For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where, in contrast to posts over the past few days that focus on gratitude, John Piper looks at why someone might not have gratitude towards God.  He writes: "[W]hen gratitude does not spring up in our hearts at God’s great goodness to us, it probably means that we don’t want to pay him a compliment; we don’t want to magnify him as our benefactor. And there is a very good reason that human beings by nature do not want to magnify God with thanksgiving or glorify him as their benefactor. The reason is that it detracts from our own glory, and all people by nature love their own glory more than the glory of God." In other words, unbelievers value self-sufficiency and self-glory over that of God.  Of course, believers know they need a Savior and Jesus Christ is that Savior. Piper points us to Mark 2:17 Jesus emphasizes how He says "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

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 for me - giving me my salvation, Your Word, the Holy Spirit, and SO much more - all out of grace as I am undeserving.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I know I am undeserving.  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.

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

Matthew 7

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ Matthew 7:22

I extended for one more day a pause on my studies of both Isaiah and of Proverbs to listen to today's Solid Joys daily devotion on DesiringGod.com.  John Piper's devotion today examines how Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, warns us against a works-orientation that demonstrates pride, "self-direction, self-reliance, and self-exaltation....[Piper goes on to state that] "[i]n all of this, the basic satisfaction of the works-orientation is the savor of being an assertive, autonomous, and, if possible, triumphant self."   Instead, Piper encourages us to demonstrate a faith-orientation that "longs for the joy of seeing God glorified for his capability and strength and wisdom and grace."

We must remember that all that we have and do is a gift from God and that we exist to glorify Him. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I know that all that I have and all that I am able to do is only because of You.  You provide for all of my needs and I know You work in my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin 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.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

James 4

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16

This morning, until I start a new Bible study, I continue using devotionals from John Piper.  Today, the post focuses on pride, closely related to arrogance and its antonym - humility. These topics strike a chord in my life as I have struggled with pride and arrogance as sin...I have posted about these sins in this blog often as I have on other blogs. One glance at the tag cloud of this blog reveals - if my study is indicative of God's true intent for believers reading the Word - that God recognizes the pervasive nature of these sins and He of course has something to say about them - much to say in fact. John Piper, I believe, is correct (as are C.S. Lewis and others referenced in today's devotional) in stating in today's devotion that pride and arrogance exist as core obstacles to faith.  Piper refers to "three categories of self-reliance - wisdom, power, and riches — they form a powerful inducement toward the ultimate form of pride; namely, atheism."  Piper goes on to state that "[u]ltimately, the proud must persuade themselves that there is no God. One reason for this is that God’s reality is overwhelmingly intrusive in all the details of life. Pride cannot tolerate the intimate involvement of God in running the universe, let alone the detailed, ordinary affairs of life."  Piper encourages us to battle "this arrogance...[by] yield[ing] to the sovereignty of God in all the details of life, and rest in his infallible promises to show himself mighty on our behalf."  Piper gives us several scripture references to emphasize God's sovereignty and infallible promises:

• 2 Chronicles 16:9 - God "give[s] strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."
• Psalm 23:6 - "goodness and mercy" await all those who follow the Lord
  
• Isaiah 64:4 - God "acts for those who wait for him."
• Hebrews 13:21 - God equips us to do His will

I pray of course that I can rest in God's sovereignty and infallible promises.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who has helped illuminate sin in my life, and You are full of grace and patience as I work out my faith.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace and that You never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My worry persists, among other 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.

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.

1 Samuel 22:5-25:1, Psalms 52, 63, 54 and 57 

 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. 1 Samuel 24:5-7

Day 91 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 Saul's continued pursuit of David.  While on the run and in hiding, David has an opportunity to attack and kill Saul (1 Samuel 24:3-4) yet he merely cuts off a corner of Saul's robe.  Afterwards, he is conscience-stricken by his own action.

According to the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase), "David recognized that the Lord Himself had placed Saul in the kingship. Thus, the judgment and removal of Saul had to be left to the Lord".

As I posted a few days ago, we may feel tempted to take matters into our own hands, but we must recognize that God alone is judge and justice belongs to the Lord.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus - I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin continues...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 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 have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

1 Samuel 8-12

“You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” 1 Samuel 13:13-14

Day 86 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 the beginning of Saul's downfall, which strangely enough is not soon after Saul's anointing.  Unfortunately, Saul fails to heed Samuel's instructions (see 1 Samuel 10:8) and Saul takes things into his own hands - 1 Samuel 13:11-4 chronicles the transgression and Samuel's rebuke of Saul.

When we don't see things unfold the way we expect, we are tempted to take things into our own hands - this of course becomes dangerous when we explicitly disregard God in the process as Saul does here. Abraham and Sarah could not wait - and also took matters into their own hands - see John Piper on how Abraham and Sarah lacked faith in what God can accomplish vs what is humanly impossible.  He uses Romans 9:6-9 as an example of how God accomplishes what only He can do.

Waiting can be difficult - DesiringGod.com provides another useful post on this topic here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has done what only what You can do - on the cross and in my life.  Thank You for the many blessings that You pour out on me.  I am not deserving.  I continue to sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me 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 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 the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Acts 12

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. v24

In Acts 11-12 we see God working through Peter to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and throughout the lands the Gentiles populate including Antioch where believers are first referred to as Christians (Acts 11:26).  Peter is arrested by Herod but angels help him escape.  

In Acts 12:23, Herod is struck down because "[he] did not give praise to God". 

This is yet another reminder that nothing can stop God's plans and we should fear God as John Piper puts it to preserve our heart for God and to prevent ourselves from running from Him in arrogance, self-sufficiency and through hard-heartedness.  

Herod sought glory for himself and we all often do this - such arrogance is dangerous.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has taught me to be more humble - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for all that You do for me to teach, mold, protect, sustain, bless, etc. I am undeserving of such blessings and love.  I worry and I am discouraging with my speech.  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. 

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 124

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. v8

When we have troubles we too often rely on ourselves, things, or people to ease our worries and to resolve difficult matters.  I am just as guilty of this sin as anyone else.  I must rely on God and God alone, and He will provide us with all our needs and see us through all challenges.  We must also see how these challenges are either allowed by God or created by God to grow, discipline and train us.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are all I need...no good things exist apart from You.  Thank You for how You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I fall short of the Glory of God...I worry, I am selfish, 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, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.