Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed....That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."

Isaiah 53:4-5 and Matthew 8:16-17

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed....That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases." Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 40-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #18: To Heal Us from Moral and Physical Sickness.  Here, John Piper points to scripture that offers tremendous encouragement for those of us who suffer from emotional and physical ailments (we all do). Piper starts by sharing that "[d]isease and death were not part of God’s original way with the world. They came in with sin as part of God’s judgment on creation."  We are referred to Romans 8:20 where Paul states that "creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope[.]"  Piper expands on Paul's thoughts by sharing: God subjected the world to the futility of physical pain to show the horror of moral evil. This futility included death. “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12). It included all the groaning of disease. And Christians are not excluded: “Not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit [that is, those who trust Christ], groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23)."  The devotion then pivots to the hope that Christ provides because God sent His Son - and through Christ's suffering and death on the cross - to defeat disease and death.  Jesus' ministry as a man demonstrated his ability to heal - see Matthew 8:16, Luke 6:19 - and Piper shares how this was done as a preview of what is to come when Jesus returns for the second coming during end times where Revelation 21:4 shares that "he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore."  Piper concludes the devotion by first describing how Christ's death on the cross fulfilled prophecy from Isaiah 53:3 and how Christ's suffering and death purchased "a world without death and disease."  Piper then moves to scripture that describes this new world that will be ushered in when Jesus comes again.  We are referred to 1 Corinthians 15:54, 2 Corinthians 5:4, and Isaiah 65:25. Rejoice in the hope we have in Christ who has already defeated sin, disease and death and believers' rewards await us in Heaven where Christ is saving a place for us!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God that has defeated sin, disease, and death, and I know You are also saving a place in Heaven for me where I will be reunited with many loved ones and brothers and sisters in Christ and there will be no more disease, tears, etc.  Awesome!  Thank You Father God for my salvation, and for all of the blessings that You pour out for me.  I am totally undeserving of course!  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.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account....Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

 Matthew 5 and Luke 10

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account....Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Matthew 5:11, Luke 10:20

This morning, I pause my study of 1 Corinthians to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how Jesus "revealed a secret that protects our happiness from the threat of suffering and the threat of success." This secret follows in Matthew 5:12 is that "[g]reat is your reward in heaven." John Piper highlights both Matthew 5:11-12 and Luke 10:20 to show us how Jesus protects our joy and happiness.  In Luke 10:17, Piper expands his review of the text to share how Jesus warned the disciples not to be tempted to "put their joy in ministry success."  Piper summarizes the text and its application by sharing how we must focus on the "greater reward in heaven" as the anchor of our happiness and joy. "[T]hus [Jesus] freed us from the tyranny of worldly pain and pleasure — worldly suffering and worldly success."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me protection of my joy and happiness through my salvation.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such love, compassion, grace, and 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 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.  

“Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

Psalm 42, 53, 58, 81, and 101

“Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” Psalm 58:11

Day 125 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 my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and today I start a new grouping "Psalms Expressing a Variety of Sentiments".

Today's psalms focus on the importance of hoping in God when one is depressed, the universality of sin and its consequences, outrage against leaders who promote injustice, the continual stubbornness of Israel, and an expression of commitment to righteous living. Obedience to God and the promise of blessings for obedience run through several of the psalms this morning:

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” Psalm 58:10-11

But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:16

Many, including believers, view obedience to Jesus as a burden.  Yet true believers experience the freedom in Christ that David alludes to when he says the "righteous are rewarded".  There are also rewards in Heaven as God is saving a place for us.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me abundantly in this life and I know for eternity in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin continues - I am easily distracted by the matters of this world.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace and compassion over my sin but I need Your forgiveness daily...please forgive me 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.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21-22:5

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Session #12 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 21-22:5.  The title of the session is The Consummation of the Kingdom.

We live in between two worlds:

• pilgrims on a journey in this country today.
• citizens of a kingdom in a country to come.

 We live between two times:

• the birth of Christ; kingdom of God has come and is a present reality.
• the return of Christ; the king of God is coming and His kingdom is our future.

We live for one purpose for the glory of God...meaning it is glorified when God's kingdom is consummated; people who are ruled and a place where the King has dominion, and purpose for the King and His kingdom.  Revelation is the culmination of the Bible - all of history pointing to this point.

• Creation: Genesis 1-2 | people (His blessing), fellowship (perfect), purpose (God's glory multiplied to all peoples)
• The Fall: Genesis 3-11 | disrupted fellowship (place), God's glory marred
• Patriarchs: Genesis 12-50 | place and promised fellowship
• Exodus and Conquest: Exodus - 1 Samuel 8 God and His place | tabernacle (place)
• United Monarchy: 1 Samuel 9 - 1 Kings 11; 1 Chronicles - 2 Chronicles 9: God with His people | temple (place)
• Divided Monarchy: 1 Kings 12 - 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles 10 - Esther - God with His people | exile (place)
• Jesus: Matthew - John - God among His people | incarnation (place)
• Present: Acts - Jude - God IN His people | body (place)
• New Creation: Revelation - God's final blessing and judgement

We give our lives to this kingdom - the climax of this story. Revelation 21:6 - "It is done".

It will be the end in two ways:

• inexpressible joy; Heaven exemplifies God's eternal blessing for conquerors who have turned from this world to Christ.
• irreversible justice; Hell exemplifies God's eternal judgement for cowards who have turned from Christ to this world.

We're going to dwell forever in the in-most place with the Holy God of the universe! Revelation 21:3

Death will be replaced by life!  Revelation 21:4

No more sin.  No more sorrow.  No more sickness.  No more separation. Tree of life - exists as blessing - no longer as curse Revelation 22:2-3

We will see His face! Revelation 22:4 We will reign with Him bodily resurrected - all creation will be restored. Every nation, people, tribe, and tongue living, loving, working, and worshiping together. Unified songs: worthy is the lamb! Glory to our God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God indeed and it gives me great peace and excitement to KNOW that You have already defeated death and that I will reign with You forever in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus for reserving a place for me.  I am not deserving.  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.

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.

Hebrews 11

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. v16

In this chapter of Hebrews, often referred to as the Faith Hall of Fame or Hall of Faith, the author gives us several descriptions of faith, along with examples from the Bible of those who "lived by faith" (v13).  Believers must not live for the things of THIS world be instead be focused on pleasing God and eternal rewards.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides forgiveness of sin, eternity in Heaven, and abundance in this life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.