I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 Romans 16

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:17-20

This afternoon, I completed my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I completed the final chapter twenty Christian Friendship, which covers Romans 16.  My focus today is all of Romans 16, with a particular focus on v16:17-27 - today's entry from my commentary refers to this final review of Romans 16 as How Christian Friendship Is Experienced: Love. 

These closing verses of chapter 16 (and all of Romans) reveal how Paul wants the church to play a central role in creating unity and how, in turn, unity drives strength to stay strong in the faith - Satan and sin is powerful, but Jesus is more powerful and we know that ultimately the victory over Satan and sin is already won so we can remain confident. In the final verses of this chapter and Romans overall, Paul reminds us how scripture and the Holy Spirit, who accompanies us in our reading of the Bible, "bring about the obedience of faith" (v16:26) and that we are strengthened (v16:25) by God and the Holy Spirit. God equips us as we draw near to Him. 

As we look back and wrap up chapter 16, my commentary reminds us five ways how we can love each other in "the community of faith"

• honoring one another
• showing hospitality to one another
• showing affection for one another
• doing ministry together
• staying focused on the gospel together
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has helped strengthened me through communities of faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You have blessed me with such communities.  I sin...poor judgement, worry, 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.

Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom.

2 Chronicles 24-25 and 2 Kings 12-14 

Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that he might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. 2 Chronicles 25:20, 2 Kings 14:11-13

  

Day 165 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 the divided kingdoms of Judah and Israel as we see both hasten their spiritual decline.  Amaziah succeeds Joash as King of Judah and although "[h]e did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, [he did] not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there" (2 Kings 14:3-4).  In Israel, Jeroboam II succeeds Jehoash and "[h]e did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit" (2 Kings 14:24).

What strikes me today is how Godly wisdom is ignored.  Although Amaziah initially listens to Godly wisdom regarding the required strength of forces to defeat Edom (2 Chronicles 25:6-10) and destroys Edom, he brought back foreign gods and God's anger burned.  The same unnamed prophet challenges Amaziah about such worship and the prophet responds indicating "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel" (2 Chronicles 25:14-16).  Of course, Amaziah seeks to go to battle against Israel but is defeated. 

We all need our brothers and sisters in Christ to challenge, encourage, and even confront us when we sin. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, and who has placed many men and women of faith in my life who have challenged, encouraged and even confronted me in my sin.  I am grateful that You have done this.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin continues - particularly worry and anxiety.  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. 

As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.

  2 Kings 2, 4, 6, 8 

As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you. 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6

Day 157 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 a study of Elisha the prophet as Elijah goes up into Heaven. 

A couple of things strike me today:

(a) we need others who will encourage and call us to be who God intends us to be - Elijah took Elisha under his wing and Elisha became Elijah's protege.  The two became inseparable - in 2 Kings 2 Elisha refuses to leave Elijah's side and on three occasions remarks "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you". Elijah is being called to Jericho and other places prior to calling him home to Heaven, but Elisha will not leave Elijah's side. This relationship leaves a mark and prior to Elijah being called home to Heaven, Elisha asks Elijah to "inherit a double portion of [Elijah's] spirit". Elijah responds to Elisha that this can happen based on certain conditions that ultimately do come to pass.  Elisha goes on to perform miracles described in my commentary* that are "similar in nature... [not just to Elijah but also to] those performed by the Messiah to come".

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

(b) a review of Elijah's life based on this post from DesiringGod.com indicates that Elijah had an "effective prayer life" and God used him during a period of great spiritual crisis among the Jewish people to rise him up from obscurity to confront apostasy.  The post refers to Elijah as a mega-prophet but encourages us to have confidence that we can live with faith as Elijah does - he is just as ordinary as we are.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has placed men in my life that have called me up and encouraged me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and 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.

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

1 Samuel 21-22:5, Psalms 56, 34, 142 and 1 Chronicles 12:8-18 

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.”  So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. 1 Chronicles 12:18

Day 90 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 David on the run from Saul - he needs refuge, provision, confidence, etc. - and the Lord provides.  David leans on the Lord (as Psalms 56 and 142 record) and praises Him (Psalm 34) for how God hears and responds to his cries.  Of note here is how, consistent with my post yesterday how Jonathan loved David as himself and provided great assistance to David, we see David's mighty men coming to his assistance.

God of course provides these other men and the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty.  At first, David is leery of the men seeking to join him (1 Chronicles 12:17) but once the Spirit came on Amasai, David sees this as a God-inspired movement and David welcomes these men.

Again as I posted yesterday, we need these other brothers and sisters in Christ, and in particular, believing men need other believing men.  We can recognize these other men by seeing how fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22) manifest themselves in their lives.  We can also see how other men see our heart condition (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and how they discern a shared hunger and thirst for righteousness (see Matthew 5:6, and Acts 2:44).

My Prayer: Jesus, You are indeed an awesome God who loves me and who has provided many mighty men and warriors who have strengthened me in my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am grateful but 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 be a mighty man and warrior for others and other men.  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.

...he loved him as he loved himself.

1 Samuel 18-20 and Psalm 59

...he loved him as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 18:1, 3, and 20:17

Day 89 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 David's continued rise to prominence within Israel, and correspondingly, Saul's growing jealousy and anger towards David - and Saul seeks to kill David.  In the midst of this, Jonathan and David enjoy a flourishing friendship and this friendship is my focus today.

First, God commands us to love others (see Matthew 22:34-40 and John 13:34-35).  Next, we all NEED brothers and sisters in Christ, and in particular men need other men.  It is through unity with others - particularly other believers - where we draw strength.  That is why

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Romans 12

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ougeht, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. v3

John Piper help us unpack v3-8, and he indicates that we should of course be humble, and that our individual identity in Christ is found through our togetherness and service to one another.  

Piper says: "Love other people with all your heart in reliance on Christ and you will discover who you are."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me new life and others with whom I can share Christ and serve and be served.  I am blessed with such togetherness - more than I deserve.  I worry and I am selfish.  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.

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Acts 18

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. v26

God wants us to STUDY scriptures and to understand what He wants to say to us from both a head (more absolute) and a heart perspective (His personal message to us). This applies of course to what we understand and the understanding of others.  This is the sharpening process that God intends for us. We are intended to be in fellowship with other believers for this and many other believers.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves and who has given me both scriptures and others in my life and resources to better help me understand Your messages for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I sin daily - please help me Lord.  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.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. v17

I have benefitted greatly from the fellowship of others, including other believers and specifically other men in the church.  God designed us to live together with others - from the very beginning.  

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

See also posts here.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You formed the heavens and the earth and everything that inhabits them - You speak things into existence.  You created me and while I am broken You still love me and You chose to die for me.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worthy of such a gift.  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.

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.

2 Samuel 11

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. v1

With previous readings of this chapter, my focus has been on David's sin and humanity vs the perfection of God.  Today my focus is on HOW David found himself falling prey to temptation and sin.

First we must remember that since The Fall (Genesis 3), sin entered the world, it is all around us (in the world), and it is "on the prowl".  

This said, God is our refuge and He can protect us from sin.  Yet if we fail to draw near to Him and stay near to Him we risk losing God's protection.  I am not saying that we ever deserve God's protection by virtue of an act - on the contrary, God's protection is only by His grace and we are not deserving.  We are never promised a life of ease and comfort.  Instead we are promised that God can help us overcome the world (John 16:33) either in life or in death. 

One key way God protects us is by providing others in our lives who "sharpen" us (Proverbs 27:17).  

Since the beginning (Genesis 2), it has always been part of God's plan that we are to live together with others who can support, encourage and help us.

David had His mighty warriors (2 Samuel 23) yet David chose to stay home in v1 when Joab and David's mighty warriors all went into battle.  

We CANNOT afford to live life on our own!  We must find others - the right others - who can encourage, support and sharpen us.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has provide many, many "right" others for me and these people have encouraged, supported, and sharpened me.  Thank You Jesus for these people!  I am not worth such love because my sin continues - envy, 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 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 prepare Godly spouses and friends for them.  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.

“Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

1 Samuel 17

“Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him. v58

What I noticed this morning is how all of David's brothers and Saul himself failed to accept and acknowledge the anointing of David as Saul's successor, anointed by God Himself, and to accept David as someone with God's spirit.

In 1 Samuel 16, all of David's brothers are present when David is anointed by God through Samuel.

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. v13

Notice also how "the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David". 

Even Saul's servants recognized how the Spirit was with David as they recommended David to Saul to play Lyre for Saul.

He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” v18

Yet in 1 Samuel 17, David's brothers (at least Eliab) act as if David is nothing special - see v28.  And Saul forgets who David is - my sense is that at least speaking for myself, if I found someone where it was apparent that "the Spirit of the Lord [was] powerfully [with them]", I would certainly not forget them and would want to remain in their presence.

We must recognize that God appears in forms that we may not recognize or value (in an earthly sense), and that it is important that we have relationships with such people in our own lives because God designed us to walk through life together (Proverbs 27:17).

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that have already provided Godly men in my life so that I could be sharpened! Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry, and I am harsh with my words.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn from it 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.  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.