And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death[.]

Colossians 1

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death[.] Colossians 1:21-22a

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how believers, apart from God's grace, are hostile to God - in their minds. In this devotion, John Piper starts with the good news - which is for believers.  Believers know that PRIOR to our salvation, we WERE hostile to God - this is stated not just in Colossians 1 but elsewhere in scripture, including Romans 5:8, 10. Through Christ's death and resurrection on the cross, those who confess Him as Lord and Savior have salvation, hope, power, etc. Yet for those who do not confess sin, repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, eternal damnation awaits.  Piper looks at the pre-election condition of being "alienated and hostile [to God] in mind" and shares that for those who are not elected by Christ, "hostility is really there toward the true God, but people do not allow themselves to think about the true God. They imagine God to be the way they would like him to be, which seldom includes any possibility that they might be in really serious trouble with him. But concerning the God who really exists — a God who is sovereign over all things, including sickness and calamity — we were all hostile to him, Paul says. Deep down, we hated his absolute power and authority.  That any of us is saved is owing to the wonderful truth that the death of Christ obtained the grace by which God conquered our hearts and caused us to love the One we once hated."  Believers should understand this truth and be overwhelmed in awe and love for God who turned towards us, and loved us first (1 John 4:19).  At the same time, we should continue to show mercy to those who have not turned towards God and seek to snatch them from the fire (Jude 1:22-23).  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me a heart of flesh so that I could love You.  You are worthy of my love and my life as a living sacrifice - You are so good!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please 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 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

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where, in contrast to posts over the past few days that focus on gratitude, John Piper looks at why someone might not have gratitude towards God.  He writes: "[W]hen gratitude does not spring up in our hearts at God’s great goodness to us, it probably means that we don’t want to pay him a compliment; we don’t want to magnify him as our benefactor. And 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." In other words, unbelievers value self-sufficiency and self-glory over that of God.  Of course, believers know they need a Savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior. Piper points us to Mark 2:17 Jesus emphasizes how He says "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 grace and compassion for me - giving me my salvation, Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and SO much more - all out of grace as I am undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I know I am undeserving.  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.

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.