Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?"

Mark 2:1-12

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?" Mark 2:5-8

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 2:5-11, which is the text for the second (of three) division of vv1-12 per the commentary.  Excerpts from the commentary for the second division (We Should See Jesus for Who He Truly Is) vv5-11:

• "[The scribes] recognized that the proclamation of forgiveness was not a passing comment but a declaration of deity: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” This was a serious charge with serious consequences. They understood Jesus’ words to be dishonoring and disrespectful to God. Blasphemy was a grave offense, punishable by death from stoning (Lev 24:15-16). Jesus’ words are indeed blasphemous—unless He is in fact God! The whole scenario leaves everyone questioning, 'Who is this One claiming to forgive sins?'"
• "In Jewish thinking even the Messiah could not forgive sins! God and God alone has that authority and right. Those first-century Jews knew exactly what was going on: if He can forgive sins, then Jesus is God."
• "[In using the reference to Himself as the Son of Man,] sometimes Jesus shows Himself to be the Son of Man who is serving (2:10; 2:28). At other times Jesus is the Son of Man who is suffering (8:31; 9:9,12; 10:33,45; 14:21,41). Finally, Jesus is the Son of Man who is coming in glory (8:38; 13:26; 14:62). The title occurs more often after Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and Jesus begins to teach clearly about His own death (8:29)....Jesus uses the title to refer to Himself with both connotations. As God incarnate, He is a human being who identifies with sinful humanity as He serves and suffers on our behalf. As God, He is the coming Lord of glory." 
• "Jesus avoided the term “Christ” (Messiah) because He was a much different kind of Messiah from what the Jewish nation anticipated in the first century. He first came to suffer, and then He would come in glory. Claiming the title “Son of Man” allowed Him to refer to the total scope of His Messianic mission without all the political overtones."
• "Only in this present text is the forgiveness of sins linked to the divine title “Son of Man.” By implication Jesus does this again in 10:45 when He weds the Son of Man of Daniel 7 to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, thereby redefining who the Messiah is and what He came to do. He is God, a divine heavenly figure who will receive an everlasting kingdom." 

Believers of today have of course the benefit of hindsight to understand the attributes of Jesus as a Savior that serves, suffers, and coming in glory.  It is important that our lives and our witness - both in words and deed reflect an accurate understanding of Jesus.  We must see Jesus as serving because Jesus wants us to love and serve others as He loves and serves others.  We must also see Jesus as suffering and able to sympathize with our suffering.  As Jesus did, our own suffering should be viewed as God-planned and ordained for a purpose - that God be glorified in our weakness (see post from DesiringGod.com here) as we are utterly dependent on Him.  Also, we can approach Jesus in confidence in prayer because He is able to sympathize with our suffering and equip us to endure (see Hebrews 4:15-16).  If we are unable to love, serve others, and suffer like Jesus did then this is a reflection of our own understanding of who Jesus is and we should be leaning into Jesus to help us see Jesus for who He is so that we can be molded into more of His image. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and mercy for me that is ceaseless and new every morning.  You also give me Your Word to draw close to You and understand more of who You are.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of these blessings.  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 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.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

Today, while traveling in WV...once again I am mindful of how I did not offer time to the Lord in the morning (my first fruits) as I'd like do, but I am also mindful that I need to go to God daily and while it is late in the day it is my first opportunity to get online and not just focus my mind on God's message, I do want to document my time.  For this opportunity, I go to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explores Matthew 5:11-12 and how we as believers should focus on the eternal when we find ourselves suffering - there is a greater reward then one found in our earthly bodies. For this, Piper also refers us to Romans 8:18 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 as supplemental text to support encouragement found in scripture for those suffering. We are not just to rejoice based on this eternal reward, but this rejoicing causes us to love, and to love in supernatural way that draws others to Jesus.  See also Luke 6:35 and 14:14.  Finding joy in our suffering then deepens the hope we have in the eternal. See also Romans 5:3-4.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the example You provide of rejoicing in suffering!  Through Your example and the Holy Spirit I can share in suffering with You and as such rejoice in this suffering.  I am not deserving of the love from which I can never be separated.  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 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.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church[.]

Colossians 1:24

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church[.] Colossians 1:24

Today, while traveling in WV...I am mindful of how I did not offer time to the Lord in the morning (my first fruits) as I'd like do, but I am also mindful that I need to go to God daily and while it is late in the day it is my first opportunity to get online and not just focus my mind on God's message, I do want to document my time.  For this opportunity, I go to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explores Colossians 1:24. I have previously reviewed this particular message from John Piper but it is nonetheless worthy of review.  It is an astonishing message and deeply encouraging for those experiencing suffering.  First, Piper describes how Christ's sacrifice was perfect - it lacked in nothing - "— except one thing, a personal presentation by Christ himself to the nations of the world."  Now we should be careful to assume that Christ's death on the cross was anything less than perfect.  Piper shares how "for the sake of [Christ's] body, that is, the church...[Paul and us] fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." Piper then goes on to share how "[those in the church, including today and tomorrow] finish what they were designed for, namely, a personal presentation to the people who do not know about their infinite worth." Piper sums this up succinctly with a more full statement: "[Paul] says that it is his own sufferings that fill up Christ’s afflictions. This means, then, that Paul exhibits the sufferings of Christ by suffering himself for those he is trying to win to Christ. In his sufferings they are to see Christ’s sufferings....Here is the astounding upshot: God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people."  Astounding indeed...those suffering are intended to carry Christ into the world by sharing in His afflictions and displaying how God's grace is sufficient. See also 2 Corinthians 12:9. 

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My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your are so good...You are with me at all times, including in my suffering.  Thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me 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.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven[.]

 Matthew 5

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven[.] Matthew 5:11-12a

Today, I pause both on my study of 1 Corinthians and on my study of 2 Thessalonians that is week 3 of my men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus is the Solid Joys daily devotional on DesiringGod.com which is entitled "Rejoicing in Pain."  Sin and difficulties of all kinds entered the world in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command to not eat fruit from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:17).  A reading of the Bible, a review of the daily news, and reflections on our own lives confirm John 16:33 where Jesus tells his disciples that "[i]n the world you will have tribulation." In this same verse Jesus says "take heart; I have overcome the world," and it is here where John Piper focuses in this devotion - that we should have hope in our difficulties.  To be clear, Piper not only wants us to have hope, but he wants us to follow Jesus's command from today's verses to rejoice and be glad in light of these difficulties.  Piper shares two ways to rejoice in suffering: (1) "fixing our minds firmly on the greatness of the reward that will come to us in the resurrection. The effect of this kind of focus is to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming[.]" (see also Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). This suffering then becomes tolerable which in turn makes love possible (see also Luke 6:35, 4:14) as Piper describes that "[c]onfidence in this promised reward cuts the cord of worldliness and frees us for the costs of love." (2) find joy in the "effects of suffering on our assurance of hope...[as] suffering itself works to deepens that hope." We are referred to Romans 5:3-4 as Piper shares that "Paul’s joy is not merely rooted in his great reward, but in the effect of suffering which solidifies the hope of that reward. Affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces a sense that our faith is real and genuine, and that strengthens our hope that we will indeed gain Christ."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good as I know You will never leave or forsake me in any circumstances, particularly the difficult ones.  Thank You Jesus for working in all things at all times. I am not deserving of how You work in my life.  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.            

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

2 Corinthians 8

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2

I continue my study looking at the life of Paul using John Piper's 30 Reasons Why I Love the Apostle Paul.  Today, I move to chapter seven - Love for People as the Overflow of Joy in God.  Here, John Piper unlocks another unresolved tension related to the one described yesterday in chapter six.  In chapter seven, Piper asks how we can resolve the tension between the desire to be happy in God and the desire to love others. Piper first shares scripture from Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, 10:24, and Romans 15:1 where this tension is highlighted.  We are commanded both to be happy and rejoice in God AND to love others (see Matthew 22:39, John 13:34.  Piper shares how in 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 how "genuine, Spirit-awakened joy in God does not hinder love for people but in fact overflows with love for people.*"  Piper then emphasizes how "[l]ove is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others*." Text examples provided by Piper that support this claim include Micah 6:8, Romans 12:8, Hebrews 10:34, 2 Corinthians 9:7, 2:3, 1 Peter 5:2, and Hebrews 13:17. Piper's unwinding of the tension continues as he shares how a joy in God is so full that it overflows in sacrificial love to others.  He then explains why it may seem paradoxical that we demonstrate sacrificial love.  He writes: "[t]he reason is that the path of greatest joy in this life is often the path of great suffering. In the age to come, after Jesus returns, all pain will be gone*." Colossians 1:24, 2 Corinthians 7:4, and Romans 5:3 are provided to illustrate sacrificial love.  Believers know what awaits us in Heaven even as we suffer to love others - the temporary suffering we experience is just that - temporary. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for - helping me see how joy in You overflows in love for others.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me and give me joy.  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.

You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish.

You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. Luke 21:16-18

This morning, I continued with John Piper's book Holy Ambition.  My focus today is on chapter two Doing Missions When Dying is Gain - pages 37-53.  Here, Piper looks at how suffering in the missions field brings about fruit, for those to whom the gospel is preached and for those who do the preaching working as missionaries. He states that "[t]he price of God's global mission is suffering, and the volatility in the world today against the church is not decreasing." We are encouraged, particularly Americans, to move away from comfort and stress-free living to "take up His cross and follow [Jesus]" (Matthew 16:24).  Piper goes on to write how "suffering is not just the price of missions but also the means."  He unpacks Colossians 1:24 as the scriptural basis for this view. People all over the world need to see the personal sacrifice of missionaries as a demonstration and presentation of Christ's sufferings on the cross. We are encouraged to lean on God's promises that God is so much bigger than the harm that may befall us in the service of Christ. 

• Hebrews 13:5-6
• Romans 8:35-39 
• Luke 21:16-18 
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and You bless me with all of Your promises that always come true - Your Word does not fail!  Thank You Jesus!  I can rest in Your Word and with Your promises. Yet I am undeserving of Your faithfulness...because my sin continues...and I know You hate sin.  Please forgive me for worry, etc.  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.

[W]e rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope[.]

Romans 5:1-11

[W]e rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope[.] Romans 5:2b-4

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued my study of chapter six The Blessings of Justification By Faith, which covers Romans 5:1-11.  My focus today is the back half of Romans 5:2 through verse 4.  I continue to explore how, as a result of my justification by faith I am blessed and specifically this morning, blessed with hope.  I am to rejoice in not only this hope but in any challenges/trials/suffering I may experience as God is shaping me into more of his image and also keeping me focused on not just my time here on earth but what awaits in Heaven. 

My commentary encourages me to not forget how I am undeserving of this blessing of hope as it was faith alone that justified me not any of my or the totality of my works. I am also encouraged to see three applications from verses 3-4:

1. God's priority is not to take away all of your problems; it's to make you like Jesus; suffering refines us and makes us more like Jesus.  It weans us off the pleasures of this world and reminds us of the ultimate realities. 
2. God's purposes can be trusted.  God is working all things together for our good as he conforms us to the images of his Son.
3. God's pattern can be anticipate: afflictions-endurance-character-hope; trials and suffering build character and give us confidence in God as we ensure more trials to come.

I am encourages to look at how suffering produces hope by looking at Mark 4:14-20 (Parable of the Sower):

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed amazing and You give me hope - and I rejoice in this hope and I am grateful how You have molded me through suffering and trials.  I can reflect on these trials now and see the blessing and have confidence that I am more prepared for suffering as I know there will be more.  Thank You Jesus for being full of grace and that You never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of how You justify me nor am I deserving of my salvation or any blessing You pour out for me.  My sin continues - daily...of many kinds.  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 be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

Jeremiah 46-47:7

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.” Jeremiah 46:27-28

Day 215 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 with my study of Jeremiah. This morning, building on yesterday's post, my commentary* discusses how, Egypt seeks to overtake Babylonia (and Philistia), but will be defeated (Jeremiah 46:1-11) and subdued by Egypt (Jeremiah 46:12-26).

Addressing those who have remained faithful AND those who have not, God offers "reassurance to Judah".  As I have posted previously,

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.

Isaiah 48:16-50

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Isaiah 50:4-7

Day 196 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 with my study of Isaiah as God seeks to comfort Israel in exile.  My commentary* describes how God addresses Israel through Isaiah, and urges Israel to draw near to God and listen to His words (Isaiah 48:16-19).  He promises redemption, glory and splendor through Israel - God's chosen people (Isaiah 48:20-49:4) - and all believers should understand that we exist to serve and glorify God. Isaiah points to the coming Messiah (Isaiah 49:6), tells Israel that their exile will end and that those in exile will not be forgotten (Isaiah 49:8-21), reminds Israel that exile was punishment for sin (Isaiah 50:1-3), exhorts Israel to understand that God is with Israel, even during periods of punishment and suffering, and that Israel is to view such punishment and suffering as a test of faith and that Israel should remain obedient in its faith/trust in God and endure (Isaiah 5:4-9). 

Yesterday, in Sunday school, our class discussed how in our country, believers in Christ are increasingly under attack and it is becoming more important that we stand firm in our faith and proclaim our faith regardless of the circumstances.  It is God alone who sustains us and He will never leave or forsake us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, sustains me and never leaves or forsakes me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin continues daily - worry, gossip, etc. 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 our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

2 Corinthians 1

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. v7

Paul writes a second letter to the church in Corinth, and this time he is more encouraging.  He starts by describing to us how our sufferings and resulting comfort from God serves to provide comfort to others as we learn to gain comfort from God and minister to others who share the same challenges.   We've all had challenges and it is comforting that we can be a comfort to others particularly when we question why we are experiencing our challenges.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has comforted me in my challenges and used my challenges to serve others - I am grateful for all that You are and do for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  I worry, and I am selfish among my many 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 for me today and every day.

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. v2-4

God does not want us to boast about any of our own abilities but instead at what He is able to do through us, particularly through our weakness as it becomes clear that God is at work, and as Paul says we are strengthened and molded into more of His image.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has produced much through my trials and weakness - I've been greatly strengthened - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  I am selfish, etc. and I sin 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 he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 22

And he went outside and wept bitterly. v62

We all know the passage of how Peter denies Jesus three times before the roster crows, just as Jesus indicated to Peter the prior evening.  Peter is obviously feeling threatened and understandably denies Jesus out of fear for his life.  The question becomes - what would each of us do when perhaps confronted with a "gun to our head" by someone seeking to do harm to Christians?  While it may be difficult to tackle this question hypothetically, John Piper takes a crack at it here.

Piper refers to Matthew 10 where it says: "[b]ut whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven" (v33) and "[a]nyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (v37). 

Another question arises which is: can I lose my salvation once saved? Piper takes a crack at this also. 

I am not going to resolve these questions this morning, but I am nonetheless encouraged by the scripture referenced by Piper in his posts:

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Matthew 10:28

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who sustains and protects me every day from harm of all kinds - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of Your love and protection.  I daily miss the mark.  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.  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.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Mark 14

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” v22-25

This morning I met with a new group of men in a study and peer group.  It is important to be in

How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!...Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile.

Lamentations 4

How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!...Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. v2, 22

As Jeremiah continues to "lament" over the destruction of Jerusalem, we also see signs of hope, some of which point to our Savior Jesus Christ.

In verse 2, we see a reference to the Jews as pots of clay - fragile, of less esteem than pottery of more fine material (vs gold), disposable, yet created by and mold-able by God who so often uses difficulties as a way to shape and refine us into who He desires us to be.  See various commentaries on this here.  In the New Testament, Paul refers to persecuted Christians as "jars of clay" (2 Corinthians 4:7) "to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

We should desire to be "jars of clay" so that others see Jesus in us.  No one desires to be broken but Jesus' words to Paul that "[His] grace is sufficient" should give us strength.

In verse 22, Jeremiah indicates that this exile is not permanent - see also my post from yesterday.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who died for us - thank You Jesus!  What an amazing God You are - the gratest gift of all time!  I am not worth such love.  I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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 do.  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 cancer.  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.

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job 1

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. v22

We all know the story of Job, and there are many lessons we can draw from Job.  This overview of Job provides a good starting point.

Right away we see Job losing nearly everything...except his wife.  Yet Job does not curse God nor does he question God's existence, His sovereignty, or His goodness.

On the contrary, Job PRAISES God:

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. v21

Job's praise is based on the belief that God provides for all things, we are simply stewards of what He provides, and He is in control and can take away everything, and even in our want we should recognize that God is good and our circumstances are for His glory and our good.  

Easier said than done - but we do have ample scripture to remind us to look at our circumstances and how God views our suffering.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 

 

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

 

See also posts on suffering.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is able to provide for all of my needs and cleanse of me my sins.  Thank You Jesus - I would be lost without You!  I am not worth such love because I am often harsh with my words and actions.  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 do.  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 rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4

But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. v13

Peter encourages us to endure in any suffering we experience when we live as God intends and when we are insulted or suffer for being a Christian.  Our faith will be tested but God will give us victory, either in this life or in Heaven.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - You willingly laid down Your life for me even though You lived a perfect life.  You rose from the grave and You provide Your Word, the church, and the Holy Spirit for me so that You never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus.  I have experienced Your encouragement during hard times and I am grateful that You love me even though I am broken.  I often lose focus on You and I am easily distracted (conformed) by the patterns of this world. 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 do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal and cure 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.  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.