Psalm 97 - Perfect Hatred

Psalm 97

You who love the Lord, hate evil! (verse 10)

Message: Perfect Hatred

What the Lord is Saying: I was going through my mom's papers recently. She kept a lot of papers and was devoted to God in an intense way that I am still discovering. Her time dwelling in God's presence is significant. A couple of weeks ago I sat at her desk. She had a chair in the living room that I often saw her at when I came up the stairs in the morning to get my breakfast and get ready for school. She was in that chair in the early morning hour, praying and studying. But in the den area now, where there was a pool table when I grew up, is another round table which scripture cards on it, a basket with a prayer book devotion and also another one of Mom's bibles. She had multiple Bible's and all had many markings in them. She had multiple devotions. There was a lot of variation. I guess I am the same way. But she had many different devotionals where I have been using the same one for years - Tabletalk - though inching my way through it. As of right now, I am still focused on the 2019 issues. 

The paper I came across this time was a page taken out of the devotional book, "Our Daily Bread." There are two sides or two entries to the paper, so I am not sure which devotional my mom had saved this piece of paper. Haddon Robinson wrote the devotional and I think wrote many of the devotions for Our Daily Bread. She had me listen to a sermon or teaching that he had done one time. I also don't know when this came out, but the entry says, "October 21, Friday." Prior to my mom's death that date occurred in 2016. 

I don't find this particular devotion online anywhere. The devotion ends with a prayer. My mom prayed a lot and she often had prayer books. She gave me one for my birthday on September 4, 1988 when I turned 21, that she did in calligraphy from some prayers by Tozer. In one of this books, each chapter ended with a prayer. Well, each of these entries ends with a prayer. 

I suppose I am trying here to better understand my mom. I admired her and she helped me know God. And in her I saw someone that I wanted to be like. I think I am like her. There are truths here that she saw and that made an impact on her. There are remnants of this throughout the house. She encourages me. And helps me to know God better. 

The prayer reads: 

Dear Father, help us to handle hatred with utmost care. Help us to direct our hatred only at the things you despise. Teach us what it means to hate the sin and love the sinner. Amen. 

Simple. Direct. 

On the drive in yesterday I was thinking about me and my struggle to pray. And I thought of my mom and wondered if she had the same struggle. And even at times the same struggle to read the Bible and depend on it. I think she might have because she had so many 'help's' in her life to get her knowing God and knowing His truth.  

The lesson from this devotional is in loving the Lord I am to hate evil. 

Looking at this text - Psalm 97 - I refer to one of my books by Phillips, "Exploring the Psalms." I also take a moment to look on BibleHub at the summary stated of this chapter. The chapter begins with "The Lord Reigns." 

Phillips says this Psalm looks forward to a time when the Righteous One, the Beloved will return to Reign on this earth. It is a Psalm of Prophecy, looking forward in the future to the Millennial reign. He sees the first 9 verses as speaking of Jesus the Reigning One and those verses describe him ruling nature and ruling nations. The earth and with the clouds and darkness about Him, rolled away, and there is fire, burning up His enemies, lightning enlightens the world and the hills melt in His presence. This earth responds to His reign and surrenders to Him. And then in verses 6-9 the peoples respond to Him. All those with idols will see them as worthless. Instead "Worship Him." Zion or the Jewish people have often persisted in unbelief of Jesus but they will see that God is exalted and the Lord is most high. And then in verse 10-12 the lives of the people will be seen because the Lord not only reigns but is Righteous. And it is here the people are told to hate evil. Evil is in society but we are on the side of hating it at every turn. And we are delivered from its hand. There is light and gladness and we give thanks for His holy name. 

BibleHub isn't specific in its summary of this being prophetic but it is prophetic in that it showcases God's sovereign and just rule over all of the earth and all people at any time - past, present, and future. There is opposition of the Lord at times such as idols and enemies but there will be a point when these are no more. And the people of God are always to be about hating evil. Because we are those who love the Lord. So maybe this text is speaking about a future time when these situations which right now are ideal but not true because there are opposing forces, but one day there will be a earth that is only about God. So that is the hope. Right now, we are to be a people that hates evil, but right now we are back and forth in that regard. We are selfish and self-serving and defensive and not always only about good. I am to hate evil at every turn, but right now I don't and let it in at times. 

So I return to the prayer of this passage which I am thinking for my mom is found in this passage and Haddon Robinson also mentions Amos 5:15, "hate evil, love good." 

Prayer: I read the prayer again God - Dear Father, help us to handle hatred with utmost care. Help us to direct our hatred only at the things you despise. Teach us what it means to hate the sin and love the sinner. Help me God to only be about You. Don't let my personal feelings impact what you hate. I pray that I can read Your word each day and understand it and not read into it. Let me accept it and read it for what it is. God, I want to be that person that hates evil. I don't want to go along with it simply because others do. I want to stand up and be strong. O God, help me to truly be that person. I am to hate what you hate, but I admit a struggle with this so often and knowing what it is. Truth is hard for me often to come by. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 13:2 - Violent Words

Proverbs 13:2

From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good,

But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

Message: Violent Words

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: Reading Tabletalk and the article "Violent Words" and the author translates this verse, "From the fruit of their lips people eat what is good, but the unfaithful desire violence." There is a contrast here between wise, helpful, kind, thoughtful words and words that destroy or tear down. 

In the heat of anger, how are we sometimes responding? In this moment, the person we are fighting with becomes a sort of enemy with our biting, sarcastic and vengeful words. It could be a friend, co-worker, or even spouse or parent. Often, through our words we want to inflict pain. It happens. Our sense of entitlement takes over. Our expectations are unmet. We feel wronged. 

As quickly as I run to anger, I need to quickly run to repenting, confessing to God first, and then to the other party, asking forgiveness and truly forgiving others. I admit I sort it out first in my mind and try to get past it. 

In these tense moments, I don't have to respond with sin. That sometimes is the hard part for me: how do I act differently? What should I have done instead? How do I take these wronged feelings and not respond with anger and being threatened. How do I pursue the offense without hurtful words? Not sure I know any other way to get it resolved. Sometimes at work I see often that what stirs me up and angers me rarely works out for me, reminding me that my many words of emotion didn't get me anywhere but disappointment and anger and mess up other relationships or other times of enjoyment. 

Prayer: Lord, I need help. I think of my son who struggles with this as well. As he approaches these scenario's which make him made how do we respond differently. How can we still get our concern out and yet not sin? Teach me to do it in love. Teach me to not be swept away by those feelings and still deal with the situation, but with love and hope, seeking you Lord with direction and guidance. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 18:1-16 - David Ascendant

I Samuel 18:1-16

Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. (verse 12)

Message: David Ascendant

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: After David's victory over Goliath, the Philistine, David goes to Saul. 17:58 is still a rather baffling verse in which Saul says to David, "Whose son are you, young man?" Back in 16:21 it says "David came to Saul and attended him, and Saul loved him greatly; and he because his armor bearer." It seems from that verse that Saul knew David. I have read some commentaries on this, but nothing seems very compelling other than David maybe had aged as we don't know the time span between David being in Saul's court and the David that defeated Goliath. 17:12 mentions David having 8 children. So perhaps time has elapsed since he was playing a harp in Saul's court. That seems to be the most probable explanation. 

Chapter 18 begins with a proclamation of Jonathan's close bond with David stating "Jonathan loved him as himself." Both Jonathan and David were men that had a trust in the Lord. In verse 3 "Jonathan made a covenant with David" to cement their kindred spirit and close relationship. And then Jonathan gives David his noble dress - his robe and armor. David most likely was still dressed as a servant. He had previously refused the armor from Saul when it was offered to him prior to fighting Goliath in 17:38. But here, from the hand of Jonathan he accepts them. Suddenly David is looking like a member of the King's court. 

Jonathan in chapter 14 had conquered the Philistine garrison though in that story Saul also showed up and took most of the credit. But in this situation, the people seem to know more clearly that David was the victor of Goliath. In verse 7, "the women sang as they played and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."" Saul does not like anyone else being in the limelight. And so verse 10 says, "Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God, came mightily upon Saul." 

This seems to show that the Spirit of God moves in and out of people. There is the Holy Spirit that I believe is sent to believers in Christ after Jesus comes to the earth, but there is also the mention of the filling of the Spirt in a person's life as in Ephesians 5:18, "do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." It seems that this is the spirit that moved in Saul previously at his anointing (I Samuel 10:6), but that was the Spirit of the Lord and now the continued selfishness of Saul results in this evil spirit. The evil spirit I believe is the result of a disposition in man that is already focused more on self than pleasing God (as mentioned in Romans 1). 

Saul removes David from his presence and places him as his commander, undoubtedly also thinking that David may end up dying in battle. But even in this it backfires on Saul because David will now be seen even more before the people and they will see more of the person that he is. 

Summary: David is now in Saul's court. Jonathan and David's friendship is marked by a covenant between them. Saul does not like David being near and puts him in command of his army. 

Promise: Ask the Lord to enable us to rejoice in the success of others.

Prayer: Lord God, I am thankful for Jonathan and is friendship with David and his desire to support him and give him the best clothes off of his back. Their friendship began because of their commitment to You and is a reminder that this is the hallmark of good friendships. I thank you for the men that you have placed in my life and the special bond I have with each one. It is different from any other relationship and thank you for each one and the encouragement we can share, spurring one another on to love and good deeds. You are to be praised and adored as David and Jonathan both did and as you possess and are in others good things happen. Show me these victories Lord. I need this encouragement for sometimes I get to me-focused and getting my needs met. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

Proverbs 10:12 - Loving through Unmet Expectations

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirs up strife,

But love covers all transgressions.

The Message: Loving through unmet expectations

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God. 

What the Lord is Saying: Hatred and Love. They stand on opposite lines, opposite spectrums. The language here is always interesting. The choice of words. Hatred stirs up. When I think of stirs I think of chocolate milk. It is simply where my mind goes. Starting with the pure white milk and then adding chocolate powder or syrup and suddenly the white milk is no longer white and pure, but instead it is impacted completely by the dark color of chocolate. It stirs and discolors that which is pure. 

But it moves beyond this to "stirs up." I find this definition, "Stirs up" generally means to cause a strong emotion or reaction, or to disturb something, often intentionally. Stirring up starts with a substance that isn't in conflict and it stirs up conflict. This represents me so often. I am doing fine, but something comes along to stir me up and suddenly produce something very different in me that is agitated, angry, upset, in conflict. 

This verse starts with Hatred as the active agent. Hatred comes along and stirs up strife. Strife is discord or disagreement. 

Interesting. Hatred and strife are both unfavorable dispositions. I do not want to hate and I do not want to have strife in situations and yet, in this verse both work off one another. It is like in the nature of discord or disagreement hatred is the result of strife. 

NIV - Hatred stirs up Conflict

NLT - Hatred stirs up quarrels

Good news - Hatred stirs up trouble

Literal - Hatred awakens contentions

It is as if, hatred is one thing, standing alone, communicating a contempt for something, a dislike, but then everything stirs up strife. Ellicott says, "Hatred rakes up again old feuds which have slumbered." Joseph Benson says, "they imagine faults where there are none, and aggravate every small offence." 

This interesting. It is as if there is a past feeling that is dormant and in this instance it is stirred up and awakened. It was laying asleep, but now it is up again. 

Yowza. I see this all to often. I suppose I am such an emotional creature, with expectations. Especially in relationships. I have this high expectation in other people and how I think they should be acting. I project on them they way I think they should be and in the process, when they don't meet that expectation, I grow sour and disappointed. However, I don't hate them. I just loathe their decisions. Why can't they choose an alternate way. Often times, or lately it seems it comes down to work. There is something they are expected to do. Almost like a common sense that is present and instead they choose a different way. I brandish them as not meeting that expectation and strife stirs up. I have a problem. And I can't seem to get myself away from it. It just lies there and everyday it stirs up again. I hate the action, but yes, it moves beyond a hatred to then producing strife in me where now my interactions with that person is filled with strife or disagreement. I try to recognize the positive, but keep struggling with that.

The contrasting element of this verse is somewhat simple - love covers all transgressions. I don't know why in me, but I seem to focus more on the negative side of things rather than this - lover covers all sins. Love covers all troubles, vices, offenses. Love comes in the door. Ellicott says, "Love covers up and refuses to look at any wrong done to it." Joseph Benson states, "willingly forgives and forgets the injuries and offences of others, and so prevents contention and mischief." Love does the opposite of stirs up conflict, it prevents the conflict. I suppose currently I don't want to let the offense off. But I need to do that. I need to forgive. But it is hard when I feel so justified. It is almost like love becomes more real when it can look past offenses and does not raise up contention. This is when love is really real. I can love others that have different beliefs. I can love my kids when they often don't go the right way, follow God in the way they should. I need to do more of this - love when my approval hasn't been met. 

I admit Lord I struggle. 

Prayer: It has been 2 months since I did one of these Proverbs Father. My goal, as you know, was to do one a day, but that does not happen. I guess one is better than none. Father, this one is a tough one for me. I see the promise, the contrast, and yet, I admit a big struggle in feelings of justification in allowing strife to remain present rather than simply allowing love to cover it. I try to forgive but struggle in the forgetting. And then it rears its ugly head again. Help me with this Lord. That I may love no matter what. At times at work, I need to call attention to problems, but help me to not let it upset the relationships I have. Help me to pick myself up and remain positive and happy and have joy. Not only when everyone is on the same footing as me, but when there are differences. I need to accept and love and keep having joy. Give me Your strength God because I don't have it. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 17:22-23 - Loved by the Father in the Son

John 17:22-23

22 And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; they they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity; that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me. 

Message: Loved by the Father in the Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: From Tabletalk, today's lesson hones in on the idea of Unity - with the idea that this is the meaning of the High Priestly Prayer. So far what has stood out to me about these verses is how there isn't much intercession in the prayer and instead Jesus is often declaring truths - and how I don't often see this as a focus when we pray. We are all about God rescuing us from whatever ails us at any one time. In our Sunday School class, with so many at the end of life, it is the pains of living and the struggles of things hitting people now at this stage of life which brings about most of the prayer requests and yet I notice this has been a point of emphasis even when we were in classes of younger families. I often think this is also a symptom of how we live - with all of the creature comforts of life and health is the only thing that bothers us. 

As Jesus prays for the disciples or the world, the prayers are often about keeping the disciples united in God, have joy, sanctify them in truth and now today, perfected in unity. Why don't we pray like this? Rather than these things being a given in our life, Jesus is showing us we need to pray for these things. Jesus here recognizes the need for us to be in unity. 

The previous lesson made mention of the importance of unity. Of being one; that the crux of the disciples witness to everyone and believing in Jesus is to be One. But Jesus also says that Truth is important (v. 17) as He asks us to be sanctified in Truth. Jesus has been speaking about Himself often and the relationship the Father has with Him.  

I have mentioned previously, in the attempt to keep the Main thing the Main thing - this is difficult as what I call non-essential others called essential.

But this passage in verse 22 starts with a proclamation that Jesus  begins with a strange request or hard to understand request by Jesus and that is - "I have given to them the glory which Thou hast given Me."

Going back to John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." In this verse, glory is something we behold and is a culmination of the God becoming man - there is a purpose in Jesus being here and it is for us to see the Glory of God, passed on by God to Jesus, but in the form of Jesus. It is to see God for who He is. It is proclaiming God to us. It is to really see God as God. If we behold God as He is, doesn't our life then look different? Don't we approach life differently once we understand God? Perhaps that is what Jesus is trying to get across when He prays for us - that the truth of Him of God is what is important and that we need to behold this. 

 

And so when Jesus says, "I have given to them the glory which Thou hast given Me," it seems that Jesus is saying He has delivered God to man. The truth of God has been given to Man. And in that truth resides our oneness. Unity is grounded in God in us and His glory in us. 

 

It does seem we are not united because of truth - of how we define our lives, ourselves. We are too focused on differences and Jesus is saying He wants us to be defined by God's truth as He has been revealing it through these many messages. 

 

And we are to be One, to be united with what purpose? "that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them." That everyone would know God loves them. God loves you. That is the crux of our message and who we are and what we are to know and what everyone is to know. God loves us. 

Summary: Jesus has come to declare God's glory - the truth of Who He Is and we are to be united, One, so that all we know God loves them.

Promise: God's love for us cannot end.

Prayer: Lord, to know Your Glory is what I am seeking. And for everyone to know Your love is what everyone needs. It is really that simple. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 15:12-13 - Christian Love Defined

John 15:12-13

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 

Message: Christian Love Defined

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: I think the word 'commandment' is an interesting one. It showed up I believe for the first time in John 12:49-50, "the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, what to speak, and I know that His commandment is eternal life." Commandment is singular but refers to the Father speaking to Jesus. Then in 13:34 once Jesus mentions He will be going to a new place (glorified from verse 32) is "A new commandment I give you to you, that you love one another." In many ways up to this point John has really emphasized eternal life in his gospel. But here shifts to our relationship with others. 

Then in 14:21 commandments is plural and so more encompassing, "He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me." Commandments is more comprehensive now and is speaking to all the different ways we show love for God and others. 15:10, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love." Commandment keeping moves from loving to abiding. 

And now in verse 12, the singular commandment is mentioned again, repeating the same idea from John 13:34 and only in verse 13 now is the elevation of this love when Jesus says it is more than loving, but to "lay down his life for his friends." 

I think only Jesus has laid down his life for all of his friends, but people still have done this. I think of a secret service agent taking a bullet for the president or not even a secret service agent, but perhaps someone else doing this, like a husband for his wife. When we see this in a movie, it is an incredible act of sacrifice. This was Jesus' purpose in going to the cross - to lay down his life so that other could live. The gospels showed the principle, but the cross made it permanent for all. I just don't think any other faith systems makes this prominent in their doctrines - the need to love others. 

But laying down my life can simply be done in laying down what is important to me in order to serve others. Like visiting people that need a word of encouragement, discipling someone, serving my dad or family member or wife or children. Many times coming home from work I didn't do this and was caught up in myself with my kids, not playing ball, not talking to them, not sitting alongside them to get to know their world - I regret those times because they are gone, but I can keep trying today and even today it requires sacrifice. 

Summary: Christ-like love is passed on from Him to us to us to others and as He would lay down His life for all of us, I can practice the same sort of sacrifice though in different ways toward others. 

Promise: Whatever our station in life, we should look for ways to spend our lives for the sake of others. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for challenging us in this way to love others. I thank you for the emphasis this has been in my life. I love others and yet I struggle with this at times in not seeing something in others I want to see - often selfless work or sacrifice for me. Help me to love others in a real way and not look for something in return. You paid the ultimate sacrifice for me in dying for me on the cross, shedding your blood for me. Help me to be more giving toward others. I thank you for John and what he emphasizes to us and the joy of reading and studying Your word. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 14:15 - Showing Our Love for Christ

John 14:15

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Message: Showing Our Love for Christ

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: This verse isn't speaking of salvation. Jesus is simply pointing out the response of the Christian it would seem or the disciple of His in what it means to be a Christian. The previous verse said, "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." It is almost if Christ is pointing out some summary ideas. Ask me and I will do it. Love Me and do what I have told you to do. 

For me, I want to focus on the asking and Christ doing rather than the loving and obedience. Right? I want it to be about me and what I am receiving rather than on loving Him and doing what He says. 

Summary: Christ gives us a simple admonition to show our love for Him by being obedient to His commandments. 

Promise: From Tabletalk -- Keeping Christ's commandments reveals that we have been united to Him for salvation and possess the genuine love that is the consequence of genuine faith. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for these simple words and the simple reminder of my obedience toward you and following You always and being obedient to your commands. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 13:34-35 - A New Commandment from Christ

John 13:34-35 

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Message: A New Commandment from Christ

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is in the middle of speaking about His departure from this life. In the previous verses He talks of His glorification - that His mission on earth is soon complete when He will be glorified - bearing the punishment of all people's sin but then also conquering death and ascending to be with the Father. He has shown Himself to be a servant to the disciples and even as He did this encouraged His disciples to serve in the same manner toward one another (v. 14-15). 

Jesus remarks that He is giving them a new commandment and yet this commandment does not seem to be new. Not in the Gospel of John, but in Matthew and Mark, a Pharisee had come asking Jesus what the greatest commandment was in the Law and Jesus took that opportunity to summarize all the commandments speaking of our love for God with all of our heart and then love for our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-39). Going further back to Leviticus (1400 years prior) are these words in 19:18, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." Thus, the principle of loving one another was not knew. I don't think we can simply say that John didn't know about these prior words. 

But here Jesus mentions this as a "new commandment." Again, Jesus spoke previously of washing one another's feet and now in this verse he mentions a bigger principle and purpose and outcome related to loving one another that maybe has it now as a motive that has never been spelled out before. In washing another's feet we speak forth the idea of serving one another. And now the result of loving one another is "By this all men will know that you are My disciples." Jesus will soon be glorified and He will ascend to be with the Father as He has stated the disciples will not be going (v. 32-33). How then are we to live once He leaves? On earth, people saw Jesus and came to know Him through His presence on earth, but once He leaves, how will people come to know the Lord? Through our love. 

This challenges me and us i think to always think about what it means to love one another, truly love one another. It motivates me to really consider others and consider their needs and make them more important than myself (Phil. 2:3 - let each of you regard one another as more important than himself). 

This is a love that when others people see the love they recognize us being from God. All we are doing in our life is meant to point people to Jesus, having been sent by God. Our motivation is to not to only get people to love in the same way, but to know God. We don't want anyone to be rejected by Jesus (12:48). Therefore, we love. No matter the circumstance.

The betrayal has just been mentioned by Jesus. Jesus was betrayed for money, and yet we are to be about love. Jesus' love remains the same for Judas as it does for His other disciples. Keep on loving one another. Don't get focused on how people are reacting. Maybe Jesus is wanting to call attention to this - that we love because He loved us and we keep loving so people will keep seeing the connection we have with Jesus- that we follow Jesus. We are His disciples. We are not simply people who love one another, but our love is because of Jesus loving us. 

My tendency always is when people are rejecting or different from or not agreeing with me, my tendency is to have anger. Yesterday, with my wife I had this bout of selfishness. My wife was focused on others and serving others and being there for others, but I was caught up in a basketball game and wanting to enjoy it, thinking it was the joy I needed. I was struggling, maybe irate, I don't know, but I voiced my displeasure towards her. I was focused on selfish needs, but I should be focused instead on love. On loving others. I think again of those Resolutions from Jonathan Edwards and no. 59: "Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill-nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly." May I be resolved to be good-natured first, even as anger is raising its head in me. Will I stop and be good natured and love others? 

Summary: Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us so that all will know that we are His disciples. 

Promise: Let us ask God to give us the strength to love our fellow believers truly so that we might be a witness to Him in the world.

Prayer: O Lord, I thank you for this great reminder of truth and my need to have love for others, not simply because this is a good trait, but because You have loved me and I want people to know that I am a follower of You. I want to point people back to you so that they accept you as Savior and Lord. Lord, remove my selfishness and remove the tendency I have to be ill-natured or angry. Let me be about love always in relating to others. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 3:21 - Doing the Truth

John 3:21 

But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.

Message: Doing the Truth

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Nicodemus has come to Jesus realizing that for Jesus to do signs and wonders He must be from God. Jesus quickly points him the past signs and wonders and tells him the real focus of why He is on this earth - to show people that they must be born again and to be born again is a move of the Spirit in people's lives. Jesus has come from heaven to earth to lift people and what people must do is believe in Him. And in this belief they will have eternal life. Jesus is here on this earth to save people from their darkness. He is the Light. But most people are concerned about being exposed for who they are so so they resist the Light because they can't see past themselves. 

And now we move to today's verse which seems to be the culmination of the thought. Christ followers are those who are born again by the act of the Spirit (born of the Spirit) and this is seen by other people in how they practice truth. It reminds me of the words of James. We are "show me" people. We show people our faith by our works (James 2:18). It is those that practice truth which come to the Light. And it is in these deeds that people will see we are wrought from God. Again, this is not how we are saved. Saving is done by Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection through His Love (John 3:16). But people get to that point by the Spirit of God and being born by Him. And all of these deeds that we do don't give us glory, but rather they give God the glory. 

It is so clear. If people can look past themselves and practice truth then they will see that exposing themselves will actually free themselves. They need to see that they are totally accepted by God. 

Practicing the truth is wrapped up in love. Romans 13:8-10, "8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT COVET” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

It is not practicing truth alone. It is practicing the truth and coming to the Light. Jesus sacrifices. The Spirit awakens. We practice truth. And we got toward the Light. 

This is a phenomenon to me. We are not saved by our works. Our works show that we are saved and that God has done a good work in us. We must never get wrapped up in works based righteousness for it can't be about us. Throughout this body of Scripture, it has never been about us. It is about Him. He creates. He lives. He is the one to get the Glory. Once we recognize that this is what we are about, seeing ourselves as sinner, life is never more free. "Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner." Oh, for us to really embrace this. For all people to embrace this simple fact that they are sinners. 

It is interesting we often think that people must voice the sinners pray. Actually, they are already saved and this prayer simple helps us know the work that God has already done in this person. Praise God. 

Summary: We must expose ourselves to God, admitting we are sinners and run to the Light, believing, and we are saved and God gets all the glory. 

Promise: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

Prayer: O God, Wow! Your word is so amazing. Thank you for John and bringing amazing clarity to the Word of God and truth and what salvation is and looks like. Lord, no idea why you did it but you get all the glory in saving me. You have shown me the light. Just keep working in me to get out of the way helping me to accept more and more each day that I am a sinner. Thank you for the joy of being your laborer. Get me off my butt and speaking truth to others. Expose people. I pray more and more would admit they are sinners. And then keep on repeating this all the way to Glory. 

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - The Mandate to Work

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 - 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

Message: The Mandate to Work

Time: Paul visited Thessalonica to help start the church and then returned to Corinth to write these two letters around AD 51. He was concerned the church was being misguided so he thought to assure them of the authenticity of his letters and also to encourage them about end times in order to help establish them further in their work here on earth. 

What the Lord is Saying: The previous lesson to this one, which I did back on May 9 spoke to the idea that in working we serve others. We work so that we can serve others and give to others. I think this is an important lesson and in today's passage it is further clarified. 

I have struggled at times with those in our country that are not working and yet I do not think that means a person must always garner a paycheck in order to be seen as working. For instance, a mother staying home to raise children is working. Whether the children are homeschooled or not, children are at an age where they need guidance and nurturing and oversight and training. I am thankful for my mom that always at home while I grew up, interacting with us, preparing meals, preparing us as we returned home, helping us learn to make good decisions. It was important for her to give to ministries as well and I know my dad was willing to share his earnings with her in helping her to give to others. 

Other people retire but they still look for opportunities to serve through volunteer work. And I am impressed always of the number of people with disabilities that are continuing to work. In my work the vending machines are supported by the Commission for the Blind and we have certain city purchases that first must be looked to be provided by companies for disabled people. I like this and this encouragement that despite life challenges for mobility and reasoning that people can and are still working. I have a friend that has not worked for 15 years and it is hard for me to see this in him. He is quite defensive about his inability to work and at times he has volunteered, and at times served his parents like a parent would have served a child, but often I wonder if his daily activities are too involved in time passing by. I suppose I am thankful that up to this point I have not had to experience these challenges. So it is easy for me to be critical of others when I am not walking in their shoes. 

This passage also has application to me at my work and that I am not idle with my time and that I am a person that is busy while I work. I definitely have seen the struggle in my job to not work hard and instead dabble in other things. Rather than spending time with people after work, we often spend time at work, not doing our jobs so that we can visit. It is normal practice and yet I am not sure it is the best option. 

We are to be a people that works. "For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies." Paul mentions the need for us to discipline ourselves in I Timothy 4:7, one of my favorite passages. It is a reminder that each day we need to train ourselves to work. \

I know there are people that are unable to work, people with severe disabilities. But I think we need to be careful we do not too quickly move people over to that identification. Paul is clear that if you are willing to work then you should not eat. Those are tough words and yet we all have a tendency for laziness and our society is training us more and more in distraction. Let us make sure in life that believers are the best workers. 

Summary: We have a mandate to work, if we are able, and not only work, but to it to the best of our ability, not lazy, but striving to be the best worker possible. 

Promise: We love our neighbors through our vocation and hope that our neighbors see us as hard working and diligent workers. If we are not working at this level, then we are not loving our neighbors. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for instilling in me a desire to work and do my best. I have been trained well and encouraged always to find the vocation that is the best fit for me. I thank you for my father's leadership in this with aptitude testing. And thank you for tough bosses, like Roger Minke who woke me up and helped me see that I am to do my best always in my work. Thank you Holy Spirit for instilling this in me. Give me discernment in others and how I might help them. I pray for those I am in contact with that are working hard, but are not seeing lasting provision, bring that provision to them. Help them. And show me how I can help others continually through your Word and through in other ways you lead me. Help me to not be lazy in helping others. 

Ephesians 4:28 - Loving Neighbor Through Vocation

Ephesians 4:28 - He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

Message: Loving Neighbor Through Vocation

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: This passage in my bible is under the heading of 'Put on the New Self.' Paul is delivering a message to Christians on how they are to live, providing them responsibilities, their behavior, their conduct. And in these words he is speaking of how the Christian is to act toward his neighbor. 

Verse 29 was a hallmark verse for me as a Christian growing up. Coming to Christ at the age of 14, I remembered being a person that had cursing show up in my life. And so verse 29 was of great encouragement to me -- "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." 

This passage encouraged us that work is way to encourage others. I do not think this is my first thought when it comes to work. I think first of providing for my family and fulfilling my calling. I suppose I go into work first and foremost with that in my mind, but I also take pride in doing my job well, trying to make good decisions and lead the organization in good business. 

But this passage seems to give greater light to words from 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. It speaks of shedding the old things and the old ways of living and instead take on a new mission and role. Verse 25 says to "Lay aside falsehood." And in verse 26 to not sin with our anger. And now in verse 28 to no longer steal. Instead of being a thief we are to be one who shares what we have with others. 

I have found myself doing this often with people that I have met abroad. After spending time with them and testing them to see if they are reputable and then also praying about those situations, I have felt a need to help those who are less fortunate. All of these individuals are black or African American. And so Pamela and I from our labor have been of help to them. But I am not sure I have had the same idea about people here in Albuquerque and specifically at my job here at the City of Albuquerque. 

The reason I work is to give to those in need. I am to provide but also to alleviate suffering. I am to go the extra mile not simply for those halfway around the world, but those next to me. 

Summary: I am to labor diligently in my vocation as as to have resources to share with those who cannot meet their own needs. 

Promise: Christians are called to love their neighbors as they love themselves and one of the ways we can do this through our vocations. 

Prayer: O God, you are rich in mercy and you have given me so much. You have provided me a good job with good resources of funds. Help me to not be selfish in my receipt of these monies, but to be a person that is giving to others. Give me wisdom though as I truly want to help those that are going to be good with the money I share with them. Direct me to those in need and help me always to do what is right in giving. 

Ephesians 5:25-33 - The Vocation of Husbands

Ephesians 5:25-33 - 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are parts of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Message: The Vocation of Husbands

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying: This is possibly one of my favorite verses in the Bible because it has taught me so much about my marriage and yet it is so simple - Husbands, love your wives. It is amazing what can be accomplished by these simple words. These words keep me out of trouble. I find that when I take my eyes off of my bride and knowing her, I get sidetracked and off in areas I should not be involved in. 

But right now, in this month's lessons, I am looking at vocations and this is the vocation of a husband. As I read this text I noticed some things:

• Husbands, Love your wives - again, first and foremost we are to love them. 
• We mirror Christ's love for His Church, His called ones. He wants always the best for His Church and we should always want what is best for our wives.
• Jesus gave Himself up. He died for the church. And we as husbands should have the same type of willingness to give ourselves up for our wives. 
• Jesus had a purpose in giving Himself up - to sanctify His people and present them as clean. This is also my job as a Husband, to make my wife the best she can be always and present Her before God.
• I present my wife as Jesus present me with all glory. This is my greatest prize on this earth. 
• I love her like I love myself. 
• And yet me and my wife are part of a bigger body of believers. So we should not ever think of ourselves too highly. 
• Before Him, my wife and I are one. That is hard to fathom, but it is true. 
• After all this, the wife will respect her husband. She must. 

As a reminder, Protestantism doesn't elevate certain people or positions as having greater calling than others. The priesthood of all believers says all have a similar level of calling, just some called to serve in the church and some as leaders in our world. Some are ordained for ministry and some are not. 

Marriage was established by God in creation and the role of husband is a nonordained vocation. The husband has a calling and a special role, first and foremost to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Yes, husbands lead but not in a domineering way. It is a leadership based upon a deep love. A wife's needs are more important than a husbands needs. Just as the Son of God took on the form of a servant. 

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is the role of man - to empty Himself, be a servant and humble himself. Interesting that the submission of the woman to the leadership of the husband includes the husband humbling himself as a servant. He is to serve His wife. This seems opposite to what our traditional values have taught. 

Summary: Husbands have a nonordained vocation to love their wives, humbling themselves as Christ did towards His church, and serving their wives. 

Promise: Husbands must love their wives as Christ loves the church, which means they must be willing to die for their wives. The husband's willingness to die for his wife may take the form of actual, physical death, but for most husbands, being willing to die for their wives entails living sacrificially for them. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for my wife and I thank you for your words that encourage me daily how I am to sacrifice for her, put her first, and serve her. You show me the correct way to live and in the process, this reaps incredible benefits on my life and my enjoyment of my wife and how we serve You together. Thank you God for knowing exactly what I needed. Keep me humble and help me continually to look to You for answers and not the world. Shield me from this world and how it distracts me away from these purposes continually. Draw people to yourself and right wrongs in our nation and world over these issues. I praise You God.  

Ephesians 4:15-16 - Receiving and Giving God's Love

Ephesians 4:15-16 - Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Message: Receiving and Giving God's Love

Time: Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians sometime in AD 60–61, around the same time he wrote Colossians and Philemon. Ephesians deals with topics at the core of being a Christian - faith and practice, no matter the situation.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I continue to spend this time reading and studying the Church - the Body of Christ - I am challenged that whether to attend church or not is not an option in our lives. There is a visible church (what we see) and an invisible church (the true church that only God can see). I often and others often choose visible church participation based upon feelings and likes and emotion. But in order to be a child of God and grow up in all aspects of Him - then communing with the saints is required. And this community is not simply ‘shooting the breeze’ or catching up on life but it is communion or fellowship of each part of the body that is growing and building itself up in love.

But this communion is not for the purpose of ‘self only’ growing but so that the entire church - invisible church - grows.

Again I feel like I am trained so often in selfish thinking - pleasing myself. Even as I think about using my spiritual gift i think it is often about me and yet I am to approach it with the idea that I am a part of the body which has a goal not of self growing or growing one self, but ‘body-growth.’ In verse 16 it says, ‘…when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Thus the title of this lesson. Receiving and Giving. I studied previously about receiving God's love, last time, looking at those verses about sharing in the sufferings of Christ, in the saving message that we have received - that is the foundation of our involvement at Church. And so this passage says we exercise our gifts so that the Body grows.

It is a change in focus really. Once I am in church, attending, it is about the entire church, not simply myself only. Obviously I do want to glorify God in what I do and say. But God doesn't need anything. He wants me to have salvation, yes, but once I have it, I am to serve. I am to exercise gifts so that the Body grows.

And so in this lesson is the emphasis upon Love being the greatest virtue. I Corinthians 13:13 says, "But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Paul is speaking of using our spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12, 13, and 14. And his central message is the way we accomplish this is out of love. I can work and do but it must be because of love. Love is the backbone of all that I do. 13:3 says, "If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." Chapter 14, verse 1 says, "Pursue Love." He later says in verse 26 that all of this is for the purpose of edification. Again, the focus of all of this is not on self and pleasing self, but on others and so we receive God's love. 

Summary: We come together because of His sufferings, but once we are together, we are to be about exercising our gifts to build up and grow one another, and it is done with love. 

Promise: If we are not looking for ways to love and serve other believers, meeting their needs as we are able, we are not fulfilling God's purpose for the church. 

Prayer: O God, what a wretched one I am. I am trained so often in this world to focus on me, to focus on self. Even as I spoke last night, I'm feeling depressed and not finding joy in my days and what I do. Yet God, even in those thoughts is the idea of self and pleasing self. Yet, you remind me through this lesson and these words that once in Christ, I am to exercise gifts, giving love, in order to edify and grow up the Body of Christ. This is my calling. I thank you for the online ministry of GMO, for being involved in the past at church greeting people, for evangelism, meeting with Scott, but it is not over for me. I must keep on going. I must keep on serving. I must. This is where life resides. I've received your love and now I must give it. O God, break this cycle where I think self must be pleased. And instead keep me focused on others and giving to others and doing this in the form of love.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of August is about the Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation; July was the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May, Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation, Scripture; January, the doctrine of God. 

Christ's Body

The Body of Christ - The Church is the Body of Christ and Christ loves the church. We are to imitate Christ and see that the Church is how Christ carries out His purposes in the world. The Head of the Church - Christ is Head of the church and he only has final authority and gives life to the church. Life is found only in Jesus Christ our Lord. - The Church We Can See - Belonging to a church is not optional, for anyone. We are meant to live in a community with other believers, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow. The Church We Cannot See - What we see is the Visible church, the invisible church only God knows because He is omniscient and that is the Church we cannot see. 

Truths about the Church from the Apostles Creed

Church Unity - The church is bigger than our local assembly; there are core beliefs among the invisible church. One People Throughout History - God has only one people; throughout the world there are people that share doctrines and truths despite their being differences in where we attend or belong. God's Holy People - By being in Christ, though we still have a fallen nature, God has set us apart as holy, as his saints. True Catholocity - God's people includes men and women from every tribe and every tongue that hold to the biblical gospel. The Apostilic Church - we are fellow citizens with all people from all tribes and tongues throughout history, united by being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets teaching, thus apostolic, with Christ Jesus being our cornerstone.

What the Church Does and Believes

Preaching Christ and His Commandments - A church needs to be committed to faithfully preaching the Word of God. Administering Sacraments - Sacraments (The Lord's Supper and Baptism especially) need to be part of a church existing, but they also need to be rightly administered. The Discipline of the Church - We need to be a people that encourage repentance to keep the church pure and set apart.

Church Leadership Offices

Prophets and Apostles - There is a foundation of how the church begins and that foundation is the apostles and prophets. Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers - Only mention of pastors in the New Testament. 

Purpose of the Church

Our Arena for Growth - It is being at church, present, that we are to be equipped, build one another up, in order to grow in maturity. Communion in Gifts and Graces - As believers joining in Christ’s sufferings we have community, exercising our spiritual gifts, in order to build up the Body of Christ in Love.

Romans 13:8-10 - The Centrality of Love

Romans 13:8-10 

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGBOR AS YOURSELF." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Message: The Centrality of Love

Time: Paul route to Rome, the city has never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. The rights to a church that he believes needed to hear basic Gospel doctrine. The city was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idolatry. 

What the Lord is Saying:

September 7 

Love is the central focus of the believer in Christ. Jesus when asked as to the greatest commandment stated to love God and love your neighbor. It was not to love self but God and others. (Matthew 22:34-40). This is a somewhat simple practice or simple thing to do in our life each day. 

As in everything in our life — our definitions must come from God. Unfortunately, even love can be miss guided in our world today. A Muslim thinks to love God is to blow oneself up. Love often is sleeping with whoever you want or living together without making a covenant of marriage. People think there is love in preserving the happiness and well-being of the mother and yet killing an unwanted child (abortion). There is also the thought that love is ending life because of suffering or unwelcome situations (assisted suicide). 

But love must start and end with God and like everything in life God and his word must define our life. As we trust in God our Savior and commit our way to him, love manifests itself in us. 

Promise: Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him.

Prayer: O God -let me always remember love and how I am to practices each day in the relationships that you provide to my life. And help me always to have a practice in me to love you and thank you for the gift of life that you’ve given me. Thank you for the love of God that reminds me how much I need you and how I am in capable of loving you and loving others apart from you. Without you I can do nothing. Keep teaching me love. Forgive me for my selfish ways. Make my motives pure.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

My Utmost for His Highest - May 19th - "Out of the Wreck I Rise"

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? - Romans 8:35

    God does not keep a man immune from trouble; He says--I will be with him in trouble. (Psalm 91:15)" It does not matter what actual troubles in the most extreme form get hold of a man's life, not one of them can separate him from his relationship to God. We are "More than conquerors in all these things. (Romans 8:37)" Paul is not talking of imaginary things, but of things that are desperately actual; and he says we are super-victors in the midst of them, not by our ingenuity, or by our courage, or by anything other than the fact that not one of them affects our relationship to God in Jesus Christ. Rightly or wrongly, we are where we are, exactly in the condition we are in. I am sorry for the Christian who has not something in his circumstances he wishes was not there.

    "Shall tribulation . . . ?" Tribulation is never a noble thing; but let tribulation be what it may--exhausting, galling, fatiguing, it is not able to separate us from the love of God. Never let cares or tribulations separate you from the fact that God loves you (Matthew 13:22).

    "Shall anguish. . .?"--can God's love hold when everything says that His love is a lie, and that there is no such thing as justice?

    "Shall famine. . .?"--can we not only believe in the love of God but be more than conquerors, even while we are being starved?

    Either Jesus Christ is a deceiver and Paul is deluded, or some extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God's character. Logic is silenced in the face of every one of these things. Only one thing can account for it--the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Out of the wreck I rise" every time.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My thoughts

Trouble - expect it. But it won't separate us from the love of God. Don't let those cares separate you from the love of God. They will try. God's love. Accept the trouble. Accept His love.  

 

My Utmost for His Highest - April 30th - The Spontaneity of Love

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. - I Corinthians 13:4-8

    Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul's category of love. We cannot say--"Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things." The characteristic of love is spontaneity. We do not set the statements of Jesus in front of us as a standard; but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without knowing it, and on looking back we are amazed at the disinterestedness of a particular emotion, which is the evidence that the spontaneity of real love was there. In everything to do with the life of God in us, its nature is only discerned when it is past.

    [The springs of love are in God, not in us. It is absurd to look for the love of God in our hearts naturally, it is only there when "it has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5)"]

    If we try to prove to God how much we love Him, it is a sure sign that we do not love Him. The evidence of our love for Him is the absolute spontaneity of our love, it comes naturally. In looking back we cannot tell why we did certain things, we did them according to the spontaneous nature of His love in us. The life of God manifests itself in this spontaneous way because the springs of love are in the Holy Ghost.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My thoughts

This lesson is near yesterday's. The idea I think is basically that I cannot manufacture my love for God for Love is spontaneous and since He is in me, my love to Him comes about in spontaneity. It is not forced or predetermined. It happens according to His ways and timing.  

My Utmost for His Highest - October 23 - Not a Bit of It!

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away. — 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our Lord never nurses our prejudices, He mortifies them, runs clean athwart them. We imagine that God has a special interest in our particular prejudices; we are quite sure that God will never deal with us as we know He has to deal with other people. “God must deal with other people in a very stern way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” We have to learn — “Not a bit of it!” Instead of God being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately wiping them out. It is part of our moral education to have our prejudices run straight across by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him; there is only one thing He wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender. 

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is not a bit of the old order left; the old solemnity goes, the old attitude to things goes, and “all things are of God (2 Corinthians 5:18).” How are we going to get the life that has no lust, no self-interest, no sensitiveness to pokes, the love that is not provoked, that thinketh no evil, that is always kind (I Corinthians 13:4-5)? The only way is by allowing not a bit of the old life to be left, but only simple perfect trust in God, such trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want Himself. Have we come to the place where God can withdraw His blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him? When once we see God at work, we will never bother our heads about things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in Heaven Whom the world cannot see.

My Thoughts

• The goal is there is not a bit of my old life in my new life with Christ. 
• This means that we only want Himself and His blessings can even be withdrawn

My Utmost for His Highest - October 18 - The Key to Missionary Devotion

Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. - 3 John 7

Our Lord has told us how love to Him is to manifest itself. "Lovest thou Me" "Feed My Sheep (John 21:17)"--identify yourself with My interests in other people, not identify Me with your interests in other people. I Corinthians 13:4-8 gives the character of this love, it is the love of God expressing itself. The test of my love for Jesus is the practical one, all the rest is sentimental jargon. 

Loyalty to Jesus Christ is the supernatural work of Redemption wrought in me by the Holy Ghost Who sheds abroad the love of God in my heart, and that love works efficaciously through me in contact with everyone I meet. I remain loyal to His Name although every common-sense fact gives the lie to Him, and declares that He has no more power than a morning mist. 

The key to missionary devotion means being attached to nothing and no one saving Our Lord Himself, not being detached from things externally. Our Lord was amazingly in and out among ordinary things; His detachment was on the inside towards God. External detachment is often an indication of a secret vital attachment to the things we keep away from externally. 

The loyalty of a missionary is to keep his soul concentratedly open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men and women Our Lord sends out on His enterprises are the ordinary human stuff, plus dominating devotion to Himself wrought by the Holy Ghost. 

My Thoughts

Efficacious - producing the desired effect

I John 4:19 - Is Grace Resistible?

I John 4:19
We love, because He first loved us.

Message: Is Grace Resistible?

Time: The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but Christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter authoritative, believing it was written by John the apostle. A date of about AD 90, with John writing from his exile on Patmos, ends up being the best proposition. John focused on three issues: the zeal of the believers, standing firm against false teachers, and reassuring the Christians that they have eternal life.

What the Lord is Saying:

Is Grace Resistable? Is it possible to resist God's grace?

The western church condemned Pelagius and his teaching at the Second Council of Orange in AD 529. Also struck down was semi-Pelagianism. Augustine, Pelagius and the French monk John Cassian lived during the late 4th and early 5th centuries. John Cassian and semi-Pelagianism steers a middle ground between Augustine's view of grace alone and Pelagius view of works. This view affirms grace as a need for salvation, yet still denies original sin and the depravity of man. Thus, grace is necessary but humans take the first step toward God. People need grace to be saved, but this grace does not take the initiative in salvation. Augustine meanwhile says that no sinner can seek God of their own accord. The only people who seek Him are those who He first sovereignly and effectually are drawn by His sovereign grace.

Thus, the dividing line is whether there is synergy in divine grace - God and human beings working together toward regeneration. But John Calvin and Augustinians say that divine grace is monergistic in regeneration where only God brings about the new birth of believers. We love, because He (God) first loved us. God guarantees that His elect will love Him. He will overcome their resistance to Him.

Promise: If God reveals his love to man then they can't reject him. There is glorious love and beauty of our Creator.

Prayer: Thank you for loving me God. Thank you for calling me to be with You, to be Yours for all time.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about salvation by grace alone. March was about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January is about the doctrine of God.

Psalm 18 - Speaking About God

Psalm 18
1“I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Message: Speaking About God

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Psalm 18 encompasses 50 verses which is a lot of verses to study here in this lesson. The thrust of the lesson today from Tabletalk is how we speak about God and the language that we use. At the beginning of this passage - Psalm 18 - a Psalm of David written about the Lord delivering David from the hand of all of his enemies and from the hand of Saul - David here uses a work in an analogical way. To speak analogically is to use the same word to describe two different things. Traditionally, it is said that human language about God is analogical language. It is taking a word that might mean one thing to a human and then using it to describe God which then takes on a different meaning. For instance, yesterday I saw that when we say God is great, that greatness of God is the apex of who he is and so describing a person like an athlete as being great or a athletic play might
mean that the person achieved something spectacular at that moment, but God is entirely great for all time.

The Lord is my rock - doesn't mean that Yahweh is literally a rock, but the Lord is instead firm and unshakable. Rock is also thought to be more of a cliff. The rock was a place that people would go to find refuge. It does not move.

David goes on to describe God as his fortress. The fortress is a mountain castle. It is a resident constructed on a hill, a place so strengthened that an enemy couldn't approach it. And this is how David describes God as with God by his side he because a fortress that no one could touch.

My deliverer - We enjoy so much stories of people getting caught by an enemy and then being delivered or rescued from the hands of an enemy. The picture of being rescued from the hands of someone holding a person against their will is what God is to us all too often. In redeeming mankind, we are delivered from the hands of the devil.

The Lord is My God. God is now personal with David. God is not far and away, high and above, but God is near. a Protector, Helper, Friend, Father, Saviour. This word for God is always personal.

This translation says, My God, my rock, but the word while still rock conveys the idea of God being my strength. Earlier, rock is more of a shelter and now God is my strength. He is my rock. He is not simply an object that is immovable and impersonal but again David is getting personal with his language and saying that God becomes his very strength.

in whom I take refuge - He is now the one I take refuge in. God is my refuge. This make me think of my 2nd cousin, who is not yet 1 and she was down on the ground with people all around her and in that moment she wanted to be held by her father. He reached down and picked her up and with him next to her she felt safe and secure. She had her refuge. And this is how God is to us, He is our refuge and with Him near we are safe. We can embrace the world and all that it may offer.

My shield - without a shield I am dead. In video games, the shield keeps my guy from dying. I throw the shield on me and I am protected.

the horn of my salvation - The horns of an animal is their defense. The horn is connected to the animal and part of their body. God is my horn. He is connected to me. When I use the horn as my defense it delivers me. It is interesting to me because in these words horn is something I must decide to you. I must turn my horn into my enemy. God wants to be my deliverer, but will I allow him to deliver.

my stronghold or my high tower means that He is high above the crowd.

As I read these words that David used to describe God as his deliverer and sustenance and all that He needs, I'm reminded that in my life I don't find that my words go to God first to express deliverance. But this is what David did. I might say this to a fellow Christian or while I am in church but then when I walk outside and start mingling with people that are not of faith and we talk about different events in life that we have been rescued from I don't think I respond that God delivered me. Maybe it is because it isn't a deliverance from death or being caught by an enemy against my will. Most of my deliverance is avoiding car accidents or falls. But there is also bodily accidents I avoid or illnesses.

At times, you will hear an athlete thank God after he has won a game or a musical artist thank God after winning an award. When this happens I often think of the person that lost and wonder if they are also thanking God. Maybe this is my problem often with these events is that I think of the person on the other side and wonder if they then think God is not on their side because they have not come out on top.

Whether out loud or to myself, I need to do this. I need to give glory to God more in my life. That is clear. I don't need to look for an excuse or give myself or anyone else glory. I need to thank God more. That is clear.

Promise: As I read God's word and hear God referred to as a rock, a light, a shepherd and many other metaphors, I pray that it would help enrich my life to realize how God is like all of these things and that it will help me pray and thank Him and worship Him.

Prayer: Lord, I love You. O Lord, my strength. You Lord are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. You are my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. You are my shield and the horn of my salvation and my stronghold. You God are all of these things and more. Help me to remember this God throughout my days. Lord, I need to clear my mind and realize that you are near and You have got these things of my life in order and in control. Forgive me for taking the credit all too often and not acknowledging you.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.