Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. v22-23

The world is full of unbelief and unbelievers and of course many in my life are unbelievers...I am to show love and mercy to all regardless of their belief or not.  And of course, I am to share the gospel and bring others to Him...there is only so much time before Jesus returns...I need to live with the end in mind.

Paul writes a similar message to Timothy here.  I have previously posted on the living with the end in mind:
- Micah 4
- 1 Peter 4
- Ecclesiastes 3
- Mark 13

My Prayer: Lord, I know You will return and the day and hour of Your return will be both scary and exciting! Whether I come home during the Rapture or if I die first I know I will get to see Your face in Heaven and that will be an exciting thing - an experience surpassing anything known on earth.  I know You love and You suffered and died for me so that I could have freedom from sin and eternal life.  What a great God You are and what a great gift You have given me - I am not deserving.  I continue to gossip, go my own way (vs Yours), I am impatient, quick to anger, etc.  Thank You for Your many blessings God but please forgive me!  Help me overcome and turn from my 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.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me live with the end in mind.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

Revelation 22

 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. v12

Judgement day is made explicit by Christ in the above verse and it is encouraging, motivating, and somewhat scary all at the same time.  Encouraging to the extent that I will be rewarded for how I did live with the end in mind, motivating to the extent that I need to wake up much like the churches in Sardis or Laodicea Revelation 3, and scary to the extent that I have NOT lived with the end in mind.

Help me live with the end in mind and "make every effort".
 
My Prayer: Lord, You have made every effort for me and You have provided me with life...in abundance...so that I could live to bring others to You and glorify You.  What a great God You are, as You are so full of patience, compassion, mercy, etc. I am not worth such blessings....I worry, I am prideful, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.

Daniel 12

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days. Daniel 12:13

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 12:5-13 as I lean on my commentary for this text.  The commentary starts by sharing how in v5, Daniel's vision pivots to describe how "two other angels join Gabriel on the bank of the Tigris" (see also Daniel 10:4). It then shares how Jesus is described starting in v6 as the "man in linen" (see also Daniel 10:5-6).  "Someone," presumably one of the angels who joined Gabriel, asks of Jesus in v6 "how long shall it be till the end of these wonders?"  Jesus responds but in a way that is incomplete; in v7 Jesus responds that the end of these wonders would be "for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished."  The commentary refers to this period as "[w]hen evil has done its worst and the hopes of the people of God seem shattered, then God will act." Daniel is still confused - as should be all believers - in v8.  In v9, Jesus continues to respond to Daniel by sharing that the fullness of Daniel's vision and a more complete understanding of what will occur at the end will remain a mystery and be "sealed." The commentary shares: "[t]he word is protected, and it will be preserved. Everything will happen as God intends at the right time. Be faithful. Trust him. Be patient...there are things we know and things we don’t know and can’t know because God has chosen not to reveal them to us. However, one thing we can know with certainty is how we are to live in light of the Son of Man’s coming at the time of the end." In v10-13 there is a call for believers to endure and persevere the suffering and persecution that will occur as we will be refined as the commentary shares "our Lord promises to bless those who endure and persevere through these difficult and troubling times of opposition and persecution...God says, but I still have work for you to do. When it is time for you to retire from my work, then I will bring you home. Then “you will rest” because you will be with me. Then, as promised in verse 2, you will “stand to receive your allotted inheritance” (v. 13; ESV, “allotted place”), your destiny, your reward. This will happen “at the end of the days.” So do your duty, make disciples, proclaim my Word, and endure. Something wonderful is on the horizon at the end." Persevere and endure!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and I am grateful for how You reveal Yourself through Your Word and the Holy Spirit - thank You Jesus for providing great words of comfort and assurance so that I can endure and persevere.  I am not deserving of how You reveal Yourself to me nor for my salvation.  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.

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation 1

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. v3

Building on my post yesterday about living with the end in mind, I start the book of Revelation and John encourages me, and all of us, to "hear and take to heart" what we read.  The end is indeed near, regardless of how we go home to Jesus, whether by death or the rapture, we must live with the end in mind.  God calls all of us to "go and make disciples of all nations":

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28:19-20

Whatever trepidation we might have, God soothes us with His encouraging words that He is with us always....

My Prayer: Lord what an awesome God You are that You would suffer and die for me knowing everything about me, including my sin!  That You are always available for me and that You entrust me with part of Your plan...that You chose me to be part of Your team...that You see me as pure, holy, blameless in Your sight...I am not worth such a God!  Thank You Jesus for the many blessings You pour out for me yet again I am not worth such blessings...I am lazy, quick to anger, slow to listen...etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Help me play Your intended role for me in the Great Commission.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.       

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. v12

Moses' words, as divined by God, highlight how our life here on earth is fleeting, and that we should respect God's sovereignty and power because He holds our lives in His hands.  We are then encouraged to live with the end in mind.

One of the implications of numbering our days is that we have a plan.  If our days have numbers than we are focused on completing something, something that God intends for us.  For Moses it was leading the Israelites to the promised land.  From Deuteronomy 34, we know that Moses left everything "on the table":

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12

I desire to live a life like Moses - one where the days are numbered - one where we live with a plan to finish the race (2 Timothy 4:7), living with the end in mind and living out the life that God intends for us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God, worthy of my praise and worship...and so much more.  You are the beginning, the end, the Creator, and the One who holds all things together.  Thank You for being my God and for adopting me as Your son.  I am not worthy of such love as You have poured out and continue to pour out for me.  I am harsh with my thoughts and actions towards others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin and turn towards others.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

1 Peter 1

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. v17

Three key points that I see here:
1. God WILL judge us
2. Our home is not an earthly one but in Heaven
3. We should live with the end in mind, knowing that God will judge us and we should be prepared

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a righteous judge, treating us fairly and often mercifully when we don't get what we deserve as we know the wages of sin is death.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such mercy as I am often lazy and passive in light what You ask me to do...please forgive me Jesus 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 live with the end in mind.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. v4-5

Speaking through John, Jesus warns the church in Ephesus that they have fallen...although God is fair and just, judgment is coming for all of us and we must be prepared (see posts also previous two days).  We must live with the end in mind and live in reverent fear of God's power and judgment.  We must repent!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome and like the song says "You Reign" and You do so forever and forever just as it is written in Revelation.  I am no different than those You wrote in Ephesus...I have fallen and I do so again and again...too often I lean on my own abilities and understanding and this is a sin!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Praise for yesterday's awesome news about Barry and Brenda's permanent custody of Camdyn.  Please heal Will.  Please help me live with the end in mind.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Daniel 12

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13

I resume my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 12 and my unaided observations of the text.  Here, Daniel's vision from the previous chapter continues, yet pivots to describe prophecy of what is almost certain to be the end of times - although the description here in Daniel 12 focuses on end times for Israel.  "Your people" is referred to twice in v1 as the angel describes the prophecy to Daniel - reinforcing this position.  There is a reference to "the book" which is also referred to in Revelation. The faithful of Israel who have died will awaken to Heaven, while others will awaken to eternal damnation.  We see a vision of the One True God in v8-13 and in his vision, God speaks to Daniel. Once again, we can comfort in knowing that if we persevere to the end, enduring in our faith and trust in God, we can rest assured in our salvation knowing He is saving a place for us in Heaven.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God as You are abounding in love and mercy and You offer salvation for those who repent and acknowledge You as their Lord and Savior.  Thank You for this amazing gift that You offer.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.

but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 9

Am I living life with the "end in mind"?  I am going to see Christ either when He returns via the rapture or when I otherwise die.  In both senses, I don't know when I am going to die so the question becomes whether I am living life "with the end in mind".

In Hebrews this question arises here:

²⁷ Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. 

The "waiting for Him" does not imply inaction.  On the contrary, in Hebrews we are implored to not only believe but to grow in Christ (to move on to solid food Hebrews 5:13-14).  We need to move the needle.

My Prayer: Lord, You words are a lamp unto my feet and they are Truth.  Without Your words I am lost.  I desperately need you Lord.  I am not only lost without You but I am broken and useless.  Yet You are able to use my brokenness - how great You are and how great You are to me.  Lord, I continue to have anger problems, pride problems, greed problems, and on and on.  Please forgive me for all of this and please purify me of all of this - invade my heart, take it and  transform my heart and my mind Lord.  Help me give my life totally away to you.  This is my desire.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 Galatians 2

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at whether God is the "end" or a "means to the end."  John Piper pointedly and rhetorically asks "[i]s Jesus Christ a means to this achievement or the end of the achievement?"  Piper then states, without hesitation, that because Jesus Christ is the "supreme revelation of God," He is the end and not a means.  Piper elaborates further on this claim by sharing that the "[t]he manifestation of the glory of God is the meaning of the universe[, and that t]his is what God is achieving. The heavens, and the history of the world, are 'telling the glory of God.'" Yet Piper does not settle this question here. As he delves deeper into the core question, Piper recognizes that Jesus Christ continues to be active in His saving work.  Piper writes that "Jesus Christ was sent to accomplish something that needed doing. He came to remedy the fall. He came to rescue sinners from inevitable destruction because of their sin....No one would see and savor and celebrate the glory of God apart from the saving work of Christ. The aim of the universe would abort. So, Christ is a means."  The crucifixion is described as "the apex of the revelation of the glory of God[:] in the very moment of his perfect act as the means of God’s purpose, Jesus became the end of that purpose. He became, in his dying in the place of sinners and his resurrection for their life, the central and supreme revelation of the glory of God."  Piper winds down the devotion by then sharing that "[w]ithout his work, that end — to reveal the fullness of the glory of God for the enjoyment of God’s people — would not have happened....Jesus is the end for which the universe was made, and the means that makes that end possible to enjoy by justified sinners." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave Himself to me so that I could life to the full now and for eternity in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts...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.   

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

2 Timothy 3

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. v1-5

We must live with fear and love of the Lord because He is all powerful, all knowing, and He IS coming back.  We must be ready.

See Matthew 25 here.  We must live with the end in mind seeking heavenly treasures...not earthly ones.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me...yet You are knowing everything about me, including my brokenness and sin.  I neglect You yet You still love me.  Thank You Jesus but please forgive me for my neglect of You Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me live with the end in mind.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Heal her today and bring her home to her house.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

I resume my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 15:20-34 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "The resurrection of Jesus was not a one-off event; it guarantees our resurrection as well, and much more!"

Key excerpts from the introduction: "There was obviously some misunderstanding and misconception in Corinth both about the necessity of a general resurrection and about the quality of any resurrected body. Up to this point in the chapter, Paul has corrected the faulty supposition that one can believe in the resurrection of the Savior but not the resurrection of the saints. He argued that if there is no general resurrection, then one can not possibly believe in a particular resurrection. He showed the devastating consequences of a non-resurrected Jesus. Thankfully, here Paul quickly pivots from the gloom and doom of a purely hypothetical situation to the joyful actuality that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. His resurrection is actually a guarantee of our resurrection."

Divisions per the commentary: 

1. Jesus’s Resurrection Guarantees the Certainty of Future Resurrection (15:20-22): "[S]ince there is an implication that none of these Corinthian believers deny the resurrection of Jesus, they must accept the corollary truth, which is that his resurrection guarantees their resurrection.  This is a great word of comfort to these Corinthian believers, who had seen many loved ones precede them in death. Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have died."
   
2. Jesus’s Resurrection Guarantees the Priority of Future Resurrection (15:23): "There is an interval between the resurrection of Jesus and the resurrection of believers in part because the resurrection of believers takes place at the second coming of Jesus. The resurrected Lord will descend, and at that time those who belong to Christ will also be raised and given their new resurrection bodies."
   
3. Jesus’s Resurrection Guarantees the Finality of Future Resurrection (15:24-26): "Though scholars debate what the phrase “the end” refers to, one should not overthink it. Simply understand that this refers to the “end of this age or world-order to be followed by the age to come” (Bruce, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 146). This is “when [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all [other] rule and all authority and power” (v. 24). To that, Schreiner would add, “This almost certainly refers to demonic powers” (1 Corinthians, 314). Demonic powers will not merely be subjugated; they will be annihilated. Make no mistake."
   
4. Jesus’s Resurrection Guarantees the Totality of Future Resurrection (15:27-28): "Perhaps Bruce puts it best and most succinctly: “The kingdom of Christ comes to an end in its present phase, but only to merge in the eternal Kingdom of God, so there is no failure of the prophetic promise that the Messiah’s kingdom will know no end[.]"
   
5. Jesus’s Resurrection Guarantees the Reality of Future Resurrection (15:29-34): "There is no greater truth than the truth that, because Jesus was raised from the dead, so shall we be." 
   

Comment and discuss this text.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me salvation and eternal life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out for me...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.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:3

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 11:1-11, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines five divisions for this text - which is often referred to as the "hall of faith."

I. An Invested Assurance (11:1-3): As posted yesterday, we can endure and persevere though faith and trust in God that He has something in store for us greater than any joy we can experience in this life. The author of Hebrews gives us examples of Old Testament faith to demonstrate faith. V2 includes commendation, something believes should seek but the commentary refers us to this as "final eschatological approval—an eternal commendation instead of an eternal condemnation."  It shares that there are only two options - commendation or condemnation.  Each of the examples provided here received commendation. "They had an assurance that they invested in the promises of God. They hoped in things yet unseen, in a deliverer that had been promised but had not yet come."

II. Abel’s Faith (11:4): Abel's faith was demonstrated by a superior sacrifice - one of shedding blood, vs first fruits of the harvest as provided by his brother Cain. The commentary shares that "Abel understood that his greatest problem was that he was under divine judgment, and he needed a propitiatory sacrifice. His blood sacrifice pointed to his own sin and to his hope in God’s provision of a sacrificial Savior. This is why Abel’s sacrifice was “acceptable” to God: it was offered “by faith” in God’s promises (Gen 4:4)."

III. Enoch’s Faith (11:5-6): Enoch is only noted in scripture in Genesis 5 and here again in Hebrews but we understood that he walked with God and God "took him."  Such an inclusion offers great encouragement for those who sometimes view themselves as insignificant - God never shares these views and He is pleased anytime a believer walks with God and we never know how God will use our small faith to move mountains (see Matthew 17:20).

IV. Noah’s Faith (11:7): Noah is described by the commentary as living in reverent fear of God, as God stood in judgement of all of humanity as the flood "is the archetypal example of God’s judgment and the catastrophe of human sin." 

V. Abraham’s Faith (11:8-10): Abraham is noted for his faith as he never saw the fulfillment of those promises of fruitful land and vast descendants.  The commentary also shares the following about Abraham: "Abraham’s faith is seen in the fact that he left his home country of Haran in Mesopotamia in obedience to God, even though at the time he had no idea exactly where he was going. Of course, this may not strike us as a remarkable act of faith, but that simply proves how unfamiliar we are with the culture of the ancient Near East. The Mesopotamian world could be quite dangerous. Physical protection was often the result of being closely knit to one’s kin and community. Travel was particularly hazardous since it separated a person from his place of protection and exposed him to marauders and thieves. In this light, the fact that Abraham left Haran and traveled to a land that he did not know is indeed a remarkable act of trust in God."

The commentary wraps by summarizing how believers should live with the end in mind - seeking a better possession that we experience now. It notes: "we cannot place our ultimate satisfaction and hope in the promises and pleasures that this world has to offer. We must live by faith, recognizing that one day we will experience a joy that is greater than any joy we can know here in this life. The joys of this world are fleeting and passing. But the joys of heaven are eternal, abundant, and never-fading. If we live for those joys, we will set our affections on eternity, live meaningful lives for Christ, and endure suffering in his name as we look for the joy that awaits us in God’s heavenly city."  Amen!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - giving me a greater possession than anything I will ever experience in this life.  Thank You for not just saving me but for saving a place for me in Heaven!  Incredible.  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.

[S]ome of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

Daniel 11

 [S]ome of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. Daniel 10:35

I resume my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 11 and my unaided observations of the text.  The dominant theme is a vision from the same angel who appeared to Daniel in chapter 10.  The vision includes great conflict within the land, including Israel (referred to as the glorious land in v16 and 41), neighboring countries, and throughout far away lands (referred to coastlands in v18 and elsewhere in scripture).  Kingdoms are described in rising and falling away and there is great evil, blasphemy of the One True God (see v36), and idolatry.  We see God's hand and providence in this conflict as the word "appointed" either as "time appointed" (v27, 29) or "appointed time" (v35).   We also see "the end" mentioned (v27, 35, 40) in the context of it not being the appointed time for the end (27, 35) and at the time of the end (v40) - all implying end times yet there are no reference points to explicitly tie any of what is going on to the end times as described in other accounts specifically Revelation.  There is more to understand regarding context and history of what this vision and prophecy refers to and how it comes to pass - but for now I can take comfort in knowing that God reigns and He has already defeated sin and death - thank You Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You save - thank You Jesus for my salvation!  I am not deserving...not one bit.  My sin continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. v7-8

We are to be prepared, living with the end in mind, and also praying earnestly for each other - but once again as it says in Matthew 22 the most important commands include loving God and loving others as oneself (which is later restated by Jesus in John 13 to "...as I have loved you").

My Prayer: Lord, I know You love me and this in spite of Your knowledge of everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am lazy and disobedient. 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, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Titus 2

Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. Titus 2:9-10

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning I read Titus 2, assisted by the Christ Centered Exposition Series commentary for 1-2 Timothy and Titus, and focus on vv9-10. Per the commentary:

• Main idea: The gospel produces godly service that provides an opportunity for gospel proclamation.
• Excerpts from the introduction: In the first century one out of three persons in Rome and one in five elsewhere was a slave. A person could become a slave as a result of capture in war, default on a debt, inability to support and “voluntarily” selling oneself, being sold as a child by destitute parents, birth to slave parents, conviction of a crime, or kidnapping and piracy. Unlike the slavery that arose in the Americas in the 1600s, slavery in the ancient world was racially indiscriminate, cutting across racial, social, and national lines. One would have thought that with the spread of Christianity, slavery would have met its demise. Unfortunately that was not the case. Justinian (AD 527–565) sought to abolish slavery, but the numbers again grew, and after the collapse of the Roman Empire, it merged into serfdom. The Crusades boosted slave trade, and in Venice, Christian slaves were actually sold to Muslims (Elwell, “Slavery”). But what about the modern era and the enslavement of some 24 million Africans, many of whom were sent here to America and found themselves in servitude to Christian masters? Any honest history must note that the enslavement of Africans by Africans was common and had been so for hundreds of years. Still, the pattern changed radically from the fifteenth century onward, and the crimes humanity visited on fellow humanity were shameful beyond imagination....While many of the nation’s founding fathers were in fact abolitionists, the movement failed to take root in the new country....it is simply impossible to deny that slavery played an important role in the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845, even if the northern Baptists forced the issue and basically shoved Baptists in the South into starting a new convention. Thankfully, one must also acknowledge that Christians led the way in bringing to an end this horrible institution. Men like William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp, John Wesley, and Charles Finney led the charge. Quakers and Moravians, Methodists, and some Baptists voiced their opposition against great odds and were heard by God. Slavery was outlawed in 1807 in Britain and throughout its empire in 1827. Congress brought “slave trade” to a close in 1808, but the end of slavery in the United States would not come until 1865. Still, and do not miss the point: only where there was a Christian impulse did slavery come to an end. 
  

In response to the question, "what does the Bible say about slavery," the commentary proceeds to emphasize how the Bible "regulates but does not ordain slavery or require [it]."  The commentary then directly refers to the text (Titus 2:9-10), sharing that this text applies to all under an earthly authority, including government, employer-employee relationships, etc. These relationships are seen as a "fertile and open field for evangelism."

Divisions:

1. Be Productive for Your Superior (2:9): Believers should all recognize that they work for the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24). "Are there exceptions to this wide sweeping call to obedience? Yes, there are four: when it is unbiblical, illegal, unethical, or immoral. Outside of these, our goal is to submit to him and serve him, all the while seeing the true Master, the Lord Jesus, who stands behind him." 
   
2. Be Pleasing in Your Spirit (2:9): This includes being pleasing in both "scope and the spirit [our] service."  Thus, our action and attitude must reflect the heart of Christ.    
   
3. Be Polite in Your Speech (2:9):  "[Christian workers] are not argumentative, contentious, or disagreeable. They do not gripe about their boss behind his back and compromise their testimony as a follower of Jesus Christ. Words are powerful weapons. In a matter of seconds, a testimony built over a lifetime can be destroyed by a few careless words." We are referred to Proverbs 6:12, 13:3, 16:27-28, 18:6, 18:7, 18:21, 26:20-21, and Psalms 39:1. 
4. Be Principled in Your Service (2:10): "This servant will go the extra mile in maintaining his financial accountability. There will be no inflated expense accounts, falsified time sheets, or unauthorized use of his employer’s resources. From a paper clip to a corporate jet, he will conduct himself with absolute honesty and integrity."
   
5. Be Public in Your Sincerity (2:10): "Our trustworthiness, reliability, and dependability are continually on display. No one needs to be looking over our shoulder. We are known for our loyalty and integrity. Others may cheat the boss but not us. Others may betray the boss but not us. Others may become embittered at their boss, especially if they serve a tyrant or bully. But not us."  
   
6. Be Praiseworthy for Your Savior (2:10): "This kind of servant makes beautiful and attractive the teaching of God our Savior, and he does this in everything and in every way. Though he is a slave or servant, the one under authority makes gorgeous the things of God by his productive, pleasing, polite, principled, public service."   
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good in how You bless me with employment and managers that bless me - I am not deserving of such 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.

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

I continue my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus is 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 and I lean on one of John Piper's Look[s] at the Book (or video labs) for this text - there are three parts that "look" at this text and I reviewed part 1. As he unpacks the text, Piper first describes how Paul describes his prayer by looking both forward and backward through the use of "to this end" - referring to v10 where Paul looks backwards to explain his use of "to this end" when he writes that when Jesus "comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed," and to v12 where Paul uses "to this end" and looks forwards where he writes he how prays "so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him." He then shares how although some may assume that you don't need to pray that God be glorified (indeed God does not anything), Piper believes this is nonsense and points to how Jesus told us to pray in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 - see also this.  We are praying for God's purposes and that we may be "worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and and every work of faith by his power."  Calling is defined as being called to salvation, sanctification and to glorification. Made worthy is defined of being equipped - referring back to 2 Thessalonians 1:5.  As he concludes the lab, Piper sums up the text with the following divisions:

1. The desired "end" or outcome of Paul's prayer is that Jesus Christ is glorified in believers and that believers are glorified in him.
2. Paul prays this purpose of God "down" into reality
   
3. Paul asks God that He provide believers power by faith that we are equipped for salvation, sanctification and glorification

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus, yet I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  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.

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

Micah 4

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. v1

Through Micah, the Lord warns of the last days when all will be gone yet those who believe in Him will be saved forevermore.  This is stated again later:

All the nations may walk in the name of their gods,

but we will walk in the name of the Lord

our God for ever and ever. v5.

As I have posted previously here, I need to live with the end in mind.  While those around focus on their gods, there is the One and Only True God - Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing and You have blessed me beyond imagination.  I play and enjoy tennis.  I have health, You provide for me, You surround me with family and friends.  You are great and I am undeserving of such blessings!  I am lazy and selfish.  Thank You Jesus for Your love but please forgive me!  Help me be more like You Jesus.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Help me live a bold and daring faith with the end in mind.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. v9-10

As Paul winds down his letter to the church in Galatia he includes encouragement to endure in our journey to love others, particularly other believers. As part of our love of others, Paul wants us to to hold others accountable (v1 - gently), and to carry each others' burdens (v2).  We must also continue to do good - and not become weary.  This is the essence of faith - to believe in something we know is less visible to "earthly" eyes.  We may grow weary or impatient not "seeing" a desired impact but then again this is the point - is that we have faith and focus on eternal rewards vs earthly rewards.

Hebrews 11 is a great reminder of faith with the author reminding of us those in the the Old Testament that lived by faith, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, etc.  

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible....All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.  Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-16

See also


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has transformed my heart and life by giving me the Holy Spirit, Your Word, freedom from the sting of sin and death, and so much more - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  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.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 2-3

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. v19-22

Session #3 of  David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 2-3. Jesus does not pamper His people but confronts, warns, challenges us - He gives us words because we are at war fighting a daily battle with sin, evil, and suffering temptation every day for our marriages, families, homes, hearts, etc - a raging battle exists for our souls and we must be prepared to rise to the challenge.  Jesus wants us to walk with purity, to  walk with the Gospel because something greater than life on earth here is at stake - life for eternity is at stake and we should not fall away - instead we must stand ready.  Jesus provides words that comfort and strengthen us in the battle so that we can stand and fight with deep conviction.

In chapters 2-3, Jesus writes letters to seven churches commending and rebuking them, warning and commanding them, but also encouraging them.

Platt also wants us to understand more broadly:

1. Jesus knows us truly - we cannot hide anything; Revelation 3:1
2. Jesus loves us deeply; even in the most stern and strong moments He still loves us and He disciplines us out of love
3. Jesus guards us zealously
4. Jesus uses us purposely; He wants to send us out to the front lines of the battle against Satan, sin, and evil so others would know his grace, etc. 

In his words to these we are encouraged to fight this battle all the way to the end.

Jesus commends us the seven churches for:

• faithful perseverance; in chapters 2-3 endurance and or perseverance is referenced 5 times in these chapters; for guarding the church internally (for example from false teachers in Ephesus see Revelation 2:6); for advancing church externally
• for faithful proclamation of the name of Christ in the midst of persecution religiously, economically, socially, and governmentally; be aware that today it is increasingly common in our culture for believers to be labeled dangerous and evil and we must not shirk back!  
• trusting God amidst testing (see Revelation 2:10); God allows or ordains suffering for testing of saints throughout the Bible (examples: Jesus in the wilderness, Paul's thorn in side, Joseph in Egypt); Satan is subordinate and although he intends suffering to sabotage us, God is sovereign and uses suffering to sanctify us
• for loving God among temptation and for walking in purity 

Jesus rebukes five of the seven churches for: 

• for compromise; tolerance for evil idolatry and immorality (Revelation 2:14, 2:20); tolerance of error false teaching and teachers; tolerance for sake of financial gain, social acceptance, and personal safety
• for complacency; lukewarm faith (Revelation 3:14-20); church in Laodicea marked itself for self-sufficiency and self-satisfaction; Sardis failed to complete works of God (Revelation 3:2)

Overall, the most dominant commendation is proclaiming Jesus in the face of persecution and the most dominant rebuke is shrinking back from proclaiming Jesus in the face of persecution (example is Ephesus, see Acts 19:10 and Revelation 2:4-5)

Jesus leaves us with two commands (1) to remember who we are (identity in Christ) and what Jesus says, (2) to repent and turn from sin and to trust in Jesus.

We are encouraged to receive and find treasure in Jesus, clothe our life in Jesus, and to fix our eyes on Jesus (see Revelation 2:5, 2:16, 2:22, 3:3, and 3:16).  We are warned from falling away (see also Hebrews 3:14-17) and when we waver, don't fall away. By grace through faith true followers will persevere and work to the end (see Matthew 24, Hebrews 10:36).  Those who fall away were not truly with us to begin with (see 1 John 2:19).

We are promised incredible rewards if we fight and work to the end; secure protection from the horror of hell; shared participation in reign of Christ, permanent citizenship in the city of God which will never be shaken and enjoy perpetual feasting and celebration

• I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:7
• The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. Revelation 2:11
• To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17
• To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations... I will also give that one the morning star. Revelation 2:26, 28
• The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Revelation 3:5
• The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Revelation 3:12
• To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:21 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know You love me and Your words of warning, rebuke, and discipline are out of love - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me and You will never leave or forsake me.  I am not deserving of such love.  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.