Is Real (1:1-3a): The commentary highlights the growth of the Thessalonian church and how this led to attacks from Satan in the form of persecution, etc. Paul commends the church for their steadfast faith in the faces of these attacks.  He focuses on how the foundation of faith is based on believers acknowledging the amazing grace Christ gives us through salvation.  This grace gives us peace to persevere. "A church must never tire of speaking about and resting in the grace and peace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. No challenge is too great for any church that remains anchored to these wonderful truths." Paul also commends the Thessalonians for their growth in Christ.  He seeks for them to be encouraged to keep growing.  "Based on the enthusiastic way in which Paul applauds their growth in the first four verses, one can imagine that His words of encouragement must have brought much relief to this weary church."       
   
2. A Love That Grows Strong (1:3b): The commentary refers to James 2:14-18 and how the text their highlights how faith produces fruit or good works. In the text for today Paul commends the Thessalonians for their love for one another.  The commentary then describes how "[f]aith and love work together," and we are referred to John 13:34-35 where John highlights how love is evidence of Christ.
   
3. A Hope That Goes Deep (1:4): The commentary describes hope as the view of "affliction and suffering through the lens of an enduring hope— not the kind of endurance that waits to thank God when the trial passes, but the kind of endurance that thanks God even if the trial does not pass." This certainly is the view of the Thessalonians. 
   
4. A Future That Is Secure (1:5): God's righteous judgement (v5) gives us hope that whatever suffering we endure now is only temporary as He is saving a place for us in Heaven where there will be no more suffering or tears (Revelation 21:4).  With such guaranteed security, we should not be grumbling about "miscarriage of justice" as Satan was almost certainly tempting the Thessalonians. "As strange as this may sound to our ears, their suffering was evidence that God loved them, not a sign that He had abandoned them. Paul is reassuring them that their suffering has an eternal purpose." 
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I need You desperately in my life for all things and for Your protection against Satan's attacks.  I know You give me everything I need to defeat sin in my life and You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:35

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 7:25-40. The main idea*: "[m]arried couples and singles should aim to live in ways pleasing to God and work for his kingdom, yet singles have a special opportunity to serve God and avoid many earthly difficulties." The introduction* from the commentary emphasizes that regardless of how contemporary church culture may make it awkward for single people by encouraging marriage, "[t]he God who gave us the gift of marriage also gives us the gift of singleness. Singleness is not a lackluster position in God’s kingdom. No one is less spiritual for remaining single. Indeed, God blesses the single state for the Christian in several ways."  The commentary* unpacks the text with the following four divisions:

1. The Spiritual Single Can Expect Less Distress (7:25-28): Paul shares how while there is no law or command for single people yet he offers guidance he believes is trustworthy. The commentary offers: "[l]ife is filled with difficulties and troubles. Sometimes, as it was for the Corinthians, life is extreme and intense. So remaining unmarried is a good thing and lessens one’s obligations, pressures, and responsibilities."
   
2. The Spiritual Single Can Encounter Fewer Distractions (7:29-31): The verses urge believers to focus on things eternal and as such we are to keep our priorities on God.  Marriage, work, and worldly distractions abound and we should avoid getting too entangled in these distractions - we must be prepared for Christ and not forget that this world is passing away. We are referred to Colossians 3:1-2. 
3. The Spiritual Single Can Enjoy Greater Devotion (7:32-35): Paul encourages singles to enjoy the freedom they have to focus on an undivided attention to God.
   
4. The Spiritual Single Can Exercise a Better Decision (7:36-40): Fewer obligations and responsibilities for the single person offers singles more clarity of mind.  At the same time, those who opt to marry are not sinful.
   

The commentary's* conclusion provides the following Biblical examples of singles who devoted their lives to God:

• The greatest person who ever lived was single: the God-Man, Jesus Christ. 
• The greatest mere human who ever lived was single: John the Baptist. 
• The greatest missionary and theologian who ever lived was single: the apostle Paul. 
• The greatest statesman who ever lived was single: Daniel. 
• The greatest prophets of Israel who ever lived were single: Elijah and Elisha.
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - I am blessed with marriage and a God who equips me to serve within my marriage and family.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  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 spouse 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.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

As I am in between studies, having just wrapped up my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today looks at where Paul focuses to remain hopeful as he grows old and more feeble.  Piper describes how Paul gains hope by focusing on how his inner self is renewed daily - this is also unseen. Piper then points out how this somewhat contradictory focus is further clarified by Paul in the next chapter of 2 Corinthians 5:7: "for we walk by faith, not by sight." Piper shares that this clarification "doesn’t mean that [Paul] leaps into the dark without evidence of what’s there. It means that for now the most precious and important realities in the world are beyond our physical senses.  We “look” at these unseen things through the gospel. We strengthen our hearts — we renew our courage — by fixing our gaze on the invisible, objective truth that we see in the testimony of those who saw Christ face to face." Piper wraps the devotion by pointing back to chapter 4:6 where Paul writes: " [f]or God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This previously unseen knowledge of the glory of God is now seen by us because God revealed it to us - praise God!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who revealed Yourself to me and gave me the power to see things unseen that provide eternal hope!  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.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter five - Unshakable Contentment Whether Abased or Abounding.  Here, John Piper describes how Paul endures and perseveres through immense sufferings, remaining content with his circumstances and refusing to grumble and complain. Piper first starts with how Paul was at one point almost brought to death, but recognized that his suffering had purpose and it was God's purpose.  We are referred to 1 Corinthians 1:8-10 for the text where this is described.  Piper then makes this statement about the "truth Paul believed about his suffering— no   matter how severe— was that it came ultimately with God’s purpose, and the purpose was that Paul would trust himself less and trust God more, every moment of his life, especially as death approached.*"  Piper continues on this topic by moving to the key to how Paul avoided grumbling and complaining about his suffering - we are referred to Romans 5:3-5 where Paul sees how God is - according to Piper - "producing endurance and God-saturated hope.*" Even when Paul sensed his suffering could lead to death Piper describes how Paul shared how this did not move him to grumble or complain - we are referred to 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 where Paul tells us that he focused on what was awaiting him in Heaven...an "eternal weight of glory." As Piper wraps up the chapter, he sums up - by pointing to Philippians 4:11-13 - how Paul had found the secret to contentment.  Additional scripture references are provided, including Philippians 3:8 (all satisfying presence and worth of Christ) and Philippians 1:12 and Romans 8:28 (God works all things for his good).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and there are times when I have experienced suffering and You saw me through it and I know there will be more suffering before my life ends and I know You will never leave or forsake me and work in me to produce hope....thank You Jesus for how You bless me.  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.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.["]

Luke 14

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.["] Luke 14:26-27

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today compares how Satan "hides his worst and shows only his best" of what he offers, to Jesus, who shows both the best and the worst. Piper then concludes, as all believers should upon review of both offers in detail, that Christ is worth it. The devotion starts with Piper laying (from Luke 14) out the case for the cost of following Christ - or the worst: " the painful cost of being a Christian: hating family (verse 26), carrying a cross (verse 27), renouncing possessions (verse 33)." Piper then pivots to Satan's deception about the best of what he offers - Genesis 3:4, Matthew 4:9. Piper uses Matthew Henry's words to conclude how the benefits of following Jesus abundantly "counterbalance" the costs. For the best of what Christ offers, we are referred to Luke 14:14 (glorious resurrection), Luke 22:32 (God will help us endure hardships), Luke 21:18 (we are provided the Holy Spirit, and even in death we will not perish), future glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18), and the eternal weight of glory that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Having experienced the lies Satan offers, been given the gift of faith (even though I am not deserving!), and having a foretaste of eternal glory, I can say without hesitation that following Jesus is worth it!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed worth following!  I am blessed!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the gift of faith and for revealing a glimpse of eternal glory.  I am not deserving of how You do this for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me, turn towards You, and overcome such sin. 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.   

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2

Given I have completed my study of Hebrews, and I have yet to determine my next study, this morning I land on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which this morning looks at Colossians 3:1-2 and how Paul seeks for us to "look at the light beyond the light," which is of course Heaven.  I am convicted listening/reading to this devotion, particularly with how I "skimp" on prayer.  John Piper describes summertime as a period of vacation, outdoor splendors, and of refreshment.  He wants (and of course so does Paul and Jesus!) us to have this refreshment but he seeks for us to get it in Jesus and not be distracted. We are referred to a number of verses that underscore Piper's message:

• Colossians 1:18: Christ is in all of our moments of summer - SEE and experience Him!
• Matthew 11:28: When we seek rest and long for vacation - don't forget how Christ provides ETERNAL rest!
• Jeremiah 29:13: Believers all want to experience MORE of God - God promises that if seek Him with all of our heart we will find Him.
• Acts 3:19-20: Experiencing God means not just turning away from sin but turning towards Him.
• Revelation 21:23: While the sun may gives us joy this summer, we are urged to look towards the light that is everlasting Jesus Christ!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the light beyond the sun of summer and You are eternal and in You I cannot be shaken!  Thank You for how You provide such a light to me.  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  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.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers....So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers....So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:5-6, 12

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, and John Piper urges us to examine our life over the past year as if we have a "death rehearsal." With the start of the new year tomorrow, we should look at God's mercies anew - as we should because they never stop (Lamentations 3:22-23) and this gives us an opportunity to double down in our efforts with regard to faith. Piper also wants us to measure our lives not in earthly terms but in eternal terms - did we live a live of faith - we are referred to 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Happy New Year and live a life of a faith - finish the race!

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are SO good to me.  Your mercies are new every morning and You bless me beyond my comprehension.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving. 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.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 15 of Advent, and today John Piper explores how the Christmas season finds many grieving over loss, and this season, our family is grieving over the loss the Marit, our dear niece who within days of turning 15 died of brain cancer.  During these seasons of loss, John Piper encourages us to not be bitter, or to mask our feelings of loss, as he correctly shares that it is when we allow ourselves to feel loss and submit to circumstances orchestrated by God, this is when we will experience God's love and see Him at work. Piper writes: "[w]hat is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death?"  This is life in abundance now.  We are also encouraged to look forward to Heaven where we are not only reunited with our loved ones who believed.  Rejoice in abundance now and forever!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a good, good father - who is with us during difficult seasons and good seasons...and You save a placed in Heaven for us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide such abundant life.  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.

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Hebrews 11

[Moses] considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. Hebrews 11:26

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which broadly examines Hebrews 11, specifically zeroing in on Moses in this chapter that is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith."  Here, John Piper highlights how Moses left his comfortable life in Pharaoh's family when he had compassion on the Jews working as slaves in Egypt (see Exodus 2).  Moses, led by the Holy Spirit - which we know existed since the beginning of time (God as Alpha and Omega) - saw how his suffering, which preceded Christ's suffering, would bring him an eternal reward. Piper wants us to ponder this in the context of our own suffering.  Piper writes: "[w]e do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the One who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy. He beckons us into the obedience of suffering not to demonstrate the strength of our devotion to duty, or to reveal the vigor of our moral resolve, or to prove the heights of our tolerance for pain, but rather to manifest, in childlike faith, the infinite preciousness of his all-satisfying promises — the all-satisfying greatness and beauty of his own glory as the fulfillment of all of them." God promises are amazing and of course He is faithful and we can count on Him to deliver on all of His promises.  Be encouraged!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me the Holy Spirit so that I could have Christ in my heart - thank You Jesus!  Thank You for leading me and guiding me...daily.  I am not deserving of such a blessing.  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 we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4-5

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I continued a pause of my studies of both Isaiah and Proverbs to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which focuses on how we endure the many trials in our lives which we inevitably will face (see also John 16:33), and how we endure the toll these many trials will take on us physically and emotionally. John Piper points to Paul's letter to the church in Corinth and how he looks to the things unseen (heaven) and how our faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) helps us endure.  Piper also shares with us how we rely on the same light that gave us ears to hear and eyes to see when God gave us our salvation (2 Corinthians 4:6).  We should be encouraged to endure.

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