And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

Mark 2:13-17

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. Mark 2:15

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 2:15, which is the second division (Jesus Calls the Socially Undesirable to Fellowship with Him) of the text 2:13-17 per commentary.  Excerpts from the second division per commentary:

• "Now we find Jesus in Levi’s house, sharing a meal and having a good time. This is appropriate because the day of salvation should be a day of celebration (Luke 15:7,10,32)."
• "The term “sinners” may be a technical term for the common people who did not live by the rigid rules of the Pharisees. They were alienated and rejected. These are people who needed God’s grace and knew it. They were no doubt stunned that the famous young Rabbi would share table fellowship with them."
• "Jesus, in this event, tells us the Messiah calls and eats with sinners, extending forgiveness to all who would follow Him. The meal itself was something of a foreshadowing and anticipation of the great Messianic banquet at the end of the age (Revelation 19:9), when persons from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation who have experienced this scandalous grace, including the unlikely and the undesirable, will recline with King Jesus at a great banquet that will never end."  

Believers must understand that we all sin and are undeserving of the salvation that Jesus offers as He loved us despite how we are dead in our sin and enemies/hostile to Him - the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).  Jesus doesn't give us what we DO deserve but DOES give us what we don't deserve - salvation.  We should be just like those at Levi's house - amazed at God's grace.  We must believe just as Paul does that our former lives before Jesus were "rubbish" compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:8).  This surpassing worth of knowing Jesus must then compel us to share the gospel with others because we are literally bursting at the seams looking for ways to share Jesus - see Acts 4:20 where Peter, under arrest, shares that "we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, what an awesome God You are that You loved me first while still sinning and hostile to You.  You not only loved me, You saved me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving.  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. 

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

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how God is "Better Than Money, Sex, and Power," which is the title of today's devotion. John Piper starts by highlighting Hebrews 10:35, which in a broader context examines the blessings of faith in Christ and in particular how we don't worry about plundering of our property because we have a "better possession" (Hebrews 10:34).  Piper expands on this by discussing the superiority of God over "all that the world has to offer," including money, sex, and power.  Piper shares: "[s]o, take the things that drive the world, and ponder how much better and more abiding God is. Take money or sex or power and think about them in relation to death. Death will take away every one of them. If that is what you live for, you won’t get much, and what you get, you lose. But God’s treasure is vastly superior, and it lasts. It goes beyond death." Piper continues by sharing that God's treasure is "better than sex. Jesus never had sexual relations, and he was the most full and complete human that ever will exist. Sex is a shadow — an image — of a greater reality, of a relationship and a pleasure that will make the most exquisite sex seem like a yawn."  On power, Piper shares: "[t]he reward of God is better than power. There is no greater human power than to be a child of the almighty God." Piper concludes by challenging those who continue to seduced by what the world has to offer to "wake up from the trance of this stupefying world and see and believe and rejoice in and love what is truly real, and infinitely valuable, and everlasting?"

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 mercies that are new every morning and that never cease.  You are better than anything this world has to offer - and You freely give to those who are undeserving such as myself.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of what You give.  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 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.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.["]

Luke 14

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.["] Luke 14:26-27

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today compares how Satan "hides his worst and shows only his best" of what he offers, to Jesus, who shows both the best and the worst. Piper then concludes, as all believers should upon review of both offers in detail, that Christ is worth it. The devotion starts with Piper laying (from Luke 14) out the case for the cost of following Christ - or the worst: " the painful cost of being a Christian: hating family (verse 26), carrying a cross (verse 27), renouncing possessions (verse 33)." Piper then pivots to Satan's deception about the best of what he offers - Genesis 3:4, Matthew 4:9. Piper uses Matthew Henry's words to conclude how the benefits of following Jesus abundantly "counterbalance" the costs. For the best of what Christ offers, we are referred to Luke 14:14 (glorious resurrection), Luke 22:32 (God will help us endure hardships), Luke 21:18 (we are provided the Holy Spirit, and even in death we will not perish), future glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18), and the eternal weight of glory that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Having experienced the lies Satan offers, been given the gift of faith (even though I am not deserving!), and having a foretaste of eternal glory, I can say without hesitation that following Jesus is worth it!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed worth following!  I am blessed!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the gift of faith and for revealing a glimpse of eternal glory.  I am not deserving of how You do this for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me, turn towards You, and overcome such sin. 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.   

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

Comment and discuss this post.

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.

Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

1 Kings 2:13-3:1; 1 Kings 9:16; 1 Kings 3:2-4; 2 Chronicles 1:2-6; 1 Kings 3:5-14; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 1 Kings 3:15; 2 Chronicles 1:13; 1 Kings 3:16-28 

Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:8-10, 2 Chronicles 1:8-10

Day 130 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 the early days of Solomon's rule.  While Solomon initially spares Adonijah's life (see post yesterday), Adonijah still feels entitled to the throne (1 Kings 2:15) and requests Abishag (the beautiful caregiver for David late in his life - see 1 Kings 1) to be his wife.  Solomon sees through this selfish request and he executes Adonijah.  Solomon consolidates his power by also executing Joab and Shimei, and removed Abiathar from the priesthood - all disloyal to the throne.  Solomon then negotiates an alliance with Egypt and married Pharaoh's daughter.  Scripture then notes how "[t]he kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands (1 Kings 2:46).  My commentary* indicates that "[b]ecause of these various political steps, Solomon’s reign begins with a calm hardly known by the former king [David]".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.  

 

The Lord then appears to Solomon and grants him anything he requests and Solomon asks for wisdom. 

 

We should all seek God more than anything else in this world.  The world makes many promises and Paul is correct when he says: 

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9 

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has blessed me beyond what words can describe - blessings that far surpass what I can experience through the world.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I sin...daily, including gossip, selfishness, and worry.  I am grateful for Your mercy and compassion because I know I don't get what I deserve for such sin.  I need Your mercy every day.  Please forgive me for my sins today 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 suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

Hebrews 10

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. v34

In my view this morning, in v26-39, there are a couple of nuggets worth a pause, including not just v34 but also v26-27:

 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  

Willful sin, or sins of commission DO threaten a believer's salvation but John Piper points out that this such sin must be a more deliberate, continued, and settled pattern of sin.  Regardless of the distinction Piper makes, believers nonetheless should be on guard for willful sin as we don't want to separate ourselves from God. 

With v34, we have a picture of how God provides something of so much value that we can endure and persevere through those times of challenge, trial and suffering.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:8-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have been with me - always...through all the challenges, trials, and suffering.  Thank You Jesus!  Knowing You and being in Your family is worth more than anything else in my life.  I am grateful.  Yet I am undeserving for how You love and bless me.  I worry and I have many 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.

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. v2-3

As he strives to help us best understand our identity in Christ and what we have in Christ, Paul wants us to grasp the "full riches of complete understanding" and the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" that come from knowing and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior.   Paul has previously referred to the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8).

The "value" of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as well as the value of the Holy Spirit, the Word, etc. is frequently discussed in scripture.

See also

fruit [that] is better than fine gold...[it] surpasses choice silver" (v19).

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited[.]

Acts 19

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited[.]

While Paul was in Ephesus, a riot broke out among those craftsmen who benefited from trade in idols (v23-28).  The essence of the beef with Paul and the Way (v1) is that we lose when we follow Jesus.  All of us, in some form or fashion resist submission to Jesus because of this concern.  Yet we must recognize that all of what we have comes from God - He is the source of everything - all of our life and sustenance.  We must also recognize that, although we lose our life as we know it when we follow Jesus, we gain far more than what we lose. 

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 1 Chronicles 29:14-16

 

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided me with life and everything that I experience - thank You God!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  Thank You - yet I must acknowledge that I am undeserving.  I sin daily and often - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my faith 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.  

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

John 11

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” v47-48

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (v44), some of those who witnessed this miracle told the Pharisees, and then a meeting was called of the Sanhedrin (v47).  Their chief concern was their own status, position, and power.

We should not be concerned about losing our life - in both figurative and literal senses.  

"Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it." Luke 17:33

 

Instead we are to deny oneself. 

We are encouraged by Paul who writes about the "surpassing worth of knowing Jesus".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me both eternal life and an abundant life here on earth - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry and I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me 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 accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin to encourage, support and hold them accountable in their walk with Christ.  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 do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

John 1

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” v48

In v29-50, we see Jesus baptized by John (see also accounts in the other Gospels here), and Jesus' calling of the first disciples.  Although at this point in Jesus' ministry there are indications these men had a sense of who Jesus is (see v41, 45, 49), there are other indications later in John and in the other Gospels that demonstrate these men have an incomplete awareness and understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus.  My sense is that this is true today even for most new believers save those who might live in persecuted locations where it is dangerous to follow Jesus.  

Jesus says we must deny ourselves and give up everything as the cost of our faith.

Yet for those believers who have taken the time to allow Jesus into their heart and lives through daily study and prayer, we know there is a surpassing worth of Jesus vs the world.

Part of this surpassing worth of knowing Jesus are the Fruits of the Spirit, and of course eternal life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me life - to the full...in this life and in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry, and I stress, too much...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 spouse 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 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Luke 19

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” v8

In contrast to the rich young ruler in Luke 18 who went away sad, recognizing that he could not have both salvation and love/idolatry of his wealth, Zaccheus was willing to give up his love of money in return for salvation.  Note that Zaccheus did not give up ALL of his wealth but 50% of it.  The rich young ruler, in contrast, was asked by Jesus to give up all of his wealth to have eternal life.  The difference between the two from Jesus' perspective was their heart condition and views on wealth. Zaccheus did not place his wealth above God (or even at the same level of God) but the rich young ruler did.  Heart condition matters.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blesses me with treasures that surpass earthly profit.  You are worth SO much more than gold or silver - and You bless me with faith, Your Word, the church, my brothers and sisters and Christ - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such blessings.  I daily miss the mark - I often seek to bring glory to myself.  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.

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Luke 14

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. v33

Similar to yesterday's post on humility, Jesus speaks on the cost of faith.  First He addresses those who put earthly worries and concerns ahead of Jesus - The Parable of the Great Banquet (v15-24).  In this parable, Jesus warns us to beware of the "excuses" we place in front of our faith - I am guilty of this as much as anyone.  We often explain away or justify why we don't do this or that as Jesus commands us.  I am deeply convicted on this teaching.

Jesus then pivots to the cost of being a disciple (v25-34).  We are to place God first, above our earthly relationships (v25-27), and give up everything (v33).

There is indeed a cost - Jesus refers to this in John 16:33 where He says "[i]n this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world".  

Yet we should be encouraged by Paul's words on the surpassing worth of Jesus:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God and worth it all - the greatest gift of all time!  Thank You Jesus for the many rich blessings You pour out for me.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  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.  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.

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” v62

Jesus is talking about the cost of following Him.  Indeed there is a cost - He does not guarantee a life free of trouble.  On the contrary - we WILL have trouble (John 16:33).  John Piper expands on the cost of following Jesus.

Yet, Paul reminds us of the "surpassing worth" of following Christ:


But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worth more than anything I or anyone else can ever attain for ourselves.  You adopted me as Your own and died for me so that I could have life - freedom from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus.  You are the most amazing gift of all time.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  I daily miss the mark.   Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such 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.

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. v20

Many of us, myself of course included, have grown envious of others when they achieve earthly success yet we fail to heed the words of both this Psalm and also of Jesus.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

It's not that God wants us to be poor or that He minds us having wealth - it's our heart condition.  We shouldn't seek wealth or desire wealth above God.

See also Matthew 19:16-26 where Jesus addresses the "Rich Young Ruler".  


Paul also encourages us to seek the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ".

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Philippians 3:7-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who I know loves me and loved me even before I was born...knowing everything about me, including my brokenness.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  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 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.