...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Philemon 1:1-7

...I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Philemon 1:6-7

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today, I start Philemon, focusing on 1:1-7, where Paul sends greetings to an early church leader named Philemon, as well as greetings to those who attend his house church in Colosse.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: We are reminded that Christ is a God of grace and peace - He is full of grace in that we don't get what we do deserve (death and eternal damnation), but we do get what we don't deserve (salvation).  Plus, this grace continues to flow in an inexhaustible supply. See also this post on DesiringGod.com. Christ is a God peace in that He is not a conquering God but one that seeks to bind things together in love through faith - delivering peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).  God should be the object of our gratitude, love, and prayers, and we should be faithful as He is always faithful - see vv4-5.  V6: God gives us amazingly good things and an eternal inheritance - James (James 1:17) even says that "[e]very good gift and every perfect gift is from above[.]"  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv1-2: Paul makes it clear that he is a prisoner.  Fellow believers (Timothy, Philemon, Apphia, Archippus) are referred to lovingly as brothers and sisters in Christ and as fellow workers [in Christ.]  We must also share the same love and affection with our fellow believers in the local church. Paul goes even as far as referring to Archippus as a "fellow soldier," implying that believers are in spiritual warfare - which of course we are.  This points to Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul expands on this spiritual warfare and how we are defend ourselves via the "whole armor of God."  Vv4-6: Paul prays for his fellow believers and he prays prayers that are pleasing to God - that the Gospel be advanced that the effort be "effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ."  V7: We are to be encouraging to our fellow believers - use our words to build one another up - see also 1 Thessalonians 5:11. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise that God is full of an inexhaustible supply of grace and that He provides a peace that surpasses understanding. Follow the example of Philemon whom Paul praises for his love and faith and leadership in the church.  Be an encouragement to other believers.   

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and for the tremendous encouragement they offer me.  Thank You also for the inexhaustible supply of grace You provide, and for the peace that surpasses understanding. I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  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.

Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Mark 10:32-45

Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Mark 10:39b-40

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:32-45.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of four) division (vv35-40):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Consider the Challenge to Being a Servant." 
• "Being a servant doesn’t come easily, especially for those who have been trained to lead and especially for those who dream of being served. Of course there is also the battle we must engage with the flesh. There is a voice in our head from our fallen sinful nature that can whisper persuasively, “The Lord takes care of those who take care of themselves.” Just enough truth to deceive us, and just enough heresy to derail us."  
• "James and John get one thing right but everything else wrong. They are correct that Jesus is headed for glory. But as for how the glory would come, they don’t have a clue. They still don’t get it. They need a discipleship lesson on a cup and a baptism."  
• "Jesus had promised the 12 apostles that they would sit on 12 thrones with Him in the kingdom (Matthew 19:28). That however, was not enough. They wanted the two most honored thrones!"   
• "Their request is for the best seats in the house, in the kingdom. Their request reveals: (1) their superficial understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, to be His disciple; (2) their inflated opinion of their own importance, something those who are called to lead are especially susceptible to; and (3) their wrongheadedness on how God measures greatness (cf. Mark 9:34-36). Being a servant goes against our human inclinations. It often is counter to our opinion of ourselves. We know who we are, what we have done, and what we deserve. Being a servant after the pattern of Jesus is a divine enablement, not a human inclination."  
• "Jesus is gentle but firm, gracious but direct in His response. He compares His approaching suffering and death to drinking a cup and experiencing a baptism. These are interesting and powerful metaphors. Drinking a cup with someone speaks of sharing in that person’s fate, experiencing his destiny. The cup was also a common picture of the wrath of God in judgment (Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17-23; Jeremiah 25:15-17; Ezekiel 23:28-34). Similarly, Jesus’ passion and death were a baptism—His being overwhelmed, flooded, and immersed in the destiny planned for Him by His Father (cf. Genesis 6; Psalms 69:2,15). His cross was a divine appointment!"   
• "James would be the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:1-2). John would experience, alone, the great persecution of Domitian and be exiled to Patmos (Revelation 1). But to choose who sits on His right or left is a decision reserved for His Father."  
• "Sadly, James and John fail to see that the pathway to glory is always the pathway of suffering. Before the crown there is a cup of suffering. Before the blessings that flow there is a baptism that overwhelms and drowns."

There is a cost to following Jesus but we should share Paul's view on this from Philippians 3:8, where Paul says "[f]or his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."  Believers have received the greatest gift of all time - salvation.  We received what we do not deserve and we do not receive what we deserve as the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).  God also pours out mercies that never cease - daily (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Of course there is more....  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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. 

"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 an unassisted 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).  In what appears to be a pivot from a prophecy of final days and the Battle of Armageddon as described in the book of Revelation (see post yesterday), here the text starts by describing how in v10a God "will pour out...a spirit of grace and pleas of mercy" upon seeing the sight of Christ crucified - a messianic prophecy.  God's people are then described - v10b-13 - as mourning and weeping over the crucified Christ. Vv12-13 describe mourning of families "by themselves" suggesting hiding in the face of persecution.  V13:1 then shares how God will provide "a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness."  This fountain is the inexhaustible supply of grace that flows from Christ to believers for forgiveness of sin. See also this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com. I am immediately reminded of Lamentations 3:22-23 where Jeremiah shares how God's love and mercies never cease and they are new every morning. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are amazing and Your grace and mercy is great and it never ends! Thank You Jesus!  I know that am not deserving of my salvation and this inexhaustible supply of grace and mercy.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.