Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

 Hebrews 10

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:35

Given I have not felt that well in the past few days, I am taking a short pause from my study in Isaiah to soak in God's Word in ways where I can hold my concentration. I return to John Piper's Solid Joys daily devotion where today Piper looks at the surpassing worth of Jesus vs what the world offers. Piper writes: "[e]verything the world has to offer, God is better and more abiding. There is no comparison. God wins — every time."  I am drawn to a verse in Philippians:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:7-8

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves and who is infinitely more valuable than anything I experience in the world - thank You for all the blessings You pour out for me and for making me an heir to an incredible inheritance - something the world cannot offer!  I am not deserving of this or any other blessing You provide.  My sin is great and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sin 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.

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small....All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Chapter 16: Pages 210-220, Psalm 104

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small....All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time.  When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. Psalm 104:24-25, 27-28

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 2 "Providence Over Nature" - moving to chapter sixteen "The Loss and Recovery of a Theater of Wonders". 

Here, Piper makes it clear that nature is not a mechanical being that was created and runs on its own.  Instead he describes "a picture of God creating, sustaining, owning, and governing the world of nature....[God's] providence is not...by proxy, but instead present and hands on[.]  Piper draws on multiple scriptural examples (including Colossians 1:16-17) but most extensively uses Psalm 104.  

For those believers tempted to lean on science to explain the natural world, including creation, Piper warns: "woe to us if we follow the secular spirit of the age into a frame of mind where God is out of sight, out of mind, and out of our everyday conversation about the wonders of growing grass."

Piper then wants us to understand that nature was created and exists "for the sake of [God's] enjoyment.  Piper draws attention to much of the natural world that humans don't ever even get to see: ...[it] is not wasted, the angels grasp some of.  Someday we may grasp more of it.  But God grasps and rejoices in all of it."

Finally, Piper wants us to understand that nature and the created universe is not just for the sake of God but also for the enjoyment of His people (for our praises of His glory of course).

I am reminded of an excellent book on Creation by Grant Jeffrey - Creation: Remarkable Evidence of God's Design. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who's creation is incredible and worthy of my praise for Your glory.  I see it daily and I marvel of Your works.  Thank You Jesus for providing creation - I am undeserving that You would provide creation and the infinite number of blessings You provide!  I worry...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.

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold....They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea....They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.

Psalm 102, 106, 123, 137

But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold....They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea....They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations  and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. Psalm 106:13, 20-22, 34-36

Day 262 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I complete a quick review of the Psalms my commentary describes as prayers for those in exile who "[l]ike Job...have fallen from prosperity into shame".  Yesterday, I covered six of these prayers, and today I cover the remaining four. 

In the midst of these prayers we find sources of God's anger, the sin which aroused God's anger. While not exhaustive, the Psalm 106 contains a few key highlights. 

God wants us to love others as He loves us (John 13:34), and this includes being patient - yet Israel fails to remain patient.  We too often assume that God is not at work in our suffering, yet He is always at work. When we lose our patience, we fall prey to snares and sin creeps into our lives. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is SO patient with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your patience and the many blessings You pour out for me.  I too often lack patience with others.  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.  

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Judges 2-3 

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

Day 74 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Israel's repeated failure to follow the Lord as a result of their disobedience to God's command to overcome the remaining inhabitants of the promised land (see previous post).  Israel "did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt.  They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them." (Judges 2:11-12).  God then gives Israel into the hands "of raiders who plundered them" (Judges 2:14).  God does raise up judges to save them but once these judges die, the Israelites return to their wicked ways (Judges 2:19).  Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar are all mentioned in Judges 3 as deliverers who save Israel - each providing temporary peace.

Our starting point should be that we are all (all of humanity) sinful and we exist in a fallen world - plagued not just by our own sin but also by the sin around us.  Believers can easily be seduced by the world.  

My recent study of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) highlighted this important warning and uses words from John:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who has strengthened me and protected me - yet I know my sin continues and there is work to do.  Thank You God for protecting me but please forgive me for how I have fallen down.  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 fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered. The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn....

Revelation 17-18

The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered. The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn....Revelation 18:14-15

Session #9 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 17-18.

The focus for this session is not just the judgement of the world in the final days but a warning about the danger of worldly desires.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

Revelation 17-18 is a pictorial illustration of 1 John 2:15-17.  These are words that we in the USA need to here - worldly, comfortable Christians.  Hear the invitation of God to repent and turn from the ways of the world and enjoy fellowship with God.

What is going on with these chapters and takeaways:

• 17:1-5 attractive woman who symbolizes worldly seduction and a symbol of infidelity/idolatry/immorality; woman is sitting on a beast the symbolizes worldly persecution; sevens heads symbolizing seven mountains and seven heads; ten horns symbolizing ten kings > persecution of the world and seduction of the world
• the woman is devoured by the beast - end of chapter 17:15-18 according to the purpose of God; the woman disappears from the earth; Babylon and seduction of world in chapter 18 also destroyed > all as judgement of God
• this world is full of deceptive attractions - sensual pleasures, material possessions, promise of satisfaction, hope of security (18:7), insatiable lust for power, subtle lure of pride (...mentions of "great")
• this world is headed to a definite conclusion (18:2); this world will be destroyed completely, suddenly, eternally
• Sin is self destructive and eventually damning - always destroys (see also Proverbs 7);  Satan is a destroyer who knows he is inevitably doomed
• Hear the gracious warning of God! 17:14 Jesus is the conquering lamb; He calls us to be saved; God is Holy and we deserve destruction but He can save us forever!  With His overcoming power, He calls us who are saved to be faithful
• Do not love the world or anything in it; love for God and the world cannot coexist! Love for the world pushes out love for God.  Love for God pushes out love for the world!  Infinite joy has been offered to us!  Don't buy what the world is offering!
• Every one of us has a choice; love things of this world - if we do, our pleasures will always be fleeting; destiny will be hell; OR we can love the God over this world who reigns supreme over this world and our pleasure will be unfading!  Our security will always be in Heaven!

My Prayer: Jesus, I have experienced the pleasure of Your Kingdom and is satisfying beyond what we can experience of this world - thank You Jesus for giving me this taste.  Yet I am not deserving of how You have adopted me into Your family.  I often fall prey to the tempations fo this world - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from these sins and love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me endure...patiently...and cling to You!  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.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. v15-17

As a corollary to yesterday's scripture where John warned us about hate and hating other believers, today John talks about love "of the world" which is to love creation but not the Creator - of course with the latter referring to God.

John echoes Jesus' words spoken in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19-24 where Jesus warns us to avoid storing up "treasures on earth".

We must remember that just as posted yesterday, our love of Jesus and others must surpass all else - including family.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who will never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I love You.  Yet I am undeserving of such a God.  I worry and I have others sins.  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 today and every day.