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

James 4

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

This morning, I pause my study of 1 Corinthians to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at pride and arrogance, including how pride and arrogance manifests itself in the world and believers can battle such evil.  John Piper refers us to C.S. Lewis from Mere Christianity and how Lewis warns us against looking down on others because we won't be able to see "above" us where God reigns supreme in our all details of the universe and all of its inhabitants.  Similarly, Piper warns us from flippantly talking our plans with a view that God plays no role in such plans. Piper concludes the devotion by sharing that "James says that not believing in the sovereign rights of God to manage the details of your future is arrogance. The way to battle this arrogance is to yield to the sovereignty of God in all the details of life, and rest in his infallible promises to show himself mighty on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9), to pursue us with goodness and mercy every day (Psalm 23:6), to work for those who wait for him (Isaiah 64:4), and to equip us with all we need to live for his glory (Hebrews 13:21). In other words, the remedy for pride is unwavering faith in God’s sovereign future grace." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that holds all the details of my life and the lives of my loved ones in Your hands - and You are so full of grace that You provide, Your mercies are new, and You never leave or forsake me.  You of course save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of any of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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

James 4

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

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

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

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

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and who has helped illuminate sin in my life, and You are full of grace and patience as I work out my faith.  Thank You Jesus for Your grace and that You never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  My worry persists, among other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you.

Deuteronomy 1

So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the Lord’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. You came back and wept before the Lord, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. v43-45

The Israelites rebelled against the Lord and lacked faith that they could overcome powerful enemies so they were not allowed into the Promised Land. I've struggled with arrogance myself. Arrogance has many flavors (see also post here).  For us to overcome arrogance, we must both be humble and also have courage that our faith in Christ will allow Him to work through us to accomplish His will which is much bigger than ours.

Romans 8 helps us overcome:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. v26-28

...

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. v31-39

Lord, help me be humble and courageous in my faith at the same time.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and compassion for me.  Thank You!  I am not worth Your love - my sin 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 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.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

2 Kings 25, Jeremiah 40-44, and 51

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. 1 Samuel 15:23

Day 241 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 Jeremiah and the end of his ministry as he warns a remnant of Judah planning to flee to Egypt not to do so.  My commentary* indicates: "[a] contingent of army officers who had not been captured will apparently fall under the influence of the Ammonites, who will persuade them to assassinate Gedaliah. Their character is further revealed when they murder 70 innocent men, apparently without reason, and take captive their own countrymen at Mizpah. Just when it appears that other former officers are about to right all the wrongs, they too exhibit wicked character. After lying to Jeremiah, they lead away to Egypt a whole remnant of Hebrews, including Jeremiah and Baruch. Egypt is seemingly chosen for two reasons: first of all, there is fear that Nebuchadnezzar will punish the former officers for killing his appointed governor, and they therefore believe that they can find safety under Pharaoh Hophra’s protection. Second, they—and particularly their wives—seem drawn to Egypt’s idolatry and worship of the pagan Queen of Heaven."

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

What is remarkable here is how Jeremiah is proven right time and time again with his prophecies yet those in Judah flagrantly disregard God's message as delivered from Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is even called a liar (Jeremiah 43:1-3) by his own people.  The disobedience of the Judean remnant in Egypt is clearly documented in Jeremiah 44:15-19 and Jeremiah's response from God stands in dark contrast to Jeremiah 29.

From God to those in exile in Babylonia:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11-12

From God to the remnant who fled to Egypt:

For I am watching over them for harm, not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed. Jeremiah 44:27

At the root of such disobedience lies arrogance.  You seek other Gods when you believe you don't need the One True God. We all sin and need a Savior.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has humbled me and rescued me - helping me understand the great sin of arrogance.  I know there is work to do but I am grateful for how You have worked in my heart.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving for such love.  I sin as my arrogance continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and ehlp 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.

Partial Obedience is NOT Obedience and Nothing Can Compensate!

Today's Reading
1 Samuel Chps 13-15

Although God is in control, He does give us free will to do what we wish.  Against His wishes He gives the Israelites a king in Saul.  Unsurprisingly, Saul disappoints.  In response to Saul's partial obedience (with a sacrifice to "compensate" for this partial obedience), Samuel says to Saul:

 “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
   as much as in obeying the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
   and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
   and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
   he has rejected you as king.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

This scenario plays out in my own life as I may read and study God's word some of the time but not daily, or I may pray some of the time but not daily, etc.


I say things to myself that I am fairly consistent or I am doing better than I used to...but all of this is not good enough, certainly not good enough in God's eyes.  Who am I to rationalize my behavior as obedience - is this NOT arrogance to the highest degree?


My Prayer: Lord, you are a God of mercy and of grace.  In spite of my shortcomings and arrogance you bless me.  How great you are!  Thank you for my blessings, your love, and your grace.  Forgive me for my arrogance.  Please help love and obey you with 100% of my heart and soul.

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

1 Samuel 13

"You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” v13-14

According to the John MacArthur Study Bible, Saul's sin was not that he made a sacrifice but that he made one without "priestly assistance" and that he sought to rule "with absolute power in civil and sacred matters".  Saul's arrogance proved costly here and I can learn from Saul's mistake as my arrogance is not only a sin and of itself, but it leads to other sin - this I know.  

Samuel tells Saul that God wants leaders "after His heart" - someone who seeks God's will over and above his/her own.

Lord Jesus please help me be humble and seek Your will alone.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and full of love and compassion for me - despite my arrogance, You came to rescue me and You plucked me from sin's grip - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  My worry, harshness, and arrogance continues.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You 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.

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

James 4:13-16

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

I continue a pause of my study of Ecclesiastes to study James 4:13-4:17 (primarily vv13-16).  Recognizing that the text focuses on pride, and that my posts this week on this text have explored pride in more detail, its important to explore and understand what to do about pride, so this morning I turn to what John Piper refers to in his DesiringGod.com post The Remedy for Pride. Piper starts by describing a slippery slope as he warns that "[w]hen you take three categories of temptation to self-reliance — wisdom, power, and riches — they form a powerful inducement toward the ultimate form of pride; namely, atheism."  Referencing Psalm 10:4, Piper bluntly states: "[u]ltimately, the proud must persuade themselves that there is no God." Prideful people get to this place because as Piper describes "[p]ride cannot tolerate the intimate involvement of God in running the universe, let alone the detailed, ordinary affairs of life."  Piper admonishes us for the little things that may lead to pride such as ending a social interaction with a friend or co-worker "see you tomorrow."  If we say these things without a humble posture that it is God alone who either wills this or not, this is when we get into trouble and start down the slippery slope.  Pointing back to the text in James, Piper then shares "James says that not believing in the sovereign rights of God to manage the details of your future is arrogance." 

Piper then moves to describe how to battle arrogance and pride.  

1. "yield to the sovereignty of God in all the details of life"
2.  "rest in his infallible promises to (a) show himself mighty on our behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9)", (b) "pursue us with goodness and mercy every day (Psalm 23:6)", (c) "work for those who wait for him (Isaiah 64:4), and to (e) equip us with all we need to live for his glory (Hebrews 13:21)."  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is in control of all things and You give me breath today and most importantly my salvation....thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings...no I am not...not by a long shot.  My sin continues every single day.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You to receive the mercies only You can pour out.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me grow in my faith and become more like You every day.  Take me I am Yours.  Please provide 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. 

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Job 8-10

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23, Matthew 16:24

Day 253 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 Job. Yesterday Job's friend Eliphaz addresses him and today we see Bildad seek to comfort his friend Job and to help him understand his suffering.  Job responds to Bildad in Job 9:21, claiming he is "blameless".  Yet Job is not blameless or without sin - none of us are (see Romans 3:23 and 1 John 1:8).  Pride remains in his life - see John Piper on Job.

Pride and arrogance are powerful sins - this I know from my own life and how these sins impact me.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience with me and how You have refined me and lessened pride and arrogance in my life...I know there is more work to do, but I am grateful for the sanctification You have done in my life. I am not deserving of how much You love me.  My sin, including pride and arrogance, 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.

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Proverbs 16

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. v32

With arrogance as one of my most difficult struggles, impatience often results as well.  I often communicate my displeasure with someone's words or actions out of arrogance - that my view/actions are more important than someone else's.  Yet Solomon's words here are encouraging for me as I strive to be humble and to be more patient.

With the help of prayer, my brothers and sisters in Christ and the Holy Spirit, I can overcome such sin.  After all, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

Also, I am comforted in knowing that God is in control (Colossians 1:17) and that His thoughts and ways are not our ways...that His thoughts are ways are PERFECT!


“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8           


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  Your thoughts and ways are perfect for I have seen the fruits of Your labor in the world and in my life.  Thank You for the many blessings You provide.  My cup overflows.  I am not worth such love and blessings because I am impatient and full of arrogance.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You and my family and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.

Isaiah 10:5-34

When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. Isaiah 10:12

I came back to my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series.  Today, I reviewed Isaiah 10:5-34, where God uses Assyria to carry out judgement on Israel but then turns his attention to Assyria for punishment due to its arrogance as it should have been humbled in being a pawn or instrument of God's hand but instead saw itself as directing its own actions. Once again, as I have studied here in Isaiah and in many other books of the Bible, God humbles those who are arrogant and endeavors to bring low the proud so that they know that God reigns.  With such an acknowledgement we can then bow to the One True God and seek Him for our salvation - praying for His compassion and mercy.  Arrogance has been a thorn in my side and I am grateful indeed for God's mercy, compassion and for His salvation. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO full of grace, mercy and compassion - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace, mercy, and compassion.  My sin is great - including arrogance...and it continues with sin such as 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.

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 ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. v3

I DO have a pride issue...I often think I should be doing more with job...that I am so much more capable and I should have more exciting job based on my intelligence, skills, and capabilities...this smacks of arrogance and it flies in the face with what Paul is saying here.  I should have a more sober assessment of myself so that I can more fully perform my function as part of God's plan for me and His church.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great - Your design is perfect as I experience Your design constantly and it is amazing how You work all things for Your glory!  I never cease to be amazed by You.  Your glory is deserved of course.  On the other hand I am not deserving of glory yet many times I think I am...this arrogance is sinful and I thank You that You love me Jesus but I need You to forgive me for such arrogance.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me understand Your message for me, be obedient to it, and apply - today and every day.  I love You Jesus.

I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

Isaiah 13-14 and 21  

I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11

Day 183 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my study of the prophecies of Isaiah.  God continues to use Isaiah to judge all nations - see also my post from two days ago and from yesterday. Today, God uses Isaiah to deliver judgment to both Babylon (Judah's ultimate captor) and the Philistines.  My commentary* indicates that although "Hezekiah will do what he can to revive Judah...Isaiah already knows the ultimate outcome and continues to prophesy against the nations who either have brought, or will bring, suffering to God’s people".

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

Although Isaiah's message was directed primarily to Babylon and the Philistines, all of scripture (both OT and NT) applies to all believers through all times:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

One of the passages in today's Isaiah reading includes warnings about arrogance and pride. I am often guilty of these sins in particular.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has humbled me while also doing so in a way its full of grace, compassion, and love.  I am grateful that You love me so much.  I am not deserving of such love.  I am often harsh with others, use harsh and sinful words, gossip, 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.  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 will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. v8

As I reflect on my 50th birthday today and read this verse, I am thankful for the greatest gift of all time - Jesus Christ.  Without a doubt, Jesus is the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  At the same time, I have experienced what David writes in verses 9-10:


Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle.  V9-10

 Arrogance is self-worship and this is dangerous - just ask Saul when Samuel tells him that God has rejected him as King:

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:23

I have been, more so than today, arrogant....and thankfully God has humbled me...and I know there is more humbling needed because none of us are where God needs us to be.

Help me have a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and recognize that "apart from You I have no good thing" (Psalm 16:2).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love and patience for me...despite my arrogance...and despite my anger and impatience for others.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such patience, love, grace, compassion, etc.  My anger continues to burn as I lose my patience too easily.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me...please!  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo and radiation. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Luke 18

For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. v14

I need reminders often about arrogance and how dangerous it is.  I am afflicted with this sin and although God has refined me in this area more work is to be done.  Arrogance causes people to stumble in their faith or block it entirely.  It also harms others who are hurt by the words and actions of those dominate with their arrogant attitudes.  

Jesus - please help me remain humble.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that has helped me see the foolishness of my arrogance - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of a God who loves me so much that You would die for my sins and love and save me despite my sin! I daily miss the mark and need You badly!  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.

[B]ut [Peter] said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Mark 14:26-52

[B]ut [Peter] said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. Mark 14:31

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:26-52 - vv26-31.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv26-31: (1) God in the text: God joins the disciples in worship - singing a Him (v26); God knows the disciples will fall prey to fear and upon Jesus' arrest will deny their association with Him for their own protection; Jesus shares a prophecy of not just His death, but also His resurrection - see also Luke 24:1-9 where the disciples see the fulfillment of this prophecy; (2) people in the text: the disciples worship with Jesus (v26); Peter and the disciples "emphatically" deny (v31) that they will betray Jesus - this is arrogance because it effectively means that they are without sin because all sin is a betrayal to Jesus;   (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should see how Jesus is faithful and all of His promises (including prophecies) will come true and we can take comfort in how He promises us eternal life in Heaven with Him.  We should avoid arrogance and not claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8).  

Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division: 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The King Who Suffers Alone," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv26-52) is "Jesus is the righteous King who endured betrayal and shame for the sake of sinners."
• "[Jesus] also will suffer at the betrayal of His friends who fail Him in His hour of need (14:37,40-41), sell Him out (vv44-45), abandon Him (v50), and deny Him (vv66-72)." 
• "The suffering of this great King is multifaceted: personal, physical, mental, and most of all, spiritual. Jesus saw His loving Father’s hand in it all. He trusted Him in His most trying hour, an hour our finite human minds can never fully comprehend." 
• The title of the first division (vv26-31) per the commentary is "The King Would Be Abandoned and Left Alone."
• See Zechariah 13:7 for how Jesus refers to the OT for how scriptures will be fulfilled in how the disciples will scatter.  
• In contrast to the disciples arrogance and claims to not betray Him, Jesus shares how He will never leave or forsake us and we are encouraged to claim this promise from Hebrews 13:5. 

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, and who will never leave or forsake me - You will be with me until the end of the age.  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.

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:13-17

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 2:13-17, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Observations from the text using the Sword Method:

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus taught the Word - it was important that when he was with people that they understood who He was, why He came (His purpose), and to deliver the gospel message - this was a priority. Jesus understood that spending time with others as key to disciple building so he shared a meal with Levi (Matthew).  Jesus came to seek and save the lost - sinners per v17 (see also Luke 19:10).     
• What do we learn from the passage about people: Many have hardened hearts and believe they are not sinners and/or not in need of salvation - we can deliver the gospel message but then pray that hearts are softened to the gospel.  All sin and are in need of salvation. For the scribes their arrogance and pride got in the way of them seeing that God wants everyone to be saved - every tribe and nation regardless of social status, ability, etc.   
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey?: God wants us to show hospitality to others and build relationships with others so that we can understand their story, pray for them and of course share the gospel - this is the Great Commission.  All are spiritually dead (sick per v17).  We must understand the Gospel and scripture - this is why He teaches it to us and often through parables so that we understand not just the teaching but the application as the parable itself reveals our own spiritual condition.  We must avoid pride and arrogance lest it get in the way of being a light to others.  

God wants all believers to be part of the Great Commission to take the gospel to all nations - of course including to our own neighborhoods.  Building relationships with others is key to both sharing the gospel and developing relationships with others to disciple to them.  As part of our church's efforts to launch a new campus, I recently learned of the Bless Every Home smart phone app as a tool to identify my neighbors, pray for them, share meals with them, and most importantly share the gospel.  I pray that God would work in my heart to put me in motion to bless my neighborhood. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion for me - giving me mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  You give me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, great teachers and resources to help me understand You and Your Word, etc.  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.

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. v1

Whatever blessings we experience it is because of God alone - we must remain humble.  Too often in my life I have placed myself before or above God because of my arrogance.  I am thankful God has helped grow in this area.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:18

See also this post and other posts on arrogance. 

Joseph's story is also instructive.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You have blessed me - and done so abundantly.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessings.  I have too often placed myself in place or above God - and from time to time I know I continue to do so.  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 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.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Daniel 4

 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37

I continue my pause of my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 4:28-37 as I lean on a commentary for its observations of this text. Numerous and amazing lessons are clear from this text.  The commentary starts by highlighting how the text shows how in v30 Nebuchadnezzar "had forgotten who is the Most High and who had given him his great kingdom. He forgot or chose to ignore Daniel’s warning and call to repentance."  Of course, this leads (see v28, 33) to Nebuchadnezzar punishment which was foretold to him through a dream which Daniel interpreted.  This is both an admonishment and warning to believers to go to God daily praising Him for all that we have, including our salvation, and to seek His intercession for the brokenness and sin we will experience daily in our own lives and in the world around us until we reach Heaven. The commentary sums up the arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar: "[t]he one who thought he was superhuman became subhuman."  The commentary refers us to James 4:6 and 10.  The commentary also quotes a key insight from John Piper about how we should see Jesus in this text - arrogance vs humility: "Jesus came into the world to convert people from God-like dependence on self to child-like dependence on God." The commentary then concludes with three takeaways:

• "[I]t reminds us to remember who is God and who is not, who is King and who is not."
• "[W]e see Christ in striking contrast with Nebuchadnezzar."  (see also table from commentary below)
• "God gives kingdoms “to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over [them]."
  

Know God and be humble!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are King of Kings and Lord over all - You reign and provide for all - holding all of us and all of creation in Your Hands.  Thank You Jesus for how You provide.  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 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.