The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Mark 3:1-6

The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 3:6

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 3:6, which is the text for the third (of three) division per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary for the third division:

• "The Herodians show up here for the first time. They do not appear to be a distinct group or political party like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Instead they appear to be wealthy and influential supporters of the Herods and their dynastic rule. There are only three passing references to this group in the New Testament (see Mark 12:13; Matthew 22:16), and they appear each time in a surprising alliance with the Pharisees."
• The commentary shares a subtitle "The Enemy We Fear Most We Will Seek to Destroy."

For believers, we know that Satan is real, and that he exists to distract people from the saving power and eternal hope of Jesus.  1 Peter 5:8-9 is a vivid warning of Satan as a roaring lion seeking to devour.  The Prince of this Age - Satan - seeks to drag others into Hell where he will be for eternity after the end of times - see Revelation 20:10.  That is why Jude 22-23 seeks for us to "have mercy on those who doubt, saving them by snatching them from the fire."  We know that Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death so we can have peace - resting in our salvation. 

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My Prayer: Father God, what an amazing God You are that You loved me while still an enemy and hostile to You and You saved me!  Thank You Jesus!  You defeated sin and death so that I could have life - now as a new creation and for eternity!  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 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.  

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

 Zechariah 3:1-10

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. Zechariah 3:1

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 this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 3:1, which the commentary outlines as the first of six divisions for the text 3:1-10 (3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 3:4-5, 3:6-7, 3:8-10).  For the entirety of 3:1-10, the commentary shares this historical context: "[t]he people of Judah have come back to Jerusalem after spending years in Babylonia in exile. They have been back in the land of Israel now for about 20 years. God’s people have started rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. But because they faced great opposition from the others who live in the area of Jerusalem, the people have stopped rebuilding the temple. Zechariah, who prophesied 520 years before the time of Christ, has been sent as God’s messenger, calling them to return to the Lord. With the guidance of an interpreting angel, God has shown Zechariah eight visions, of which this is the fourth." The commentary then (1) outlines three actors in this vision, Joshua, angel of the Lord, and Satan, and (2) provides "six principles regarding what Satan does and what God does concerning our guilt. These six principles are actually three pairs of principles. The first half of each pair shows how Satan deceives us in our guilt, while the second half shows how God tells us the truth."

The broad theme specifically for the first division - v1 - is that "[w]hen we are legitimately guilty [of sin] before God, Satan uses our guilt to make us feel hopeless so that we will stay far from God."  V1 depicts Satan standing with Joshua "pointing to his sin."  The commentary wants us to understand that Satan is real: "according to God’s Word, Satan is indeed real. He’s not merely a representation of evil or a fantasy character invented to frighten people. The Bible talks about Satan as a real spiritual personality. And just as he accused Joshua the high priest, Satan is our accuser. He opposes and attacks all of God’s people."  We are referred to Revelation 12:10 where Satan is described as accusing and opposing believers day and night before God. The commentary also points us to John 8:44 where Satan is described as a consummate liar.  We are warned about Satan as he seeks to separate us from God and the love and hope He provides. The commentary concludes by sharing: "[Satan] comes into the presence of God and tells the truth about us. We are sinners. We are sinful. We have done, said, and thought things that offend and displease our holy God. But Satan’s accusations against us are always accompanied by hopelessness. He not only accuses us of having sinned, which is true, but he also tells us that we are beyond God’s reach, which is a lie. Satan uses our guilt as his weapon to make us feel hopeless and to keep us from God."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gives sinners like me hope - I know that You have already defeated sin and death, and that I can come to You for mercies every morning that never cease.  Thank you Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from and overcome my 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.

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.”

Proverbs 30-31

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”: Sheol, the barren womb, the land never satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, “Enough.” Proverbs 30:15-16

I continue my study of Proverbs - starting week 10 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 30-31:9.  My focus for today is questions #4-6 from my workbook.  These three questions examine (1) the insatiable desires of Satan and sin (Proverbs 30:15, Philippians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:5); (2) the role of our conscience plays in not just our journey with Christ but also in the journey of others (Proverbs 30:20, Romans 14:1-12, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, 10:23-30, 1 Timothy 1:18-20, Hebrews 10:19-22); and (3) how humility and a righteous life contrasts with that of a sinful, foolish life (Proverbs 30:21-23 and 24-28).

Certainly, we must be careful falling prey to any kind of sin as it feeds on itself towards ruin and destruction. 

Paul encourages us that God provides a "way out" from sin and that is of course Jesus Christ:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Another text from Proverbs reinforces how God is the way: 

For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death. Proverbs 8:35-36

 

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You ARE the way, and You protect me by giving me Your Son Jesus Christ so that I can protect myself from sin and the insatiable desires of sin that lead to destruction.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation.  I know this.  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.