And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:20-21

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 5:13-21, focusing specifically on a review of the main idea for the entirety of the text, the commentary's introduction/overview for this text, and the second division - which is "We Can Know What Is True (1 John 5:20-21)."  The commentary shares that "[b]ecause of our union with Christ, we understand the truth of the gospel, we are safe from the claws of the evil one, we know the Father, and we abide 'in the true One—that is, in His Son Jesus Christ.'" The commentary then highlights v21 and how we are warned by John about idols - we are referred to Ephesians 5:5, and Colossians 3:5.  The warning about idols is important because it is so easy to create idols for ourselves.  On this point, the commentary shares: "man's nature....is a perpetual factory of idols (per John Calvin)."  Tim Keller wrote on this subject: "'The ultimate reason for any sin is that something besides Christ is functioning as an alternative ‘righteousness’ or source of confidence—and is thus an ‘idol,’ a pseudo-savior, which creates inordinate desires” (Preaching the Gospel in a Post-Modern World)." The commentary on this text concludes by pointing us to John 4:14 where Jesus tells a Samaritan woman at the well that Jesus offers a living water where those who drink of it will never thirst again, and this living water in believers will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  Avoid idols and drink of the living water!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me Yourself as I know You offer a living water where I will never thirst again and this living water will well up in me as eternal life - thank You Jesus!  Help me see You as truth and not turn towards idols I make for myself.  You bless me beyond what I deserve.  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.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

Today I pause both my study of 1 Corinthians and my study that accompanies participation in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Instead, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explores the root of ingratitude.  John Piper uses Romans 1:21 (see also John MacArthur commentary introduction to Romans) where Paul writes to believers in Rome, including both Jews and Gentiles, and in v21 and surrounding verses (vv18-32), Paul shares how Gentiles specifically had no excuse in acknowledging a divine Creator.  They pursued idol worship and this is where John Piper picks up today with the devotional.  Piper starts by pointing to yesterday's devotion where a gratitude towards God results in magnification of Him and a desire to bring Him glory.  He then looks at why we don't show gratitude towards God - he shares: "there is a very good reason that human beings by nature do not want to magnify God with thanksgiving or glorify him as their benefactor. The reason is that it detracts from our own glory, and all people by nature love their own glory more than the glory of God. At the root of all ingratitude is the love of one’s own greatness. For genuine gratitude admits that we are beneficiaries of an unearned bequest. We are cripples leaning on the cross-shaped crutch of Jesus Christ....[W]hile a man loves his own glory, and prizes his self-sufficiency, and hates to think of himself as sin-sick and helpless, he will never feel genuine gratitude to the true God and so will never magnify God as he ought, but only himself." This is the futility of thinking Paul writes about.  Piper concludes the devotion by pointing us to Mark 2:17 where Jesus said "[T]hose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and grace - I KNOW I need You - for everything - including my salvation and how You intercede for my continuously and forever through prayer.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and I am in DESPERATE need for You...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.

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Matthew 6

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which examines anxiety.  This is a matter that hits home for me as I have often struggled with anxiety and depression.  I am grateful to God for how He has worked in my heart and life to help me overcome much of this struggle.  In today's Solid Joys daily devotion, John Piper shares his view (backed by scripture) that "Jesus says that the root of anxiety is inadequate faith — 'little faith' — in our Father’s future grace."  Piper then goes on to look at how such a view is likely to been as very discouraging, particularly for those who are looking for the solution elsewhere - to the world specifically.  Poor health, and lack of financial resources are indeed not fun, but people (most importantly believers) should understand that better health and more money is not going to solve a problem with anxiety as it will "latch" on to others areas of our lives - this is what scripture refers to as futility of the mind (see John Piper on this).  We should focus on our faith instead, and if we struggle with our faith, we should pray and plead with God to help us with our faith.  Sometimes our faith is a struggle because we have not fully grasped the miracle of the gospel - that Christ died for our sins and rose again.  Piper urges us to see this in 1 Corinthians 15:

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17 

From today's devotion, Piper also urges us to refer to Mark 9, where in v14-29 a father desperately wants his child to be healed and Jesus challenges the father to believe - to have faith.  The father then pleads with Jesus to help him with his unbelief (v24).  Piper wants us to understand how lack of faith causes anxiety and the antidote for anxiety is only Christ.   The world will try and tell you otherwise but speaking from experience, I can tell you that Christ alone is the answer.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You give me belief and faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving because my sin 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.    

Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me[.]

Isaiah 44-46

Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me[.] Isaiah 46:8-9

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 17 day 4 and 5 where I reflect on Isaiah 46 after a read of my commentary's perspective on this chapter.  My commentary offers the following divisions for this chapter:

1. The gods of Babylon are a crushing burden, crushed in the end (46:1-2)
   
2. The incomparable God carries His people from birth to old age (46:3-5)
3. The idols cannot move, neither can they save (46:6-7)
4. Remember the God who plans and orchestrates history (46:8-10)
5. God's plan is to bring salvation near to those far away (46:11-13)

The two key applications recommended by my commentary include:

1. We should not "glibly" assume we have no idols; we should ask God to search our heart and expose them; "anything we put ultimate value on other than Christ is a "functional savior" and an idol
2.  Delight in a God who carries you

The core method God uses to show us the futility of idol worship is a comparison of idols to the One True God and of course NONE compare!  My commentary states very aptly: "[t]hough we may not go to a goldsmith with a bag of gold and ask him to melt it into a golden statue that we worship, our covetousness and materialism are every bit as idolatrous as that....idols are burdens that we carry around, burdens that will crush us someday if we do not cast them off. God has systematically exposed and destroyed all his rivals in every generation."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is like no other - You are the One True God that carries burdens and saves - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You carry burdens and save.  My sin is great and it continues.  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 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 have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Isaiah 44-46

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. Isaiah 46:11

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - today moving on to Lesson 17 day 3, which examines Isaiah 46. This chapter includes several core messages/applications:

• v1-2: the futility of idols - they cannot carry burdens nor save; Israel's kings and citizens had allowed themselves to fall prey to the religious practices of neighboring countries and disobeyed God's commands to love Him and to not have other gods before Him (see Exodus 20:3-4).
  
• v3-7: none compare to the One True God, the King of Kings who created everything, is before and in everything and holds all things together 
• v8-11: nothing can stop God from accomplishing His will
• v12-13: God promises a remnant of Israel that He will save them - a coming Messiah
  

Of particular note, we should take great comfort in knowing that when God makes a promise - He is faithful and He will accomplish His will.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and I take great comfort in how You are faithful.  All of Your promises come to pass.  Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness - none compare to You.  I am not deserving of Your faithfulness, nor any of the blessings You pour out for me, including my salvation.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.