Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 17-22:16

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 20:6

As I continue with my study of Proverbs, remaining in chapters 17-22:16, I begin a review of these chapters (week 7) from my study workbook by focus on the themes as depicted in my workbook, starting with refuge, faithfulness, joy, and abomination.  In particular, as I reflect on Zach's first day back in school, I seek to pass on encouragement from scripture that might help him lean into Christ for support.  The temptations in the world are real and lead only to destruction and damnation if they get in the way of belief and faith in God.   One of these temptations can be found in trust in others above God as we are tempted to think that social acceptance from others is key to our identity.  This is certainly plaguing our young people and I suspect Zach as well. We should recognize this and my study workbook points out that "[p]eople's pretenses of virtue are often false, and even when virtue is proven, it falls fall short of God's standard, which is perfection....Only Christ satisfies our quest for someone to trust utterly (Hebrews 3:6)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are faithful perfectly and I can count on You!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your faithfulness.  My sin is 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.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

As I continue my study of Proverbs, I move on to week 7 of my study workbook, which looks at Proverbs 17-22:16.  For today, my focus is how God desires for us to befriend and trust in Him above other people.  The study today reminds me via Jeremiah 17:5, John 15:14-15, and James 2:22-23, how we are to be a friend of God by believing in Him, having faith, and by doing what He asks.  In Him, we have a friend that will never leave or forsake us, and He is faithful unlike any other.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who will never leave or forsake me and You are faithful unlike no other – thank You Jesus.  I am undeserving of the love and blessings You pour out for me. My sin continues 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.

But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass. For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.

Isaiah 33-36:10

But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass. For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us. Isaiah 33:21-22 

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I resume Lesson 13, moving to Day 2, which focuses on Isaiah 33.  My commentary describes three main divisions for this chapter, including:

1. You will see the destruction of the treacherous (v1-6): God addresses Assyria (or any other warring power against God's people) issuing them a warning that they will be destroyed.  Judah had sent peace envoys and tributes to Assyria (see 2 Kings 16-18) and yet Assyria still sacked Judah - betraying a peace agreement. 
   
2. You will see the King arise in power (v7-16): Here God is angry at not just Assyria, but also sinners in Judah such as those who relied on self-salvation vs God.  God's anger is directed near and far - v13 - who are warned to acknowledge God's might and how it stretches over the entire universe. Sinners in Zion are called out specifically - v14. God's power and His reign must be acknowledged v14-16
3. You will see the beauty of the King and His kingdom (v17-24): pointing to a coming Messiah, Isaiah delivers a message of comfort for the faithful; at the same time, the unrepentant and insolent (v18-19) will see the King but will be damned for eternity. 

This morning, I hang on the promise of how God will be a place of "broad rivers and streams," and how He "is our judge...lawgiver, king, [and how] he will save us."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and Your promises are where I gain my peace and security - thank You for my salvation and for the comfort and confidence it provides.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  I often fail to go to You first - 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.

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

Isaiah 30-32

“Ah, stubborn children,” declares the Lord, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Isaiah 30:1-2

I continue my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, I started Lesson 12, beginning with Day 1, which again focuses on Isaiah 30. With an invasion from Assyria pending, Israel faced limited options, which my commentary describes as (a) fighting on its own (and likely getting slaughtered), (b) aligning with a neighboring Gentile nation such as Egypt, (c) relying on God for deliverance and salvation.  Israel proceeds with an alliance with Egypt, and also seeks self-serving council from prophets (or seers - v10) who refuse to confront sin. God wants Israel's future generations to see the hardness of heart so he instructs Isaiah to write his prophecy on a tablet (v8). Self-salvation is a dangerous path - of course a path the leads to eternal damnation. Viewing others in terms of "what they bring to the table" is core to such a sinful path.  V5 describes the folly:

[E]veryone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace. Isaiah 30:5

In this case, Israel's association with Egypt took them away from God. We must surround ourselves with others who sharpen us and point us to God.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who never leaves or forsakes me, and who delivers and rescues me - You are my personal Lord and Savior - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such salvation. My sin is great and it continues.  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 for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

Daniel 10-12

“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” Daniel 12:13

Day 267 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 as my commentary moves back to the book of Daniel where my commentary* describes "Daniel's last vision" from God. The vision includes battles among Israel's neighboring countries and kings who's power comes and goes over the next four centuries.  Daniel's vision closes with a promise made to Daniel that "after his death he will rise again to receive his reward".

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

Daniel's vision emphasizes how we should not place our hope in man or on any aspect of our earthly reality.  All of our earthly reality will come and go and should not serve as our firm foundation of faith. Daniel's own hope and faith rested in God...even to the point of death where God saved him in the lion's den.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my firm foundation and in You I place my hope and faith.  All comes from You and You provide and will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God.  My sin continues - worry, harsh words or actions, 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.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 Jeremiah 3-5

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Day 206 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 as my study of Jeremiah.  While yesterday my focus on how God equips those He calls to serve, this morning my focus is God's message to Judah through Jeremiah. According to the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase), Judah's "spiritual condition...was one of flagrant idol worship....as [r]eligious insincerity, dishonesty, adultery, injustice, tyranny against the helpless, and slander prevailed as the norm, not the exception". While my commentary* details Judah's sin, the sin of Judah's religious leaders and false prophets stands out as the people of Judah were led to sin...highlighting how people let us down. 

[Jeremiah] thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. Jeremiah 5:4-5

[Judah's false prophets] have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine. The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.” Jeremiah 5:12-13

We must have discernment about who leads us in our communities, churches, etc. We must also understand the limits of people. Only Jesus can serve as our King and High Priest!  He is the leader we all need.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who came to us as a lowly child, lived a perfect life, yet willingly laid down Your life so that we could reconciliation with God, and freedom from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

Isaiah 18-20 and 30-31

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15

Day 189 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 as today we see the impact of Israel's fall on Judah.  My commentary* describes how fear of an Assyrian conquest of Judah pushes some in Judah to seek "an alliance with Egypt ([at the time] ruled by Cushites from Ethiopia)". Isaiah delivers God's message of warning against such alliances and to trust in the Lord.   

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

Today I am reminded of Isaiah 55:8 where is says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  Like those in Judah who trusted in Egypt's military strength, I too often trust in the world vs God.  Yet I must find my strength in God alone.

I am also reminded of Exodus 14:10-14 where Moses points the frightened Israelites to seek God in the stillness of a complete surrender to Him as the Egyptian army barrels down to recapture them and return them to bondage in Egypt:

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides rest, strength and salvation - I must simply surrender my life and trust in You.  Help me do this please Lord.  You have blessed me and there are areas where I yet to surrender.  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 you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all....[D]o not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.... I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.

Isaiah 7-9

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all....[D]o not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.... I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Isaiah 7:9, 8:12-13, 8:17

Day 179 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 as I return to the prophecies of Isaiah. This morning's reading begins with an alliance between Syria and Israel against Judah but my commentary* describes God as "ready to defend Judah despite her wickedness...." My commentary* also describes that while Isaiah is clearly delivering a message of an "impending" invasion by Assyria and of the captivity of both Syria and Israel, "[l]aced throughout that narrative, however, are messianic prophecies".   

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

Key highlights from this mornings readings:

Say to [Ahaz, king of Judah], ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” Isaiah 7:4-9

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,  Isaiah 7:13-15

[D]o not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. Isaiah 8:12-13

I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Isaiah 8:17 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

God's words regarding how we are to trust in the Lord most of all strike a chord this morning - echoing posts from the past two days.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has given me the gift of salvation - thank You Jesus!  I can trust in You more than anything or anyone.  I am not deserving of Your love and salvation.  I worry and have 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. 

 

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.

Micah 6-7

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression f the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago. Micah 7:18-20

  

Day 177 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 the prophecies of Micah.  MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase) indicates that Micah's focus was on "the disintegration of personal and social values to which he delivered his most stinging rebukes and stern warnings (see Micah 7:5-6). Assyria was the dominant power and a constant threat to Judah, so Micah's prediction that Babylon, then under Assyrian rule, would conquer Judah (see Micah 4:10) seemed remote.  Thus, as the prophet Amos was to Israel, Micah was to Judah."  There was some confusion on my part over the past two days as to Micah's audience, as OverviewBible.com indicates both Israel and Judah as does this commentary (which I have not used other than finding via Internet search; although the commentary does say Judah is the primary audience).  Generally speaking, I lean towards John MacArthur as the most respected of commentary sources I use. 

Today's reading from my current chronological Bible study commentary* includes "God's charge against Israel", what God seeks from Judah (not empty rituals but to truly walk with Him; Micah 6:7-8), "Judah's sin and punishment", and Judah's misery resulting from its sin. Micah's prophecies of Babylon's impending invasion of Judah and its ultimate deliverance are also a focus.  Micah's words echo prophecies by other Biblical prophets and authors - see here for similar messages.

Micah exhorts us to love God over all other relationships we may have as people will let us down but God never will - only God can save:

Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household. But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:5-7 

Indeed, in Jesus, we have a God who loves only as He can:

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression f the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago. Micah 7:18-20 

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a God worthy of my undivided attention as You love me beyond what I deserve and You have saved me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love and Your gift of salvation. I continue to sin.  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.

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 15

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. v39-40

As a follow up to yesterday's post we have yet another illustration that we are to avoid seeking approval of others vs Jesus.  Today's illustration comes from Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas had a "sharp disagreement" and John Piper uses this text as an example where the earthly elements of our faith - people, relationships, community, church, etc. - lead us to take our eyes off of faith itself because we focus too much on these elements vs focus on Jesus.

In community itself, Piper offers great words of wisdom - with focus on keeping Jesus central and on bearing with another and offering forgiveness and grace.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me AND who has provided community for me that has blessed me and strengthened my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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 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.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

John 12

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. v42-43

The remainder of John 12 (v12-50) covers Jesus' entrance to Jerusalem during the Passover festival (v12-20).  Jesus addresses the crowd (Greeks and others) and tells them that the hour is soon for Him to die and be glorified, and He encourages them to find life in Him vs in others and the world (v23-25).  Jesus calls out to God and God responds (v27-29).  Jesus also encourages the crowd to focus on what He is saying about the Kingdom of Heaven, the light, etc. vs Satan/this world (v30-36).  

We then come upon v37-50 where Jesus addresses the lack of faith among some of the Jews with v42-43 underscoring where many of us fall down in our faith - it is out of fear of what others may say about us.  Research shows (see Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) that "belongingness and love needs" are important for our survival - yet believers also should recognize that people CANNOT substitute a relationship for God.  God must come first!  Jesus will fill our hearts in ways that people cannot.

Jesus is living water and our daily bread.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is living water and daily bread - I cannot survive without You.  Thank You Jesus for adopting me into Your family, for saving me, and for providing for me.  I am not worth such blessings.  I worry and I gossip.  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 the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.

Matthew 27

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. v41

I am often allow myself to be hurt by how I perceive others think of me.  I can't imagine  experiencing anything close to Jesus' crucifixion.  Of course the beating and hanging on the cross would hurt, but the sting of others' scorn would hurt as well.  If I were Jesus, I would be tempted to scream out - "don't you know who I am?"  I would want to demonstrate how wrong were the chief priests.  

Yet I am told to not be "ruled" or trust others over God. 

My Prayer: Heavenly Father - Jesus - I cannot imagine the pain You experienced on the cross for me...thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such an act of pain and suffering...and grace.  I worry, I am selfish, etc. among my many sin.  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. 

I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession.

Ezekiel 44

I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. v28

As God describes for Ezekiel the restoration of the temple, He lays out rules for the priests serving in the temple.  

Similar to the Levitical priest (v15 onward) who must only have God as his possession, I too must count on God and not trust in earthly possessions or to trust in my own ability above Him.  God is with me and He wants me to lean not on myself but on Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

 

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:2

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are that You love me and that You died for me - that You provide Your Holy Spirit, the church, Your Word, etc. so that I know I am not alone - thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of all the rich blessings You provide.  I worry far too much.  Please forgive me and help me overcome my worry and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love.  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.

“Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.”

Jeremiah 43

“Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.” v19-22

Just as Jeremiah prophesied, Babylonia sacked Jerusalem, took King Zedekiah captive (Jeremiah 39), left a remnant behind in Judah: "some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields" (Jeremiah 39:10).

In chapters 40-42, we see fear in the eyes of the remnant as Ishmael son of Nethaniah kills Gedaliah, the appointed governor over Judah.  Many begin to flee Judah to Egypt (Jeremiah 41) and in chapter 42 we see Jeremiah deliver a message from the Lord warning the remnant not to flee to Egypt.  This warning goes from verse 7-22.

In chapter 43 we see Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah accuse Jeremiah of lying to them regarding the Lord's message (see v1-7) and in direct disobedience to God lead the remnant to Egypt.

The question in my mind is when fear strikes do we trust in the Lord or in man?  

For the leaders of the remnant here it seems a bit more clear cut in that Jeremiah was clear in his words from the Lord that going to Egypt was a bad idea - and Jeremiah has a track record of being on the up and up.   

For the rest of us, we must a reverent fear of God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who leads me when times are good and when times are bad - thank You for carrying me through valleys of darkness.  You are truly a great God.  Yet I am undeserving of such love.  I often fall down in my faith and trust in myself, others or in idols.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my faith.  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.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their 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.